The Knitting Blog By Mr Puffy the Dog

Varve Shawl

2012-01-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years I've knit a fair number of shoulder shawlettes which have their place and are very popular for good reason, including a delightful instant gratification factor. But for my money nothing compares to the satisfaction of knitting a traditional lace shawl which is ethereal and warm and truly transformed from a good severe blocking.

The yarn I used for this shawl is a wonderfully rustic wool and the moment I saw it in the LYS I knew that it would make a beautiful shawl. It's not a merino wool, mind you, which is both the good and bad news. The good news is that it will hold this block 4ever. The bad news is that I found this yarn a little obnoxious against my bare skin. But it's perfect for layering and I will wear it most often while hiking with Simcha although I think it is elegant enough to be worn anywhere.

There are many popular knitwear designers and its tempting to want to knit whatever they are knitting. Not that there is anything wrong with that, and I do my share of that too. But sometimes you are best served to step back a moment and think about what speaks to you and not just follow the current trends. The more you follow your own taste your knitting will more accurately reflect who you are and give you a fashion flare that is your unique signature. You will feel and look your best when you do that.

Particulars: Varve Shawl by Grace Anna Farrow (A Stitch to Wear); Isager Strik Spinni (wool 1) 2 skeins (330 yds/skein); US 6 needles; no modifications whatsoever. It's hard to see in the pictures, but this shawl has beautiful texture in addition to the classic old shale patterning. It's a half circle shape which I particularly like. Relaxed post blocked dimensions: 64"x 28." Another shawl by this designer that I've knit is her Grade Shawl blogged as my Southwest Knit Shawl .

The MisAdventures of Simcha

I'm not the only one who loves to take a walk as the following anecdote reveals.

During the day I typically follow a fairly consistent routine and around 3 o'clock I take Simcha for an afternoon walk. But the other day I was working at my computer and even though I knew it was time for Simcha's walk I ignored him when he began nudging me with his nose. So he proceeded to grab me by my T-shirt and pulled me out of my chair. I know I should never have allowed this pushy behavior but I was laughing too hard and wanted to quickly finish up what I was working on so I went back to the computer just for another minute. At which point he brought me over one of my tennis shoes. What could I say then but geez, if you really want to go for a walk you should have brought me my sweater.... Just kidding. Of course I broke down and took him for a walk, I'm a softy.

The above picture is taken along Stunt High trail in Topanga, a hike that has lots of old oak trees, a beautiful creek bed, and I think is a particularly pretty place for a walk.

Until next time, be well and love well and take some time to think about how your knitting expresses your personal style and why you pick the projects that you do.

Yvonne's English Sherry Trifle

2012-01-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

It is with great pleasure that I'm sharing my mother's recipe for English Sherry Trifle. This is one of my favorite desserts and is relatively simple to make. It is an authentic English recipe that she learned from her mother growing up in England (and in all likelihood came into the family from their family cook, as my grandmother lived in a household that employed a cook).

I think of sherry trifle as a traditional Christmas dessert as my mother always makes one for afternoon tea on Christmas day. But the English love a festive party and nothing adds to the festivities like an English Sherry Trifle, and it is a dessert that is served year round at parties.

You wouldn't truly be making an "English" sherry trifle unless while preparing it you didn't wink and say "it's only a trifle said the monkey wee weeing on the sponge cake."

Don't ask me what this means, one can only guess. Keep in mind that it's just part of the experience of making the trifle and something my mother always says, so go with it. If it helps (and in case you didn't know) the English are known for having a lavatorial (bathroom) sense of humor. Having been born and raised in Southern California I can honestly say I don't think I have an English sense of humor, but for some reason I never laugh as much around anyone as I do when I'm around my Mom.

Without further ado, here is Yvonne's English Sherry Trifle Recipe

Ingredients:

1. Sponge Cake (you can use a jelly roll or even an angle food cake but whatever you use it must absorb liquid well without disintegrating). My mother buys a sponge cake but I bake a Sponge Cake using this recipe by King Arthur Flour.

2. Sherry. Use a nice sherry (not a cooking sherry). The amount is a matter of taste but I think at a minimum you should plan on using 3/4 cup).

3. Raspberries. Using frozen raspberries is perfectly fine. Approximately 2-3 cups.

4. Raspberry Jello - yield 4 cups. This is a unique aspect of my mother's recipe and gives her trifle a beautiful rich red color. It's best to use a large box of Jello brand, if available.

5. Custard - yield 4 cups. My mother uses Bird's Custard mix but I make a custard from scratch - see recipe below.

6. Heavy Whipping Cream. 1-2 cups

7. Decorations: candied cherries cut into half and candied angelica cut into tiny strips (candied angelica is a green cake decorating item that can be cut into tiny strips and placed around the cherries to look like grass).

Steps:

Find a large bowl. It looks best in cut glass but I use a heavy glass salad bowl. Whatever you use it must be thick enough to withstand boiling temperatures.

1. Line your bowl with sponge cake torn into pieces. Sprinkle with sherry (it should be damp but not soaked through). Cover with a layer of raspberries.

2. Prepare raspberry jello according to package directions. Pour hot liquid directly over raspberries and cake. You want the liquid to absorb and cover all of the cake and just cover the raspberries.

3. Refrigerate until the jello sets. This takes at least a few hours and it can sit overnight.

4. Make a custard and while it is still hot (directly from the stove top) pour custard over the jello. The custard will settle into the jello mixture and form a layer on top. Allow to cool and "set up" in the refrigerator at least an hour or two before adding the whipped cream.

5. Whip the cream with a small amount of sugar (1 or 2 tablespoons). Carefully spoon the whipped cream over the top and decorate with the candied cherries and candied angelica.

Custard Recipe - 4 cups (2 pints) . The original recipe for proper custard is found here on BBC Food (which I converted to US measurements/ingredients).

Ingredients:

4 cups whole milk
4 fluid oz heavy whipping cream
8 eggs (yolk only)
2 oz super fine baking sugar (caster sugar)
4 level teaspoons cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

1. Use a heavy weight sauce pan. Slowly bring the milk and cream to simmering point over a low heat. This is the longest part of the recipe and it is important not to rush this stage otherwise your custard will not "set up" properly. To ease the boredom I stand over the stove reading a book whilst stirring mixture with a wooden spoon.

2. Whisk yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together in a large bowl until well blended. Pour the hot milk and cream mixture into the bowl with the eggs whisking mixture well.

3. Return mixture to the sauce pan and add vanilla extract. Stir over a low heat with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens.

4. Pour directly over trifle while hot. You can also serve this custard with an English Pudding.

And here is a picture of my Mom with her trifle. Nothing makes her happier than having her family around her at Christmas and making it the nicest experience possible. Many of our family Christmas traditions come from her childhood when her mother went to great lengths to make it a a very special occasion, and she has done the same for us.

Now I don't want to hear any whimperings about calories or red food color dye. This is a once a year treat and best to do it right and enjoy it.

Lastly, I can't resist sharing this picture of my Dad taken this past Christmas. He has nothing whatsoever to do with making the trifle (except eating it) but as you can see he looks happy at the prospect of doing so.

Until next time be well and love well and may 2012 be a jolly and festive year for you ~
Soon I shall be back with some knitting as I have been busy busy busy knitting away.

The Year of Handspun

2011-12-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

My first post of the year was a handspun project so it is only fitting that my last post this year is also using handspun. Curious because prior to this year I had never knit anything using handspun and then for whatever reason it suddenly captured my attention and I've knit four projects this year with it (Handspun Scarf, Pamuya Shawl, Fingerless Mittens and this scarf). Now I'm hooked on handspun and of all the many things that I've knit over the years, these projects are my favorites.

Before I tell you about this scarf, I'll tell you about the above picture. It is taken in front of an old ruined cabin where only the rough hewn stone chimney remains. I "discovered" this ruin with Simcha on one of our morning hikes. I had shimmied up a mountain slope following what I believed was a trail only to have misgivings about half way up when I began to suspect what I was following was actually a watershed. Parenthetically, it's moments like this when you look around and realize it's a steep climb up or a slippery slope down that the thought crosses your mind that it might be a while before your body is found if something bad were to happen. But I managed to work my way to the top (Simcha had no trouble as he climbs like a mountain goat and I appreciated when he worked his way back down to encourage me on - we were in this together) where we then picked up a trail along the ridge that lead to this ruin. How cool is that? I love our morning hikes.

I also love my morning hikes for another reason, namely, they provide me with an infinite number of excuses as to why I need more yarn! I can always rationalize a purchase with "I really need this to make something to wear on my morning hike. It is cold, you know, early in the day." See how well that works?

And this yarn was a splurge purchase where I used exactly that excuse. It is a lushes heavy worsted alpaca in multi-color and it wasn't cheap but it's fabulous. And, as is the case with most handspun yarns, they really rock in a simple design that focuses on texture. You don't need to gild the lily here as the beauty is in the yarn. A simple broken rib pattern with a fun ruffle edging and you have the perfect scarf to walk your dog any ole day of the week ~

Particulars: 1 skein Cherry Hill Alpaca, LLC (multi colored alpaca - dark) spun by Pam Wilkins, 6.5 oz 247 yards. I used a free pattern (Misti International Ribs & Ruffles Scarf) as modified by using US 8 needles and fewer pattern repeats. Finished scarf measures 4"x 64"

I threw in this last picture so you could see how the yarn looked still in a skein. You can generally not tell from looking at a skein of handspun how it will look when knit up, and the bold blocks of color in this scarf just flowed naturally and were unexpected.

Peace on Earth

Mr. Puffy's Knitting Blog wishes everyone the gift of peace on earth this holiday season and all year long.

Decking the halls is exhausting work so follow Simcha's example and take plenty of time to relax and take naps.

I leave tomorrow and will be away through New Year, so until next time, be well and love well and have a happy and safe holiday season! Steve, Claudia and Simcha xoxoxo

A Trip to Florence ~

2011-11-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

A trip to Florence street in Sebastopol, California that is! This Thanksgiving we were fortunate to visit Steve's family who live in this quirky little town in Northern California and whilst there happened upon this residential street filled with whimsical sculptures. Come stroll along Florence Street with me in my new Asking For Roses wrap and imagine living on a street where an artist in residence has made the neighborhood his gallery with sculptures scattered throughout.

Northern California and the Sonoma/Napa region in particular is a very progressive area where green living and recycling have long been the norm. This artist (Renga Arts) makes all his sculptures from products that are reclaimed and reused materials and has the motto Reuse Reclaim and Reimagine as his inspiration. Which reminds me I need to do better about recycling.

We had a lot of fun playing on this street and Steve (an artist himself) enjoyed talking with the sister of the sculptor who was in the midst of painting a newly commissioned piece. For those interested there are additional photos of his sculptures on my flickr page here.

Did I mention that I really love my new wrap? It's actually too small to call a wrap. Instead it's more a scwrappy wappy wrap which means it's more than a scarf too. Whatever it is I loved wearing it because it's just right for our climate and worked perfectly with this outfit.

Particulars: Asking for Roses by Amy Swenson (Blogs as Indigirl); 2 skeins Hedgehog Fibers Blue Faced Leciester Wool (colorway Rusty Nail); US 8 needles. No modifications (other than yarn and needle size). I knit this very loosely and hardly blocked it at all. Post "blocking" dimensions: 64" x 12" (at widest point). The wrap is crescent shaped.

Cashew Shortbread

Rustic food is at no time more appealing to me than than around the fall harvest and Thanksgiving. This simple cashew shortbread cookie is a favorite of mine for its simple but rich buttery flavor. Recipe from Moosewood Cookbook found here (I often half the recipe for myself).

This Misadventures of Simcha

Simcha loves to work and I've discovered that it really doesn't matter the nature of the job. Here we are working on the commands "show me some intensity" and "hold that pose."

