The Fall KAL status: Aside from clutching the laughter and burying myself in Mom aka checklist lady mode I managed to carve out a few hours to knit and make some rounds on Nutkin. I decided on a longer leg for this sock. My cuff is at 10 rounds and the pattern itself is 80.
Things were going smooth, but I had some problems at night knitting with this yarn that is dark and shifts colors. I had a hard time seeing my stitches both in knitting and backing out.
I'm in a better place now, finished the gusset on Sock 1 and ready to move on to the foot. I know it's just sock 1 but I remain confident I'll finish in time for the deadline :)
Escapism: I was really tired and my back was aching a bit and just needed to lay there a bit, sometimes knitting, sometimes knot. I revisited the Bletchley Circle series on Netflix. Good stuff.
Trying to read something, anything again: I also finished a book. I KNOW! A real book, not magazines, online articles and tweets! "Do Not Become Alarmed" It's a vacation read. Something that I imagined page turning with hours to spare lining up the next book. I started off intrigued, wondering where it would go. Then it sort of stalled on me.
Last night I couldn't sleep, yet I couldn't knit anymore. I picked up my phone and turned on the kindle app and started reading. I notice when I read a paper book, there is an overall calming effect.I think it's why many of us can read ourselves to a contented sleep. Even if it's something scary or absolutely riveting where I know the potential for me to pull an all nighter is inevitable ... I can give into it. Are you familiar with Harry Potter movies? There is a scene in The Chamber of Secrets where Harry Potter literally falls into a diary. Yeah, that's how I feel. Even exhausted but determined to keep reading, if it's paper, I get into the zone, I cross over.
It appears with digital reading this is not a guarantee for me. I've had positive experiences. But in the case of this book, something wholly uncomfortable happened to me. I got to the point where I was more than halfway through it. I felt like the plot was getting ... redundant. I didn't like the characters. I didn't like most of the children. I didn't like their parents. The people I had some sympathy for were feeling flat, everyone felt flat, except for that bright light I was reading against. I wasn't tired, but I was irritated.
I was determined to finish this book. I wasn't expecting some great literary read from this story. It was supposed to be escapism, but I couldn't be sold. I read so irritated with the book, and so unsatisfied with the ending that I'm not sure if I can tell you my opinion is valid.
But the truth is I feel satisfied I finished a book (and I didn't stay up too late.)
I'm not deterred from reading on my phone either, though I prefer my kindle if I'm going digital. The truth is, I just liked thinking about fake people and fake stories and making the words mean something in my mind. I could use more of that. I think I'm not sure what kind of stories I like anymore.
I love to fall into a good story as well, but lately I've found some less than excellent books. I do find they have a soporific effect though! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI was thinking it might be nice to find that one book that is like instant valium or something. Perhaps I should pick up Moby Dick again?
DeleteI've had this same conversation with The Mister and Daughter about my Kindle recently. They hate reading anything but a real book and I am a big fan of the Kindle-probably because of the light. I can read in the dark and that lulls me to sleep. I use mine mostly though for my audio books. It is the best platform for Audible. Having said all that I am going to admit that I BUY more books on my Kindle than I have finished. In fact I just finished my first book EVER on it and I have had it for years. I get bored easily and it is just too tempting to spend more time on it searching for a better read than to actually read. Damn you Amazon....
ReplyDeleteThe boys will read on either, though we find we all prefer paper these days, it's just so inconvenient. Our bags and backs carry enough. I really think the kindle is easier on me. I have a lot of unfinished books too, mainly because I cannot find the time. I know you love a good book hunt! Me I prefer when you guys do the hunting and the recommendations hehe.
DeleteThe sock is progressing nicely! I sympathize about the dark yarn at night! (most often followed by tinking in the morning!) I love my Kindle-haven't read a paper book in ages. The Kindle is easy to hold-love the app on my phone the best!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm far enough along w/this pattern that it will only be easier now. I can see and feel where I'm wrong a lot easier. I have to be sure not to split the yarn where it changes colors. It looks like 2 stitches but it's not! I think I need to digout my kindle!
DeleteYour sock looks nice! I find dark yarn at night nearly impossible to see.
ReplyDeleteI've read quite a few books lately, but I'm getting a little tired of they way they are written. It seems that so many have such unlikeable characters, that finishing them is a chore.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with the dark yarn and night knitting issues. I have been drawn to darker yarns these days too. Dark like my heart? LOL
DeleteYes. There is a huge trend of unlikeable characters. I was discussing this with my husband and it's weird. We've both always been okay with stories of odd characters, broken or cantankerous, but this new trend feels different. These characters are not self aware. They do not know they are broken?
