This season I’ve been knitting up a storm! I managed to pull off all of my Christmas knits, take a much-needed break for my wrist, and started dedicating time to working on my first ever sweater! Keep reading for more details on everything I’ve been knitting and reading lately!
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory and Stripe Hype Sweater by Veronika Lindberg
Funnily enough, this book and this project are both things I’ve been working on (very slowly) for months! I picked up the sweater pattern back in June of last year and started on it in August. Similarly, my Goodreads account has June as the date recorded for this novel as well! Who would’ve thought I’d be doing the bulk of the work on both of these projects this winter… and at the same time!
The Other Boleyn Girl is a book I’ve wanted to read since the movie came out in 2008. I had become fascinated by all things Tudors after I read Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer, probably in middle school. I’ve been loving the book but it is a SLOW burn (hence the 8 months it’s taken me to read it!) I’m also familiar with the history, so I haven’t felt the need to rush to the end as you might imagine! As part of my reading I also finally watched the film… and it was awful! They danced all over the history and the timeline, it was just so choppy. I can’t believe I waited 17 years to watch it! 😂
My Stripe Hype Sweater has been so fun to knit! It’s my first ever clothing item, and I’ve been so happy to learn some new construction techniques. You start knitting flat, then work on the shoulders and the neckline, join in the round to work on the body, then pick up the sleeves and the collar! I’m pretty close to finishing but I almost don’t want it to end! I’ve been using Knitting for Olive Merino wool held double in shades Mustard and Powder, which are always a joy to knit with. If you’re in the market for a striped sweater, I’d encourage you to make one!
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen and Rebel Soul Beanie by Veronika Lindberg
This book was fun! Not all fantasy books are created equal, but if you enjoy Sarah J. Maas or other “romantasy” authors you’ll definitely love this book! It’s kind of like A Court of Thorns and Roses or From Blood and Ash, with a Norse Mythology twist. I really enjoyed the characters and it was nice to have a female main character that wasn’t just a shy delicate flower from the get go. The audiobook is narrated by a native Norwegian speaker so it’s nice to hear all the names in the way they’re intended to be spoken! The next book in this series comes out in May and I will definitely be picking it up!
For my knit, it’s another rebel soul beanie! As one might be able to tell from my last post, I just can’t quit these! I’ve had a lot of friends and loved ones request hats the past few months, so I’ve been cranking them out! This purple one, knitted with Sandnes Garn Double Sunday and Tynn Silk Mohair in Blackberry, is a gift for my best friend Emily!
Down The Drain by Julia Fox and another Rebel Soul Beanie by Veronika Lindberg
Julia Fox is a bit of an enigma. I didn’t know much about her before I started reading the book, only that she’d been associated with Kanye West for a short time, and that she had a few interview clips go viral. After reading, I feel like Julia could be a friend. This book was a strong departure from the typical celebrity “tell-all” that glosses over details and spins the illusion of a charmed life. It’s gritty, heartbreaking, messy, jarring, and at times you wonder what in the hell she was thinking. But, at the heart of it all Julia is a sweet and genuine person that just wants be at home in her own skin, loved for who she is, and to express herself creatively. I opened the book indifferent and closed it as a fan of Julia Fox! I’d highly recommend listening to the audiobook, as Julia reads the memoir herself.
Yet another rebel soul beanie, you ask? Yes, of course! I love these, but I will be taking a break from them once this one is done. This version is knit in Knitting for Olive Merino and Soft Silk Mohair in Dusty Honey!
What are you reading and/or making lately?
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