That is my lovely new project bag from Madbird. Remember when I asked for feedback on the vote? The one with the top votes sold out (no doubt some people saw it, agreed it would be a great choice, and picked one up for themselves!), but the second one was waiting for me- and it turned out to be my favourite. Sometimes when I am trying to decide something and leave it up to chance, thinking I really don’t know which I would prefer, once the decision is made (vote, coin toss, etc.) I can see more clearly which option I most wanted (whether or not I got it is another story!). Fortunately in this case, it worked out great! I’ve been using it a lot lately, on my current knit in progress:
That is the Starshower Cowl by Hilary Smith Callis, and I’m using ‘Golden Rose’ Ombre from The Blue Brick, which is a beautiful gradient in a fingering weight. I know that right now we are looking at an unblocked pile of knitting, but if you look closely you’ll see that the gradients seem to shift right around each band of the mesh lace, so it’s lining up perfectly. The Starshower cowl is a very different pattern from a typical cowl pattern; it has a lot more shaping, and actually begins with a shawl-style construction before joining in the round. It’s so addictive to watch the colours shift as the cowl grows. I especially love this unusual bright and citrusy gradient, which has so much depth that I don’t feel the photos do it justice. But that probably also has to do with the fact that I took these photos with my cell phone thinking I was only going to use them for Instagram. I should have known better!
The project bag is a good size, comfortably holding everything in the photos- including the book! Speaking of which, this is the book I’ve been recommending to friends lately- When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi. It’s difficult not to be deeply moved by the author’s account of being at the brink of finishing up his student residency and embarking on a brilliant career as a neurosurgeon when he is faced with a terminal diagnosis of his own. And so, fighting the cancer, he sets about writing this book. It talks about his struggles coming to grips with being both the patient and a doctor, of he and his wife deciding to have a baby even though how long he will be alive to see that baby grow is uncertain, and throughout it all he talks about what makes a life worth living when you thought you had decades ahead of you and find that number is greatly diminished. The afterward, written by his wife, is as eloquent and beautifully told as the book.
I finished reading it one weekend morning, and as I was wiping away tears, Lila asked me what I was reading. I told her it was a book about a doctor, and that it was a bit sad. She paused for a moment, and then said, “Because the doctor says ‘no more monkeys jumping on the bed’?” And I laughed and cried and hugged her and felt so freaking fortunate to be alive and watching her grow. So…. if you like books that give you that sort of feeling, then I highly recommend.
What an adorable response from your daughter 🙂
And that bag! Love it!
Kids are pretty awesome. 🙂
When trying to decide between two options, my mother would always hold one in each hand behind her back, mix them up, and have me chose. No matter which I picked I’d know right away if it was really the one I’d wanted or not.
Pretty project (and bag) and I will making a note to see if our library here has that book!
Your cowl looks amazing – both the color and the pattern and the two together…oh, sheer joy 😀
Your book sounds nice as well (nice as in a good story, not happy nice!), though I’m not quite a fan of the tear-jerker stories. In theory, they’re great; in practice, I’m not a fan of reading through wet eyes, lol.
Your project bag is perfect, and that cowl looks really interesting to knit. Isn’t it great when the color shifts work perfectly with the pattern? This book seeems very moving. Yes, kids sometimes have the perfect answer to bring us out of our sad moods. The joy of having children. My husband has a little note book where he captured all their lovely words and sentences, and sometimes we read it together. It is a wonderful tool to remember those precious moments.
LOVE that yarn with that cowl pattern!
Oh my goodness, that’s such a cute response from your daughter. 🙂 And the cowl is looking lovely.
Our children can be so sweet, yeah? You are putting such an interesting touch on this cowl pattern with these gradients. I
Oh dear. Im glad there was an innocent comment that lifted you up!
Oooh, I love that gradient! The octopus bag is just so cute, I’m glad you’re liking it 🙂
Out of the mouths of babes! Oh my! Lila’s comment made me smile!! I can’t wait to read that book-thanks for the recommendation!
Love the trio! I am especially impressed how perfectly the colors are lining up! When you posted it on Instagram I thought you were changing colors! Looking forward to seeing it on you – these colors are so “you”!
I love that project bag – beautiful and simple! I’ve wanted to check out that book for a while, thanks for your candid thoughts on it! ❤️
Gorgeous knitting, great kid story, and what a beautiful book. I sobbed through the last bit.
Great project bag. And that cowl looks gorgeous…I love the colours.
The colours on that WIP looks awesome! Love your project bag, too. I’ve looked at the project bags in Madbird and they all look so pretty… Its a pity it is so tricky to order things outside of EU. The book sounds like a great read. I’m sure I would cry a lot and be depressed for a while if I read it. But Lila’s response was so funny! Children are so sweet, funny and interesting little people… When they’re being nice. 🙂
Lovely project (that gradient is beautiful!) and project bag. I have a couple of Madbird bags that I bought a few years ago which I love. Their fabrics are really great.
Beautiful, moving book. One of my good friends is going through a similar experience. Seeing her strength and good humor through it all has been amazing.