Happy Sunday everyone! ❤ And the crackling you may hear is my camera lens. My main mic has finally bit the dust and for today's video I needed to rely on a camera-mounted shotgun mic that tends to pick up the focusing noise of the lens.
I have always read more than one book at a time. Right now, I have multiple books, both written and audible, on my phone and tablet. I love reading!!!❤
Currently loving Louise Penney’s series based on her Inspector Gamache. And, yes. I read a non-fiction and a fiction almost all the time. Sometimes two non-fictions and a fiction.
I listen to audiobooks via Audible or the public library site. I love Louise Penny, Harry Potter, and Deborah Harkness and listen to them multiple times.
Hi Tayler! I found this video soo interesting! I'm so glad you decided to talk about books and the importance and value of reading. I'd love to hear more about the books you're reading. Regarding more than one book at a time, I have recently started doing that and I'm evaluating if it's something that works for me. Currently reading: The Secret History by Donna Tartt and.. A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm. One fiction one non fiction. ❤
If you like fantasy books, you may want to read the books by David Eddings. I am reading The Queen of Sorcery, the second book of his first series of 5 books; the series is called The Belgariad. Has all the fantasy characters- barbarian, knight, thief, sorceress, wizard,- good vs. evil. He has another 5 book series called The Mallorean which picks up where the first series left off.
Leigh Bardugo also wrote the Shadow and Bone series which I think would be right up your alley. There are also a couple spin off series with some of the characters and set in the same world. I really loved all of them!
I feel like we’d be besties 😂 My husband and I always “fight” over kindle verses paper and ink books. My mom was a librarian, her parents were journalists and I’m a graphic designer by trade so I loooooove paper and ink and if a book has an amazing cover, I’ll totally be tempted to buy it just to look at it! But we have a small house so a full blown library isn’t possible so my husband jokes that with all the paper and ink books I buy and stack around the house, he has 4 or 5 times as many on his iPad 😂 Well good for him because I NEED the paper feel. Sidenote: I tried to find you on Goodreads and couldn’t find you 😞
I love the feel, smell, and the sound of turning the pages of a physical book. I've been an avid reader for years. However, since I discovered that I can knit while listening to audiobooks, my physical books have gotten kicked to the curb. This is a good reminder to make time for those old friends again. Good episode! 😊
There is a local yarn shop that hand dyes in house here, they just had a lot of success basing a series of dyes off of book covers. Just an idea to inspire you. 😊
I hate adding on the collar after I've finished the sweater. I always knit the collar first and work my way down. Then the collar always lays like it's suppose to. I've been through what you are going through. A few times! I don't know what I want to knit so I start something, then it totally doesn't look right because of the yarn, or the pattern, something just doesn't work out right. It's iterating! I feel the same way you do about knitting a sweater with cotton. It always loses it's shape, won't wear right, and then I'm out the money for that yarn. Good idea to look at actual sweaters made with cotton. I'm a huge book person. Since Covid hit, I've been reading about 70 books a year. I'm old and retired and I fill my days with knitting and reading. I'll read late into the night. It is an escape for me. I don't get around as much anymore so books take me to places I will never go. Same with the podcasts I watch. I love watching videos of restoring Chateaus or any house. I love food podcasts. There is a lot out there in the world I would never be able to see if it weren't for podcasts from ordinary people. No commercials, no tv, no filtering it. Just the person and their camera. Thank you for being one of my favorite podcasters. I love all the things you talk about and show us.
I have up to a dozen books going at a time. A combination of read alouds, kindle books, audio books and print in both fiction and non. No matter what mood I'm in, I have something to read. I keep books always nearby, because then I am more likely to pick them up. Even an ebook on my phone because I am less likely to spend way too much time doing nothing on my phone when a book is that easy to access. Having so many books going at once, and tracking my reading, really helps me get more read. My number of books finished has really climbed since starting this, and I've noticed its rubbing off on my kids too. Best thing ever!
I read 150+ books a year (high school librarian). I usually read about 3 books at one time....I do a lot of audio. I keep one book at work and also have one regular book going as well as the audio. I love audio....I know not everyone is a fan. I definitely want to check out a few of these youtubes you mentioned.....sounds so interesting. I love audio because I can knit while listening!
Soooo The Familiar... that book lining, the cover..inspiration for a new dye batch??? You know that shoukd be awesome, we could have sweater or shawl patterns and a yarn dye to match a book...whole-'nother-level...🎉🎉
I love to listen to audiobooks while I’m knitting and also on my commute to work. My absolute favorite series is the Dresden files by Jim Butcher narrated by James Marsters. Also known as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They’re funny and exciting and romantic and just wonderful! And there’s like 18 or 19 of them. So you really get to know the characters as well. They’re about a professional wizard who is also a private detective. So you’re looking at mystery and fantasy. Lots of fun.
Loved your sweater fiasco story. Been there, done that! Said all those exact words, frogged, went with the known quantity: an actual pattern and smarter yarn choices. I'm an avid reader of audio books. I read while doing other things with my eyes and hands like knitting 😊 I mostly read murder & mayhem, but my 31 yo son hooked me up with the Dresden Files series, and I love it! James Marsters (from Buffy) narrates, and he's an amazing voice actor. Dresden is a modern day wizard who partners with a cop.
Thank you, Taylor for sharing your struggles with knitting. I think it helps everyone feel better about their own knitting struggles/journeys. I also appreciate your sharing how you are prioritizing reading as a sort of must do for yourself. I have always been an avid reader but also feel guilty when I sit during the day “just” to read. I feel as though I should be doing something more productive. No one makes me feel that way. It’s just me. So it’s helpful to hear that others make time in their day to “just “ read.
Where to begin. Really enjoyed getting to know more about you. I really love your honesty in all things fiber. The color orange (caramel) is scrumptious. From your last session on archiving - makes perfect sense. And last but not least...of course you can read more than one book at a time. You knit more than one thing at a time. Variety is the spice of life. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
I also usually read more than one book at a time. Usually one spiritual book- , one or two non fictional books, and I go through periods on and off of audiobooks of novels. Right now I am reading “Searching For and Maintaining Spiritual Peace”, “Teaching through Stories:Jane and Jeremy Learn to Knit” and the audio novel is “Middlemarch”.
Hooray for all the voracious readers!! My dad was a great reader and he passed it on to me. I, in turn, passed it to my son, who has introduced me to the world of YA fiction and YA-like fiction for adults. Two of the most amazing authors were recommended to me by my son: Neil Gaiman (straight up adult fantasy) and Samantha Shannon. The latter is a young woman with an incredible talent. The Bone Season is intended to be a 7 book series, with 4 being published to date. In a word…extraordinary. The Priory of the Orange Tree (700 pages!!) also by Shannon, is so amazing, I would only read a couple of pages a day as I neared the finish… I just didn’t want it to end. I have noted the books you’ve mentioned, and will definitely add them to my list. Thanks for sharing😊
Absolutely loved this episode, Taylor! Like you, I'm learning more and more that it's okay to not love what you're knitting, and that it's okay to give up on a project! Knitting, in my opinion, is a constant learning process. As for the reading part, loved it, particularly that you mention wanting your boys to SEE you read. My younger son and I had a reading nook when he was around 10 - 15 years old (he's 32 now and still reads voraciously). We shopped for the matching chairs together, and would sit and read almost every evening. He read and indexed the spells in the entire Harry Potter series! One time he used my credit card (without permission!) to place an order on line. Oh, there was trouble brewing in my home, until I learned he had ordered the works of Shakespeare because he, at 14 years old, felt that it was essential reading for his education. I currently have 2 books going. "The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George (interesting because I lived and worked in Paris for 3 summers) and the 8th book in the Maggie Sefton knitting murder mystery series. Light reading, but the characters are well defined, and all folks I'd love to sit and knit with!! Kim from Oxford MI
I have ADHD and am very much a mood reader I have about 3-7 books going at one time and usually by the end of the year finish 50-80 books. I do read physical books, use my kindle and listen to audiobooks. All the books are different genres so I never get confused by plot etc. As also being a knitter/crochet recommend audiobooks as I can listen to a book whilst I’m working up a project or when I’m doing chores etc. I will say I have dedicated a lot of my leisure time to reading and have been doing so for just over 10 years so where I am not is not where I started. When I first got back into books after leaving high school I read maybe a book a month but have grown into the reader and crafter I am now at 30.
