The PURL Dispatch

Welcome to the first ever PURL dispatch — where I round up and share my current Projects, Updates, Reads and Little Luxuries of Life.

I have two main projects on the needles right now that seem to be pumping out enough dopamine that I haven’t wanted to cast on anything else. The spring hit me hard and so did my algorithm because all I could think about and see on my feed was Sézane dupes and summer tanks and tees. I’ve had to rip both of these projects back at least once, which is slowing down my process a bit unfortunately. Hoping to fly through them now and finish before May!

• Pattern: The Sabai Top NO. 2 by Susanne Müller

• Yarn: Sandnes Garn Line in Green Tea

Since having to start all over on this guy I have been making slow progress. I had completely finished the front and back pieces a few weeks back and then realized the size I made was way too small! I recently learned to mirror knit to avoid having to purl across the wrong side in stockinette stitch and totally forgot that this would change my gauge and also that I can’t read a ruler apparently. I decided to frog (rip it! rip it!) and start over in the next size up.

The linen yarn from Sandnes Garn is a really lovely blend of cotton, linen and a tiny bit of rayon. It feels incredibly cooling and drapey, so I anticipate this tank to be a summer staple for me. I have the DROPS version of this cotton/linen yarn in my stash to whip up another one. It you pay attention to gauge and sizing, you could literally have this done over a long weekend.

• Pattern: Daydreamer Cardigan by Kukovakika

• Yarn: DROPs Air held with DROPS Silk Mohair, both in Parrot Green

Why would I pay $190 for a sweater when I could spend close the the same amount on yarn shipped from Copenhagen AND spend over 60 hours of labor making it? I see no flaw in this airtight logic because the Daydreamer Cardi is so luxurious and squishy and fun. I’m currently meticulously knitting it up in the most ridiculous shade of brilliant green. Why this color? Who the hell knows, it just felt right.

Knit in half-fisherman’s rib, this cardigan is working up so quickly and so beautifully. I have had to frog it once and that was a true test in distress tolerance! I highly recommend using lifelines as ripping back half fisherman’s rib in such a fluffy yarn combo is like voluntarily getting a root canal. However, the blown alpaca yarn with the silk mohair make such a lofty yet warm fabric, it’s worth the hassle. I think this will be the PERFECT spring sweater for years to come. I can’t wait to be wearing this into my 60’s.

Sewing Projects:

• Pattern: Ballet Bow Skirt from the Matchy Matchy Sewing Club

• Fabric: thrifted

I finally finished up my Ballet Bow Skirt from the Matchy Matchy Sewing Club! It’s a free beginner friendly sewing pattern and it was super fun to make. It’s the first thing I’ve ever sewn in my life, so if I can do it so can you. I used an old Target curtain I thrifted from Goodwill for $2. That balances out everything I spend on yarn, right?

Like all things creative, I had to rip back the seams at least once. I also had to resew the elastic because I didn’t make it tight enough — so that meant more seam ripping and re-sewing. Making means destroying, and it’s important that we embrace that critical part of the process as much as the finished product.

Spring has finally sprung here in Western Washington and every spring I become giddier and gidder watching my flowers and trees bloom. As I get older spring time feels more and more like a miracle. I’m hoping to spend every chance I get on my sunny back porch!

Thank the heavens and all the stars that this months reads have been incredible and I finally feel like I have my groove back! January, February and March honestly kinda blew and I was worried I’d be in a book funk for the rest of 2025.

All’s Well by Mona Awad 📖 (digital)

• 51% complete

• Quick thoughts: Fucking delicious — I love it wayyyyy more than her book Bunny

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan 🎧 (audio)

• Finished and rated 3⭐️, read my review here

• Quick thoughts: Is a story ever so serious enough to need over ten POVs?

If you’re looking for an audio book provider that supports indie bookstores, consider Libro.fm! When you purchase a credit either through the monthly subscription or one offs, a percentage goes to the indie bookstore of your choice. If you sign up now you get two extra credits free — and if you use my Libro.fm referral link I also get a free credit 🥹. That means we all get free books!

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego 📚 (physical)

• 56% complete

• Quick thoughts: Again with the wild amounts of POVs!! But, also should I go to Maine?

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 📚 (physical)

• 7% complete

• Quick thoughts: Anticipating Bridges of Madison County but at a theater in New England.

My go to spring drink is an iced americano with caramel sauce drizzle, but it is imperative the americano is made correctly. I’ve seen it called a '“Washington Americano”, but essentially there is only a tiny bit of added water so the americano does not taste like old sewer water (not that I have any idea how that tastes). Here’s what I would order, if my barista didn’t know me so well:

An grande iced americano with half and half but with the shot mixed into the half and half before being poured over the ice. Top with only a splash of extra water, if needed. Top with a heavy drizzle of caramel sauce (not syrup!).

This allows for the ice to melt without making your coffee too watery. Some people might argue this is an espresso over ice, but the difference is that you are not asking for hot espresso dumped over ice (which will shock the shots, make them sour, AND melt your ice rapidly resulting in the same watery mess) but instead that your shots are mixed with the half and half first to cool off a bit, then poured over the ice which reduces the melt, and then topped with a tiny bit of water if needed. Believe me, you will never want an iced americano any other way again.

• I was really moved by Small Actions Matter from Laura Shall Quilts. She speaks to her small acts of resistance, almost 30 years apart, and how these small acts (although I will say I don’t think being a planned parenthood escort is a small act at all!) still resonate and reverberate today.

“I know that the small act of walking a stranger past violent, screaming protestors mattered. And I know that the small act of entering my quilt into shows and refusing to water down my artist statement to make it more ‘acceptable’ mattered.”

I really appreciate each and every one of you for being here. Let me know what you’d like to see more of from these PURL Dispatches!