He's beautiful isn't he? When I walk him and men call out "hey gorgeous" they aren't talking about me. Really, it's okay. I'm completely over it. Sorta.

Simcha is modeling the Annie Wrap from Queensland Collection by knitwear designer Jane Ellison. I love this over sized wrap even though it's simple because it has great texture using a basket weave stitch and a mohair trim (2 colors held together). Dimensions: 70" x 20" (excluding fringe). Knit using Rowan Felted Tweed and US 8 needles.

Until next time, be well and love well and may this holiday season be a special time for family, reflection, and sharing.

Finishing Touches ~

2011-11-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

At this time of year our thoughts turn toward the holidays and I find it helpful to have a few quick and easy gift ideas and reliable recipes to make the season a little less stressful. To dispel a common perception, a knit gift does not have to be fancy, expensive, or take weeks of complicated knitting to be a gift you are proud to give or wear. It's all in the finishing touches.

Both pairs of gloves in this post are based on a basic pattern that has used a simple but effective design element to elevate it to gift giving or holiday wearing status. All that is required is a single skein of yarn, a tried and true pattern that has been made successfully time and again, and a few notions in the way of buttons or beads to add a finishing touch or two!

Lately I've been thinking about finishing touches and not just in the context of knitting. It strikes me that of late I haven't devoted nearly enough time (truthfully no time at all) to reading good literature, listening to fine music, or devoting my efforts to a worthy cause. In other words, I'm in serious need of some finishing touches! One's self is the most important work in progress we have.

The second pair of gloves is a personal pattern utilizing design elements from a variety of patterns. I love to wear something a little fun and frivolous when I'm out and about over the holidays. The contrasting reverse stockinette border and flower embellishment are just some of endless ways to personalize a basic pattern to your taste, just as your choice of yarn and buttons will personalize any pattern. Adding a faus black pearl bead to the flower's center is the final finishing touch.

Particulars: Blue Gloves: Welted Fingerless Gloves by Churchmouse Teas; US 5 and US 6 DPN; Mandos del Uruguay - Silk Blend; no modifications whatsoever. However, as I have a tiny wrist, if I were to knit these for myself I would reduce the number of stitches cast-on and probably use the smaller needles throughout the project. These gloves were gifted away to the lovely Dilshani (Rav Profile) as part of a German Shepherd Lovers swap hosted on Ravelry. The second pair of gloves (Brown Gloves) is knit using a composite of several patterns and is very similar to the evening gloves I knit last Winter for Christmas. I used a single skein of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino; US 5 needles; and a small amount of contrasting yarn. I knit the flower using a pattern I found in the book Knit 2 Together. Using resources you already have or that are free on the internet is a great way to find ideas to embellish patterns.

Dried flowers in the fading Summer sun are a reminder that time is always passing leaving only traces of what once was behind. Wet felted flower made by following the Tutorial by Ingermaaike.

Pistachio and Currant Biscotti

A seasonal recipe that I make this time of year is Mary Kay's Pistachio and Currant Biscotti. I like to have a few cookies on hand that go well with coffee or tea. Try serving them on a paper doily ~ it adds a nice finishing touch.

I will be away and busy much of the coming months and will be spending less time online, although I will still be knitting and continue to add posts. So until next time, be well and love well and I hope this season of holidays is a time for you to reconnect with what is important in your life.

Southwest Knit Shawl

2011-10-23T18:11:00.000-07:00

I chose to knit the shawl that I'm wearing because it reminds me of the American Southwest and its gorgeous sunsets and the clothing inspired by that region.

The Southwest is a beautiful part of America and has a distinct culture that is seen in its art, food, and clothing. Steve and I once traveled by motorcycle all through the Southwest beginning in Albuquerque, New Mexico traveling up to Sante Fe, New Mexico and back through Arizona and ending up in Palm Springs, California.

I loved traveling by motorcycle (I rode on the back) because you experience the landscape on a much more intense level as all the sights, sounds, and smells of the land have no barrier to you. I'll never forget the beautiful ring of golden fire that outlined the mountain ranges as the sun set and the evening began. If you are familiar with the art of the Southwest you will often see a ring of gold or bright light which represents the sunset and how the evening sky is etched in molten gold.

I see that landscape and the ring of fire in this shawl. It also see, incidentally, Candy Corn but that might just be because it's close to Halloween. I've included a few pictures from the trip we took (20 plus years ago) below and only wish I had taken some of the landscape.

Particulars: Grade, a Twice Square Rectangular Shawl, design by Grace Anna Robbins, A Stitch to Wear. Modifications: For the main body of the shawl I reduced the needle size to US 7 on account of substituting yarn to silky merino by Malabrigo Yarns (cream, sand, camote, topaz). For the red border I used a heavier yarn (Noro cash iroha) and used US 7 needles for the first row and then US 8 needles until the i-cord bind off at which point I switched back to US 7 needles. I liked the slightly heavier gauge yarn for the border because it adds nice texture and some structure for the shawl which is largely knit in a soft yarn. Blocked (lightly) dimensions: 42" x 20." For more gorgeous modern interpretations of stripes see Veera Valimaki aka: Rain Knitwear Designs (blogs 100% Rain) who has designed several stunning striped shawls, including Stripe Study Shawl and Different Lines.

Motorcyle Trip to Southwest

Steve shipped his motorcyle to a Bed and Breakfast in Albuquerque, New Mexico which is where we began our trip. My favorite town was Santa Fe, New Mexico where we stayed at the famous La Fonda Hotel and below you can see we are in a square with various artist/vendors with booths. Even back then I loved handcrafts.

The MisAdventures of Simcha

All of the pumpkins will belong to me..... Muahahaa!

It was around this time last year that we discovered that Simcha had a possessive streak. We had our pumpkin outside where he would “check it over” every time he went in and out of the house and one night he became enraged when he realized some animal was outside messing about with his pumpkin. We did not get much sleep and in the morning we found the pumpkin covered in bite marks so this year I bring his pumpkin inside at night. I hope he handles it well when I carve it.

Until next time, be well and love well and may you approach life as an adventure with each season a time to celebrate.

Mystery Socks ~ and Autumn Apple Turnovers

2011-10-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Some of the ways that Knitters alleviate the boredom of the long Summer months is to join a Swap, a Mystery KAL, or a Yarn Club. This Summer I did all three. What can I say? I'm a joiner. While it can be risky to commit to anything sight unseen such as a yarn club or mystery KAL, I lucked out and really love the yarn and my mystery socks (and the Swap too, which I'll tell you about another time).

The "clues" in a mystery KAL are released weekly and in this case there were a total of 4 clues. I confess that the final clue I knit and then ripped back and modified by adding an additional spiral all the way to the toe shaping cuz, like, there wasn't enough already going on with these socks. It's not everyone that will want a highly variegated sock yarn paired with a busy (made busier) pattern. But that's the beauty of knitting it your own way.

These socks look terrific both in a solid color and, I think, a variegated color but it was seeing Andi's Clue No. 1 (who blogs as My Sister's Knitter) in a beautiful solid red that sold me on joining the KAL.

Particulars: Mystery Sock KAL August 2011 by Jen Hansen (blogs as Knitting like Crazy) (pattern subsequently named Ripple Effect available as a free Ravelry download); Sock Yarn by Hedgehog Fibers (Phoenix colorway - July 2011 club colorway); US 1 needles. Modified the last chart (Clue No. 4) by adding an additional band of patterning which spiraled all the way to the toe. I added the additional spiral as I felt otherwise the pattern stopped rather abruptly.

Autumn Apple Turnovers

Whenever I visit my parents in Santa Barbara my Mom and I always take off together for an enjoyable morning walking downtown visiting the shops and having a coffee out. Several years ago we discovered a small but wonderful rustic bakery where they served incredible warm apple tarts that came with whipped cream and a caramel sauce. We would love to sit in this bakery with our packages and lovely coffees and chat while we enjoyed their wonderful treats. This little bakery has since closed but I'll always remember how much my mother and I enjoyed those times and, hopefully, on my next visit we'll discover a new special place for our coffee.

Apple turnovers are particularly enjoyable on a chilly Autumn day and, if you aren't going out for coffee, then the next best thing is to make your own. These turnovers I made using King Arthur Flour's recipe Autumn Apple Turnovers. I tossed in a few dark raisins to the filling and substituted 1 tablespoon Tapioca for the Pie Filling Enhancer and used Bourbon instead of boiled cider but other than that followed the recipe exactly and enjoyed them very much (even without the whipped cream and caramel sauce which, no doubt, would have made them even better).

Until next time, be well and love well and do take time to savor the flavors of the season ~ whether it's something you treat yourself to while out, or you make it yourself!

Autumn Vines ~ In the Clouds

2011-09-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

We are having a spectacular Fall in Southern California with glorious cloud formations billowing high in the sky whilst fog seeps up from the valleys and ocean below. This morning I am happy to be out with Simcha and Steve enjoying the scenery while wearing my new Autumn Vines Beret. With the arrival of Simcha into our lives we go for a hike every morning because, if I've failed to mention it, Simcha is a "high energy" dog and we all have a more relaxing day if it begins with a hike.

The amazing thing is that the whole of Topanga is literally pickled with hiking trails that we never knew were there. We've both driven these roads for years and never spotted them. But now whenever I see a car parked along the road I'll pull over and investigate and I have found numerous hidden trails that way. I have Simcha to thank as it's only to provide amusement and diversion for him that I've been pushed to explore our neighborhood.

One of the fun things about hiking is that you come across many natural treasures such as the bird's nest pictured below. Whether it's a walk in your neighborhood or a hike in the mountains, if you take the time to look there are countless treasures just waiting to be found.

Autumn Vines Beret, pattern by Alana Dakos, who blogs as Never Not Knitting; US 4 needles; Pashmina Yarn by Madelinetosh (Cove colorway). This was a fun pattern to knit and my only modification was to go down a needle size. I have this hat thanks to Andrea who blogs as Life on Laffer (a test knitter for Alana Dakos) because its from seeing her many beautiful test knits and, but for that, I'm not sure this designer would have been on my radar. Rav Link This designer has also recently published Coastal Knits, A Collaboration between Friends on Opposite Shores, which I've ordered because I do, after all, live on the Coast.

The MisAdventures of Simcha

I know it's pink. I paid extra for that.

I think it is important to combat sexual stereotyping whenever possible.

Until next time, be well and love well and this Fall I hope you will take walks in your neighborhood ~ I know that you will be pleased by what you find!

Handspun Mittens ~

2011-09-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I'm back! What? No one noticed I was away? Gee whiz. I thought you might like to know that I've been through a bout of poison oak (severe), a late summer heatwave, out of town company, and work hassles, only one of which was enjoyable. In any event, I'm happy to be back in my space waffling on about knitting as usual. This time about my rock n little handspun mitts.

I'm a huge fan of handspun yarn, and although I don't have the time to spin I find it a treat to knit. Especially so when it's spun by a special person whom you probably know as Smoking Hot Needles. I love this project because it is a great example of how the internet connects knitters and fiber enthusiast all together. The yarn was dyed by an indy dyer; it was spun by an indy spinner; the pattern is by an indy designer; and I'm the indy knitter/blogger who, as improbable as it seems, is wearing woolen mittens in sunny Southern California. All thanks to the internet.

I knit these mitts to be shorter and more slouchy than I typically knit mittens because I wanted them to be causal and comfortable to pull on in the morning when I take Simcha out for his walk. And yet. I still wanted them to have a classy look so I could wear them out for coffee or wherever. That's where the genius of picking the right buttons comes in and upon whom my dear friend, Murielle of Murielle Knitwear I rely. My first thought was to choose either wood or leather buttons but she immediately suggested something black and shiny, and that was the right call.