I love that you're reading more! I would like to do so too, but the work I do makes me read alot, so 'pleasure' reading isn't really a thing for me right now. But there is a book that I started that I think you might like. It it called The Picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde. I don't want to spoil the story, but I believe it is everything you asked for, historical, a little bit of magic, a little bit of love and beautifully writen. Highly recommented!
Just had to laugh, just last week I made the same comments to myself about reading 30 minutes a day (or more) and getting back into my yoga. I have been blessed that my library is only 2 miles from my house so I can bike there and get books for free. I enjoy reading what my library calls cozy mystery and young adults fantasies. Though sometimes I pick up cookbooks and books about knitting
What a fun podcast ! I read one “ story “ and the Bible at the same time. More than one story at a time and my old brain gets confused. I’m going to look up the books you mentioned. Thanks again 🧶📖
Sometimes there’s a project that just is not right. End of. Use the blue cotton for a summer top, just a couple of squares with a slash neck and if it’s still no, well you are going to have some mighty beautiful dish cloths ❤
The best thing I did for increasing my reading, or getting back into reading which I did a lot before the internet (I’m old), is to start using my local library and especially getting e-books from the library through the Libby app. It even got better when I got an e-reader to replace reading on my tablet. And if I’m not into the book then I have no qualms in not finishing it and returning it early.
I am in two book clubs, one is a passive TH-cam club, the other is the Well Read Mom. It is a national organization to encourage women (and Mom's) to read. Right now I am in the middle of Middlemarch (George Eliot) and getting ready to start The Ghost Keeper by Natalie Morrill. But there is always a book or two going at my house.
Oh, Tayler…best laid plans…been there and done that!! I have knit several cotton and cotton/linen sweaters and totally understand what you are saying. The one cardigan I knit grew side to side and shrunk in length! I still wear it. Just finished a cotton/bamboo/linen test knit for James N Watts, the Partition Pullover, an all over lace pullover. We shall see how that responds to a cleaning! Love the reading schedule! I read to go to sleep and usually get in at least 30 minutes. I usually am a monogamous reader, mostly because I use the Libby Library app. but have read and listened to two different books. Barbra Steisand’s book was fabulous to listen to! I was reading historical fiction while I was listening. Right now I am reading a novel called Dreaming in Cuban, a fictional story about a family who separated into Cubans who remained and Cubans who emigrated to the US. Fantastic so far. Love your podcast, keep up the excellence!❤
You will absolutely love C.S. Harris' Sebastion. I started reading this series a few years ago before books 9,10, etc were published. My reading history is much like yours. So grateful to my family for allowing my brother and I read whatever we wanted.
Hey Tayler! Another great episode. I recently fell back in love with reading too. I have multiple books going. I have an audio book, a kindle book, and some kind of graphic novel or manga too. I am committed to the library and almost everything comes from there. The Familiar is inspired by the author’s family history somehow! I could leave a very long comment about books but I I kind of already am so I better wind it down. Both my parents are avid readers and I think there’s something to that. Thanks for sharing books today! ❤❤❤
I second Naomi Novak! She is amazing. I’m still thinking about The Scholomance series. It’s YA, and I described it as what if Hogwarts was trying to kill the wizards? Lots of kids in peril, but not without purpose.
I picked up reading daily fiction reading again last year. This year Ive been reading 3 books at a time but they all have to be from different genres (Lit Fic, mystery, SciFi, and classics). Sometimes audiobooks, sometimes physical books- its been so much fun! Thanks for the recs, these are all new to me.
Thanks for the book recommendations!! I’m an audio book reader/listener, mostly and go through them pretty quickly. I was the same when reading physocal books. Just so you know, if you have an audible membership, the first several books of the Sebastian St. Cyr are available for free.
If you enjoy British detective series, give Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt books a try. There are 34 of them and I'm on Book 13. Great audio books as well narrated by Davina Porter. Wonderful!
I love reading and typically have about 4-6 books I am reading at any given time. Usually an audiobook, a light fiction, a heavier or more serious fiction, a nonfiction, and a younger audience book I am reading aloud to my kids. And sometimes some extra. I like being able to pick which to read at a given moment depending on my mood.
I knit the Autumn League sweatshirt by Two of Wands in 2022 using Lion Brand Cotton Jeans. This is my most worn garment. It hasn’t stretched or pilled, the yarn was lovely to knit and the pattern worked up into the perfect hand knit sweatshirt. Two thumbs up all the way around for this garment. My favorite hand lotion is Curel, non greasy, affordable and long lasting. Thanks for another great episode.
Hi Tayler, I recently read The House Witch series by Delemhach. Part fantasy, part witchery, part fantasised-historical. There’s a lot of humour, and even a little non-mushy romance. I loved the series (plus an inbetweener book and the follow up). I think you’d enjoy the escapism provided by this series.
I started committing time at bedtime to read (easier because my children are grown and gone). I have been reading Louise Penny's Inspector Gamashe series. I also have a thriller that I can't read at bedtime, so that will be my book for outdoor daytime reading in nice weather. Like you, I am a fan of historical fiction. also, and enjoyed Switchboard Soldiers, about women who were recruited during WWI (because they were expert switchboard operators and fluent in French and English) to go to France and operate what was then relatively new technology of field communications during the war.
I also love Louis Pennys inspector Gamache series! I listen to them on audiobook and the narrator is fantastic! I highly recommend that you check that out also
I loved hearing about your failures. It made me feel less alone with things I mess up! I really love the audiobooks of My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane. They are SO funny and entertaining and are retellings of the story of Lady Jane Grey and then Jane Eyre. I’m sure reading them would be equally as good but the narrations done for them are so fantastic I would highly recommend them. I also learned the authors have an entire series of books about different Marys but I haven’t listened to those yet. There is also a fun book trilogy that is about Mary Bennet. It starts out with the book The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet. It’s a fun mix of historical fiction with mystery/detective/crime mixed in. They are easy and enjoyable reads.
My favorite memories often involve my dad reading to me and my siblings. He is a voracious reader and would read out loud for us when we were doing the dishes or other tasks to make it more fun. He also almost always had an audiobook for the car and a huge library of physical books. I love that he showed us how to consume books in many forms. These days I usually have an audiobook for when I’m doing home and yard work, an ebook for any time I have a few unexpected spare minutes and a physical book or two in different places in the house. I hope you continue to find great joy in your reading journey and your kids will definitely remember your efforts. Cheers!!
