~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~
It’s February 1 and Valentine’s Day will be here shortly. I do believe that true love is knitting 30 cm of ribbing, so that’s what I am doing this week because Jonny needs a new hat. He isn’t picky at all, so he didn’t get involved in choosing the pattern (well he claims he isn’t picky–but I doubt he would wear a super dorky hat.) I am following the Yarn Harlot’s Lorne’s Hat pattern because I really wanted to make sure that the hat would be snug, and all that ribbing ensures that it will be. I meant to have it finished by now, but goodness, all that ribbing. Valentine’s Day at the latest….
I am reading These Happy Golden Years this week, and right now I feel like it is my favorite of all the Little House books. I love reading about Almanzo’s courtship of Laura; the sweetness and the innocence of it all. Which Little House book is your favorite?
I always love your photographs of your yarn (and everything else!). I have a hard time getting my pictures to really show the color of my yarn correctly. Do you have any guidance you could provide? My beautiful red yarn in my yarn along post today looks kind of garish to me instead of the deep beautiful color it really is. Help… anyone?
I agree knitting ribbing is a labor of love!!!! I love all the little house books……hard to pick just one! We just started reading these again to the littles in our house and I have such good memories of reading them to my older girls!
Joining in the for the first time at the recommendation of Small Macaroon. Hope to join you next week too! Many thanks.
I can’t wait to read through the Little House series with my girls. I think my oldest will finally be ready (old enough) this fall!
Hi Ginny, joining in the for the first time at the recommendation of Little Macaroon. I hope to be with you again next week! Many thanks.
The Long Winter but These Happy Golden Years is a close second.
i’m not sure if i could pick just one fave lhotp book. the happy golden years is definitely up there. also, on the banks of plum creek. and little house in the big woods and…i could go on.
True love is knitting all that ribbing in *black*! Love the colorway.
Another Wednesday without joining Yarn Along… Not that I haven’t been reading or knitting, but I just haven’t got around to take pictures in daylight.
Do you have suggestions for what settings to use on my DSLR camera (and lighting) to best photography yarn? Mine is not showing up well and it makes me sad to see yarn that’s so pretty look so mediocre!
I remember when my little boy broke his leg one winter, we read The Long Winter. It was so cozy at night with the snow blowing outside…to be under the afghans reading that book together. Thanks for bringing back that memory.
Balisha
Knitting love .. ahhhh. Farmer Boy is probably my favorite of all the Little House books.
In think you just answered my hat pattern question for what to knit next. Thanks! And Little house books are always a welcome treat here too.
Love the yarn choice too.
Gosh which one to choose? I remember in Happy Golden Years how I wanted to throw a shoe at Nellie Olson-not the nicest of thoughts but still . . . . I think my faves are Little House in the Big Woods and and On the Banks of Plum Creek. Boy did they ever move around a lot. Ma was very patient.
That yarn color is gorgeous. I must go check out that pattern.
I’ve been searching for a similar hat pattern to knit my hubby for Valentine’s Day, too, so thanks for the link! Great yarn color, as always.
Hmmm, favorite Little House book–that’s difficult. I’d say my top two are Little Town on the Prairie and These Happy Golden Years. I agree with a commenter above–The First Four Years is a real downer!
Love is knitting in black! I knitted ds a black hat for Christmas, never again lol! All that rib and black, you must be super woman, and very in love.
Oh, I love that yarn; the hat looks like it will be so soft and squishy and warm! Definitely true love!
I think ‘These Happy Golden Years’ might be my favourite, too – for the same reason you mention. Although whichever of those books I’m reading at any given time really is my favourite! xo
Oh yes, that much ribbing is definately a labour of love! Worth it though 🙂 x
I just finished reading The Long Winter (again) — See my Yarn Along. I remember when I was younger, it was my least favorite of the series. Reading it now, and having lived through prairie winters, really brought home how tough things would have been.
My favorite of the bunch is On the Banks of Plum Creek.
On the Banks of Plum Creek. Living in a dugout with a creek right outside, wow! I love them all, though. Little House in the Big Woods has several great animal stories that my oldest boy loved.
I’m going to be in the minority. The Little House books drive me bonkers, I can’t read them. The only one I like is Farmer Boy and that’s not even about Laura, it’s about Almanzo. But I grew up on a farm, so I think I related more with him. (Let me tell you, this is almost sacrilege in Wisconsin, you know the home of Laura Ingalls.)
I really should revisit making hats for my boys – some need a bigger hat and my oldest would probably appreciate a simple ribbed hat instead of the ‘funny-looking’ earflap hat I made last year. I really really love that color of yarn you’re using. It looks like Madeline Tosh but not sure.
My favorite book of Laura’s is These Happy Golden Years. I read that book over and over as a child. I have the box set and that books is literally falling apart. Currently, we are reading Farmer Boy every night and next we will be reading On the Banks of Plum Creek. I love her stories.