Particulars: Based on Albina Armwarmers pattern by Vera Brosgo (Verabee); handspun by Monika (blogs as Smoking Hot Needles); indy dyer Spinning Aewsome Good Fiber BFL colorway Awesome Boyfriend colorway; US 3 needles. This is a great pattern and has a very helpful formula for using all weights of yarn as it's designed for handspun yarn and not any specific weight. The designer also has written a similar free pattern called Easy Handspun Mittens. I followed the cuff and placket as per the pattern but modified the thumb gusset to better suit my fit preferences and, in broad strokes, I made the increases every other row (instead of 2 rows plain between increases). Rav Linky.

Spinning A Family Tradition ~

I read once that if you are the child of a knitter you are more likely to be a knitter yourself. That happens to be true for me. I also have a great grandmother (picture above) who was a spinner and my grandmother (picture below with my mother) was also a spinner. My grandmother, Ruth, taught me to crochet as a child and I proceeded to hook an afghan at a speed that startled people. But it didn't take and I've never crocheted since. My mother many years later put needles in my hands and taught me how to knit. But she did not teach me how to follow patterns as that was never a strength of hers, as I allude to in my post It's a Vintage Thing. I guess it really is in the blood and maybe someday I'll spin too.

Until next time, be well and love well. The heat has finally broken here and I hope everywhere so that we all can all enjoy an early Fall!

Back to School Muffins

2011-08-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

I had intended this post to feature a Fall knit. However a severe case of poison oak has made the very thought of touching wool abhorrent. Instead, at the request of my sister, I'm going to share my tasty and nutritious raisin bran muffin recipe. She recently visited and sampled these muffins and pronounced them perfect to freeze and have on hand to feed her boys this coming school year.

Mr. Puffy's Raisin Bran Muffin Recipe

I've been making these muffins since my college undergrad days when a friend shared her recipe. But I've recently modified the recipe to substitute raisin bran flakes for the plain bran in the original and now they remind me of memorable muffins that I once enjoyed at a bed &amp;amp; breakfast in Hawaii. If you search on-line you can find a raisin bran muffin recipe that is typical of those served at bed &amp;amp; breakfast inns, but it makes an enormous quantity and lacks the rich flavor that comes from the molasses and honey in my recipe and, I believe, those ingredients were also probably in the muffins I had in Hawaii.

Ingredients

Dry:
1 1/4 cups raisin bran cereal (the thick flakes are best with lots of raisins)
2/3 cup all purpose flour
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
2 dashes salt

Wet:
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
2 Tbs. honey
1/4 cup molasses

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 8 small muffin tins (cupcake size).
2. Measure out the raisin bran flakes and set aside (these are folded in last).
3. Toss together the remaining dry ingredients (flour, sugar, soda, salt).
4. In separate bowl mix the wet ingredients.
5. Quickly mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and lastly fold in the raisin bran cereal.
6. Spoon into small muffin tins (2/3rds full) and bake for 20 minutes.

These muffins freeze very well. The recipe makes 8 small, old school style, muffins. For a light breakfast they are wonderful warm from the oven with sweet butter, a bowl of fresh fruit, and a cup of coffee. I usually have two.

The MisAdventures of Simcha

Lastly, I'm not going to name names or place blame on any individual for the discomfort I'm presently experiencing due to my severe case of poison oak (did I mention that already?) the severe part I mean. But I can say that the party responsible for transmitting the poison oak oil can be touched by using a very short stick.

Until next time, be well and love well and not to alarm anyone but it's time you were planning your Fall knitting!

The Promised Toy

2011-07-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here he is! A sweet bear, naked as a the day is long. The toy that I promised Steve long ago.

A little background about Steve and why this toy was important to him. Steve was something of a child protege and because of that he missed out on a typical childhood. He came from a no nonsense family and at an early age he was hard at work around the house mowing the lawn or in his bedroom constructing a ham radio or doing a physics project. By age 12 he was a budding entrepreneur and began the first of his many business ventures, which was selling customized Christmas cards.

After only 2 years of college he began medical school. At the time he graduated from medical school he was one of the youngest doctors licensed in the United States. He went on to become a highly respected and skilled eye surgeon and had patients that traveled from as far as the United Kingdom for treatment. All the while he was furthering his education by obtaining a law degree from the University of Notre Dame, publishing a textbook, and pursing his entrepreneurial interest and adding a string of other awards, degrees, and professional licenses.

But with all that drive and focus on education and developing his profession, he never experienced what should have been the fun and carefree days of childhood. Which is enigmatic to me, because I had a very different childhood. Mine was filled with fun and endless Summer days of camping, tennis, sunbathing, picnics and getting lost in story books without a worry or thought given to the future. I guess opposites really do attract.

Fortunately it's never too late to have fun, or a stuffed toy of your own. At least that's what I think.

Particulars: Sweet Bear by Twins; this is a well written pattern and easy to follow but I did modify it for a heavier gauge yarn and larger needles to make a bigger toy (pattern instructions are for a 9" bear and Steve's is 15"). I also modified the pattern by making my own sweater and scarf set. I wanted this toy to be exactly right so I had Steve choose everyting from the pattern to the yarn and finishing buttons. Yarn: Lush (50% angora / 50% wool) by Classic Elite Yarns - 2 skeins sky blue and 1 skein root beer; the white yarn is angora left over from my Netsuke Wrap; US 6 needles. The pattern calls for all pieces to be knit flat and seamed together, which is not my preference, but wasn't too bad. The scarf I based on the free pattern by Jared Flood (Noro striped scarf) and the cardigan I made up as I went along. The hat is only slightly modified to be a bit slouchier (Ravelry Link).

The MisAdventures of Simcha

The other man in my life, Simcha, is also filled with strong drives. As I mentioned in an earlier post, we have possibly found him a vocation. Ta da..... sheep herding. Bet you didn't know there was a need for sheep herding in Southern California. Think again, we have something here for everybody. So off we went to Drummond Ranch (Malibu location) for Simcha to be evaluated for his herding instinct.

Simcha was eager to begin. But Steve was concerned that we would be eating Shishkabobs for dinner after paying for the sheep. What an absurd worry.

His concern was obviously misplaced as all Simcha did was gather the sheep together in the middle of the ring, as he was supposed to do (albeit with a few nips here and there).

We were as proud as punch. I'd like to quote from his evaluation "Simcha had a lot of enthusiasm and drive. He went right to work exploring his instincts. He brought his sheep into a group and would regroup them. He read his livestock well - all instinctually. Nice dog. He was showing his ability to think well with the sheep."

All that chasing sheep is hot work and afterward he jumped into a tub of cold water. He had a blast and so I think we'll sign him up for a few lessons.

Until next time, be well and love well and it's Summertime so remember to go outside and have fun.

A Shawl for the Ages ~

2011-07-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when people think of wearing shawls they are uncomfortable with the notion. How would I wear it? It would make me look old, wouldn't it? Is wearing a triangle pointed at my rear end really a good idea? And other such nonsense. But these days shawls are no longer worn as they were in times past. Modern knitters are transforming the shawl into an accessory that is very wearable by everyone regardless of age, or gender, as you will see.

For example, I rarely wear a triangle shawl in the traditional manner. By traditional manner I mean with the triangle pointing down my back and the ends tied in front. Instead, I prefer to wear my shawls as I would a scarf.

This is the third time I've knit this particular shawl, the Diamond Fantasy Shawl. It is a shawl that appeals to all ages, is very wearable, easily adapts to everyone's style sense, and is always noticed. But it was last Christmas while I was visiting my parents that I realized how versatile this shawl really is. It was Christmas eve and I was sitting in church with my parents next to my mother (who is 84) and realized she was getting cold. I took off my Diamond Fantasy shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. Not only did it keep her warm, I was struck by how great it looked on her. And, as further proof, my dad who is not one to make an insincere compliment, enthusiastically agreed. So I told her I would make her one in green, her favorite color. And so I have.

Particulars: Diamond Fantasy Shawl by Sivia Harding Knit Designs, Sundara Yarn (sock) 100% Superwash merino yarn, colorway: Lush Tropics; US 5 needles (Rav link). This is the third time I've knit this pattern because I really like this design. One caveat, though. This is a shawl where the design has lace pattern throughout. As a result it takes a little longer to knit (requiring more concentration) than shawl patterns that have a large segment of plain stockinette. If you are looking for a quick shawl project this probably isn't it. Posts on my earlier versions are Diamonds are Forever (red) and A Modern Take on Gothic (blue); and a picture of Mr. Puffy modeling the blue shawl at the beach is on Flickr.

Incidentally, I also knit the cardigan I'm wearing in this post (finished in 2007). It's the Rowena Cardigan from Knit 2 Together (Rav Link).

And to finish my point on gender, manly men can, and do, wear shawls too. I think Simcha proves that Stephen West of West knits is not the only guy that can rock a shawl, although Mr. West does wear them well. As it happens, I've bought the Daybreak Shawl pattern from West Knits so we can make a fair comparison at some point.

Something Sweet to Finish ~ A Rustic Raspberry Tart

This is a recipe for a Rustic Raspberry Tart from the Kerry Gold butter website. It's a very easy recipe and makes a wonderful dessert. I did prefer it cooled completely to room temperature (rather than still warm from the oven) so allow sufficient time for it to cool. It's very nice with a dollop of ice cream.

A couple of quick tips. Use only sweet fresh raspberries and sponge them off gentling to reduce water absorption. I cooked my tart a little longer than the recipe stated because a berry filling is not cooked through until it is bubbling. You can cover the tart with aluminum foil to prevent it from browning too much, if that is a concern. I used Kerry Gold butter and followed the recipe exactly. However, I did use my standard pie dough making tips which are to 1) add white vinegar to the ice water and 2) allow the dough to rest for a few minute in the refrigerator prior to rolling it out.

Until next time, be well and love well. If you have heretofore thought you can't wear shawls, it's time to change your mind!

Sheepish Pincushion

2011-06-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

Some people lose interest in knitting during the Summer months when the days are sweltering hot, humid, and sticky and the heat is oppressive. But not me. I knit year round regardless of the weather. And yet. When it's very hot outside it is nice to have other crafts to work on that do not involve handling wool. Such as embroidery.

Like most knitters I love sheep from whence all fleece and hence yarn comes. So when I saw this cute sheep adorned pincushion I couldn't resist.

It came as a kit with everything included and very clear instructions so that even someone such as myself with relatively little embroidery skills could make it quite easily. The nice thing about following a well written pattern is that once you've made it you can then transfer that knowledge to other projects. I can see embroidering these cute sheep onto dishcloths, children's bibs and other clothing items.

The sheep are each embroidered with a different stitch to give a different texture and, while I hadn't thought about it before, sheep do have a variety of fleece. Maybe sheep fleece is like hair and some sheep are just lucky to have beautiful glossy locks while others are unlucky and have a frizzy mop. Rather like a perpetual bad hair day.

Particulars: Counting Sheep Kit (sold on Etsy) designed by Lorna Bateman of Vari-Galore Embroidery. Stitches include bullion knot, couching, drizzle stitch; satin stitch, and french knot. The Kit came with everything I needed including needles and a handy stitch glossary for future reference. I followed the instructions exactly and couldn't be happier with my finished pincushion. I was also impressed with the silk floss and hand dyed thread that came with the kit. I actually ordered more of the floss which is made by Chameleon Threads of South Africa. If you are interested in hand embroidery I follow some blogs that regularly feature embroidery including Tiny Happy, Posy Gets Cozy, and Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life.

The MisAdventures of Simcha

Investigation into the case of my missing cake flour.

Really? It wasn't you? Because you were the last one in the kitchen where I had my cake flour.

While Simcha maintains that he is innocent, I'm confident that I have my man. At 18 months Simcha is still getting into mischief but is more cuddly and forgivable all the time. Still, he does need a job and I am delighted to report that we have found him one and it involves sheep! But I'll tell you more about that another time.