I ALWAYS read more than one book at a time. It's like knitting more than one garment at a time. Or listening to more than one genre of music throughout the day. Our moods change, our desires change, our needs fluctuate throughout the month...
The Age of Myth series by Michael Sullivan and his Rhoihira Chronicles. I just finished the Keeper Origins Trilogy, The Hand series by Charlie Fletcher, and Night Circus. I think all of those would be up your reading ally.
I'm so glad I found your site. Not only do I enjoy the knitting conversations (I knit), but, surprise, you love the same genre of books I love to read. I have found so much information here about knitting, even though I have been knitting on and off most of my life since I was a child.
Love your episode. I am an avid reader-and with both my Kindle or Audible I can read and knit. I have three active books going at once. One book on Kindle and two on Audible. I have one that I listen to at night, and one I listen to during the day. I do not listen to music in the car, I listen to audio books. EarthTones Girl is sponsoring a sock knit/read along. I am listening to two books, "Attack From Within" by Barbara McQaude and "Heart of the Night" by Barbara Delinsky. I just finished a 16 book series by Maggie Sefton. The series is called Knitting Mysteries. I enjoyed that series, thoroughly. They were cozy mysteries, and great fun to figure out who did it before the characters did. I am also reading 'Summer's End' by Kathleen Gilles Seidel.
Knitting, books, and heavy music are my hobbies. I am also turning 40 this year. My wife and I are voracious readers and we read a lot with our kids and listen to audio books on road trips. I just finished "The Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros and it was pretty good for when you need a new book. It is definitely fantasy based and while there is a touch of a romantic theme throughout, but certainly captivating.
I have a book beside my bed for night time, one in the bathroom for reading while I'm doing my business, and one on my phone for reading on my break at work. My Mom usually has 5 or 6 on the go at a time and belongs to two book clubs. (She's 80) 😊
The way you describe Ordinary Monster hits it on the head! I LOVED that book and cannot wait for the second book! I’m a big fan of audiobooks and I usually listen to two books at a time. Sometimes three. It all depends on what I’m feeling
Thank you, Tayler, for another engaging and entertaining episode! I am definitely in the “multiple books at once” camp (just as I’m in the “Many WIPs Club” 😎). I’m currently reading my way through Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series (some of which were adapted for TV as “Three Pines”), and a collection of interviews with Edward Gorey (called “Ascending Peculiarity”). If you like historical mysteries that skew a bit dark, Anne Perry’s William Monk series and Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series are set at either end of the Victorian era. Very atmospheric! Also, thank you for sharing your tale of frustration: it’s nice to know even knitting gurus need to restart (and restart and….) too.
Right now I'm reading daindreths assassin by Elizabeth Wheatley (fantasy romance with 5 books in the series), Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (fantasy, part of a 40+ book series but I'm working my way through the death sub series which is only 5 books), and the Bell jar by Sylvia Plath
I love to read as well, and I do read more than one book at a time...one for afternoon and one for bedtime! Thanks for sharing your sweater challenges! I have run into some challenges too.
Thank you for sharing the saga of the sweaters! It's important to know that everyone struggles at some point, and that struggles help teach us (or reinforce) wisdom. I read physical books and listen to audio books at the same time, just not the same genres.
I decided to start reading more this year (I used to read so much and then completely stopped for a long time). I joined the book of the month club back in January and have read five books so far and am half way through book six. Based on what you said you like, I would recommend The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and The Unmaking of June Farrow. I loved both of those. The Night Circus is an older book bit is one of my all time favourites.
I do have two books going right now. Tress and the Emerald Seas by Brandon Sanderson (genre: Fantasy) that I read aloud to my kiddo at bedtime and Long Past Due by James Butcher (genre: urban fantasy). If you are willing to try urban fantasy, I loved the Dresden files by Jim Butcher (he is the father of the current writer of Long Past Due).
Hi Tayler !!LOVE this episode !! I thought I was the only one making swatchs ..casting on …unraveling…swatchs ..casting on etc Just unraveled a white cotton sweater I didn’t like how it was turning out !! Gave away the cotton!! Bye bye I also love to read ….now i’m reading Postbelum…spanish author named JuanCienfuegos …excellent ..very interesting and intriguing novel…..from Lima Perú
I absolutely love audiobooks, and almost exclusively borrow them from the library. I’ve slowly worked up to listening at 2.3X speed (for fiction). I listen while I knit, cook, do housework/dishes, in the car, while grocery shopping… I’ve found some great books by scrolling through other people’s Goodreads lists for something interesting.
I have always had a couple of books that I was reading at the same time, and when I allowed myself to work on several projects at the same time, it became really liberating. Now I go with a feeling and even allow myself to let things go if it's not working out or being interesting enough. We are adults and can do whatever we want with our hobbies :)
I hadn't read a book for about 15 years - too tired raising 5 kids and working. What re-booted me was joining a book group at my work. I figured the 'colleague pressure' would force me to read. I would read for 20 minutes early morning. That time-blocking was perfect, and I told myself that if I didn't keep it up, I'd stop reading again. 15 years later I keep the same time block. I've also included audio books (from the public library) while driving. Good for you!
I am usually reading 3 books at a time. An audiobook, a physical book and one on my Kindle that I read when I am getting ready to go to sleep. I have had Ordinary Monsters for a long time and think I will read it next since you are loving it so much! Would you be open to sharing. Your Goodreads so we can all friend you on there?
I have only very recently jumped on the 'more than one book at once' bandwagon and began listening to two audiobooks - one on my own, and one with my husband. Our favorite genre is historical fiction and we are currently reading The Women by Kristin Hannah (The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and The Four Winds by her are all FANTASTIC books of the same genre). On my own right now I am listening to The Measure by Nikki Erlick.
Whoooah, I totally didn't expect us to have the same taste in books ❤ I need to check out those books you mentioned! | Vaseline (petroleum jelly) doesn't actually moisturize. It's an occlusive that just coats the skin so that moisture can't evaporate further, but it doesn't add any. | Are you really sure there's no elastic or elastane in the ribbing of your RTW sweater? Brands are notorious for not disclosing the full contents of their products (they never list for example sewing thread or closures).
I recently started reading more. Both audiobooks and I read on my phone (kindle app) until I can buy my own Kindle. I used to be a "one book at a time" kinda girl, but then I realized, I'll watch multiple shows at the same time, why can't I read more than one book at a time? So I have different genres going depending on my mood. I have romance, fantasy, occasionally a non-fiction/self-help. Sometimes 2 fantasy books at the same time. It keeps things interesting, and allows me to pick up my reading regardless of what mood I'm in, because sometimes, I don't want the spicy romance, I just want something fun, and because I have multiple books on the go at the time, I allow myself to do that. Same reason I have multiple WIPs I suppose! 😂
Historical Fiction that I recommend: The Birth House by Ami McKay, The Essex Serpent, Cloud Cuckoo Land, Babel by RF Kuang, Homecoming by Kate Morton, Trust by Hernan Diaz, and The Adversary by Michael Crummey. Happy Reading!
hi - I am reading shelter in place by Nora Roberts. I have been a reading slump the past few months. As for knitting I have now frogged a pair of socks. tried my hand at color work could not get the sock on my feet. tried a lace weight with lace detail sweater and realized I kept on loosing stiches so will give that one a go far in the future so I frogged that to.
