Welcome to this week’s knitting, reading and favorite finds update! 🎃 This week brought a finished Halloween costume accessory, progress on two sweaters, two books off my reading list and a new audiobook for my listening queue.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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!