Until next time, be well, love well, and this Summer try varying your knitting with another craft, such as hand embroidery!

Kusha Kusha Scarf and Blueberry Pie ~

2011-06-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

You mustn't think that I'm not aware I have a fixation on an earlier period in time. Many of my projects reflect that fascination. I particularly like projects that bring alive clothing items worn in an earlier era such as some of my triangle shawls. But I also like to play with the juxtaposition an ancient craft in a modern setting or a modern design.

Woody Allen is an insightful writer and his most recent film, Midnight in Paris, focuses on people who have romanticized an earlier period of time. I know this is true for me. He said that it is to escape the painful reality of our present. Maybe. I definitely felt aware of the glare of lights and a distaste for cars racing by as we emerged from the theater. Owen Wilson, by the way, does a fabulous job of playing the role that would ordinarily have been played by Woody Allen.

The scarf that I am wearing is using knitting and felting, two very ancient crafts, to create a very modern look. The modern look is achieved by using a combination of different sized needles, the mixed medium of knit and felt, and a stainless steel yarn (decidedly a modern medium) to create an amorphous fabric. The stainless steel yarn softens when washed and rolled in your hands. During the felting process I worked both sides of the scarf with my hands, even the stainless steel portion, as I wanted to relax and stretch that as well. Incidentally I have knit with stainless steel yarn before and you can see the tunic I made in the post, A Simple Summer Tunic.

Particulars: Kusha Kusha Scarf (Kit-78) by Habu Textiles; design by Setsuko Torri; US 8, 6, 4, and 3 needles. This is a very fun and simple scarf using stockinette stitch. I knit mine a little longer than the pattern recommended as I think otherwise the scarf pattern is a tad too short. When felting be sure to stretch the fabric and work it with your hands to achieve the dimensions you wish. My pre-blocking measurements were 60" (40" combined yarn x 20" stainless steel). While drying there was an "incident" involving Simcha. Suffice it to say I had to cut out 90% of the stainless steel portion and about 5% of the felted portion. To fix this, I picked up the remaining stitches and reknit the scarf working inward. I joined the two sides with a 3 needle bind-off and the felting process melted away any evidence of the join. All's well that ends well! But this explains the strange "post" blocking measurements and why I cant' tell you exactly how I modified the pattern by row count. Final post blocking measurement is 51" (28" combined yarns x 23" stainless steel).

A Taste of Summer ~ Blueberry Pie

Homemade blueberry pie is one of Summer's treats and versatile enough for picnics or company dinner! Steve thinks it might be his favorite pie, but he's not sure. He can't decide because he loves tart cherry pie too. But after rhapsodizing over every morsel he's already asking when we might have another one. Note to Self: blueberry has the slight edge.

For the filling I followed the recipe on the Tapioca box except I used slightly less of the recommended tapioca and slightly more of the lemon juice (these were sweet berries). I also cooked mine longer than the recommended time because a berry pie is not cooked through until you see the juice bubbling up through the crust.

For the crust I followed my mother's recipe which can be found in the post As Easy as Apple Pie. Did I serve it with warm with ice cream? Does it take two to tango?

Until next time, be well and love well, and I hope your Summer includes at least one blueberry pie.

A Great Day ~ in San Clemente

2011-05-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

It's hard not to have a great day when wearing hand knit socks that give your feet unparalleled warmth, comfort and pizazz! But it never hurts to be told to have a great day either.

San Clemente is a sleepy little surf town just North of San Diego and is our home away from home. One thing I love about being in San Clemente is that everywhere you go they tell you "have a great day." From the grocery store clerk to the T-shirt shop you hear this familiar refrain. It makes me smile and sums up the San Clemente experience in four little words.

It's awfully hard to model socks so just pretend I'm smiling in this photo. I really am having a great day in San Clemente.

Particulars: Orzival Socks by Stefanina March (who blogs as Stephanie's Dream); 1 skein Pigeon Roof Studios fingering yarn, spring green colorway, US 1 needles. This is a great pattern and I really enjoying knitting these socks. After the last pattern repeat I only knit 4 rounds of plain stockinette stitch (rather than the recommended 6 rounds) as I have small feet (size 7 US). Raveled here.

These last pictures are taken at the San Clemente Farmer's Market which is held every Sunday morning on Avenida Del Mar. The city is know for its Spanish architecture and, of course, the great surfing. Steve and I are both wearing hoodies that are sold all over town. They are incredibly comfortable and I don't know why we don't wear them in Topanga. You don't often see Steve on the blog, and you only see his profile here, but he's about to have a post as I'm finishing up something for him. Just so you know, I did not rob the cradle so any comments of that sort will not be appreciated.

The MisAdventures of Simcha

We are still taking separate vacations. But should my feelings be hurt? After returning from his stay at the Topanga Pet Resort, I get the strong impression that Simcha would rather still be playing with his friends. I do my best to keep him entertained at home including daily long walks, tossing the ball, training sessions, keeping him supplied with Bully sticks to chew on, an afternoon tea break (that I know he enjoys) and personal grooming. But there are a lot of hours in the day. I'm thinking it's time he got a job.

Until next time, be well and love well and think about what is it that you love about your community and, wherever you are, have a great day! Signing off from San Clemente.

Felt Bunny

2011-05-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

This little bunny is made with my own handmade felt. I made it without any knitting and virtually no sewing! To make felt you simply lay out an interlocking pattern of merino wool and agitate the fibers using your hands with soap and water and - hocus pocus - you have felt! It's very magical and I've taken to felting like a duck to water.

I made this bunny using a "resist" which allows you to create a 3D piece of felt which is later cut open and, in this case, stuffed. When he was all dry and stuffed I needled felted on his facial features and added a red glitzy heart that sparkles. There is no way this bunny can hide his big heart.

I'm keeping this fellow for myself because he reminds me of something similar we saw in a bed and breakfast where we stayed in New Zealand. I definitely try to make things that remind me of places that I've been and enjoyed. Sometimes I wonder if I'm trying to hold on to memories and need an anchor or they will simply drift away.

Particulars: Felt Bunny made by following the free felt tutorial by Inger who writes the blog Daily Felt; Finished Dimensions 13" x 9" (after felting). I cut open the bottom of his feet and used a knitting needle to push the filler inside (100% polyester) and sewed him closed with matching embroidery floss. I used merino top that I purchased from Inger's etsy shop. I also made him the green scarf he's wearing in the middle picture, which is wet felted. If this project seems a bit too advanced you might consider using traditional knit felt and sewing a toy together with a contrasting blanket stitch similar to Kristin Nicholas' Fat Cat or use commercially made wool felt.

Toast and Honey

Work has been a slog lately, but one must still find time to eat. These are my own baked loafs using the Tartine Bread cookbook. How I love this bread. Let me count the ways.....

Toasted and slathered with butter and honey and my morning cup of Joe. Truly an inspired combination. If you don't have the time or inclination to bake your own bread, an English Muffin will do in a pinch.

Until next time, be well and love well and remember that simple pleasures add immeasurably to quality of life.

The Wood Nymph Shawl ~

2011-04-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

As a child I was brought up on a steady diet of nursery rhymes and stories of magical creatures. As a result I have had a life long love affair with all things fairy. This shawlette is dainty enough to remind me of frilly mushrooms and clothing made from cobwebs and flowers and something a wood nymph might chose to wear. Ethereal and fun.

Speaking of magical creatures, I'll share with you one of the nursery rhymes that my maternal grandmother used to recite to us well into her dotage, complete with acting out the various characters. The Selfish Goblin (author unknown) as told by Mary Cunningham (1902-1982) who learned to recite this and many other rhymes as a child growing up under the care of a nanny in turn of the century England:

The Selfish Goblin

Upon the open moorland, the rain was falling fast,
and through the dripping heather a goblin hurried past.
His eyes were small and cunning, his hair was very red.
He had a green umbrella he held above his head.

He chanced to meet a fairy, whose clothes were very wet.
As she had no umbrella he wished they hadn't met.

Oh please will you allow me, the little fairy cried, to share
your green umbrella by walking by your side. I wandered from the pathway
as I was going home. Oh dear, oh dear,
I'm frightened, don't leave me all alone.

Puff, nonsense, said the goblin. Can you not plainly see,
that under my umbrella there's only room for me. Goodbye.
And off he went, his clothes completely dry. And left that little fairy
to sit alone and cry.

But, as he crossed the moorland the wind with angry din,
caught hold of his umbrella, and turned it outside in. Hooray! Exclaimed the
hedgehog. I am extremely glad. Now I know a clever way to make old
umbrellas new. I wouldn't dream of telling it to you.

So he rolled the goblin over and then he hurried back, to help that little
fairy upon her homeward track. And left that selfish goblin struggling
with labor vain to mend his green umbrella, which let in all the rain.

It's interesting how something like a nursery rhyme can become etched into one's subconscious. In our family whenever anyone is being selfish they are referred to as being a greedy goblin. Steve hears this on a daily basis but never changes his ways.

Particulars: Crashing Waves by Grace Akhrem; 1 skein Tosh Merino Light (100% superwash merino wool); fingerling weight; colorway: Blue Gingham; US 6 circular needles; size small as modified by 3 extra repeats (189 stitches). As a result of adding 3 extra repeats my bind off is not centered but that is fine with me as I generally prefer a more rounded shape at the point of a triangle shawl anyway. Merino wool does not hold a block very long and will substantially "relax" post blocking. The pictures in this post are relaxed post-blocking; final measurements 44" x 18."

The MisAdventures of Simcha

It is the start of snake season here in Southern California and since we live in an area with lots of rattlesnakes we took Simcha to be rattlesnake trained. It involved exposing him to rattlesnakes both with and without their rattle so he leaned to avoid their sound and smell. The trainers used a shock collar and I know it made an impression. Regardless, for safety reasons, Simcha's walks will be on-leash until the weather is cool again.

I was touched afterward when a little girl came over and put out her hand to Simcha and he licked her fingers. She asked me “does he rescue people?” Considering how hard we worked to socialize him this made me feel very proud. I smiled and told her I was sure he would.

Until next time, be well and love and well make yourself something ethereal and fun to wear! There are lots of free shawl patterns to choose from including Bitterroot, Annis, Citron, and Springtime Bandit ~

A Blue Bird ~ In Wool Felt

2011-04-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about Spring is the sound of birds chirping to greet the day.

Every morning Simcha and I take a long hike in the beautiful Santa Monica mountains where I allow him to run off leash and we enjoy a time of peace and quiet before the daily activities begin. I'm quite certain that for Simcha his favorite part is either his romp in the pond or collecting sticks. But for me it is the sound of birds chirping all around us.

During our walk I try and put everything else out of mind except the sound of the birds singing. I listen to the birds, enjoy the scent of earth and plants warmed by the sun, and take deep breaths. If I have a few extra minutes I will sit and watch as Simcha plays nearby. I find our walks especially soothing when the aggravations and stress of work are exceedingly burdensome, such as they are now.

It is my favorite time of the day and perhaps that's what appealed to me about this little bird. I only wish he could sing. It makes me smile seeing him sitting here on a twig collected by Simcha on one of our walks.

Particulars: Pattern by The Paper Shed (The Curious Robin); hand dyed wool felt by Quilting Acres which was a good choice for this pattern as it's soft and very pliable; a miscellaneous fabric quarter; polyester fill (used to stuff all my toys); beads for eyes; and crafting wire. This was a very fun and easy pattern to follow and I'm sure I'll make many more of these little birds. N.B.: This particular little bird has not been the same since a traumatic incident when he was almost swallowed by Simcha. Something about his little legs has not been quite right since and is by no means a reflection on the pattern or design.

