Here’s what I’ve been knitting, reading and loving this month.

October Knitting Update

October brought one finished object, but it was a fun one!

Finished Object: Audrey’s Charlotte Arm Warmers

My one finished object this month was a pair of arm warmers for Audrey’s Charlotte costume from Five Nights at Freddy’s.

She needed them to complete her Halloween costume, so naturally, I picked up my needles and got to work. I love being able to make something handmade that becomes part of one of the girls’ costumes, especially when it’s something they can wear and enjoy.

They were a fun little project and a nice change of pace from the larger projects currently occupying my knitting basket.

What I’m Working On

I still have three projects in progress, and they’re all very different from one another.

My First Sweater

I’m continuing to work on my first sweater! This has been one of those projects I’ve been excited to tackle, and I’m looking forward to eventually having a finished sweater that I made myself.

There’s something especially satisfying about working toward a larger garment, even when it takes a little longer to get there.

My Bible Cover

My Bible cover is still on the needles, too. This is one of those projects that feels especially meaningful because it’s something I’ll use regularly once it’s finished.

It’s nice to have a smaller, more personal project mixed in with my larger knitting projects.

Kate’s Hurricane Blanket

I’m also continuing to work on Kate’s Hurricane blanket. Blankets are definitely marathon projects rather than sprints, but I love the idea of making something cozy that she can keep for years.

It’s also a good project to pick up when I want to settle in and knit without having to concentrate too much.

So, while I only crossed one project off my list in October, I made room for a little progress on everything else.

October Reading Update

If my knitting needles weren’t particularly busy, my reading list certainly was!I finished quite a few books this month, revisited an old favorite and started something new.

Books I Read in October

Here’s everything I read this month:

1. The Cat Who Saw Red

2. One Fifth Avenue

3. Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It

4. State of Wonder

5. Death of a Wild Swimmer

6. Eliza and Her Monsters

7. Big Boned

8. The Women

9. Backstabbers

I also reread The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s always interesting to revisit a book you’ve read before, especially when you’ve had some time and perspective since the first read.

Currently Reading

I’m currently reading Down with the Shipmans and looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

My reading list always seems to grow faster than I can get through it, but I’m certainly not complaining. There are worse problems to have than too many books waiting on your nightstand!

Products I Love

A few things I’m enjoying and sharing this month:

Counter All Bright Vitamin C Serum

This is one of my Counter favorites. I love having a little skincare routine alongside my knitting and reading downtime. If you’re looking to add a Vitamin C serum to your skincare lineup, this is one to check out.

You can shop Counter using my link and code KRISTIEMCCAULEY.

Looking Ahead to November

As we head into November, I’m hoping to keep making progress on my sweater, Bible cover and Kate’s blanket. I’d also love to get another finished object off the needles!

Of course, there will be more books, more yarn and probably a few new projects added to the queue along the way.

That’s the fun of this hobby. There’s always another pattern to try, another book to read and another project waiting to be cast on.

What about you? What did you knit and read in October? Did you finish a project you’ve been working on for a while, discover a new favorite book or start planning your holiday knitting?

I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!

Happy knitting and happy reading!

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There are two kinds of knitters: those who finish a project and immediately cast on the next one, and those who have a running list of projects they’d love to make, complete with saved patterns, bookmarked yarn and approximately 4.7 million ideas floating around in their heads.

I’m probably a little of both.

Part of the fun of knitting is dreaming about what comes next. A beautiful sweater pattern catches your eye. You see a gorgeous color of yarn and immediately imagine what it could become. Someone shares a finished project on Instagram, and suddenly you need to make one, too.

Before you know it, your knitting queue is long. Long long.

But here’s the thing: A knitting queue should inspire you, not overwhelm you.

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Feeling uninspired by your knitting? I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately, so I’m sharing 15 ways to find fresh project inspiration, get excited about your yarn stash again and rediscover the joy of knitting.

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Grab your current project and a cup of something cozy. Here’s what I’ve been up to!

🧶 What I’m Knitting

Audrey’s Halloween Costume: Arm Warmers FINISHED!

One Halloween knitting project is officially complete! I finished both of the zebra-striped arm warmers for Audrey’s Halloween costume.

These were a fun seasonal project, and I’m happy to have them finished in time for Halloween. There’s something especially satisfying about knitting something that will become part of a costume rather than an everyday wardrobe.

Now I just need to see the whole costume come together!

Audrey’s Sweater: The Collar is Finished

I also cast on and finished the collar of Audrey’s sweater! Once my size 6 needles are free, I can move on to the yoke.

My First Sweater: Sleeve No. 2

I’m still working on the second sleeve of my first sweater, and I’m continuing through the six-round decrease repeat section.

The pattern calls for this section to be repeated 15 times, so there’s still plenty of sleeve knitting ahead of me!

This is one of those projects where progress comes from showing up and working through the pattern, one round at a time. I’m keeping at it, and eventually, I’ll have a second finished sleeve and a sweater that’s much closer to being ready to wear.

Knitting status this week: One Halloween project finished, one sweater collar started and one sleeve still keeping me company.

📚 What I’m Reading

Finished:

One Fifth Avenue

I finished One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell this week.

The novel takes readers into the lives of the people connected to an exclusive New York City apartment building, where social status, ambition and relationships all play a part.

It was an entertaining change of pace — a story centered on people, personalities and the complicated worlds they create for themselves.

Finished:

The Handmaid’s Tale

I also finished The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, for what I think is my third time reading it.

Some books are worth revisiting, and this is definitely one of them. Reading a familiar story again can bring different details into focus, especially when you already know where the characters’ journeys lead.

Atwood’s writing, the novel’s structure and the way the story reveals information make it an especially interesting book to revisit. There’s plenty to think about beyond simply finding out what happens next.