Thank you I really enjoyed this episode ! Hearing your thoughts out loud about your projects was great - made me realise I’m not alone ! And interesting books . Out of my comfort zone so I’m going to try them ! Xx
Taylor, As always, thanks for all the suggestions and heads up about mistakes. These podcasts make you so real and keep me coming back. I have already ordered some Kiehls and will look into the Step by Step tutorial and perhaps look for one or more of the books at the library. I do actually commit to reading every day at lunch time. Have a great week. Judi from VA
I love reading more than one book at a time! I usually have 3 going - one paper/hardback that i read before bed, one on kindle that i can read on my commute and one audiobook for knitting and other crafting moments! Sitting down with a project and a nice audiobook is healing
Knitting with pure cotton definitely makes you humble. Combine that cotton with bamboo or rayon, and it's even worse. Ask me how I know lol? I also own a bunch of cotton sweaters from GAP and JCrew that are fabulous and the ribbing looks perfect. Personally I just attribute that to machine knitting - we really can't compete against that. So I generally try to only knit with cotton blends and not pure cotton, and I leave the pure cotton knitting to the machines. With that said, I did knit a pretty great sweater with Lion Brand Jeans cotton yarn which is 100% cotton. The sweater I knit had a folded collar, which I think helped keep structure there. I also knit a summer top with Blue Sky Fibers skinny cotton and it turned out well. But it was seamed and had twisted rib, which I think helped. In general I drop down needle sizes when knitting with cotton, even blends.
Since you like Gothic-atmosphere books, I presume you’ve read the classic Rebecca. There’s a retelling of that story that I loved: The Winters by Lisa Gabriele (2018) It had enough parallels to the original that I love AND enough divergences to keep me intrigued!
I always have 2-3 books on the go. 1 audiobook, one very large series book (currently outlander series), and then something else on the side as the flavour of the month. I have been on a mission to raise book lovers since the day they were born. Bedtime is always reading time for us. My 6 year old now reads and it makes me so happy to see her reading her books in bed at night.
OMG I’m gonna say it again. You are my spirit animal. This whole video spoke to me so much. I have 3-4 books going at any moment. 1 audio (mowing/driving), 1 ebook (on the run), 1 print, 1 faith based/self improvement. I’m chugging through Wheel of Time and ACOTAR now, but also read A LOT of JAFF/regency romance. ❤ I also have a book going with the kids for a chapter a night, so we have the Chronicles of Narnia going now.
Oo do you ever watch other knitting pods? @AliMakesEverything has a knitting pod but is also a writer and ends every episode with updates on what she’s reading and recent books she’s bought. I think you’d love her!
Thank you for highlighting the KAL struggles. I had to work hard on the Frankensweater as a new sweater maker and understood what I needed help with and found the help I needed. My sweater came out beautiful and just the way I wanted it to. But this has been very challenging in a whole new way. The redo KAL is a perfect name. I am on a redo and still have no idea what it may look like as I progress. I almost gave up but am still in for now. I don't mind making a mistake and pulling back but I feel more like I have no real direction and am out in the universe. We shall see after a few rows. I love reading and have found it to be a must to start my day. My danger is that the books I am reading capture me and I have trouble putting them down. So I promise myself that after I do everything I have to, it will be my treat later in the day when I need to just sit and relax. I feel very lucky to have these passions knitting and reading etc.
Check out Two of Wands Autumn League pullover which is made out of 100% cotton and sweatshirt inspired. I am knitting this now and loving it. This also has a staggered start shaping although the neckline is added it is a folded collar, plus you could add some elastic if needed. I love audiobooks for knitting along to. I have usually 2 or 3 on the go. 1 for day (usually crime), 1 for night (cosy reads) and sometimes 1 for walking to when I'm on my own. Love, love, love your content. You are my favourite podcaster ❤️ Keep up the amazing work! And thank you 💕🙏 X
I was going to suggest this too! Also, the Birch Pullover by Andrea Mowry is a half fisherman’s rib crew neck pullover, BUT it’s a fingering weight pattern and will take forever, but it combines the lovely squish whilst still being light-weight.
I have often had more than one book on the go at once, for example if I'm reading something emotionally heavy I like to also have on hand a book that's a lighter read. I've also raised a couple of readers. From the time they were small I read aloud to my kids. Even when they could happily read on their own there were certain books that we enjoyed reading together. They would often want to chat about the books they were reading for school, so I would read them also. Now they are grown, and they suggested we start a little book club, even just the three of us, to discuss our selected read over tea and treats.
I thoroughly enjoyed the episode! Loved the book portion a lot. It was fun just sitting with you and listening to your enthusiasm for reading - I’m there with you. I’m just finishing The Seven Sisters-all 8 books in the series-one after the other! SO good!
I watched Bookstore. I loved it. I passed on to a few friends that also enjoyed it. Right now I’m reading The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman. It is so very good. Alice Hoffman also wrote Practical Magic. I just finished listening to An American Marriage by Tayari Jones also very good and I just started listening to The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd.
I was always taught (I’m 68) if I knitting with cotton, to knit the bands with a needle 3-4 times smaller than it calls for! Maybe newer designers weren’t taught that! Then you mentioned that you did it too!
I don't believe in monogamous knitting but I do believe in monogamous book reading! Otherwise I get story lines mixed up. Plus if I love a book I'm too eager too know how it ends to waste time on another book. I mostly do audiobooks though. Right now I'm working my way through Preston & Child's Norah Kelly series. They all take place in the American Southwest and are a nice mix of mystery, history and adventure/thriller.
I'm actually reading a few books at a time, usually. A bit of Bible study first thing in the morning with my tea. My "work" book, for slow moments, is currently "Migraine" by Oliver Sacks, full of interesting information I had no idea about, following up on my brand-new diagnosis at the end of last year. For fiction, I'm two-thirds of the way through "Little, Big" by John Crowley - "the story of four generations of a singular family, living in a house that is many houses on the magical border of an otherworld." I'm not sure about this summer knitting, really. Cotton or otherwise. Other than a pair of socks always on the needles, I think I might just do fun small things like another Emotional Support Chicken and Sheldon the Sheep. It's just too hot, besides which it's gardening season!
Happy Sunday everyone! ❤ And the crackling you may hear is my camera lens. My main mic has finally bit the dust and for today's video I needed to rely on a camera-mounted shotgun mic that tends to pick up the focusing noise of the lens.
I love that Booktube and Yarntube are so compatible!
I'm reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, a historical fiction novel set in World War 2 France. So soooo good. Also reading How to ADHD.
Why can’t it be a frogalong?
What a great name! 👍🏻
Because we want to finish something in the end!
Frogalong 🤣
Frogalong, because misery loves company….….and support
I have always read more than one book at a time. Right now, I have multiple books, both written and audible, on my phone and tablet. I love reading!!!❤
Currently loving Louise Penney’s series based on her Inspector Gamache. And, yes. I read a non-fiction and a fiction almost all the time. Sometimes two non-fictions and a fiction.
Currently reading James Clavels “shogun”. Since we’re living in Japan it’s been a very interesting read.
I listen to audiobooks via Audible or the public library site. I love Louise Penny, Harry Potter, and Deborah Harkness and listen to them multiple times.
Just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. What a wonderful story!
just funished the audio of that book. Fun to hear the Octopus talk. Great book!
Hi Tayler! I found this video soo interesting! I'm so glad you decided to talk about books and the importance and value of reading. I'd love to hear more about the books you're reading.
Regarding more than one book at a time, I have recently started doing that and I'm evaluating if it's something that works for me.