Savory Tea Nibbles

I generally have something sweet with my afternoon tea but occasionally I enjoy a savory tea instead. This is a plate of goat and stilton cheese with honey drizzled over the top along with crackers. It makes for a nice change of pace.

Until next time, be well and love well and take a few minutes in your day to find a quiet place where you can close your eyes and listen to the birds singing. You will be glad you did.

A Baby Sweater ~

2011-04-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

When Hilary (The Yarniad) announced she was having her first baby I was so happy for her I just had to knit the baby a sweater. And in the process of knitting the sweater I thought about the things that I was given as a child that I have kept through the years.

I thought about some of the toys, but mainly I thought about the gift that my mother received that had the following poem written inside the card:

To welcome the wee cherub sent from heaven to you ~
may angels stand guard over Claudia Jean Bew.
With a heart sweet and pure from the good Lord above ~
she enters your home to be loved and to love.
Her hours are all yours to guide day by day ~
he's lent her to you ~ keep her close in his way.
Heavens minus an angel, she's down here with you ~
your own little daughter ~ Claudia Bew. By Fay Angus

* Name spelled phonetically for privacy.

I'm no angel but perhaps I'm better than I would have been but for the prayers of some wonderfully caring people. Not all babies are so fortunate to have the support and welcome of an extended community but all deserve that and more. It is with a warm heart that I welcome Hilary's baby and hope that he may always know that many care about his well being.

But you want to hear about the sweater. Isn't it cute? Now I know it's not a traditional style for a baby but I just love the bright colors! And think how handy this will be for watching the toddler. Hilary will be able to pick her baby out of a crowd with no difficulty at all. Practical. That's me.

The buttons are vintage Le Chic that came from a pound of buttons that I purchased in a destash sale on Etsy by Lil Fish Extras. Pictured below are just some of the many other buttons included in that pound along with a clever broach made using buttons, felt and crafting wire. It's amazing how many cute ways something as common as old buttons can be used in crafts and if you are not already familiar with Lil Fish Studios you will find many project ideas on her blog for buttons and beyond that are sure to inspire you!

Particulars: Classy Baby Jacket (a Morehouse Farm kit); US5 and US6 needles; 3 skeins Morehouse Merino 3-strand worsted yarn. I found this to be a straight forward pattern and easy to knit project. I used US 5 needles for all trim (areas knit in orange) and US 6 needles for the body of the sweater; size 4 month to 1 year. The Grumperina sells a similar baby sweater but with a zipper closure called Budgie Baby Sweater that is also very cute. I enjoy knitting with Morehouse Merino yarns which are a nice combination of sturdy and rustic but still soft and warm. I used this yarn to knit the Lily Chapeau Hat a few years back and it has held up very well.

The Misadventures of Simcha

And for those of you wondering how dear little Simcha is doing..... here he is busy digging a hole in the backyard.

Until next time, be well and love well and never forget that it is the gift of caring for each other that is the most precious and lasting gift of all.

Easter Sunday Wrap

2011-03-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

I am finding it difficult to write this post in the wake of the crisis in Japan and so many around the world facing difficult times. A sobering reminder that all things can be swept away by the tides of time or tragedy. I recognize how easily it could be me in that situation and with that knowledge I try and live my life with thanksgiving and a generous spirit in the good times and pray that I will have the strength to face adversity in the difficult times. But no one is ever really prepared to face the type of crisis facing the Japanese people and those striving for freedom in the Middle East.

And so sometimes we carry on even when our heart is breaking and filled with concern for others. Those of you who celebrate know that both Passover and Easter are approaching. These holidays are an important part of our lives as Steve is Jewish and I am Christian.

In this post I am wearing a wrap that I knit to wear for these holidays called the Netsuke Wrap. It is knit using an angora yarn embellished with seed beads as I wanted something special to wear.

I love the beads and the vintage feel they add to this piece. Although I must confess that I almost lost heart and quit adding the beads after a friend observed that using beads with angora yarn was crazy because the beads wouldn't even be seen. Good point, I thought. But having already begun adding the beads I continued on and, surprisingly, the beads do show up very nicely. I think that may have something to do with this particular angora which does not shed and I just lucked out there.

Particulars: Netsuke Wrap by Bad Cat Designs, 3 US 4 circular needles (you need 3 of the circular needles due to the oblong center); 2.5 skeins Windsor Farms Rabbitry, Angora Blizzard (85% angora 15% merino - lace 2 ply - 200 yrds/skein); and a mix of size 8/0 and 6/0 Japanese seed beads (Ivory Ceylon). I added the beads using the dental floss method. No modification except yarn substitution. While this is described as a challenging lace project I thought it was a pretty straight forward knit. I think the challenge in this project comes from adding the beads which I found more tedious than difficult. This shawl is knit like a hap shawl, i.e. the center is knit first and then stitches are picked up around the center design and knit outward. Relaxed post blocking dimensions: 17" x 52."

Breaking Bread

You might recall several posts back I mentioned ordering the Tartine Bread book after Raina talked about it on her blog, Raining Sheep. I was captivated by the romantic notion of baking bread using only the wild yeast found here in Topanga. But after several days of watching a lack luster starter my more practical side won out. I spiked my starter mix with a few grains of French sourdough yeast (Lalvain du Jour) just to make sure I had a few live yeast in there. Other than that, I followed the Tartine bread methodology exactly.

My first loaf was just beautiful as you can see in the photo above. It looked wonderful. It had a thick crunchy crust and a light airy texture and, as I savored that first bite, I was delighted. Until I finished chewing and realized that the flavor was too sour. What now? Did I want to invest possibly years tinkering about with a starter that was never exactly right? Or, for a mere $6.95 should I go go back to using King Arthur's starter which has a combined history dating back 250 years to New England and the Alaska gold mining days. I'll let you guess what I decided.

Caveat and baking tip. I have baked bread for many years. An absolute beginner might find the Tartine Bread book method daunting. In particular I think it might be easy to confuse seeing air bubbles in the batter for live yeast activity. If your "starter" looks like a pancake batter (i.e. diffuse large bubbles on the top) I suspect you are seeing just that (air bubbles) and not yeast activity. Live yeast activity is typically evidenced by small clusters of bubbles. Without live yeast your bread will not rise. It is therefore important to wait to bake your first loaf until your starter has live yeast activity or do as I did which is spike it with a very small amount of commercial yeast just to be sure.

Until next time, be well and love well and may the upcoming holidays be a special time for you and your families.

Woodland Flower ~ Powder Puff

2011-03-06T13:50:00.000-08:00

I made this Woodland Flower Powder Puff simply because it makes me smile. That and I actually use dusting powder. But why did I really make it as I can obviously get along just fine without it? For the simple reason that exploring my creative side adds beauty and fun into my life. I may have left kindergarten but I have never forgotten how much more fun it is to finger paint than it is to sit at a desk working sums, which I do plenty of.

The real truth revealed in that early class room experience is that you don't have to have special skills or be "an artist" to enjoy creating. You simply have to enjoy the process and with a little luck you will be happy with what you make too. And since I am happy with this powder puff I'm going to explain how to make it.

Wet felting is very much like finger painting. You can be an absolute beginner but with some fiber, hot water, and soap you can begin to use your hands to create felt. There is a bit more to it than that, but not much more, and nothing that isn't readily found on the internet. For the purposes of this blog I'm assuming you know the basics of making felt but should you need a reference book I found Uniquely Felt helpful.

This powder puff is incredibly easy to make. To make the base I soft felted a clump of wool roving (batt) in my hands using just my body warmth and a bit of needle felting to achieve the size and form I wanted. I then embellished it with a small amount of white silk that I needle felted in place, as pictured above. I then attached a wet felted flower and wool locks as a decoration. As an alternative to attaching a flower you could simply attach a pretty ribbon bow for a more traditional powder puff look.

To make the wet felted flower I used a small amount of wool top to form a round disk shape that I slightly prefelted. I then shaped the disk around a blunt knitting needle (any blunt pointed object will do) and rolled and twisted the felt around the knitting needle until it felted into a fluted shape. You can also add a stem (as I did) by rolling a small amount of wool top into a stem leaving a dry brush at one end. The dry brush is then wet felted onto the flower base. When the flower is dry you attach it to the base using a stitch or two of embroidery floss. If desired silky locks can be needle felted around the base of the flower.

Particulars: Woodland Flower Powder Puff; wool roving (batt) is by Peace Fleece; silk top is from Jazzturtle; wool top for flower and stem is hand dyed by Ingermaaike; silky locks are from Artclub. If you are new to wet felting I find Etsy an incredible resource for finding materials for wet felting and needle felting.You can also find several blogs about wet felting on my sidebar under "Crafting Blogs I enjoy Reading" just below the Knitting Blog list.

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

I consider nuts part of my whole grain diet and, as a treat, I'll occasionally roast them. This is a recipe from Ina Garten's Paris Cookbook slightly adapted based on personal preference. You will find many versions of this recipe online.

Rosemary Cashews

1 pound raw unsalted cashews
2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts onto a baking pan and roast approximately 10-15 minutes, depending on how hot your oven runs. You should begin to smell the roasting nuts but they should not be over browned.

Mix your seasonings together but don't add to the butter. Instead, pour the melted butter over the nuts and then sprinkle the nuts with the seasoning mix. I find that otherwise the seasoning does not cling to the nuts as it should. You might even pop the nuts back into the oven after adding the seasoning (for just a minute) to set the seasoning being careful not to overcook.

These are wonderful served warm.

Until next time, be well and love well and explore your creative side ~ whether your interest is cooking, knitting, photography, or whatever, you will find it adds fun and beauty to your life.

A Sublime Sweater

2011-02-22T19:24:00.000-08:00

This sweater is nothing extraordinary. Just a comfort knit. The equivalent of mashed potatoes and a warm hug. But wearing it at home lounging about with nothing to do is sublime after working long hours these past few weeks.

The soft color reminds me of sand and being at the seashore and, for some reason, Spring too. I guess I've been thinking a lot about Spring lately because I've purchased some flower seeds (from a haunted farm no less, The Little Ragamuffin) and I will be tossing these seeds about hoping some take hold this Spring. I should probably make more of an effort to see that they survive, but you have to be hardy to survive up here and I'm not the coddling type.

I also feel the need to try something different and so I've begun the process of developing a bread starter using just the wild yeast and bacteria found in Topanga. I'm following the technique explained in Tartine Bread (thank you Raina for the recommendation) and I'll report back on how this turns out. Years ago I kept a sourdough starter from King Arthur Flour and I have missed the crusty rustic breads that a well developed starter makes.

I've noticed a few bloggers have been sharing the books that they are reading and I'll do the same. I'm reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I love a book that takes me to a place that I've never been and this story takes place in Ethiopia which is colorfully depicted with interesting characters. If you haven't discovered Good Reads you will find it a great resource for finding books (it's the Rav equivalent for reading). I also enjoy Hege's blog Cloudberry as her taste in books is similar to mine and she takes beautiful photos set in Norway.

Particulars: Sublime Pattern Book 603, Exquisite Cardigan, 9 skeins Sublime baby cashmere merino silk dk (shade 0122); US 6 needles. I heavily modified this pattern including changing it from dropped sleeves to inset as I wanted a more fitted sweater. The yarn is wonderfully soft and a pleasure to wear.

The Misadventures of Simcha

I don't know what he's chewing on. But I am getting a little worried about the UPS man. His truck has been parked outside for several days now and there is no sign of him anywhere.

Until next time be well and love well. Spring will be here sooner than you think and ~ in the meantime ~ enjoy the pleasure of loosing yourself in a good book!

My Lumber Jack Shawl

2011-02-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

I call this my Lumber Jack Shawl because that's the name of the colorway and because it suits the personality of this shawl so well. Something I would know because I have a history with lumber jacks having come from a family of manly men who know something about felling trees and living off the land.

