Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I am still plugging along with my knitting and reading progress. First up the knitting. I completed the preemie hat for February.

Pattern: Ben's Hat

Yarn: Premier Just Yarn Worsted in Turquoise

Needles: size 5

I ripped back the two decrease rounds I messed up on my hat and reknit them correctly. The pattern is Rick Rack Braid Hat.

On the reading front I completed Organizing Your Home and Life With ADHD. I found it a bit amusing that some of the tips she provides I am already doing. Unfortunately it took a lot of trial and error to come up with these solutions. I did find some of her tips for dealing with time blindness interesting. My library hold came in for The High Five Habit so I restarted that today. Finally I am still working on There's Someone in Your House. It is still a bit slow but I am interested enough in the outcome to keep going. 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I am still doing alright with my knitting and reading. I have been working on my hat but I keep messing it up so I have put it aside for the time being. I decided to start on the preemie hat for February.

Pattern: Ben's Baby Hat

Yarn: Premier Just Yarn Worsted in Turquoise

Needles: Size 5

On the reading front I have not made much progress. I have only been reading a couple of pages a day on my books. For my "self-help" book I am reading Organizing Your Home and Life With ADHD. I have found a couple of good tips that I will use. I am still working on There's Someone Inside Your House. It is a bit of slow going but it keeping my interest just enough to keep going. 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I am still doing well with my knitting and reading progress. I am still doing something everyday - even if it is just 1 page or 1 row. For my knitting I have been working on this hat that has been OTN for way to long (since August 2023).

Pattern: Rickrack Braid Hat

Yarn: Premier Just Yarn Worsted in Burgundy

Needles: Size 10.5

For reading I finished The Miracle Power of Your Mind by Joseph Murray and started Organizing Your Home With ADHD by Kai Jordan. While I have not been officially diagnosed with ADHD I do have a lot of the symptoms and I am hoping that the book can give me some ideas on organizing the mess in our house. I am also still reading There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins. I am less than 100 pages into the book but it is going pretty slow. Hopefully the pace will pick up soon.    

 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I really want to do more knitting and reading in 2025. So far I have read and knit everyday of the year. Even if I only read 1 page or knit 1 row I am calling it a win. I even managed to finish a project.

Pattern: Olivia Lacy Baby Hat

Yarn: Premier Just Yarn Worsted in Turquoise

Needles: Size 5

Started: 12/13/24

Completed: 1/11/25

Comments: A nice and easy pattern. This is preemie hat #1 for 2025

In reading I am currently reading two books. The first is The Miracle Power of Your Mind by Joseph Murray. I should finish this one today or tomorrow. I am finding this very interesting. I am pleasantly surprised about the author's view on women. Considering the book was published in 1952 he had a pretty modern take. The second book is There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins. I am only about 30 pages in but I am liking it so far. I also am in the middle of The High 5 Habit: Take Control of Your Life With One Simple Habit by Mel Robbins. I did not finish before it had to be returned to the library so I am waiting for it. At this point there are 7 holds ahead of me so I think it is going to be awhile before it is my turn.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I have made quite a bit of progress since my last update at the end of January. On the knitting front I have completed the last coaster of the set I was knitting. The pattern is Knit Basket or Checkerboard Coasters and the yarn is Premier Yarns Just Cotton in Faded Denim.

I have also completed the preemie hat for February. The pattern is Bella's Hat and the yarn is Premier Just Yarn Worsted in Yellow.

After that I completed a knitted bracelet from the Nora's Bracelet pattern (Ravelry link). The yarn is Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Craft Little Red in Huntsman.

Finally, I am currently working on a cabled headband. The pattern is Bonnie Earwarmer Headband in Premier Just Yarn Worsted in Mist.

On the reading front I am still reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. People rave about this book but I am having a hard time getting into it. It seems very repetitive to me in many ways. I will keep going though because I have found a few nuggets of wisdom to apply. I finished the Christmas in Maine series which ended pretty much how I expected. I also finished Murder on Liberty Bay by Dennis Shock. This was a fun and easy to read cozy mystery. I am now reading Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes by Stephen A. Smith. I enjoy watching Stephen A. on ESPN so I am enjoying learning about how he ended up where he is. 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I am back with another update. I am still being a monogamous knitter and I am on the final coaster for the first set I am making,

 

Once this is completed I will need to figure out what to make next. I have a couple of ideas that I am milling around.

On the reading front I have started two new books. I am on the 6th and final installment of the Christmas in Maine series by Grace Myers. Still trying to get past the typos but I really want to know how the story ends so I am stick through it. On the self-improvement front I am reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. So many people swear by this book that I am a bit afraid that it won't live up to what I have decided it will be in my mind. I am trying to just stay open to what is has to say and not have any expectations.
 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I have been been monogamous in my knitting the past week. I am still knitting on the Knit Basket or Checkerboard Coasters. I have decided to make these in groups of 5 so I have one more to finish before this group is finished.

