Jul
Hey guys, it’s my birthday week! I’ve been a very good girl this year, and I’m hoping the birthday fairy gifts me with a vaccine and social justice. I feel strongly that the glorious day I clawed my way free of the yarn cake I was incubated in* should be an internationally recognized holiday. I will be happy to provide a note for your employer upon request, excusing you from work to celebrate.
*It is my most fervent wish that when I get very old I will be able to live in a creepy Victorian house on top of a hill with a wrought iron fence. I will sit in a rocking chair at a window all day long, looking out through lace curtains and knitting with the loudest, most clacky needles I can find. Local children will tell tales about the Yarn Witch, who was born when a tragically beautiful princess wished on an extra shiny star while sitting at her spinning wheel. 10 months later the future witch of Swatch-Manor reached out from the center of the Princess’s favorite hank, and went on to slay dragons and other beasts with her magical circular needles.
This week I’ve been reading…
Cold Days by Jim Butcher
I appreciate the lessons in magical theory and physics that are peppered into The Dresden Files. I have often wondered how it is that Harry had a clean shave, but isn’t worried about someone getting his whiskers and casting curses on him. Less than 15 min into this book and he explains this as a random aside. It’s those little details that keep nerds like me up at night, and I love how fleshed out and real-world-logical the magical system is throughout the series.
I have the same complaint about this book as I’ve had about others: I often feel like Butcher wants me to be SUPER IMPRESSED with Harry for not engaging in sexual encounters that at best could be called coercive and at times could be accurately described as rape. We’re introduced to Sarissa early in the book as Harry’s physical therapist. Less than a few hours into the audiobook, Queen Mab (chaotic-neutral faery; the Queen of Air and Darkness; Harry’s current boss) essentially “gives” Sarissa to Harry in an attempt to tempt him or to see if he will succumb to the urges of the Winter Mantle of Power. Harry doesn’t abuse Sarissa, but much like his encounters with Molly, it’s clear in the writing that I, the reader, am supposed to be impressed with his self-restraint. Like, I always get the feeling that I’m supposed to be turned on by Harry’s great show of chivalry in not taking advantage of women he is in a position of power with. I’ll be the first to admit my romantic bar hasn’t always been the highest, but its always been higher than that.
Beware of Major Spoilers Below
I don’t think Harry (or Jim Butcher) are going to outgrow that one, but in many other ways, Harry has matured an enormous amount in the last few books. He’s become a character that I’m wholeheartedly rooting for, and Butcher’s writing has gone leaps and bounds from those first few books. The twist ending in Cold Days is spectacular. It’s so good that despite having read the book before, I still feel shocked when Mab reveals that she’s been grooming Molly to be a Sidhe noble. The part about it I love the most is the aftermath when Harry confronts Mab about what she did and Mab matter-of-fact tells him that 1) She is not sorry, and 2) This is actually good for Molly in the long run. The White Council can’t touch her now that she’s the Winter Lady. And since the Winter Lady and the Winter Knight work in close proximity, the whole arrangement seems rather kismet to her. It says a lot about Harry’s character growth that he’s able to take a step back and see that she might be correct.
The other especially great thing in Cold Days is that we got a real glimpse into what Demonreach is, and a little glimpse at the role Harry plays with it as a Warden. The book ends quietly, but in a really satisfying way. Molly is off with Mab, learning about her new position. Harry is staying on the island (Demonreach) until he can figure out what the parasite is that causes crippling headaches when he’s off the island. Murphy and Harry, as well as Thomas and Harry, have healthy conversations about their relationships, and though things are challenging for Harry in both cases, they are moving forward in a believable and positive way.
There’s only one book, Skin Game, left to cover before we get to dig into the new book, Peace Talks, and I’m hella excited about reading one that is new to me. We are being graced with two new Dresden Files books this year (Battle Ground comes out at the end of September), but I don’t want to end the book club there. So I’ve decided to make it a year round thing. Next week is Skin Game, and the week after is Peace Talks. Then, I’m going to jump into another series and I’ll come back to Battle Ground later in the year. So starting in three weeks, I’m shifting gears to Brandon Sanderson. I’ll be reading (and writing here) about the Mistborn Series next. Those books are LONG compared to the Dresden Files, so I’ll likely break them into multiple weeks each. More on that after Peace Talks.
Currently on my needles…
Never Never Socks Part 4
GUSSET & INSTEP
When working the first gusset round, when you reach the first st of the heel (this is right after picking up sts on the second edge of the heel flap), K through the final DPS as if it were a regular st.
In this section you will pick up sts along the edges of your heel flap, and decrease them as you work down the gusset.
Break Color B, Join Color A.
Gusset
Always slip markers when you come to them. This should go without saying, but for the sake of sanity I’ll say it: don’t knit your makers into your sock.
Set Up: With Color A:
a. PM for BoR. Pick up and knit 10(12, 14, 16, 18) sts along the edge of the heel flap, working up towards the instep.
b. PM (marker A, shown as MA in future instructions). If you placed your instep sts on a holder when working the heel, return them to your needles now. K the 26(30, 34, 38, 42) instep sts.
c. PM (marker B, shown as MB in future instructions). Pick up and knit 10(12, 14, 16, 18) sts along the 2nd edge of the heel flap, working down towards the heel sts.
d. PM (marker C, shown as MC in future instructions). K across heel sts to BoR. Resume working in the round. 72(84, 96, 108, 120) sts.
R1: [K1, P1] to MA. K to MB. [K1, P1] to MC, K to BoR.
R2: Rib as established to 2 before MA, K2tog. K to MB. SSK, rib as established to MC. K to BoR.
R3: [K1, P1] to 1 before MA, K1. K to MB. K1, rib as established to MC, K to BoR.
R4: Rib as established to 2 before MA, K2tog. K to MB. SSK, rib as established to MC. K to BoR.
Repeat 3-4 until there are 4 sts between the BoR and MA, and 4 sts between MB and MC. 60(68, 76, 84, 92) sts.
R5: Remove Bor. SSK, Place BoR. K2tog, remove MA. K to MB, remove MB. SSK, Place MA. K2tog, remove MC. K to BoR.
R6: All sts around.
R7: K2tog, K to 2 before MA, SSK. K2tog, K to 2 before Bor, SSK. 52(60, 68, 76, 84) sts.
Instep, Part 1:
K all sts until sock measures 3” less than desired length.
~Megan-Anne
“The impossible we do immediately. The unimaginable takes a little while.”― Jim Butcher, Cold Days
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Happy birthday week!