Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Unraveled Wednesday: 2/22/23

I'm happy to join Kat and fellow Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday with a completed Sophie Shawl. 


It doesn't look like much stretched out on the patio, but it's soft, warm, lightweight, and just what I had hoped for. I've worn it a couple of times and am quite happy with it.

I was trying to decide what to knit next and worked a few rows on a few Hitchhikers but I just wasn't feeling it. I had worked out an almost foolproof system of an easily reset counter and a progress keeper to make sure I increased where I was supposed to on the Sophie Shawl, so I decided to take a look in my stash. 

I found this "special" yarn that I've been saving and wondered if it might work. I bought this yarn 11 years ago during a trip to Montana. John and the boys were waiting in the car and I ran into Mountain Spun (they have since closed) in Helena looking for some sock yarn. They didn't have any sock yarn, but I couldn't resist this off-white 100% alpaca worsted weight. I bought all that they had, and have tried to use it for two different cowls and two different shawls, but none of those patterns were right. 


But look, I think it wants to be a Sophie Shawl! So I'm happily knitting with lovely, soft, special yarn. I may need to finally buy a scale so I can tell when I've reached the halfway point and begin decreases, but that seems like a small price to pay to not mess up special yarn. 

I was late to The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois party, mainly because I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to a book with over 800 pages. I needn't have worried because reading it was never a slog and felt like a much shorter book. Even after finishing this layered, complex, and heartbreaking book, I've found myself wondering what happens next in Ailey's life.

I also finished a pre-publication copy of Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. I'm not usually a fan of romantic comedies, but I do admire Curtis Sittenfeld as an author and Romantic Comedy didn't disappoint. It's the story of Sally Milz, a 36-year-old comedy writer for The Night Owls (think Saturday Night Live). She sees herself as "a mild-mannered woman of average intelligence and attractiveness", but due to a divorce and rejection by a fellow writer, she's also got some insecurities, and many of the sketches she writes reflect these. The first section of the book takes us through what I imagine is a fairly true-to-life portrayal of what the week is like producing a live late-night sketch comedy show. The host and musical guest is Noah Brewster, who Sally assumes is way too hot for him to be attracted to her. This may not be true, but Sally self-sabotages herself. The second part of the book happens two years later and consists of an email exchange between Noah and Sally. This happens during the pre-vaccination stage of Covid, and even though I was initially skeptical of this part, I came to enjoy it the most. Both characters display a lot of wit and thoughtfulness, and the story proceeds from there. It was a four-star read for me and will be published on April 4, 2023.

In the "I should have known better" department, I also read I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. I had never heard of the author before but the book's title was so arresting to me that I had to read it. My mother and I were like oil and water and rarely agreed about anything, but I have never been glad my mother is gone. My two-star rating is not a judgment about McCurdy's story, her relationship with her mother, her mental health, or anything that she has gone through (and it is A LOT). It is simply my opinion of the book itself and how it was written and edited. The writing felt flat, robotic, and very repetitive, and the book felt like it wasn't much more than a chronological recounting of what happened with very little thought or reflection. Definitely not for me!

What are you making and reading this week?

10 comments:

  1. Oh my! That Sophie's Shawl looks so cozy and the color is perfect, Bonny! And I love that new shawl you have started with that beautiful yarn!

    Love Songs by W.E.B DuBois was such a great book. And yes, I have often wondered if Ailey will someday return...I'd love it if she did!

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  2. that shawl looks so pretty especially with you wearing it! It's cold once again so yay!

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  3. Your finished Sophie Shawl is beautiful and the new one will be so cozy! I'm glad you finally found a perfect use for that special yarn.

    I still need to read Love Songs; I've had a hardback copy sitting on my nightstand for more than a year, so I just need to find the time to read it!

    I am working on a pair of socks, thinking about starting a sweater, and reading The Shipping News (and of course War and Peace).

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  4. Don't you just love it when the yarn TELLS you what it wants to be??? I love your finished Sophie shawl (that blue just sings) -- and I'm so glad you're knitting a new one! And I, too, was late to the "Love Songs" party -- only because of the length -- but found, as you did, that it never dragged. So glad you liked it, too. (And now I'm looking forward to reading Romantic Comedy!) XO

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  5. Love your Sophie Shawl Bonny - so pretty and it looks fabulous wrapped around your neck. The new one will be lovely too - alpaca!! How can it not be lovely. And what Dee said...is Sophie your new Hitchhiker? Gosh, you seem to have read Love Songs quickly. Granted, I've been reading other books along with it, but I can't read it that quickly. It is so good though!

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  6. Your Sophie shawl looks nice and cozy and you new one is looking good too! I am glad you enjoyed Love Songs...I still think about it!

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    1. Thank you, Debbie! It's sleeting outside, but I am warm and cozy inside, wearing my blue Sophie and knitting on my off-white one. I bet I will also be thinking about Love Songs for a long time!

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    2. I'm glad you are cozy! It is 68 degrees here with thunder storms rolling through and we're under a tornado watch! It's supposed to be down in the 20s by tomorrow night!

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  7. That Sophie Shawl looks so cozy and warm. You and the shawl look fabulous together. I love the photo. I am glad you found the right project for the special souvenir yarn. Sometimes yarn just has to marinate in the stash waiting for the right moment and the right pattern. I tried to listen to The Love Songs of W.E.B. DeBois and had a hard time keeping the characters straight. At some point I'm going to check out a hard copy from the library. If I could flip back through the book I would do much better.

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  8. I have some Mountain Meadow wool I bought in Wyoming about a million years ago. Perdect for a Sophie Shawl. Thanks for the inspiration!

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