Currently reading: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
and..
A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm.
One fiction one non fiction.
❤
If you like fantasy books, you may want to read the books by David Eddings. I am reading The Queen of Sorcery, the second book of his first series of 5 books; the series is called The Belgariad. Has all the fantasy characters- barbarian, knight, thief, sorceress, wizard,- good vs. evil. He has another 5 book series called The Mallorean which picks up where the first series left off.
Leigh Bardugo also wrote the Shadow and Bone series which I think would be right up your alley. There are also a couple spin off series with some of the characters and set in the same world. I really loved all of them!
Ditto to loving the Kiehl’s hand cream. I think you pronounced it correctly.
I feel like we’d be besties 😂 My husband and I always “fight” over kindle verses paper and ink books. My mom was a librarian, her parents were journalists and I’m a graphic designer by trade so I loooooove paper and ink and if a book has an amazing cover, I’ll totally be tempted to buy it just to look at it! But we have a small house so a full blown library isn’t possible so my husband jokes that with all the paper and ink books I buy and stack around the house, he has 4 or 5 times as many on his iPad 😂 Well good for him because I NEED the paper feel.
Sidenote: I tried to find you on Goodreads and couldn’t find you 😞
I love the feel, smell, and the sound of turning the pages of a physical book. I've been an avid reader for years. However, since I discovered that I can knit while listening to audiobooks, my physical books have gotten kicked to the curb. This is a good reminder to make time for those old friends again. Good episode! 😊
Agreed
There is a local yarn shop that hand dyes in house here, they just had a lot of success basing a series of dyes off of book covers. Just an idea to inspire you. 😊
I hate adding on the collar after I've finished the sweater. I always knit the collar first and work my way down. Then the collar always lays like it's suppose to. I've been through what you are going through. A few times! I don't know what I want to knit so I start something, then it totally doesn't look right because of the yarn, or the pattern, something just doesn't work out right. It's iterating! I feel the same way you do about knitting a sweater with cotton. It always loses it's shape, won't wear right, and then I'm out the money for that yarn. Good idea to look at actual sweaters made with cotton. I'm a huge book person. Since Covid hit, I've been reading about 70 books a year. I'm old and retired and I fill my days with knitting and reading. I'll read late into the night. It is an escape for me. I don't get around as much anymore so books take me to places I will never go. Same with the podcasts I watch. I love watching videos of restoring Chateaus or any house. I love food podcasts. There is a lot out there in the world I would never be able to see if it weren't for podcasts from ordinary people. No commercials, no tv, no filtering it. Just the person and their camera. Thank you for being one of my favorite podcasters. I love all the things you talk about and show us.
I have up to a dozen books going at a time. A combination of read alouds, kindle books, audio books and print in both fiction and non. No matter what mood I'm in, I have something to read. I keep books always nearby, because then I am more likely to pick them up. Even an ebook on my phone because I am less likely to spend way too much time doing nothing on my phone when a book is that easy to access. Having so many books going at once, and tracking my reading, really helps me get more read. My number of books finished has really climbed since starting this, and I've noticed its rubbing off on my kids too. Best thing ever!
This was a lovely watch/chat!! So.Very.Relatable about your cotton sweater :)
I read 150+ books a year (high school librarian). I usually read about 3 books at one time....I do a lot of audio. I keep one book at work and also have one regular book going as well as the audio. I love audio....I know not everyone is a fan. I definitely want to check out a few of these youtubes you mentioned.....sounds so interesting. I love audio because I can knit while listening!
I love to knit to an audio book as well as doing housework!
I love to listen to audio books while knitting/crocheting or doing housework. ❤
Soooo The Familiar... that book lining, the cover..inspiration for a new dye batch??? You know that shoukd be awesome, we could have sweater or shawl patterns and a yarn dye to match a book...whole-'nother-level...🎉🎉
I love to listen to audiobooks while I’m knitting and also on my commute to work. My absolute favorite series is the Dresden files by Jim Butcher narrated by James Marsters. Also known as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They’re funny and exciting and romantic and just wonderful! And there’s like 18 or 19 of them. So you really get to know the characters as well. They’re about a professional wizard who is also a private detective. So you’re looking at mystery and fantasy. Lots of fun.
Loved your sweater fiasco story. Been there, done that! Said all those exact words, frogged, went with the known quantity: an actual pattern and smarter yarn choices. I'm an avid reader of audio books. I read while doing other things with my eyes and hands like knitting 😊 I mostly read murder & mayhem, but my 31 yo son hooked me up with the Dresden Files series, and I love it! James Marsters (from Buffy) narrates, and he's an amazing voice actor. Dresden is a modern day wizard who partners with a cop.
Thank you, Taylor for sharing your struggles with knitting. I think it helps everyone feel better about their own knitting struggles/journeys. I also appreciate your sharing how you are prioritizing reading as a sort of must do for yourself. I have always been an avid reader but also feel guilty when I sit during the day “just” to read. I feel as though I should be doing something more productive. No one makes me feel that way. It’s just me. So it’s helpful to hear that others make time in their day to “just “ read.
For you it's every Sunday, for me in the UK WNH is my Monday morning podcast! Always keeps me chipper
Where to begin. Really enjoyed getting to know more about you. I really love your honesty in all things fiber. The color orange (caramel) is scrumptious. From your last session on archiving - makes perfect sense. And last but not least...of course you can read more than one book at a time. You knit more than one thing at a time. Variety is the spice of life. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
I am currently working on a Felix Cardigan in that same Mustard color yarn…LOVE it!!❤
I also usually read more than one book at a time. Usually one spiritual book-
, one or two non fictional books, and I go through periods on and off of audiobooks of novels. Right now I am reading “Searching For and Maintaining Spiritual Peace”, “Teaching through Stories:Jane and Jeremy Learn to Knit” and the audio novel is “Middlemarch”.
I have a book on Kindle that I read every day, and a different book on Audible that I listen to every day. I love to read and I never miss a day.
Hooray for all the voracious readers!! My dad was a great reader and he passed it on to me. I, in turn, passed it to my son, who has introduced me to the world of YA fiction and YA-like fiction for adults. Two of the most amazing authors were recommended to me by my son: Neil Gaiman (straight up adult fantasy) and Samantha Shannon. The latter is a young woman with an incredible talent. The Bone Season is intended to be a 7 book series, with 4 being published to date. In a word…extraordinary. The Priory of the Orange Tree (700 pages!!) also by Shannon, is so amazing, I would only read a couple of pages a day as I neared the finish… I just didn’t want it to end. I have noted the books you’ve mentioned, and will definitely add them to my list. Thanks for sharing😊
Absolutely loved this episode, Taylor! Like you, I'm learning more and more that it's okay to not love what you're knitting, and that it's okay to give up on a project! Knitting, in my opinion, is a constant learning process. As for the reading part, loved it, particularly that you mention wanting your boys to SEE you read. My younger son and I had a reading nook when he was around 10 - 15 years old (he's 32 now and still reads voraciously). We shopped for the matching chairs together, and would sit and read almost every evening. He read and indexed the spells in the entire Harry Potter series! One time he used my credit card (without permission!) to place an order on line. Oh, there was trouble brewing in my home, until I learned he had ordered the works of Shakespeare because he, at 14 years old, felt that it was essential reading for his education. I currently have 2 books going. "The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George (interesting because I lived and worked in Paris for 3 summers) and the 8th book in the Maggie Sefton knitting murder mystery series. Light reading, but the characters are well defined, and all folks I'd love to sit and knit with!! Kim from Oxford MI
I have ADHD and am very much a mood reader I have about 3-7 books going at one time and usually by the end of the year finish 50-80 books. I do read physical books, use my kindle and listen to audiobooks. All the books are different genres so I never get confused by plot etc. As also being a knitter/crochet recommend audiobooks as I can listen to a book whilst I’m working up a project or when I’m doing chores etc. I will say I have dedicated a lot of my leisure time to reading and have been doing so for just over 10 years so where I am not is not where I started. When I first got back into books after leaving high school I read maybe a book a month but have grown into the reader and crafter I am now at 30.