My dad grew up in Raymond, Washington a place described by Wikipedia as "a wild and wooly lumber mill town" where the lumber industry was part of everyone's life. My dad's family lived next door to a logging company; my grandfather worked as a lumber jack (for about a week); my dad's brother Keith spent his Summer working as a Whistle Punk (the person who signals when the logs are ready to be hauled); and I was almost killed by a logging truck when I was a child. If you ask my dad to tell you about lumber jacks he'll be able to tell you everything you ever wanted to know, and then some.

Which is a long way of saying that I have an appreciation and understanding of what makes a lumber jack and to give context as to why I chose this yarn and how knitting is a very personal journey for me. The yarn itself is also special because it was handspun by my very dear friend, Monika who writes the blog Smoking Hot Needles. Monika is an incredibly talented fiber artist and besides spinning yarn she also writes patterns and you may recall that I knit her Kyla mittens a few years back which I still wear and enjoy most mornings.

When Monika spun this yarn she knew it would make a fabulous shawl so she divided the roving so that when the skeins were joined they would blend seamlessly into a continuous fabric. Skillful and thoughtful she's a pro in every sense of the word.

Particulars: Pamuya Shawl designed by Alexandra Wiedmayer who blogs as Karigan's Husky World; 698 yards(8 oz) Falkland wool; 2ply; colorway Lumber Jack; dyed by FatCatKnits and handspun by Monika Smoking Hot Needles (shop link). I loved knitting this shawl as it's very easy to knit but still creates a complex looking fabric. Mods: I used US 5 needles as I used a slightly heavier weight yarn I also used more yarn than the pattern calls for. The heart necklace I'm wearing was made by the very sweet Tracy of Pink Purl who has an etsy shop called Prana Light where she sells spiritual and inspirational items. There is a better picture of this necklace in a post years ago called Romantic Beaded Scarf.

Until next time, be well and love well and I encourage you to think about where you came from and how you can make that history part of your life. I'll leave you with a glimpse of my Dad as a young man who I admire more than I can say.

Authentic Italian Cookies

2011-01-18T11:53:00.000-08:00

I always have knitting to share but occasionally I like to mix it up with a recipe or other fiber related craft. In this post I'm sharing a recipe that is special not only because it is an authentic Italian family recipe but also because it came from an exceptional person.

This recipe comes from Eileen Doran who was in charge of the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic the Summer that I worked there. She is one of those rare individuals who has a passion for helping those less fortunate, is tireless in her good works, and is one of the very few lawyers that I admire. Thinking about her takes me back to the Summer that I worked at the clinic.

With the luxury of unlimited time to pour into a project (a luxury usually reserved for students and those unconcerned about billable hours) I was assigned to work on a political asylum application for a Hungarian youth who was fearful of returning to his home in a far away land where a war was waging and the Hungarian youths were being conscripted and used as cannon fodder on the front lines (due to their ethnicity). I researched the situation and spoke with various human rights organizations and, at the end of my Summer internship, I submitted a Petition on his behalf. The follow up for the case was assigned to another student.

It wasn't until years later when I was in practice that I thought about this case again. One day the receptionist told me there was someone in the lounge who wished to speak with me. It was the young man whom I had written the Petition for and he wanted to thank me in person. His petition had been granted. In the twenty odd years since that Summer my professional career has largely involved complex business litigation and I've had some impressive wins. But none have felt as good as being thanked by that young man.

I also remember fondly working at the clinic because Eileen would bring in some of her delicious baked goods and in addition to being a terrific lawyer she had a talent for Italian cooking and my favorite was her Grandmother's Nini's Special Torta cookie.

I consider this cookie part of my whole grain diet because, well, there are a lot of nuts in it. And nuts are good for you. Eileen says they are great with a cup of coffee and she's right.

Grandmother Nini's Special Torta Recipe
Originally published in Notre Dame magazine along with an article about Eileen Doran (reprinted with permission).

Ingredients:
6 cups flour
3 cups sugar
6 tsp. baking powder
1/2 lb. butter
1/2 tsp. anise oil or 3 tsp. anise extract
3 eggs and 4 egg yolks
1 lb. blanched chopped almonds (I use a food processor to chop the nuts otherwise this is a chore)

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar and baking power. Using a pastry mixer, add butter and blend until it forms a coarse mixture.
3. Add anise extract to eggs, beat lightly. Incorporate egg mixture into flour mixture using hands. Work dough with hands until smooth consistency. (N.B. This takes some time and effort so be patient. I find using my breadboard is helpful.)
4. Add chopped almonds. Pat into a 13x9x2 pan. Bake 1.5 hours at 300 degrees.
5. Cut into diamond-shaped pieces. Cover with plastic or foil and keep in a cool, dry place. Keeps for several days.

I'm a Grownup Now

I don't understand it. Simcha is 1 year old now but I've aged 5 years since he's come home.

Until next time be well and love well and why not take time to bake cookies, you'll be glad you did!

Heavenly Handspun Scarf

2011-01-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's the simplest things in life that bring the greatest pleasure. The feel of the sun warming your skin after it has rained or a walk on the beach as seagulls circle overhead. I forget these things until we return to San Clemente, California, as we always do, the week after Christmas where we have no TV or computer access and nothing important to do but remember that time to relax is important too.

In the spirit of keeping it simple I'm wearing a scarf that goes everywhere and looks great with everything. This scarf does not have a bold look but it is subtly rich in color and texture and dresses up or down depending on what I'm wearing. It's my favorite scarf. Ever. I used a handspun yarn and if you look closely you will see that the spinner plied dark gold and dark silver glass beads randomly throughout the skein adding twinkle and glimmer to the fabric.

I suspect the spinner who lives in Scotland and dyed the yarn in a Scottish tartan color, in a style that reminded her of a Scottish grid, would be surprised that her yarn ended up not being worn while hiking the Hebrides Isles but rather just chilling out on the beaches of Southern California. The internet makes the improbable possible.

Particulars: Kocurek Etsy Shop Handpainted and Handspun yarn; BFL and Seacell wool top; glass beads randomly plied throughout; Scottish Tartar colorway; 66 grams; 452 yrds sport weight, WPI 18; 1 ply; US8 needles; spinner is Kocurek on Ravelry and she writes the blog Kocurkoweconieco. This is a simple scarf knit in the linen stitch which, based on swatching, created the prettiest fabric. I've named it Heavenly Handspun Scarf and I've written out my notes below. Washed and blocked dimensions: 6" x 50."

Heavenly Handspun Scarf Pattern:

This scarf is based on a slip stitch pattern known as the linen stitch. The resulting fabric has almost a woven and/or tweedy appearance that is slightly different on each side. This scarf is designed to be a light weight accessory worn to accent an outfit and achieving drape is important.

Yarn Suggestion: light sport weight yarn with a fluid drape such as yarns blended with silk, bamboo, seacell, etc. I think handspun and/or handpainted yarns look particularly nice in this stitch due to the complex appearance of the yarn.

US 8 needle ~ or size to achieve desired drape and dimensions.

CO 42 stitches
R1: Slip 1 purl wise (K1, slip 1 purl wise with yarn in front)
R2: Slip 1 purl wise (P1, slip 1 purl wise with yarn in back)

Repeat to desired length.

Designer Tips and Tricks: To add individual flare and a designer touch you can add a panel of contrasting or complimentary yarn of similar weight in seed stitch which is a suggestion that came from my friend and knitwear designer Murielle (of Murielle Knitwear). Following her suggestion, at approximately the midpoint I changed yarn (I used leftover yarn from my wristletts with an edge) and switched to seed stitch for approximately 4 inches at which point I changed back to the original yarn and pattern. I'm glad I added this design element as it added both length and visual interest to my scarf! N.B. If you find your gauge is looser in the seed stitch (which mine was) you can either go down a needle size or every inch do a little runching (gathering) stitch (i.e. a row of evenly spaced decreases followed by a row of evenly matched increases) which is what I did. This will help keep the edges of the scarf even throughout.

P.S. Other scarf patterns in the linen stitch that might interest you are the Cerus Scarf a free pattern from Hilary of The Yarniad (knit lengthwise and designed for a man) and the Linen Stitch Scarf a free pattern compliments of Needleworks, Inc. (also knit lengthwise but using multiple colors of yarn and is gender neutral).

Until next time, be well and love well and think about the simple things in your life that bring you pleasure - and then do at least one before the day ends! I suggest putting your feet up and enjoying a cup of hot tea while you consider the endless possibilities.

All That Glitters ~ Evening Gloves

2010-12-18T16:11:00.000-08:00

We can't always be traipsing about in heavy woolens, now can we? At this time of year when there are Christmas parties and family events to attend it's nice to have a little something extra special to slip on.

Not that I have all that many opportunities for getting dressed up. The realities of my life would depress you so I try and spare you the many mundane details. But there are those few occasions that will arise and when they do I like to be prepared!

And these sparkly gloves are just the ticket. Although I had to make significant modifications (noted below) to the pattern I am very happy with my gloves and am hoping to have an opportunity to wear them soon. The cream colored yarn at the top has prestrung beads already added but I snipped off a few beads from the leftover yarn and used them to sew a band of beads just above the cuff. I love that detail as it ties the design together and gives these gloves that little extra finishing touch.

Particulars: La Doche Vita Gloves by Tili Tomas; 1 skein Milan (partly cloudy colorway) and 1 skein flurries (natural colorway); US 5 needles. It's probably more accurate to say these gloves were "inspired" by the pattern as I made significant modifications including adding a picot turned hem for a cuff; adding shaping (increases and decreases); substituted a 1x1 rib and picot BO for the ruffle; and adding a band of beads just above the cuff. While I loved the original pattern, sometimes you just have to use your common sense when knitting and, in this case, what I was seeing as I knit the pattern made me realize that simply following the pattern would not result in gloves that I enjoyed wearing. But because I loved the yarn, and the basic idea, I ripped back and rethought the design and made the above changes. For those interested I'll add more specific details on the modifications on my Ravelry notebook page.

P.S. Theresa of TDoesWool has published a free pattern for a gorgeous pair Crossed Lines Fingerless Mittens that are also fancy enough for a night out or just being cozy at home sipping eggnog and brandy.

P.S.S. The shawlette I'm wearing is a Dove shawl that I began but decided the yarn was too fragile to risk knitting a full shawl only to have it snag. I used Filatura di Crosa Superior which is heavenly soft.

P.S.S.S. The ornament I'm holding is one that I made with paper mache (thecraftshop) and glitter (Meyer Imports). We don't have a tree up this year because it would be to much excitement for Simcha, but I still enjoyed setting out a few decorations.

Is Simcha a Police Dog?

If you have been reading along then you know that Simcha is our German Shepherd puppy who is almost a year old now. And while he wasn't bred as a working dog, there are signs emerging that he might just have a bit of working dog in him.

Clues indicating Simcha might be a police dog:

1. He follows me about with the intensity of someone guarding the crown jewels. This is flattering but am starting to feel like I ought to pretend to be about more serious business than what I'm actually doing. I hope I don't develop a complex.

2. He instinctively knows to give a "suspicious package alert." Any box and/or object found anywhere in the house that is out of place (i.e. not part of the regular furnishings) triggers a "suspicious package alert" which is in the form of deep ominous growls punctuated with thunderous barks until we respond. I've not seen this level of concern for unattended packages since I was last at LAX, where the security guards aren't nearly as smart or as handsome.

3. He really likes to follow orders. This is great because I really like telling others what to do.

4. He's a natural at "search and rescue." I think I would have been more impressed by this if I had actually been drowning when he attempted to "rescue" me from the bathtub by pulling me out by the towel wrapped around my hair. Note to self: lock the bathroom door during baths.

There you have it. The clues are mounting up. What do you think? Is Simcha a police dog?

