FO Friday - Electric Village

The Electric Village shawl pattern is part of Kate Davies' West Highland Way collection. When it first came out I was indifferent to the pattern, but I was pretty excited to read about Kinlochleven, since we were there when the pattern was released. And then about three months ago I got obsessed with knitting it. I can't remember what kicked it off, but I had to make it. I bought the yarn on the 30th of October, cast on the 11th of November and finished a month later. It would have been quicker, but I was also knitting a Drawing Sweater.

I really love the way the yarn (from Passioned Flower a new to me but relatively local dyer) plays together. They are such different colours, but seem really cohesive.

The knitting was pleasant - garter stitch and simple lace, although it did feel like whenever I was knitting alone in a well lit place I was on the garter stitch, and when I was out with bad lighting and lots of friends I was doing lace. That's just the way it goes sometimes.

I wore it to work on Wednesday, and it's perfect for keeping the chill off when it's warm enough I don't need a jumper, but the aircon is actually working a little bit.

I was going to get photos on Wednesday night - we went to a trivia night at the Espy, down at St Kilda beach, but things got hectic and then it got dark. So these photos are taken in my balcony garden.

The only thing I would do differently is that if I had more yarn, I would do an extra strip of each colour, but the pink yarn was basically finished. Anyway, it's not small I just love a giant shawl these days. All in all a satisfying project with a strong finished object.

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Linky Wednesday - the one with the pause

In meditation it's said that the pause between the in breath and the out breath is a gap, a space to rest. Well, I'm in that in-between space for reading, listening and knitting. This is a random photo of a highlight of my week - I filled up my lolly jar. These are just supermarket party mix. During the lockdowns, we sources a great pick-and-mix delivery service, but at some point they started sending from the UK, which is a bit silly. Rachey messaged me a new one she found, and I impulsed purchased a kilo of mixed lollies, and then she sent me a link to the biggest lolly shop in Melbourne, which also delivers sweets by the kilogram, so i think I'm sorted for the rest of the year! In reading I've just finished The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham . It's the second last book in the Summer of Mystery, and I have to admit, having now read nine Margery Allingham books, that they are OK. I wouldn't have read them if they were not connected to this club, but on...

Geogradiant MKAL Part 1 - that was unexpected (spoilers)

Stephen West released the first MKAL clue on Thursday night. I started knitting it without looking at spoilers. When I got up on Friday he had sent through an "alternative" clue one. I then went and had a look at the spoiler thread to try to work out what was going on. Which was that some people thought the pattern looked like a "German hate symbol". I knit on anyway, since I was half-way through. Then he took down the original clue, replacing it with a mitred square in garter stitch. The Ravelry forums and Instagram are a complete shit-show, even though Rav is being moderated. It's been a bit disheartening, having something that is usually quite light and fun weighed down with all this. I admire Stephen's quick and sensitive response to this drama. I also feel that anything can look like anything if you squint. To me this looks like a Celtic knot. I think mine is pretty, and I'll knit on through all crises.

Unravelled Wednesday - the one where it's ordinary

This week I finished my first book for the 2025 When Are You Reading? Challenge , which was The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker , which covered the pre 1200 time period. I loved it, it's a retelling of the siege of Troy from a feminist perspective. I haven't worked out what I'm reading for the 1200-1399 time period. Suggestions are welcome. I'm currently reading Central Station by Lavie Tidhar , which is science fiction set in a future Tel-Aviv. It's good, but there are loads of characters and I'm not overly invested. Although at least I'm having no problems telling the characters apart, they are very district. I just don't overly care what happens to them. I'm listening to a NetGalley review copy of Mona Acts Out by Mischa Berlinski , which is the story of a woman unravelling. It's very different from Mischa's other books, but quite compelling. I'm not sure what's next, probably something from Kobo-Plus, perhaps Regrets...

What I made, by Sharon

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