Above the Fold by Rachel Scott McDaniel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Romance, intrigue, and the struggle to find their places in the world. Get swept back into the 1920s with Elissa and Cole. The world is changing, one war ended while other threats loom. Roles are changing too, so when Elissa plans to join the all-male world of newspaper reporting, there are plenty of roadblocks in her way, including a dead body and an old flame. Well worth reading!
The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked this book better than the author’s debut. It’s women’s fiction, told from one person’s point of view, and hops back and forth between the person’s past and present. It’s interesting and the author handles the transitions well, so it’s easy to follow. I’m not sure what the actual takeaway is from this book, it will probably be different things for different readers, but it held my interest until the end.
The Highlanders: A Smitten Historical Romance Collection by J’nell Ciesielski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you enjoy stories with a Scottish tang, then these four novellas are your next “must read.” Two are set in the old country, and two on America’s shores, but all of them include a Highlander you’ll be swept away by. And the final story will throw you a curve you never see coming! If you dinna get your copy yet, you shouldna wait much longer!
Misleading Miss Verity by Carolyn Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed a lot about this book. The characters are interesting and believable, the setting is beautifully written, and the writing is good. The ending, however, fell apart for me. That could very well be just a personal preference, so I’m still giving it a solid three stars, because others may love the ending.
This pattern is for my author friends and others who spend too much time at the keyboard on cold winter days. These fingerless mitts have nothing between the fingers and are made to fit snuggly so that they don’t interfere with the keyboard or mouse. And with no fancy stitching … they knit up in a snap!
For driving and outdoor wear, try my Glovelets pattern.
Snug-Fitting Fingerless Mitts
Sport weight yarn
Size 4 double-pointed needles
Wrist:
Cast on 36 sts and divide onto 3 needles, work in k2, p2 ribbing for 3”, then knit 6 rounds of stocking stitch.
Thumb Gusset:
Rnd 1) m1, k3, m1, knit to end
Rnds 2 & 3) k around
Rnd 4) m1, k5, m1, knit to end
Rnds 5 & 6) k around
Rnd 7) m1, k7, m1, knit to end
Rnds 8 & 9) k around
Rnd 10) m1, k9, m1, knit to end
Rnds 11 & 12) k around
Rnd 13) m1, k11, m1, knit to end
Rnds 14 & 15) p1, k1 ribbing for 13 sts, k to end
Rnd 16) working in p1, k1 ribbing, cast off 13 sts, k to end
Rnd 17) pick up 1 st at beginning of cast off, m2, knit to end
Hand:
Work in stocking stitch for 1.5”
Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2 rounds
Working in k1, p1 ribbing, cast off loosely
Work in ends
It’s been a long time since I created one of my original knitting patterns, but this past week, I wanted to knit a pair of gloves without full fingers. There are many patterns for fingerless mitts around the Internet, but I wanted partial fingers for added warmth. Michigan winters are COLD, but I like my fingers on the steering wheel when I drive. Included here are full instructions. Happy knitting!
If you’re looking for something to keep your hands warm while typing, try my Snug-Fitting Fingerless Mitts pattern.
Size 3 double-pointed needles (smaller for smaller-sized hands)
Sport weight yarn
Wristband:
Cast on 36 sts using a half-hitch cast on
Knit 8 rows
YO, k2tog around
Knit 8 rows
Fold band in half along yarn over row, and knit cast on sts with working sts to turn the cuff.
Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et8gYQtoM_g
Base of Hand:
Knit 3 rows
k4, m1, repeat to the last 4 sts, k4 (44sts)
Knit 3 rows
Right Hand Thumb Gusset:
repeat last 2 rows until 11 sts between markers
k2, remove marker, slip next 11 sts onto holder, remove marker, m1, k to end (44 sts)
k each row until glovelet measures 1” – 1.5” from thumb opening (I used 1.5”—I have large hands)
Left Hand Thumb Gusset:
repeat last 2 rows until 11 sts between markers
k2, remove marker, slip next 11 sts onto holder, remove marker, m1, k to end (44 sts)
k each row until glovelet measures 1” – 1.5” from thumb opening
Finger Openings:
Forefinger (14 sts):
k 5 rows, bind off loosely
Middle Finger (15 sts):
Move sts from holder to needles, picking up 2 sts along the forefinger, k 4 rows, bind off loosely.
Ring Finger (13 sts):
Move sts from holder to needles, picking up 2 sts along the middle finger, k 5 rows, bind off loosely.
Little Finger (12 sts):
Move sts from holder to needles, picking up 2 sts along the ring finger, k 5 rows, bind off loosely.
Thumb (14 sts):
Move sts from holder to needles, picking up 3 sts along the hand, k 5 rows, bind off loosely.
All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was given a copy of this book by a friend, so I had no expectations going into it. I haven’t read any books by Susie Finkbeiner before and didn’t even know what genre this was when I opened the cover. (I almost never read the BCC on a gifted book and didn’t this time either.)
I barely remember the 1960s, being born then, but I felt the tug of my earliest memories as I read through the book. It’s written entirely from one first-person point of view, which is not my favorite way to experience a story, but it works.
This is a tough book to review without giving any spoilers, so I’m not going to get into the details at all. If you enjoy a story that tugs at your heart, that examines the dysfunctionality of the family, that centers entirely on one character, and that pushes against the historical norms of society, then this might be your next best read.
Pegg Thomas