You’re a reader/crafter after my own heart! ❤️❤️
I love that you're reading more! I would like to do so too, but the work I do makes me read alot, so 'pleasure' reading isn't really a thing for me right now. But there is a book that I started that I think you might like. It it called The Picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde. I don't want to spoil the story, but I believe it is everything you asked for, historical, a little bit of magic, a little bit of love and beautifully writen. Highly recommented!
Just had to laugh, just last week I made the same comments to myself about reading 30 minutes a day (or more) and getting back into my yoga. I have been blessed that my library is only 2 miles from my house so I can bike there and get books for free. I enjoy reading what my library calls cozy mystery and young adults fantasies. Though sometimes I pick up cookbooks and books about knitting
What a fun podcast ! I read one “ story “ and the Bible at the same time. More than one story at a time and my old brain gets confused. I’m going to look up the books you mentioned. Thanks again 🧶📖
Same!
Sometimes there’s a project that just is not right. End of. Use the blue cotton for a summer top, just a couple of squares with a slash neck and if it’s still no, well you are going to have some mighty beautiful dish cloths ❤
The best thing I did for increasing my reading, or getting back into reading which I did a lot before the internet (I’m old), is to start using my local library and especially getting e-books from the library through the Libby app. It even got better when I got an e-reader to replace reading on my tablet. And if I’m not into the book then I have no qualms in not finishing it and returning it early.
I am in two book clubs, one is a passive TH-cam club, the other is the Well Read Mom. It is a national organization to encourage women (and Mom's) to read. Right now I am in the middle of Middlemarch (George Eliot) and getting ready to start The Ghost Keeper by Natalie Morrill. But there is always a book or two going at my house.
Wool Needles HANDS - Hands hold books and stimulate your brain! Sounds like a perfect fit for your podcast. Love it
Oh, Tayler…best laid plans…been there and done that!!
I have knit several cotton and cotton/linen sweaters and totally understand what you are saying. The one cardigan I knit grew side to side and shrunk in length! I still wear it.
Just finished a cotton/bamboo/linen test knit for James N Watts, the Partition Pullover, an all over lace pullover. We shall see how that responds to a cleaning!
Love the reading schedule! I read to go to sleep and usually get in at least 30 minutes. I usually am a monogamous reader, mostly because I use the Libby Library app. but have read and listened to two different books. Barbra Steisand’s book was fabulous to listen to! I was reading historical fiction while I was listening. Right now I am reading a novel called Dreaming in Cuban, a fictional story about a family who separated into Cubans who remained and Cubans who emigrated to the US. Fantastic so far.
Love your podcast, keep up the excellence!❤
You will absolutely love C.S. Harris' Sebastion. I started reading this series a few years ago before books 9,10, etc were published. My reading history is much like yours. So grateful to my family for allowing my brother and I read whatever we wanted.
Hey Tayler! Another great episode. I recently fell back in love with reading too. I have multiple books going. I have an audio book, a kindle book, and some kind of graphic novel or manga too. I am committed to the library and almost everything comes from there. The Familiar is inspired by the author’s family history somehow! I could leave a very long comment about books but I I kind of already am so I better wind it down. Both my parents are avid readers and I think there’s something to that. Thanks for sharing books today! ❤❤❤
As someone who loves a good fantasy novel, I recommend Naomi Novik's books. Spinning Silver is a favorite of mine.
I second Naomi Novak! She is amazing. I’m still thinking about The Scholomance series. It’s YA, and I described it as what if Hogwarts was trying to kill the wizards? Lots of kids in peril, but not without purpose.
Third! Spinning Silver is amazing, but hearing about ordinary monsters made me thing of the Scholomance series!
I picked up reading daily fiction reading again last year. This year Ive been reading 3 books at a time but they all have to be from different genres (Lit Fic, mystery, SciFi, and classics). Sometimes audiobooks, sometimes physical books- its been so much fun! Thanks for the recs, these are all new to me.
Thanks for the book recommendations!! I’m an audio book reader/listener, mostly and go through them pretty quickly. I was the same when reading physocal books. Just so you know, if you have an audible membership, the first several books of the Sebastian St. Cyr are available for free.
Thanks for this! I've added them to my library.
If you enjoy British detective series, give Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt books a try. There are 34 of them and I'm on Book 13. Great audio books as well narrated by Davina Porter. Wonderful!
I love reading and typically have about 4-6 books I am reading at any given time. Usually an audiobook, a light fiction, a heavier or more serious fiction, a nonfiction, and a younger audience book I am reading aloud to my kids. And sometimes some extra. I like being able to pick which to read at a given moment depending on my mood.
I knit the Autumn League sweatshirt by Two of Wands in 2022 using Lion Brand Cotton Jeans. This is my most worn garment. It hasn’t stretched or pilled, the yarn was lovely to knit and the pattern worked up into the perfect hand knit sweatshirt. Two thumbs up all the way around for this garment. My favorite hand lotion is Curel, non greasy, affordable and long lasting. Thanks for another great episode.
Hi Tayler,
I recently read The House Witch series by Delemhach. Part fantasy, part witchery, part fantasised-historical. There’s a lot of humour, and even a little non-mushy romance. I loved the series (plus an inbetweener book and the follow up). I think you’d enjoy the escapism provided by this series.
I started committing time at bedtime to read (easier because my children are grown and gone). I have been reading Louise Penny's Inspector Gamashe series. I also have a thriller that I can't read at bedtime, so that will be my book for outdoor daytime reading in nice weather. Like you, I am a fan of historical fiction. also, and enjoyed Switchboard Soldiers, about women who were recruited during WWI (because they were expert switchboard operators and fluent in French and English) to go to France and operate what was then relatively new technology of field communications during the war.
I also love Louis Pennys inspector Gamache series! I listen to them on audiobook and the narrator is fantastic! I highly recommend that you check that out also
I loved hearing about your failures. It made me feel less alone with things I mess up!
I really love the audiobooks of My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane. They are SO funny and entertaining and are retellings of the story of Lady Jane Grey and then Jane Eyre. I’m sure reading them would be equally as good but the narrations done for them are so fantastic I would highly recommend them. I also learned the authors have an entire series of books about different Marys but I haven’t listened to those yet.
There is also a fun book trilogy that is about Mary Bennet. It starts out with the book The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet. It’s a fun mix of historical fiction with mystery/detective/crime mixed in. They are easy and enjoyable reads.
My favorite memories often involve my dad reading to me and my siblings. He is a voracious reader and would read out loud for us when we were doing the dishes or other tasks to make it more fun. He also almost always had an audiobook for the car and a huge library of physical books. I love that he showed us how to consume books in many forms. These days I usually have an audiobook for when I’m doing home and yard work, an ebook for any time I have a few unexpected spare minutes and a physical book or two in different places in the house. I hope you continue to find great joy in your reading journey and your kids will definitely remember your efforts. Cheers!!