I always enjoy returning to a book that gives me something new to consider, even when I already know the story.

Reading on My iPad:

How to Seal Your Own Fate

My current iPad read is How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin.

I’m always happy to have a mystery waiting for me on my iPad. Digital reading is convenient when I want to switch between books or squeeze in a few pages without carrying another physical book around.

Listening To:

Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It

My current audiobook is Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick.

Audiobooks are a great companion to knitting because they let me enjoy a story while my hands stay busy. Whether I’m working through sleeve decreases or tackling another repetitive section, having a book playing in the background makes the time pass a little differently.

I’m looking forward to seeing how this one unfolds.

My reading lineup right now:

• Finished: One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell

• Finished: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

• Reading: How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

• Listening: Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick

💙 Products I’m Loving This Week

This week’s picks are for the practical side of knitting and reading: keeping track of projects, caring for finished knits and making time for a good book.

1. A Knitting Row Counter

When you’re working through a pattern with repeated rounds or decreases, keeping track of where you are matters. A simple row counter can save you from repeatedly checking your notes or trying to remember whether you’ve completed round four or five.

It’s particularly useful for projects like my second sweater sleeve, where I need to repeat the same six-round decrease sequence 15 times.

Look for a compact counter that clips onto your project bag or fits easily into your notions pouch.

2. A No-Rinse Wool Wash

Once a handknit is finished, it deserves a little care. A no-rinse wool wash is a handy addition to your knitting supplies for washing suitable wool and other handknit garments according to their fiber-care instructions.

It’s especially useful when you’re ready to block a finished sweater or refresh a handmade accessory.

One option to explore is Eucalan Delicate Wash, available through knitting retailers. Always check the care instructions for your particular yarn before washing a project.

3. A Digital Reading Journal

If you’re reading several books at once, a digital reading journal can help you keep track of titles, authors, start and finish dates, ratings and memorable passages.

You could create a simple journal in a note-taking app on your iPad, with a separate page for each book. Add a few thoughts as you read, then use those notes when it’s time to write a review or share your monthly reading recap.

It’s a practical way to turn your reading habit into a record of what you’ve enjoyed and discovered.

That’s a Wrap!

This week was a satisfying mix of finishing and continuing.

The zebra-striped arm warmers for Audrey’s Halloween costume are done, Audrey’s sweater collar is done and the yoke is up next, and my first sweater’s second sleeve is still progressing through those six-round decreases.

On the reading front, I finished two books, started another on my iPad and have a new audiobook accompanying my knitting sessions.

Next week, I’m hoping to keep the sweater momentum going and make more progress toward finishing the sweater and get ready to block it.

What are you knitting or reading this week? Are you working on something for Halloween, making progress on a sweater or enjoying a book you can’t put down? I’d love to hear what you’re making and reading!

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It lives in the project bag holding the sweater you haven’t touched in six months. It hides in the sock that has been waiting for its second mate since spring. It lurks in the yarn you bought for a project that seemed absolutely essential at the time but now inspires approximately zero enthusiasm.

We call these projects UFOs, or unfinished objects, and we talk about them as though they are evidence of some personal failing.

But what if we stopped looking at them that way?

What if an unfinished knitting project isn’t necessarily a mistake, a waste or a promise we’ve broken? What if it’s simply a record of who we were when we cast on?

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Here’s what I’ve been knitting, reading and loving this week.

What I’m Knitting

Audrey’s Arm Warmers for her Halloween Co…

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It was also a good reading month, with several books finished, one abandoned when it just wasn’t working for me, and a few new favorites added t…

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What I’m Knitting

A Soap Sock for a Girl Scout Event

This week’s quickest project had a very specific purpose: I cast on and finished a soap sock to use as an entry fee for a Girl Scou…

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I’m now working my way through the six-round decrease repeat on Sleeve #2. The pattern has me repeat these six rounds 15 times, so there’s still a fair amount of knitting ahead of me.

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My first sweater is still moving along, one round at a time!

I’m now about halfway through Sleeve #2, at least until I reach the decreases. I’ve been happily knitting around and around, watching the sleeve slowly take shape.

This part of the sleeve is definitely the kind of knitting I can get into a rhythm with. Once I got the stitches picked up and the s…

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What I’m Knitting

Halloween Arm Warmers for Audrey

I cast on two arm warmers for Audrey’s Halloween costume! She’s going as Charlotte from Five Nights at Freddy’s, so naturally, that means I have some costume knitting to do.

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Here. Knit this one next.

If your sock queue is looking a little empty, or if you’re tired of scrolling through hundreds of patterns trying to decide what to cast on, I’ve done some of the browsing for you.

These are eight sock patterns worth adding to your queue, from simple vanilla socks to textured designs and patterns.

And yes, they’re all different enough that there’s something here for whatever kind of sock-knitting mood you’re in.

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Honestly? I’m getting pretty good at that.

Here’s what I’ve been knitting, reading and loving this week.

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Then you spot it.

A mistake.

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This week brought a pretty big milestone: I finished Sleeve #1!

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What I’ve Been Knitting

I finished my Mermaid Scales Shortie Socks this week! These were a fun knit, and I’m always happy to add another finished pair to the sock drawer.

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*K2, P2, SSK, KFB, repeat from …

Suddenly that cute sock you fell in love with on Instagram looks considerably less cute.

Don’t worry. Sock patterns aren’t actually written in code. Once you understand the basic vocabulary and learn how to find the information you need, those rows of abbreviations start making sense.

Let’s decode one.

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Once I finished my Mermaid Scales Shortie Socks, I decided it was time to give my sweater some serious attention. And by “some serious attention,” I mean I have been solely knitting on Sleeve #1 ever since.

No socks. No new cast-ons. No distractions. Just sleeve knitting.

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