Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Knitting and Reading



I really enjoy joining in with Ginny and all the others in this weekly Knit Along - seeing all the beautiful hand knits and learning about some good new reads.

This week I am working on a custom order from our shop for a little boy's 4th birthday - a Colin Vest in Peace Fleece, Lena's Meadow that I am sizing up by using size 10 needles and worsted weight yarn.

Another project is a hat for Mike for his birthday next month.  This yarn is a wool tweed that came in a box full of yarn that I bartered for some of our handmade toys.  I cast on 88 stitches on size 7 needles and started with a knit 2, purl 2 rib and then will continue with the stockinette stitch.

As far as reading goes, we have started Little House in the Big Woods again.  The last time it was read out loud was about 5 years ago.  The new young ones are enjoying it.  It was really neat to hear Abraham (4 years old) shout out for me to keep reading when I paused for a few seconds.
I also picked up some books when we visited Thomas at college. (I just love browsing through libraries!)  One of them is The Back to Basics Handbook.  I continue to be drawn towards a more simpler, handmade way of life and want to keep adding new skills to apply to our little homestead.

22 comments:

  1. I adore the little house books!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Little House books were such an important part of my reading...I enjoyed reading them again when my girls were young, always had johhnycake while watching the TV series...special moments...Carrie from St Thomas

    ReplyDelete
  3. I will be so excited to revisit the Little House (and Anne) books now that I have a little girl!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Back to Basics sounds interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Back to Basics looks like a great book. I will have to add it to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, those Little House books! We read them aloud to each of our children, and they also read them on their own. Needless to say, with 8 children, my books are rather dog-eared and loved!

    I love that you bartered for yarn! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your books look good - I shall look out the Little House ones for my boys, I'm sure they would enjoy them. And the Back to Basics one I'll see if I can get in the UK...I can certainly use a nudge to get back to a simpler way of living at the moment. Your yarns colours look very calming too, I like muted tones, but then I also enjoy brights...just all yarn really :)
    Carly x

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think I have read all the Little House Books....my favorite is the The Long Winter...I re-read it a few years ago....I just love that book.

    I love seeing all that you have been knitting...you keep so busy Tonya.....can't wait to see your husbands Birthday hat....smile..

    ~~Renee

    ReplyDelete
  9. back to basics sounds like a good book. i am going to have to check that out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've been reading the Little House books aloud to Matt this summer! He managed to get to 29 years old without ever being exposed to them, which seems almost sacrilegious to me. With our movement toward simpler and older ways, they fit just right and are an inspiration. I grew up on them and can't wait to read them to my own children as well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've been reading the Little House books aloud to Matt this summer! He managed to get to 29 years old without ever having been exposed them, which seems almost sacrilegious to me. With our movement toward simpler and older ways, they fit just right and are an inspiration. I grew up on them, and can't wait to read them to my own children someday.

    ReplyDelete
  12. We're reading Farmer Boy right now and really treasure the moments when I can get the boys to all sit and listen together.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the vest pattern you're knitting.

    We love the Little House books, too. And "The Back to Basics Handbook" looks really interesting. We just have 1 acre, but we're hoping to utilize every bit of it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. We read Little house in the big woods last winter and I think we will read it again this winter too! So good. Your knitting looks lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I was just thinking that I need to have another re-read of the Little House books...I read my way through every year or so! Your knitting is so cozy looking, I love those colors this time of year! I'm sharing toddler leg warmers and my mama scarf this week. Happy knitting!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the Little House series and still reread as an adult. Great knit too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love Little House, love Back to Basics, love adding new hand-made skills, too! The vest you're knitting fits with your simple theme as does the beanie...I'm sure the recipients of each will appreciate them! I'll have to knit up one of those vests myself! Thanks for the link. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello Tonya!
    Thanks so much for suggesting the colin vest, it's so cute.

    I LOVE the Little House series. My mom read those to my sister and I when we were little. I read them again a few years ago and I look forward to reading them to Bracken. :)

    Love, Taryn

    ReplyDelete
  19. Back to Basics sounds like a good one. I am so looking forward to reading the Little House series to my little man in the next few years.

    ReplyDelete
  20. That book sounds lovely. Maybe we'll read it next.

    ReplyDelete
  21. We love the Little House books here, too! We have 3 boys in a row and then 2 girls, so far. I'm not even sure how many times we've read through the series since our oldest was born 10 years ago. We recently read Farmer Boy again before taking a trip to Almanzo's childhood home! It was so neat to see where he lived, worked, and played.

    I've had the Colin Vest on my To Knit list for quite some time. I really should grab a skein of yarn and start knitting it. The next project in queue, though, are Little House shawls for my two little girls for Christmas. :D

    ReplyDelete
  22. I was excited to see the progress on the vest, it looks beautiful! Alex will be delighted!

    ReplyDelete