What a thoughtful gift! I am sure your husband will love the hat. What a way to show him you love him!
All that ribbing is love, indeed! Love the colorway. My favorite Little House book is Little House in the Big Woods, although I really have a special spot for Farmer Boy too. 🙂 I just began my February Lady and hoping to finish it in time to wear in February!
I just made this hat for myself and I love it!!
A hat. Oh, how I love hats! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out – I’m sure Johnny will treasure it. My husband is the only one in my family currently hatless… I’ll have to search out a good manly crochet pattern, if there is such a thing!
Perfect! Love the color, I make a very similar hat for my hubby at least once a year, basic and lovely indeed. These Happy Golden Years is such a great book.
I love the Little House books as well. I have started to collect them now when I see them at used book sales. I think I have 4 or 5, but I would be hard pressed to choose a favourite.
All that ribbing is FOR SURE the sign of true love.
Thanks for hosting again.
I’m sure the hat will be lovely and snug. What a wonderful Valentine’s gift!
These Happy Golden Years is my favorite, too! I read it for the first time last year when our homeschool curriculum was based on all nine of Laura’s books. (Just an FYI, I wish I would have skipped reading The First Four Years with the kids … it’s kind of a downer.)
Those are good books; I remember reading them when I was little.
My husband is finally wearing a hat I made him a couple years ago. It took this long because I never blocked it. When he initially put it on, the decreases did not lay flat and it looked funny. I finally blocked it last week and it is much better.
I am afraid to admit that I have not read all the LH books. I think even when I do LH in the Big woods will still be my favorite. I remember wearing out the pages when I was younger.
I loved the little house books when I was growing up. I read them countless times both with my mom and I on my own. I haven’t picked them up in years though. I should start reading them again!
I don’t think I ever got that far in reading the Little House books. I loved them though and am looking forward to reading them to my girls in a couple years!
I love the ribbing. It definitely takes a while though.
I used to think Little House in the Big Woods was my favorite, but lately it’s been Farmer Boy since right now I’m in the midst of mothering two little boys and it seems more appropriate. I’ve been alternating a Little House book with each “grownup” book that I read lately. So relaxing. I think maybe my favorite one might be whichever I’m reading at the moment. Except maybe Little House on the Prairie. That one always just makes me want to tell Charles Ingalls to stop putting his family in so much danger.
My husband has been asking for a new hat recently– dare I try to make one happen for him before Valentine’s Day? I really like that pattern.
Argh, ribbing is the bane of my existence!
Hi Ginny,
I’ve only ever read the first three ‘Little house’ books and didn’t realise there were more, will have to find them at my local library. I’m sure you’ll get your hat finished by Valentines day………..even with all that ribbing. x
I don’t know how I managed to leave my link three times…….sorry about that.
Glad to be back.
I haven’t read all the Little House books in so many years, I don’t know what’s my favorite. But last winter when it was all snowy I read The Long Winter and it seemed all snug and appropriate.
Yesterday my mother noticed our (deciduous) magnolia tree is starting to bloom. In January (then)! It usually waits until February or even March. The daffodils have been blooming all week, and they usually wait until February too. This winter has not been snowy or snug at all… but that’s okay. That is way more normal in South Carolina.
All that ribbing. It would take me ages. (groan)
Love the Little House series. Its on my list to re-read.
That truly is love 🙂
(sorry, Ginny, our first link wouldn’t work, maybe you can delete it…)
Best regards
I quite like knitting rib as it tends to hide the uneveness of my knitting. My current knit project is garter stitch and I seem to have so much variation in my tension that no 2 stitches are alike.
We finished reading them this winter. Adrienne loved Plum Creek best. She said it’s because the house was really unique and they have parties.
These Happy Golden Years ~ was the last one she really published, I think. It’s my favorite too.
I had forgotten how much I loved Little House books, aaah thanks for the reminder!!
hi ginny!
well.. i could talk for a long long time about this. my friends call me ‘laura’, i do love her so. i do love farm boy, but i think little house in the big woods would be the one i revert back to time and time again. they are all so wonderful !
i love the courtship too ….. jingle bells, sleigh rides in winter, that nelly olsen !! xxx
ooups, i forgot to add “crotchet”… sorry ginny. i wish you a great day!!! love stephka
I have never read any of the Little House books but I do remember watching the show when I was a child. It seems lots of blogging Mama’s read them or that their children do, so now I am inspired to see if my local library has them! It is still hot hot hot in Australia so the thought of a snug hat makes me sweat! and look forward to our own winter! x
I new that yarn was special because of the photo. I checked the link and yep…madtosh yarn! I knew it! I love her yarn very much-the hat is going to be lovely!!
Yes, 30cm of rib is indeed true love. I haven’t read any of the Little House books but I remember the TV show so fondly from my childhood.
Wonderful yarn for a hat Ginny!
You have me wanting to pull my Little House books off the shelf, it has been years since they were read.