Until next time, be well and love well. We'll be away over the holidays so I'll take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New year ~ and may the spirit of Christmas always shine in your heart and home.

In Search of Magic ~ A Harry Potter Inspired Knit

2010-12-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

This morning I'm out and about early in my new Sssssnake Hat which is a design inspired by the Harry Potter books and I'm in search of a little magic here in Topanga.

I'm sure that if there are any wizards or magicians to be found in Los Angeles, then surely they will be found in my home town of Topanga, a quirky place with eccentric residents. Except for me. I'm perfectly normal. In fact I'm sure that I stand out for my normalcy, but, I bear it as best I can.

I'm on the lookout for a little magic or at least a cup of coffee at Pine Tree Circle which has a cluster of small shops where you can find everything from gourmet cheeses to scented candles, and of course, coffee and an occasional wizard.

But alas, we missed the sunrise and all little fairies and magical folks had scurried off before we arrived. Never mind. I'll try again another day!

Particulars: The Parseltongue Hat designed by Stephanie Dosen who writes the blog Tiny Owl Knits; US 9 needles (body) and US 8 for hat band; 2 skeins of The Fiber Company Organik. I used the disappearing loop CO method. Other than substituting yarn and needle size the only major modification was to add beads for the snake eyes. I used faceted Czech Glass which I sewed on after washing and blocking the hat to give the hat a little extra razzle dazzle.

PS If you love Harry Potter (or know someone who does) check out Julie's cute Harry Potter scarf that she knit for her son's Halloween costume! His dad made him the magic wand ~ doesn't he look the spitting image of Harry Potter! If you would like to knit a scarf for your Harry Potter fan Crafy Andy has generously published a free Harry Potter scarf pattern on his blog (ravelry link). Edit update: Thank you Willow for pointing out there is a book of Harry Potter knitting patterns called Charmed Knits!

Mr. Puffy's Christmas Wrapping tips!

Many years ago we spent Christmas in Chile and we were in the tiny town of Antofagasta in the days preceding the holiday. This is an industrial town and the farthest most town at the North end of Chile and largely comprised of mine and industrial workers with low incomes. I was struck by the festive feel to this town and the way they came together as a community and, like the Whos of Whoville, they didn't need a lot of money to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

I always think of this town as Christmas approaches and have made one of their traditions my own. All along the streets in the days prior to Christmas the shop fronts are lined with small folding chairs and rolls of Christmas paper spread everywhere. When you purchased a gift you came outside and they would wrap your gift for you in a manner that I have ever since copied and would like to share with you.

This is a very simple and a fun way to wrap a gift if you don't have a box or even if you do. You simply cut a swath of wrapping paper sufficiently large to encase your gift. You then create a paper sack by folding over the edges of the paper (only overlap it a small amount) and then tape the edges together. Then you place your your gift inside the sack (along with some tissue paper) and fold over the top opening. Tape the top opening closed and you are done! All that remains is to add a festive gift tag that is attached with a Christmas sticker. This year I purchased my gift tags from Mulberry-Muse but you can find a wide selection of handmade gift tags on Etsy in a variety of prices.

I love a package that crinkles and teases with mystery ~ which this one does ~ and I hope you do too!

Until next time, be well and love well. Enjoy the spirit of the holidays and don't forget to watch my personal favorite holiday classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Prelude to Winter ~ A Warm Cowl

2010-11-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

As a knitter I rarely purchase any winter accessories as I prefer to make my own. But last Winter I saw a super cute hat that I just had to have even though I knew it was made with an acrylic yarn. And while I like the look of that hat it provided virtually no warmth and wearing it in an icy wind was like wearing no hat at all.

I mention that hat because I think it is a shame that many people will not wear wool thinking that it is too scratchy to wear against their skin and thus are missing out on the superior warmth that wool imparts. It's true that some wools can be scratchy but today that is less often the case as wools are more refined than they used to be and are often blended with softening fibers making them a pleasure to wear. Such is the case with the cowl that I'm wearing, which is a blend of wool, baby alpaca, and silk.

Another reason that I believe many people shy away from buying wool garments is because they are concerned about ruining it in the wash, which is a valid concern. But with a few precautionary steps wool is easy to wash and that should not prevent anyone from wearing wool. Here are a few of my wool washing tips:

Mr. Puffy's Wool Washing Tips

As a preface, you should always follow the washing instructions on the label and defer to those instructions when in doubt or there is a conflict with any of the following tips.

1. Before you put a drop of water in the sink, measure your garment and write down the measurements! This is important because you will need to know what dimensions to reshape the wet garment (which can stretch vastly when wet).
2. Use a mild soap in the water (and only use a small amount). I have used dish soap which works just fine but I do prefer to use a special wool cleanser such as "Kookaburra Wash" or "Soak." You can also add a touch of hair conditioner to the rinse which will help soften a wool that is scratchy.
3. Allow the garment to soak for 10 minutes and then gently squeeze the soapy water through the item to remove any dirt. You do not want to vigorously agitate wool as agitation can cause wool to felt which will ruin your garment. But, rest assured, I've washed many items and never unintentionally felted any of them.
4. Drain the sink and refill with rinse water. Gently squeeze the garment in the fresh water to rinse out the soap.
5. Drain the sink and roll your garment into a ball. Place the wet item onto a towel (still in a ball is okay) and using your full body weight press out as much water as humanly possible. Repeat as long as you are still pressing out moisture. The more water you remove at this stage will quicken the drying time.
6. Lay out a fresh dry towel where the garment can rest until dry (not in direct sunlight) and gently unroll your wet garment onto the towel and shape it back into the measurements that you wrote down before it was washed. It might take some patience to reform it into it's original shape. As it dries you can continue to work with the wool to ease it back into it's original shape.

Depending on how heavy the item is it can take a day, or as little as a few hours, to dry. There! Now there is no excuse not to buy wool and enjoy it this Winter.

By the way, I'm wearing a newly finished (and washed) cowl. It was a pleasure to knit and I've already worn it and love it! I did do some blocking to achieve this shape but that is a topic for another day.

Particulars: Lush Button-up Cowl by Sweater Babe; 2 skeins Organik (70% organic merino,15% baby alpaca, 15% silk) by The Fiber Company; US 10 needles; no modifications whatsoever but I did cast-on using the cabled cast-on method (as no cast-on method was specified). The yarn I substituted was slightly more dense than what the pattern calls and gave me a firmer fabric which is what I wanted. The buttons are 1" spalted maple tree buttons, handcrafted by ARemarkYouMade.

Simcha's Recovery

For those of you concerned for Simcha's well being, you can rest assured that he's back in form and ready to play, and play, and play. The verbal instructions taking place during this picture went something like "slow down boy, easy easy, that's close enough, okay, sit, sit, DOWN DOWN DOWN." All of our training is finally starting to pay off as I'm happy to report that he stopped short of wrestling the camera from me.

Until next time, be well and love well and may all of our homes be filled with love, joy, and thanks this Thanksgiving holiday!

Cranberry Gloves and Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake!

2010-11-11T14:40:00.000-08:00

I love immersing myself in the rhythm of the Seasons. The colors and flavors of Fall particularly resonate with me. There's just something about this season that touches the inner Pilgrim in me. I know that Steve would disagree, but I'm sure that I would have made a good Pilgrim. For example I could have made all my own clothes, like the gloves that I'm wearing!

These gloves are not what you think, though. There is no knitting involved. They are my own design and I made them with my own handmade felt! While handmade felt is very popular in Norway and other European Countries (probably something to do with the climate) it is rarely seen or used for clothing in the United States. For those interested, I'll be explaining more about the process of making handmade felt in upcoming posts and I'll explain how gloves like these are made. But I want to see how well these wear and any changes that I need to make before I do that.

Particulars: Cranberry Felt Gloves (my own design); handpainted merino tops purchased from Ingermaaike on Etsy; this is a seamless design using a resist; the cuffs are embellished with sheep locks. My inspiration for making handmade felt has largely come seeing the beautiful designs by Ingermaaike who writes Daily Felt and Sherry who is known as Pink Knitter on Flickr and Ravelry. For a great beginner resource that I found helpful I recommend Uniquely Felt by Christine White.

P.S. If you love wearing fingerless mittens as much as I do, then I recommend you look at the beautiful selection of free knitting patterns for fingerless mittens just published by Theresa at TDoesWool. I'm having a hard time deciding which one to make first!

Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake

It is the practice in American college towns for the local residents to open their homes as informal Bed & Breakfasts to handle the influx of visitors that descend on game day and for graduation events. My parents flew to South Bend, Indiana to see me graduate from the University of Notre Dame, School of Law, and stayed at one such B&B where they served this Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake for breakfast. It's a taste of the American Midwest and I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

1/4 C. Butter (unsalted) - softened (1/2 stick)
1 C. Sugar
2 eggs - well beaten
2 C. All Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 C. Sour Cream
1 Teaspoon Almond Extract
* *
8 Oz. can Whole Cranberry Sauce (I prefer mine with lots of filling and use more like 12 oz. (almost all of a 14 oz. can)
1/2 C. Chopped Walnuts (very finely chopped is best)

Steps:

1. Cream butter and Sugar together. Add eggs (one at a time) and beat well after each addition.
2. Mix together the dry ingredients. Then add the dry ingredients alternately with the sour cream stirring with wooden spoon after each addition (begin and end with dry). Stir in the Almond extract.
3. Ladle 1/2 of the batter on the bottom of a greased tube/bunt pan. Swirl 1/2 of the cranberry sauce over the batter. Sprinkle 1/2 of the walnuts over the sauce. Repeat layers once more. N.B. Do not add any of the cranberry/nut mixture before adding the batter as that will simply stick and make it hard to remove from the pan.
4. Bake in pre-heated oven at 350 degrees 55 to 60 minutes. Start checking after about 45-50 minutes as you don't want to over bake this.
5. Cool for 10 minutes in pan and then turn out on a wire rack (you may have to loosen with a knife). Serve warm with fruit and coffee.

Until next time, be well and love well ~ and look around and enjoy the bounty and beauty of the harvest ~ Fall is here and will soon be gone.

P.S. Thank you for all your comments and concern about Simcha. His surgery went very well and he is doing great. He had a somewhat unusual condition where neither testicle descended so his neutering required abdominal surgery, but I was very motivated that he be neutered for a variety of reasons. I have my fingers crossed because if this doesn't settle him down there is nothing left to cuff off.

Milkweed Shawl

2010-10-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

We are house bound these days as our dear Simcha is recovering from a difficult neutering surgery that was aborted. The good news is that he's doing well and we are very pleased with his treatment course and the surgeon who will do his next surgery on November 5th.

At his last training session we were delighted to hear that he was 75% trained, until we got home and soberly reassessed the figure at 2%. Nevertheless, we do see strides forward. And, at the very least, all the cuddling is wearing down his rough edges. Steve and I have hardly a scar left from his teething phase!

In these photos I'm wearing my newly finished Milkweed Shawl that I knit for weekend wear as an alternative to pulling on a sweater. Because I spend a great deal of time at home, I like to have things to wear that are fun yet practical and this shawl is perfect for when I take Simcha for a walk or hop on a bike for a quick ride.

Knitting allows you to express your personal style whether around the house or around about town and is a great way to update your wardrobe by adding just one or two pieces as the seasons change.

Particulars: Milkweed Shawl by Laura Chau who blogs as Cosmicpluto Knits; 1 skein Sundara Sock Yarn (350 yards), Dahlia colorway; US4 needles; relaxed post blocking dimensions: 16" x 44" (along curved edge). The only modification I made was to Chart F. Beginning with Row 96 I continued the "yo" on both sides of the CDD. Therefore, on all subsequent pattern rows I had 12 stitches within repeats instead of 11. I made this modification as I felt a little more ease in the edging was warranted and I'm pleased with the result. This modification did use more yarn than the original pattern, so take that into consideration. I also used the yarn tail at the top of the shawl to make a single row of crochet to reinforce the top center (I added about 2 inches of crochet along the top center border). Finally, for the BO I used the my favorite loose cast off (i.e. k2 (transfer those 2 stitches back onto the left needle and K2T (through the back loop), K1 and repeat).

