Knitting and Reading (but not at the same time)

Happy Wednesday! And let me introduce you to the softest of knits - my (future) Beaubourg jumper. I am knitting it, as advised by the pattern, with Maxima from Manos del Uruguay (I reviewed this ethical yarn here). Although the knitting is quite easy, I cannot read at the same time. How do you do it? I can knit in the car, knit whilst having a chat, knit whilst watching TV - I just cannot knit and read. But I have been reading. I have been using reading as my time off. I go to bed early at the moment - thank you Baby MiH for my lack of beauty sleep - and turn off my mind with a book. 

So actually I am reading more books as a result. I finished the Children Act by Ian McEwan - it is not necessarily easy reading in terms of the topic covered - a high court judge arbitrating on family affairs - but the prose makes it flow. I usually read books with more drama, it felt like an easy read from that point of view, and it was what I needed. There is substance - clearly a lot of research went into it - and it kept me going. So not a 'cannot-stop-reading' book but a good 'quick' in-between read looking at real contemporary issues. 

I am now reading a Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer which was originally published in 1941 under a different title - the Envious Casca. I have not ready any Georgette Heyer's detectives story. I intended to read it during the Christmas period, but did not manage it. I am enjoying it, Christmas in a big country home in Britain, add some snow and I am there - I am making Christmas (or Downtown Abbey?) last a bit longer. 

I am going back to work next week - so reading is going to happen (and not knitting)! It really helps to wind down and escape (totally necessary during my commute). 

Yarn with Attitude :: Manos del Uruguay :: [GIVEAWAY]

Hello Everyone! Happy Equinox and more importantly let the knitting season truly begin! And I have just the yarn brand for you and your ethical stash - Manos del Uruguay. I am sure you heard of the brand, but have you ever knitted with it? I had not. And although I was on a stash diet, I added some skeins to my current stash - oops but I am weak when it comes to test ethical yarns. I started knitted the variegated brown skein shown in my pictures - the perfect autumnal colourway, don't you think? And it knits beautifully, I hope it will look great on me too, brown is my colour apparently, but I don't wear it that often. Also I am never sure what to make with variegated yarn - Manos del Uruguay also has some block colours as well (which I may have 'accidentally' also added to my stash). 

There are different elements that makes yarn special from an ethical point of view, and supporting and empowering communities is a key aspect for me. Manos has, as a non-profit social organization, provided jobs for craftswomen living in Uruguay rural areas since 1968. And during 2009, and after a comprehensice evaluation process, Manos del Uruguay was accepted as a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. This acknowledges Manos del Uruguay mission of eradicating poverty through sustainable economic growth, enabling craftspeople to improve the quality of their craft products, so that, in this way, they can continue their personal development.

This video will probably make you understand why I see a lot of Manos del Uruguay yarn in my future only ethical stash. 

 What the website did not cover was the animal welfare aspect. So I contacted Manos and asked the question, and was very pleased with the response I got. Manos sources their yarns mainly locally and also from foreign sources. In Uruguay the sheep are bred in large cattle ranches, at open air, gazing from natural pastures. There is no mulessing in Uruguay. Manos buys their alpaca yarns in Peru from a well know and responsible Company based in Areuipa. A small part of their yarns is spun in China from South American wool. The silk they use is tussah (a more ethical way to collect cocoons) imported from India. So a lot of care has gone into getting the yarn as well.

What a great option to have, there are many yarn weights to choose from as well. I am knitting the silk blend, but have also some Maxima in my stash, and hopefully will be able to start knitting it soon (just need to finish this cardigan). 

But what would you be knitting should you win the above skein of Manos Silk Blend? Let me know in the comment box for a chance to enter this giveaway. 

Followers have another chance to enter the giveaway (let me know how you follow my blog in a separate comment). 

(There might be another skein given away on instagram as well...)

The giveaway ends Wednesday 7 October at 5pm (UK time). I hope to share what I am knitting with my skein then. 

And please, please, please leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger. Good luck!

* This is not a sponsored post - I am just really careful at selecting yarn going into my stash, and sharing my findings here*