Yarn stash replenishment.
For the past couple of summers I’ve dedicated the month of July to making holiday gifts. I’m never actually finished by the end of the month, but I seem to get quite a bit checked off the list. Not that anything on the list is mandatory, or even expected, it’s just fun to make what I can and surprise a few people with something cute and useful as a result. July is a good month to slow down and work on some handmade goods.
With the heat and humidity of July around the corner, I like to have the garden in really good shape by the last day of June so that only minimal maintenance and of course harvesting is needed for July. It doesn’t wind up playing out as conveniently as it all sounds, but I do find myself hanging back in the shade as much as possible for the month. My garden seems to understand. I'm still around, just a little less so.
What we're making in Summer Soul Camp today. Such a fun project.
To gear up for my month in the shade, I replenished my yarn stash this weekend. Not that it needed any kind of replenishing, but you know how these things go. What is it about yarn that makes one so weak in the knees? I’m a goner in a good yarn store, and this weekend, we went to THREE! (A sampling of a bigger Yarn Shop Hop in my area.) They were all really cool small local shops so we felt doubly compelled to hand over our dollars. And now I’m fully committed to “knitting from the stash” for at least eight weeks. Kidding! I think I’m good for a year. (Knitters, don’t laugh at the absurdity of my “I’m good” statement.)
I have a simple Sugar Maple Hat on the needles right now. I’ve knit so many of these I lost count ages ago. I’m mostly drawn to knitting patterns based on their name. For instance, next I’ll cast on for Campside. It happens to be a beautiful shawl, but the truth is, it could be a not so beautiful shawl and I’d probably still knit it, because, Campside. At the library, I choose books the same way... based on their title. I prefer light (but smart!) fiction, so once I determine a cute title, the description needs to tell me it’s not all doom and gloom. Lately I’ve been into Sarah Addison’s books. With titles such as Peach Keeper and Garden Spells, you really can’t go wrong.
I haven’t asked this in a long time, but what are you reading lately? I’m heading to the library at the end of the week and would love some new ideas. Bonus points if it’s a feel good, sitting on the front porch sipping lemonade kind of story... my nervous system appreciates kind and gentle. Thank you!
Wishing you a great start to the week... I've got an empty basket and three rows of peas calling my name, so I best get to it.