Oh you have my dark sock good thoughts! I have a friend who works on a white pillow case and she thinks it helps . ????
ReplyDeleteOh Kathy, this is an excellent idea! The best knitting spot I've had for this project has been a cafe with white countertops! Thank you and your friend for the suggestion!
DeleteBletchley Circle is an excellent series: I recently watched it, too.
ReplyDeleteMy Fall KAL yarn is dark as well and limits when I can knit.
I am looking for something else similar to Bletchley Circle for knitting and/or reading purposes. Let me know if you think of anything.
DeleteIf your fall knit is dark does that mean you have something else on the needles too? I would love that, but there is no time ...
I will have to check out that Bletchley Circle series. I'm always looking for good stuff to knit too. ;-) I quite often end up struggling with dark yarn too because I seem to prefer darker shades for my socks. Your Nutkins are looking good!
ReplyDeleteI really did enjoy the Bletchley Circle series, I wish they did more than 2 seasons. I think I'm going to go with something wintery for my next pair of socks :)
DeleteNutkin is looking good! I have had the same problem with yarn - dark and mine is tweedy, so when some black (darker still) or red starts in I sometimes split the stitch.
ReplyDeleteIll have to check out Bletchley Circle.
And reading...I prefer "real" books, but use my Kindle more and more. No need to pack 10 books when I travel, etc.
Thank you Vera! I do like this pattern. But i think I will be moving to frosty and Christmasy colors after this. hahaha.
DeleteI think it's about a balance between the paper and the digital, but yeah, I can't imagine traveling with those bulking paperbacks anymore.
Love Bletchley! My cousins visited the home where that actually took place. Neat. Have you considered the light of the phone was causing some of the distress? Do you have a night time setting on your phone? Where it warms up the emitting light?
ReplyDeleteYes Chris! I think you're right, I do have an awfully bright setting on my phone! But I feel so blind all the time (following the knitting w/dark yarn probably doesn't help) but I will try lowering the brightness next time!
DeleteThe tweedy parts make it hard to see the stitches too. I've knit with that yarn before....love it, but HARD to see, especially if you have to pick back an error.
ReplyDeleteI'm very picky about books anymore. If they don't hold my attention, I'm okay with quitting. I took a whole LOAD of books to the Little Free Library. I picked a random page and read for awhile. If it didn't grab me, into the give away pile it went. I'm sure someone else will love the books I didn't.
Hang in there with your sock. You have PLENTY of time.
So I'm about to cast on Sock #2 and I'm over this yarn. LOL. The tinking is making me cross-eyed. Personal problems, I know, I know.
DeleteI would say you're right about not wasting your time on books that don't bring you joy, but the truth is I'm not sure what will and I want to just get in the habit of reading a little more regularly, so I'll give it the homework treatment for now. Besides, I was so far down the thriller, I had to know what was going to happen. Even if it was STOOPID as the kids say.
I like my kindle in that I can knit and read. Otherwise, I love real books :) So I do both. I use goodreads reviews to make sure I'm reading a book that will most likely entertain me.
ReplyDeleteI just found my Kindle again. It doesn't hold the battery like it used to. Am I the only one with this issue?
DeleteThat's some interesting yarn. I don't blame you for just wanting to knit socks. I'm itchin' to cast on another but I need to finish that San Diego one. I love reading on my Kindle Paperwhite. I do look at my phone to turn off my brain so to speak sometimes at night. Sorry you had an okay book. I've learned to stop wasting my time with a book that doesn't interest me and to move on to another I want to read for the year. Another idea is to have a boo you can read over and over again as back up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping in. We do anything for our kids, yeah?
DeleteI won't like Stef, I return to the HP series for that instant gratification, but I'm going to reread A Wrinkle In Time for the first time in about 20 years. I hope I still love it as much as I did back then. Yay Socks!
DeleteLove the yarn you are knitting your socks in. I can see where it may be a little more difficult to see that stitches at night.
ReplyDeleteYay for finishing a book- it is always so satisfying even if it is not a favorite.
Yes, Yay for finishing a book! But boo on the socks. I'm over it, but I'm close to the finish, so I"ll do it. hehe. I want to knit something wintery ice blue and pink. because ... pink. LOL
DeleteI'm a "real" book fan, too, but I can check out library books on my Kindle which is great for traveling. You and I are about in the same spot on Nutkin. I didn't do the short row heel, however.
ReplyDeleteI haven't learned how to check books out on my kindle, but I am capable of doing it on my phone using the library apps. Hmm ...
DeleteGood job sticking it out and finishing the book. My attention span for reading has been non-existent lately. Can’t remember the last book I finished reading. But it was definitely a paper book because staring at a white screen before bedtime is something that I have been trying to limit.
ReplyDelete