Reading and Knitting

After a summer spent mostly writing, the fall has been mostly reading. I just finished another Alice Hoffman novel, Here On Earth, and am now reading Blackbird House, which is a book of short stories that have a single house at its center (similar to the The Red Garden, which was my introduction to Hoffman's writing). Alice Hoffman is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I love her stories and the way she tells them. Next, I am going to read Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey, a book recommended to me earlier in the year by a far-away friend who I am sorely missing. 

Here is the pile of books that Luke and I borrowed from the library this week.

I am between knitting projects. I still have sock yarn in my stash...I could always knit more socks. But, what I really want to knit is this: Super Simple Cowl, by Lisa Gerber, made with a single skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock (photos by Lisa Gerber):

I really like how this cowl utilizes short rows to create intersecting triangles of color.

I'd also like to make a pair of these to match the cowl:  Camera Mitts, by Ruth Stewart (photos by Ruth Stewart). Hers were knit with Noro Kureyon:

Both designs above are free pattern downloads on Ravelry.

If I have time, I may drive to Wild & Wooly in Lexington today to see what colorways they have available in Noro Silk Garden. I want something bright in reds or purples. We'll see. I have to watch my budget very carefully these days.

Joining Ginny's weekly Yarn Along!