On the reading front I am on to part 5 of the Christmas in Maine series. I am not sure if these were put out in a hurry or if they are self-published without an editor but there are a lot of typos in these. Only one more to go after this one. I am to interested in how the story ends otherwise I probably would have given up on these. I am also almost done with You Are a Badass. My loan expires on Friday so I need to finish it before then. I am still enjoying it and like the way she weaves stories into the lessons. 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

My knitting for the New Year is off to a good start. I finished the preemie hat for January.

This is the Gentle Breeze Baby Hat in Premier Yarn Just Worsted in Yellow. 

I have started on some coasters as well. I have finished one and have started the second. I am still debating if I want to make them in 3 or 5 groups.

The pattern is Knit Basket or Checkerboard Coasters and the yarn is Premier Yarns Just Cotton in Faded Denim.

On the reading front I am now on book 4 of the Christmas in Maine series. I am enjoying the story but man are there a lot of typos and it is really starting to bug me. I am also still reading You Are a Badass. I like how she is able to talk about spirituality without beating you over the head with it. 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I am going to try and knit more this year. I have no specific goals but it is something I want to work on. On New Year's Day I cast on for the first preemie hat for 2024.

The pattern is the Gentle Breeze Baby Hat the yarn is Premier Yarn Just Worsted in Yellow. I am ready to start the crown decreases so this should be finished in the next day or two.

On the reading front I am reading two new books since my last update. For my fun read it is Christmas in Maine by Grace Myers. I am on the 3rd part out of 6. Each section is a little over 50 pages so they are quick reads. My self improvement book is You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. This book has been on my TBR list for awhile. So far I am enjoying it but I must say that most of these books provide the same information just in different ways. That does not bother me so much because obviously a lot of these points are not sticking with me. 

For reading I did set a Good Reads goal of 25 books for the year. I smashed my goal of 15 books last year so I think this is a reachable goal. However, reading books that are only 50+ pages does seem a bit like cheating but oh well I will get over it!

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

My knitting mojo has come back a little bit. I managed to actually finish a project this week.

This is a snowflake dishcloth made from this pattern. The yarn is Premier Yarns Just Cotton in Cream. I have to work on my preemie hat for December, Clark's blanket and a sweater for my great-nephew. I better get my fingers in gear. 

On the reading front I have started two new books since I last posted. My current self improvement book is Do It Today: Overcome Procrastination, Improve Productivity, and Achieve More Meaningful Things by Darius Foroux. I really need to work on overcoming procrastination and am hoping that this book will help me figure out how to do so. My fiction selection is A Down Home Christmas by Liz Talley. This is you typical cheesy Christmas time romance but I can't help it I like these kinds of books. 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

On the knitting front I have caught up on my preemie hat knitting for the year. Both of these hats are knit in Premier Just Worsted in Yellow.

 This is the hat for October and the pattern is the BERT Baby Hat. 

The November baby hat is the Floriana Baby Hat pattern.

On the reading front I am still reading Girl, Wash Your Face. I love her stories and relate to her way more than I thought I would. Since my last update I finished Haunted Copper Country: The History & Ghost Stories of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula by Lisa Shiel. I was a bit disappointed in this one. It was heavier on the history than the paranormal which is not necessarily bad it just was not what I was expecting. I am now reading Life Is Magic: My Inspiring Journey from Tragedy to Self-Discovery by Jon Dorenbos. This is a very interesting book. When the author was 12 his father murdered his mother which set forth the events that would obviously change his life forever.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I have managed to finish the preemie hats for August and September. Both are knit in Premier Just Yarn Worsted in Yellow.

This is the hat for August. The pattern is Easy Knit Newborn Hat.

Here is the hat for September. This pattern is the Lomond baby Hat (Ravelry link).

On the reading front I just finished with Elway: A Relentless Life. The book was a bit more technical then I would like but overall it was interesting. I am not sure what I will read next but I am thinking something spooky for the Halloween season.  On the inspirational front I have started Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. I have only read the introduction so far so I can not really comment on it yet.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

On October 2nd I finished the preemie hat for August. Just a tad behind but better late than never.

The pattern is the Easy Knit Newborn Hat and the yarn is Premier Just Yarn Worsted. I am on the decreases for the September preemie hat so that should be done for next week's post. I still need to get working on binding off Clark's blanket and getting the border knitted on.

On the reading front I have started Elway: A Relentless Life by Jason Cole. I was always an Elway fan and this book is interesting. I have especially liked reading about how his father, who was a college football coach, helped to mold his career even though he did have a hand-off approach to his career. I have also started From Zero to Thousands of Target Blog Subscribers in 60 Days by Benjamin P. Hardy. I am not sure I want to have thousands of subscribers but I feel like this book has some good advice that can be applied to other areas of life and business. I am a fan of Benjamin Hardy's work and like his easy writing style.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

My knitting progress is pretty much non existent. I still have not finished the preemie hat for August and I will need to start the hat for September. I have started binding off Clark's blanket. I will then need to weave in ends and knit the border. Can I finish it in time for Christmas? Only time will tell.

