I finished my current design project in a hurry so I could wear it at VogueKnitting Live last weekend. But I had 15 g of my pooling yarn left, and I still needed to make a video tutorial on how to make the assigned pooling stars, and the shawlette needs re-blocking anyway so I can take product photos…
so I tinked the bind off and the last couple rows, and put it back on the needles. I added 18 more rows at the wide end, about 3 inches longer and 1.5 inches wider, unblocked.
Yarn chicken is so much better when you have a scale to keep track. I won!
I had great helpers. Caturday knitting in bed is great, even when it’s work!
Video tutorial is done. Shawlette is blocking, again. Pattern has gone to tech editor and test knitters. It’s still called Stardust Nebula for now. We shall see. If you’d like to be the first to know when this pattern is published, sign up for my newsletter here!
In the meantime, here are a couple book recommendations from me. I like to read while I knit; I can control the pace, unlike television. I usually read fiction, but the last two books have been nonfiction. First off, The Wide, Wide Sea by Hampton Sides. It’s the story of Captain James Cook’s final journey from England to the South Seas to Alaska to the South Seas again. I knew he died at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, but this filled it all in for me.
We were at Kealakekua Bay last month. I didn’t want to hike 2 miles down and 2 miles back up (you can also get there by boat), so I settled for seeing it across the bay from Hikiau Heiau at Nāpo’opo’o Beach, a place that Cook had visited (and been mistaken for a god). Apparently he was mortal, after all.
The other book is The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. It’s the story of Stéphane Breitwieser, who stole more than 300 artworks from museums and churches across western Europe in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Fascinating true crime.
What are you reading and knitting? January is flying by!
PDXKnitterati 
Oh the beautiful pair !! – it’s been so long since you mentioned either that I’m not even sure if their names are Biscuit and Calvin ! [grin]
Well, a lot of times they’re referred to as Mister Bister, and Sister Bister! But Calvin and Bisquee will do.
Love reading your newsletter! Also enjoying your photos and comments re Kona. We lived in both Pahala and Paauhau before my family moved to Wailuku, Maui. Good Memories! And so grateful I discovered your newsletter with knitting. Good Cat helpers. Mahalo plenty.
Thanks for reading! Kona is my happy place; we’ve been visiting yearly for a while now. So beautiful!
Love the photo backdrop at VKL! Your knitting helpers are so handsome 🙂 Interesting sounding books! I read and enjoyed Blue Latitudes by Tony Horowitz on Captain Cook – it covers all of his journeys and a lot of the context around them. I am adding your recommendation on the TBR pile!
Oooh, that sounds like a great book. Just reserved it from the library. Thank you!
I read The Art Thief last year. Found it somewhat… I don’t know, less exciting than it sounded conceptually. Now I’m reading Nevil Shute’s On the Beach, the latest in a long string of largely depressing dystopian/post-apocalyptic books I seem to find myself reading lately. Glad my next read promises to be much fluffier!