It Gets Messy in the Middle
But the end is in sight
I finished the body of the cardigan I've been working on since what seems like the beginning of time. I almost didn't include this photo of the current state. It hasn't been blocked, and the ends from all those stripes haven't been woven in. It just looks messy.
There is a part of me that worries you'll think I'm a messy person, or you'll think this photo is a fair representation of what the finished cardigan will look like. But you understand, don't you, that sometimes things get messy in the middle.
I could have woven in those ends before taking this photo, but that wouldn't have shown you an accurate picture of my process. Instagram is full of beautiful, carefully staged photos of knitting. But that isn't real. An interesting project of any kind is likely to go through a messy phase. We need to remind ourselves that if we keep at it, applying our knowledge and skills to the finishing steps, all will be well in the end.
By the way, I'm happy to report that I did finish the socks I was working on and sent them off to the publisher. I'm delighted with how they came out, and glad I'll have them back before winter rolls around again.
New Yarn
I'm feeling motivated to finish up the cardigan because the weather is beginning to shift An wool/alpaca sweater is going to feel a bit too warm in another month or so. I have a batch of wool/cotton blend all wound up and ready to roll.
This is Plein Air from Purl Soho. It is a light worsted weight 2-ply blend of 67% wool, 33% organic cotton. It is soft, with the matte appearance you'd expect from cotton. The colors are muted and sophisticated. I bought enough Plein Air to make two sweaters (Seriously? Like I needed more stash?), and I'm not sorry.
What projects are you dreaming of starting? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
I finished two very different books this week, and I think both are worth your time. The first is First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston.
This is one of those twisty mysteries that managed to keep my on the edge of my seat without ever getting violent. No one is who they seem, everyone has secrets, and the surprises never stop. This book is a sharp and fast-paced roller-coaster ride.
The second book is Erasure by Percival Everett.
Cord Jefferson won the Academy Award for his adaptation of this novel into the film American Fiction. The award was richly deserved. While I loved the book, this is the rare instance where I preferred the film. Our hero, Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, is a writer of dense academic novels no one wants to read. Out of frustration, he uses a pen name to write a short novel based on every offensive, racist stereotype of Black America. Erasure is both very funny and deeply uncomfortable.
In the screenplay for the film, Jefferson beefs up a couple of characters that only have bit parts in the novel. The film spends less time on the actual content of the offensive book and more time on the relationships between Monk and those around him. With such an all-star cast (Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander, Issa Rae, Leslie Uggams, Tracee Ellis Ross), I’m happy these roles were expanded to let those actors shine.
I can easily recommend both the book and the movie, but if you're only up for one, see the film, American Fiction.
Also note that Percival Everett has a new book launching on March 18, James.
This is a re-telling of Mark Twain’s classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, from the perspective of Jim, the runaway slave who accompanied Huck down the Mississippi River. The new novel is getting rave reviews. I’ve already pre-ordered, and I’m excited to read this one.
Some things that caught my eye
From The New York Times, a beautiful story about a survey of stained glass work in cemetery mausoleums, exposing art not seen in 100 years.
Also from The Times, a story about archeological evidence of large scale manufacturing of Tyrian Purple cloth in ancient Israel. The number of snails killed to make just that color is unimaginable.
Thank you, as always, for choosing to read my work this week. I hope the change of seasons is bringing you delight, whichever hemisphere you're in.