During the last week, I had put down my current Hitchhiker, cast on a Nightshift, and picked up a sock that has been resting for years, but as the days progressed and things seemed to get progressively worse with each one, I found that knitting was not having the same calming effect as usual. Picking up Nightshift seemed to cause more stress, I couldn't count well enough to knit a simple heel flap, I snapped a double-pointed needle, along with other tales of woe. When I saw that several other people were knitting lovely Hitchhikers, I wondered why I wasn't.
So now I am. My Nightshift and sock were placed gently in the craft closet, waiting for a better time when my brain is more focused and I don't need the calm that comes as I knit row after row of garter stitch and watch the number of teeth grow.
I've got at least four Hitchhikers in progress, so I may even finish one or two. If ever there was a time for me to knit Hitchhikers, this is it!
I have also managed to do some small amount of reading. I remembered a series that Ryan has been encouraging me to finish for a long time, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. It's YA fantasy, but that seems to be about the level that my brain is capable of focusing on at the moment. I've listened to the first and second books and am currently enjoying the third. I was also lucky enough to find Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead in audiobook format. This came from a semi-local library that has previously been quite protective of their digital offerings, but they've opened all of them up to all residents of the county, so I snagged this one from rb digital on Kym's recent recommendation.
I'm still very interested in Apeirogon, but it will take a month to get the dead tree format I wanted to read it in. I may break down and try either the Kindle or audiobook format when I'm done with my current reads.
What are you making and reading this week?
I love seeing your Hitchhikers, and I was thinking yesterday that maybe this is the time to finally knit mine. I know exactly which yarn I want to use for it, too (do you remember the purple gradient I spun last year?). I'm just struggling with feeling like I should be working on a design even though I'm also having trouble focusing on it.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the wait list for Apeirogon at the library -- current estimate is 8 weeks. It seems like the books I want to read are never the ones that have a short wait or no wait!
I applaud your presence of mind to do what is best for you in the moment, and certainly knitting what soothes you is best. I have been eyeing my projects, but I have not settled on one yet. I have been reading a lot, but I had trouble focusing yesterday. The news is so dire. I will try to find something to settle on today, as I am in desperate need of distraction. I have several digital books on hold, but their estimate is weeks before they are available. Stay safe, Bonny.
ReplyDeleteYour Hitchhikers are all so gorgeous and I am so excited for this new idea for Ryan's Hitchhiker!!
ReplyDeleteI was stressing about my Nightshift finish (because I was running out of all my yarn!) So, it simmered over the weekend while I thought about how to make that work. It's not perfect, but I like it! Glamor shots next week (if it can stop raining here for a minute!!)
I'm finding that simple, basic stockinette is pretty much all that's working for me right now . . . so I certainly understand the Call of the Hitchhiker! I'm finding that my concentration is getting ever-so-slightly better, but still not up to sustained reading level. I think I need to find some nice, "cozy" mysteries or something. . . (I read Aperiogon via audiobook, and I really liked listening to it read to me by the author. He was fabulous -- and the book was fabulous. I think it would take a bit of time to "get" what's happening with the odd structure of the book whether you are listening OR seeing the words.) Stay well, Bonny. XO
ReplyDeleteso many beautiful colors in your knitting projects and those skeins oh my goodness!! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI have never knitted the Hitchhiker and I love brainless knits. I certainly have the yarn in my stash! I'm knitting the mindless sock cowl, almost finished. Am also thinking of doing a hand piece Hexie reproduction quilt.Little to zippo reading being done, though I did sign up for free class on-line---Happiness.
ReplyDeleteTake care Bonnie, good to check in with you several times a week.
Waiting for our Governor to issue order, 'Shelter in Place".
My stress busting knitting is a hat. I can join team meetings without my camera on a sit and knit which helps when the meeting topics are always virus focused. Love the colors for your hitchhikers.
ReplyDeleteI'm switching from the Night Shift to the stockinette Easy Folded Poncho. The end is in sight so I'm going for it. Reading...audio Alice Hoffman's The World That We Knew...not sure I'll finish before it's snatched back but we'll see! Those Hitchhikers are the bomb!
ReplyDeleteKnit what feels good right now should be the only rule we have! Glad you are back to your comfort knitting of hitchhikers!
ReplyDeleteYes, comfort knitting is best right now. All of your Hitchhikers are so gorgeous Bonny! My hope is that they bring you peace as you knit away on them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kym, the audio format was so good and when I looked up apierogon on Wikipedia I understood what he was doing with the chapters of the book. A book read by the author is usually a good way to go, but I'm sure this book will be fine regardless of your chosen format. I may buy the book just to be able to read it in paper form, too! Hitchhikers for the win!
ReplyDeleteWow, Bonny - so much Hitchhiker love ... and that mini-skein set is really going to POP the top one! My "reading" is almost non-existent these days - unless Instagram captions count ;-)
ReplyDeleteI;m knitting a baby blanket for a friend of Allison's who is adopting a baby soon!!!! Im readying non fiction:
ReplyDeleteThe Orphaned Adult but Levy. A friend sent it to me as my mom and dad are both gone. My father died in December
I say knit whatever brings you comfort and joy these days. I can't decide which one of those hitchhikers is my favorite though, I like all of them equally well. My reading seems to be a bit slow these days. I'm listening to mysteries on audio while I knit and still plugging away on Virginia Woolf's diary.
ReplyDelete