On the reading front I am still working on The Woman Inside. There was a twist that I did not see coming which I always enjoy. On the self improvement front I started a new book. The Big Free Book of Success is available from billmurphyjr.com. I am enjoying the quick and easy to read stories he writes about. This one should go pretty quickly.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

This is another fairly boring update. On the knitting front I have only worked on Clark's blanket. I have 5 rows left on the border and then I will cast off. I did lose at yarn chicken and had to rip back a bit but that is ok. I am 99% sure that I am going to add an I-cord border. After working on it this long I want to make sure it is finished nicely. I still need to finish the preemie hat for August and start the one for September.

Reading wise I am almost finished with Girl Mogul. I am surprised that I am enjoying this book as much as I am. Even though it is geared to younger girls it does not talk down to the reader. I also started The Woman Inside since my last post. This is one of those books where you are not quite sure what is going on. Also, the characters are pretty annoying and unlikable which does not bother me but I know that it is not something everyone likes in their books.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

There is not much excitement going on here when it comes to knitting. I have only been working on Clark's blanket. I still have not taken another picture of it. I have two pattern repeats and then the border and the body will be finished. I am considering putting a I-cord border on it. I think it would be a nice finishing touch but I am also just wanting the thing to be done already. 

On the reading front I am still reading Girl Mogul. I am enjoying it even though it is geared toward girls in their teens and 20s. Last night I finished The Lost Diary of Venice. I really enjoyed this one. Next up is The Woman Inside. Also, I finished my goal of 15 books for the year. Some of them were sort of small so I feel like a bit of a cheater but it is done. I am going to see if I can get to 24 books read before the end of the year.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I am wanting to knit but I am not finding much time for it lately. I do have a few things to talk about today. First, I have picked Clark's blanket back up. I have not taken a new picture but here is an old one of it. 

The pattern is Mollie's Blanket (Ravelry link) and the yarn is Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Red and Dark Country Blue.

Next up is the finished July preemie hat.

This is the Easy Knit Newborn Hat and the yarn is Premier Just Worsted in Yellow and Aran.

I have started the August preemie hat but did not take a picture since I have only knit the ribbing. I also started a cowl but I am pretty sure that I am going to frog it. For some reason I am having problems knitting the cable pattern and I am getting frustrated with it.

I have started two new books since my last post. My fiction book is The Lost Diary of Venice by Margaux Deroux. I am really enjoying this one. It switches between modern day and Venice in the 1500s. I know a lot of people who do not like this format but I do not mind it if it is done well which this book is. My non-fiction book is Girl Mogul: Dream It. Do It. Change the World by Tiffany Pham. I didn't realize it when I bought it but the book is geared more toward girls in their teens and early 20s. However, there are some things in the book that are applicable to anyone no matter their age.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

I have not written one of these posts in awhile. Since my last post I finished the blanket for my great-nephew (on the day he turned 6 months old) and gifted it. The pattern is Seed and Tweed Baby Set and the yarn is Lion Brand Feels Like Butta in Pale Gray, Ice, Lemon and Seagreen (links open in Ravelry). 

On the reading front I have started two new books. The first is 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life by Andrea Owen. I am enjoying this quite a but. While the advice is not really anything new I like her writing style. However, if you are easily offended I do not recommend this book for you. As you can tell by the title she uses some colorful language at times.

The second book I am reading is No Stopping Us Now: A History of Older Women in America by Gail Collins. I am also really enjoying this book. I have learned some things that I was not aware of about women's history. The book starts in colonial times and right now I am reading about the 1930's. It can be a bit dry at time like most books like it by overall it is enjoyable.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

For this week's progress I have worked a bit on the preemie hat for May. I need to finish this one up so I can start on the one for June.

Nest up is the baby blanket for my great-nephew, Brooks. I have a goal of working on the blanket every day for the month. So far so good. I did manage to get quite a bit done over the weekend.

On the reading front my non-fiction book is How to Be Yourself. In the section I am currently in she is discussing how social anxiety has benefited humans through history. It is an interesting concept and makes me feel like maybe I am not such a freak of nature.

My novel is Any Other Family. It is an interesting diea and I am enjoying it. Even though I really do not like any of the main characters. But I think that the author made the choice to make them sort of unlikable on purpose. 

Wednesdays Are For Knitting and Reading

On the knitting front I completed the April preemie hat a few weeks ago. I cannot remember the pattern and need to try and figure it out it I can.

 I have started on the May preemie hat but still have quite a bit of work to do on it. 

I have not touched the baby blanket and really need to get working on it. 

On the reading front I finished both Tiny Habits and Game Face. For my non fiction book I have started How To Be Yourself and for my fiction book it is Any Other Family. I won this novel through a giveaway at Good Reads. I have just started them so I do not have any insights into them yet.