I love fluff reading with an occasional non fiction thrown in. ❤📚
I ALWAYS read more than one book at a time. It's like knitting more than one garment at a time. Or listening to more than one genre of music throughout the day. Our moods change, our desires change, our needs fluctuate throughout the month...
The Age of Myth series by Michael Sullivan and his Rhoihira Chronicles. I just finished the Keeper Origins Trilogy, The Hand series by Charlie Fletcher, and Night Circus. I think all of those would be up your reading ally.
I'm so glad I found your site. Not only do I enjoy the knitting conversations (I knit), but, surprise, you love the same genre of books I love to read. I have found so much information here about knitting, even though I have been knitting on and off most of my life since I was a child.
Love your episode. I am an avid reader-and with both my Kindle or Audible I can read and knit. I have three active books going at once. One book on Kindle and two on Audible. I have one that I listen to at night, and one I listen to during the day. I do not listen to music in the car, I listen to audio books. EarthTones Girl is sponsoring a sock knit/read along. I am listening to two books, "Attack From Within" by Barbara McQaude and "Heart of the Night" by Barbara Delinsky. I just finished a 16 book series by Maggie Sefton. The series is called Knitting Mysteries. I enjoyed that series, thoroughly. They were cozy mysteries, and great fun to figure out who did it before the characters did. I am also reading 'Summer's End' by Kathleen Gilles Seidel.
Knitting, books, and heavy music are my hobbies. I am also turning 40 this year. My wife and I are voracious readers and we read a lot with our kids and listen to audio books on road trips. I just finished "The Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros and it was pretty good for when you need a new book. It is definitely fantasy based and while there is a touch of a romantic theme throughout, but certainly captivating.
I have a book beside my bed for night time, one in the bathroom for reading while I'm doing my business, and one on my phone for reading on my break at work. My Mom usually has 5 or 6 on the go at a time and belongs to two book clubs. (She's 80) 😊
This is the dream right here! 👌👌
Georgette Heyer's April Lady. Historical romance which is also funny. I love all of her books
The way you describe Ordinary Monster hits it on the head! I LOVED that book and cannot wait for the second book! I’m a big fan of audiobooks and I usually listen to two books at a time. Sometimes three. It all depends on what I’m feeling
Thank you, Tayler, for another engaging and entertaining episode! I am definitely in the “multiple books at once” camp (just as I’m in the “Many WIPs Club” 😎). I’m currently reading my way through Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series (some of which were adapted for TV as “Three Pines”), and a collection of interviews with Edward Gorey (called “Ascending Peculiarity”). If you like historical mysteries that skew a bit dark, Anne Perry’s William Monk series and Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series are set at either end of the Victorian era. Very atmospheric! Also, thank you for sharing your tale of frustration: it’s nice to know even knitting gurus need to restart (and restart and….) too.
I usually have three going at a time. Audio, kindle, and hardcover.
Right now I'm reading daindreths assassin by Elizabeth Wheatley (fantasy romance with 5 books in the series), Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (fantasy, part of a 40+ book series but I'm working my way through the death sub series which is only 5 books), and the Bell jar by Sylvia Plath
I love to read as well, and I do read more than one book at a time...one for afternoon and one for bedtime! Thanks for sharing your sweater challenges! I have run into some challenges too.
Thank you for sharing the saga of the sweaters! It's important to know that everyone struggles at some point, and that struggles help teach us (or reinforce) wisdom.
I read physical books and listen to audio books at the same time, just not the same genres.
I decided to start reading more this year (I used to read so much and then completely stopped for a long time). I joined the book of the month club back in January and have read five books so far and am half way through book six. Based on what you said you like, I would recommend The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and The Unmaking of June Farrow. I loved both of those. The Night Circus is an older book bit is one of my all time favourites.
I do have two books going right now. Tress and the Emerald Seas by Brandon Sanderson (genre: Fantasy) that I read aloud to my kiddo at bedtime and Long Past Due by James Butcher (genre: urban fantasy). If you are willing to try urban fantasy, I loved the Dresden files by Jim Butcher (he is the father of the current writer of Long Past Due).
Hi Tayler !!LOVE this episode !! I thought I was the only one making swatchs ..casting on …unraveling…swatchs ..casting on etc
Just unraveled a white cotton sweater I didn’t like how it was turning out !! Gave away the cotton!! Bye bye
I also love to read ….now i’m reading Postbelum…spanish author named JuanCienfuegos …excellent ..very interesting and intriguing novel…..from Lima Perú
I absolutely love audiobooks, and almost exclusively borrow them from the library. I’ve slowly worked up to listening at 2.3X speed (for fiction). I listen while I knit, cook, do housework/dishes, in the car, while grocery shopping…
I’ve found some great books by scrolling through other people’s Goodreads lists for something interesting.
I have always had a couple of books that I was reading at the same time, and when I allowed myself to work on several projects at the same time, it became really liberating. Now I go with a feeling and even allow myself to let things go if it's not working out or being interesting enough. We are adults and can do whatever we want with our hobbies :)
I hadn't read a book for about 15 years - too tired raising 5 kids and working. What re-booted me was joining a book group at my work. I figured the 'colleague pressure' would force me to read. I would read for 20 minutes early morning. That time-blocking was perfect, and I told myself that if I didn't keep it up, I'd stop reading again. 15 years later I keep the same time block. I've also included audio books (from the public library) while driving. Good for you!
I am usually reading 3 books at a time. An audiobook, a physical book and one on my Kindle that I read when I am getting ready to go to sleep. I have had Ordinary Monsters for a long time and think I will read it next since you are loving it so much! Would you be open to sharing. Your Goodreads so we can all friend you on there?
I have only very recently jumped on the 'more than one book at once' bandwagon and began listening to two audiobooks - one on my own, and one with my husband. Our favorite genre is historical fiction and we are currently reading The Women by Kristin Hannah (The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and The Four Winds by her are all FANTASTIC books of the same genre). On my own right now I am listening to The Measure by Nikki Erlick.
Whoooah, I totally didn't expect us to have the same taste in books ❤ I need to check out those books you mentioned! | Vaseline (petroleum jelly) doesn't actually moisturize. It's an occlusive that just coats the skin so that moisture can't evaporate further, but it doesn't add any. | Are you really sure there's no elastic or elastane in the ribbing of your RTW sweater? Brands are notorious for not disclosing the full contents of their products (they never list for example sewing thread or closures).
I recently started reading more. Both audiobooks and I read on my phone (kindle app) until I can buy my own Kindle. I used to be a "one book at a time" kinda girl, but then I realized, I'll watch multiple shows at the same time, why can't I read more than one book at a time? So I have different genres going depending on my mood. I have romance, fantasy, occasionally a non-fiction/self-help. Sometimes 2 fantasy books at the same time. It keeps things interesting, and allows me to pick up my reading regardless of what mood I'm in, because sometimes, I don't want the spicy romance, I just want something fun, and because I have multiple books on the go at the time, I allow myself to do that.
Same reason I have multiple WIPs I suppose! 😂
When I knit in a cotton heavy yarn, I usually add an elastic to the neck band to help it maintain its integrity
Historical Fiction that I recommend: The Birth House by Ami McKay, The Essex Serpent, Cloud Cuckoo Land, Babel by RF Kuang, Homecoming by Kate Morton, Trust by Hernan Diaz, and The Adversary by Michael Crummey. Happy Reading!
hi - I am reading shelter in place by Nora Roberts. I have been a reading slump the past few months. As for knitting I have now frogged a pair of socks. tried my hand at color work could not get the sock on my feet. tried a lace weight with lace detail sweater and realized I kept on loosing stiches so will give that one a go far in the future so I frogged that to.
Thank you I really enjoyed this episode ! Hearing your thoughts out loud about your projects was great - made me realise I’m not alone ! And interesting books . Out of my comfort zone so I’m going to try them ! Xx
Taylor, As always, thanks for all the suggestions and heads up about mistakes. These podcasts make you so real and keep me coming back. I have already ordered some Kiehls and will look into the Step by Step tutorial and perhaps look for one or more of the books at the library. I do actually commit to reading every day at lunch time. Have a great week. Judi from VA
I love reading more than one book at a time! I usually have 3 going - one paper/hardback that i read before bed, one on kindle that i can read on my commute and one audiobook for knitting and other crafting moments! Sitting down with a project and a nice audiobook is healing
also i'm reading warm hands of ghosts right now by katherine arden and it sounds like something you might enjoy!
Knitting with pure cotton definitely makes you humble. Combine that cotton with bamboo or rayon, and it's even worse. Ask me how I know lol? I also own a bunch of cotton sweaters from GAP and JCrew that are fabulous and the ribbing looks perfect. Personally I just attribute that to machine knitting - we really can't compete against that. So I generally try to only knit with cotton blends and not pure cotton, and I leave the pure cotton knitting to the machines. With that said, I did knit a pretty great sweater with Lion Brand Jeans cotton yarn which is 100% cotton. The sweater I knit had a folded collar, which I think helped keep structure there. I also knit a summer top with Blue Sky Fibers skinny cotton and it turned out well. But it was seamed and had twisted rib, which I think helped. In general I drop down needle sizes when knitting with cotton, even blends.
I am currently re-reading The Clan of the Cave Bears. I remember really enjoying that series over 30 years ago!
Since you like Gothic-atmosphere books, I presume you’ve read the classic Rebecca. There’s a retelling of that story that I loved: The Winters by Lisa Gabriele (2018) It had enough parallels to the original that I love AND enough divergences to keep me intrigued!
My Danish grandmother swore by Nivea hand cream and I love to use it too!
I always have 2-3 books on the go. 1 audiobook, one very large series book (currently outlander series), and then something else on the side as the flavour of the month. I have been on a mission to raise book lovers since the day they were born. Bedtime is always reading time for us. My 6 year old now reads and it makes me so happy to see her reading her books in bed at night.
I took your book rec and I LOVE this book! Thank you!!!
OMG I’m gonna say it again. You are my spirit animal. This whole video spoke to me so much. I have 3-4 books going at any moment. 1 audio (mowing/driving), 1 ebook (on the run), 1 print, 1 faith based/self improvement. I’m chugging through Wheel of Time and ACOTAR now, but also read A LOT of JAFF/regency romance. ❤ I also have a book going with the kids for a chapter a night, so we have the Chronicles of Narnia going now.
Oo do you ever watch other knitting pods? @AliMakesEverything has a knitting pod but is also a writer and ends every episode with updates on what she’s reading and recent books she’s bought. I think you’d love her!
Thank you for highlighting the KAL struggles. I had to work hard on the Frankensweater as a new sweater maker and understood what I needed help with and found the help I needed. My sweater came out beautiful and just the way I wanted it to. But this has been very challenging in a whole new way. The redo KAL is a perfect name. I am on a redo and still have no idea what it may look like as I progress. I almost gave up but am still in for now. I don't mind making a mistake and pulling back but I feel more like I have no real direction and am out in the universe. We shall see after a few rows. I love reading and have found it to be a must to start my day. My danger is that the books I am reading capture me and I have trouble putting them down. So I promise myself that after I do everything I have to, it will be my treat later in the day when I need to just sit and relax. I feel very lucky to have these passions knitting and reading etc.
I can't read 2 books at a time, however I love to read paranormal romance books. I love that your not afraid to show your knitting oops.
Check out Two of Wands Autumn League pullover which is made out of 100% cotton and sweatshirt inspired. I am knitting this now and loving it. This also has a staggered start shaping although the neckline is added it is a folded collar, plus you could add some elastic if needed.
I love audiobooks for knitting along to. I have usually 2 or 3 on the go. 1 for day (usually crime), 1 for night (cosy reads) and sometimes 1 for walking to when I'm on my own.
Love, love, love your content. You are my favourite podcaster ❤️ Keep up the amazing work! And thank you 💕🙏 X
I was going to suggest this too! Also, the Birch Pullover by Andrea Mowry is a half fisherman’s rib crew neck pullover, BUT it’s a fingering weight pattern and will take forever, but it combines the lovely squish whilst still being light-weight.
I have often had more than one book on the go at once, for example if I'm reading something emotionally heavy I like to also have on hand a book that's a lighter read. I've also raised a couple of readers. From the time they were small I read aloud to my kids. Even when they could happily read on their own there were certain books that we enjoyed reading together. They would often want to chat about the books they were reading for school, so I would read them also. Now they are grown, and they suggested we start a little book club, even just the three of us, to discuss our selected read over tea and treats.
I thoroughly enjoyed the episode! Loved the book portion a lot. It was fun just sitting with you and listening to your enthusiasm for reading - I’m there with you. I’m just finishing The Seven Sisters-all 8 books in the series-one after the other! SO good!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Kim! I really enjoyed just sitting and chatting about books with you. I can see more of that in the future. ❤️
I watched Bookstore. I loved it. I passed on to a few friends that also enjoyed it. Right now I’m reading The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman. It is so very good. Alice Hoffman also wrote Practical Magic. I just finished listening to An American Marriage by Tayari Jones also very good and I just started listening to The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd.
When getting up my courage to knit socks, I found Folk Socks by Nancy Bush, history and techniques of handknitted footwear. I enjoyed it very much.
ALWAYS have multiple books going! I'm a teacher, AND I work in a bookstore. That paycheck goes right back into the store.
I was always taught (I’m 68) if I knitting with cotton, to knit the bands with a needle 3-4 times smaller than it calls for! Maybe newer designers weren’t taught that! Then you mentioned that you did it too!
I don't believe in monogamous knitting but I do believe in monogamous book reading! Otherwise I get story lines mixed up. Plus if I love a book I'm too eager too know how it ends to waste time on another book.
I mostly do audiobooks though. Right now I'm working my way through Preston & Child's Norah Kelly series. They all take place in the American Southwest and are a nice mix of mystery, history and adventure/thriller.
Thanks for sharing your books! I took note of The Familiar. Sounds really cool 😊
I'm actually reading a few books at a time, usually. A bit of Bible study first thing in the morning with my tea. My "work" book, for slow moments, is currently "Migraine" by Oliver Sacks, full of interesting information I had no idea about, following up on my brand-new diagnosis at the end of last year. For fiction, I'm two-thirds of the way through "Little, Big" by John Crowley - "the story of four generations of a singular family, living in a house that is many houses on the magical border of an otherworld."
I'm not sure about this summer knitting, really. Cotton or otherwise. Other than a pair of socks always on the needles, I think I might just do fun small things like another Emotional Support Chicken and Sheldon the Sheep. It's just too hot, besides which it's gardening season!