P.S. This is my last skein of yarn from Sundara's Petals Collection (each colorway was dedicated to a flower). The blogs on the other colorways are Bird of Paradise (a "classic" Mr. Puffy post) and Lenten Rose (socks for Steve and, I feel compelled to note, he has yet to wear them).

On a closing note, thank you all for your kind wishes and empathy and I am clearly not alone with work stress. I will share that there has been an unexpected turn of events and suddenly I have had a large weight lifted allowing my life to returned somewhat to normal. And, as Fall has arrived early here in SoCal, I am busy knitting accessories and playing around with felting so new projects will be appearing here shortly! Until next time, be well and love well and have fun making your Fall accessories!

Funky Fall Gloves and Halloween Crafts!

2010-10-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

When I first saw these gloves I thought "oh how perfect for Fall!" But then I hesitated. They were knit in pink and day glow white and the effect was just a tad too girlish for a woman of my mature years. But then a kit for the gloves became available in blue and green. Why I could see instantly what a huge difference that made. You can see it for yourself, can't you? These gloves are much more mature and age appropriate...

Okay, so maybe the gloves are teetering on wrong side of the "big mistake" equation. But, it's not like I'm going to wear them to the office. No siree Bob. But they cheer me up and certainly announce the arrival of Fall!

If I wasn't so beleaguered with work these days I would have ripped these back and knit them with bolder stripes and eliminated the orange stripes. Le sigh. Maybe they'll grow on me. I also knit the top I'm wearing. It's knit in Rowan wool cotton on US 4 needles. I knit it years ago, long before I was blogging. I love Rowan wool cotton, it's such a comfortable yarn to wear and holds up really well. The pattern was written out for me by the LYS where I bought the yarn, L'Atelier in Santa Monica. I told them I wanted to knit a top in this yarn and they wrote up a pattern for me. That's one of the nice perks of buying yarn at a LYS.

At the very least, I can wear them to a pumpkin patch to buy a Halloween pumpkin!

Particulars: Dial Up Gloves; 4 skeins Spud & Chloe FINE sock (superwash 80% wool 20% silk) - brown - blue - green - orange; US 2 needles (circular needles and magic loop technique until I reached the fingers and then switched to double pointed needles). I found this pattern frustrating because the color join is very "frugly" despite my best efforts to try and diminish the unsightlyness using various techniques. I'm sure there is a "fix" for smoothing the color join but, frankly, I was just too tired to make the effort, and the yarn did not frog well, so I just pushed forward. These gloves are knit in the round and then turned inside out (i.e. reverse stockinette) and that may have exacerbated the problem. Or maybe it was just me. My only modification was to add some shaping. I began the glove in the large size and then made gradual decreases (1 stitch every 9th row after I was 2 inches from CO edge) until I had the number of stitches for the medium size which took place just before the thumb opening.

Fun and Easy Fall Crafts

As I alluded to above, work has been unbearably miserable lately. I've decided I would not make a good soldier, because when life is reduced to work, sleep, and duty it isn't long before I'm not a happy camper. I do still manage to find time to craft though, as it is necessary to keep me sane. Since I suspect I'm not the only one who is pressed for time I'm going to share some quick and easy craft projects to get you ready for Halloween!

Needle Felt A Magic Pumpkin!

This is a needle felted pumpkin using a "soft" technique and it's perfect for the absolute beginner. I bought this as a kit from Fairie Bling and it came with everything I needed. Instead of making two small pumpkins I opted to make one larger pumpkin. Finished size is roughly 3.5" x 4.5."

Decorate a Vintage Halloween Ornament

The inspiration for this vintage Halloween ornament came from last year's Create & Decorate Magazine (October 2009). It was very simple and fun to make and I'll probably fill this one with candy and give it as a welcoming gift to our new neighbors, once it gets a little closer to Halloween. I haven't actually met these new neighbors yet. I'm hoping they aren't too stuffy. But, if they have moved to the far reaches of Topanga, odds are they are a bit eccentric like the rest of us.

Particulars: paper mache cone (10.5" x 4") sold online at The Craft Shop for $1.99; I painted and decorated it with various and sundry Fall decorations picked up at craft stores. I particularly like the Vampire Blood gift tag (sold as a set of 6). I can also see adding these tags to a wine bottle as a hostess gift or tied onto a wine glass stem like a toe tag/name tag! These ideas just come naturally to me. I think it's my practical nature. Oh, before I forget the tags are made by Crafty Pagan Designs who has an Etsy shop filled with fun paper goods.

Until next time, be well and love well and take the time to decorate for Halloween ~ I know it will make you smile!

Shaelyn Shawl

2010-09-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

The Shaelyn Shawl is a relatively new pattern and is sure to be popular this season because it is an easy and quick knit with stunning results. But why have the same shawl as everyone else? Instead break a few rules and have a shawl that is uniquely your own. Here's a few ideas on adjusting this or an any lace pattern to better suit your personal style.

The conventional thinking is that lace shawls should be knit in a solid colored yarn. But knitting in a solid color is boring so go ahead and use a variegated color.

What if the pattern recommends a sport weight yarn? Why limit yourself. If you find a yarn you like in a different weight go ahead and try it. I'm using a worsted weight yarn; I always say in for a penny in for a pound.

Most people will tell you that lace shawls should be heavily blocked to emphasis the pattern. But, meh, why? I lightly blocked this pattern and saved the heavy block for the top to extend the top width. Personally I think heavily blocked shawls tend to look a tad old fashioned.

Finally, while it's not conventional to substitute a different textured yarn for the bind off but I substituted a yarn that is both different in color and texture for the bind off and I think it gives this shawl that little something extra.

The result is a shawl uniquely my own with a slightly Goth feel and I am not displeased. Now all I need is a dark moody novel to curl up with. Suggestions anyone?

Particulars: Shaelyn Shawl by Leila Raabe; 3 skeins Jade Sapphire 6 ply cashmere (20 grams left over) and a small amount of Noro Retro for the bind off; US 9 circular needles. Modifications: none other than yarn weight substitution. I followed the pattern alternate version to purl 2 together instead of knit 2 together in all lace section. For the loose BO I used my favorite BO which is k 2 transfer those 2 stitches back to left needle and k2TB then k1 repeating until last stitch.

Wet Felting Flowers

I wet felted a flower specifically to match this shawl and I like it worn this way too. For the flower I used the tutorial for flower making by Ingermaaike sold in her Etsy shop.

Until next time, be well and love well and enjoy the change in season. Wrap yourself in a cozy shawl and go out and experience all the wonderful colors, flavors and decorations that make this such a fun and special time of year!

Green Tea and China

2010-09-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have some Fall knitting to show you, but first here's a quick post on green tea, the second in my series on the teas of China. You can read about Chinese Chrysanthemum tea here.

If you don't like green tea I suspect it's because you haven't tried the right kind. At least that was the case for me. It wasn't until our trip to China while waiting about in the Shanghai airport that I discovered how delicious a really good green tea could be. I had ordered a spicy bowl of noodles and at the last minute decided to try a green tea with my meal. The tea was brought over to our table in a french press (just like the one pictured above) with the leaves still swirling about and after one savory sip I was hooked.

I had tried green tea before, but had found it bitter and not at all similar to the rich savory brew I was drinking. I have since learned that the reason for this is that green tea is rather like wine. There are multiple varieties and the price can range from cheap to $$$. If a green tea doesn't specify what type of green tea it is, then it's a sure bet it's not one of the better varieties. One of the best varieties of green tea is "dragon well" but be warned the quality varies considerably. After my lunch I went immediately into an airport gift shop and bought a pricey tin of what I believe is a dragon well tea from the Ganchun tea Company. I can't be certain because I don't speak Chinese and they didn't speak English but I did pay a fortune so it must be the good stuff, right? I have enjoyed every sip and felt the money was well spent.

Turns out, though, you need to pay close attention when making a green tea to enjoy it as its best. A french press is perfect for green tea because it should be brewed in glass or porcelain so as not to taint the flavor. You can also immerse the leaves up to three times by simply adding more hot water, but the water should never be boiling. If you are interested in how to properly brew dragon well tea, I found this video on Walker Tea Reviews very interesting and helpful.

Whether you are enjoying a green or black tea, you can never go wrong with a slice of my Almond Delight Cake (pictured above). It's simple to make, moist, and has a rich almond flavor and is perfect for when you have last minute company! You can find the recipe in the post Is it Time for Tea?

Chinese Door Gods

Along with food and knitting I like to share some of the culture of places we have visited. You have probably seen the above images whether in a movie or magazine as they are ubiquitous in China. They are known as "Door Gods" and I learned their story over lunch when I asked our host to explain their significance.

Apparently the first Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had a nightmare that he was going to be killed while he slept. The next day he had two warriors placed outside his bed chamber to stand guard overnight. No harm came to him and it became the custom in China to paint these warriors on door fronts as a warning and to protect the occupants from harm.

China is a very mystical land with a long and rich history that is undergoing a period of tremendous change. The juxtaposition between the old and new culture is fascinating to see. Even the most sophisticated Chinese business people still believe that amulets bring power and luck to the wearer and I was given a jade bracelet to bring me prosperity and good luck. Come to think of it, where did I put that bracelet anyway? I could use a little good luck these days!

Until next time, be well and love well, and try a cup of green tea ~ it is good for your health ~ and that's not a myth.

Knitting Memories

2010-08-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

I find that certain projects have memories knit into the fabric. For example, the scarf I'm wearing will always remind me of Simcha and how he came into our lives. It's a scarf I've knit before so it was easy to get lost in my thoughts as I knit and purled my way through the pattern as events unfolded around me.

I haven't told you how Simcha came into our lives. He almost wasn't the one. Life is filled with so many "almosts". The step that you didn't take that would have taken you in a different direction.

I knit on this scarf during two flights that eventually resulted in Simcha coming home with us. As a preface, the criteria for our new puppy was primarily focused on good health as our first German Shepherd (adopted 20 years ago) had a lifetime of surgeries and health problems. Steve found a breeder in North Carolina who had healthy dogs and a new litter of "working" German Shepherd puppies. We were almost positive that one of these puppies would come home with us. We paid a non-refundable deposit, we were that sure. But we hadn't understood that difference between a working German Shepherd and a show German Shepherd until we saw the dogs in person. Working dogs are bred primarily for protection and police work and are not well suited to be a family dog. That became clear once we met the dogs in person and spoke more with the breeder. We almost made a misstep there.

So we took another flight, this time to Dallas, Texas and I knit more on my scarf. On this trip we found the puppy we wanted. A healthy, highly intelligent, and beautiful show dog. He was almost what we had in mind not understanding at the time that a pure blooded West German Shepherd would be so different than a domestically bred German Shepherd. It's almost a different breed. Almost like a wolf, some say. Do we have regrets? We did in the beginning, when he first came home and was biting like a wild animal and rampaging about the house. But not now, even though he will still go on a rampage unless supervised at all times. But life has settled into a routine and is back to normal, almost. I have time to knit once again and, finally, I finished my scarf.

PS Steve took the above pictures on the San Clemente pier after we had dinner at the Fisherman's Restaurant in San Clemente, California.

Particulars: A Very Nice Scarf, Designed by Linda Romens, purchased as a kit from La Lana Wools, 2 skeins La Lana's Phat Silk Fines. US 5 needles ~I used special short needles (9 inches long) specifically for scarfs (seen in the picture above). They are particularly light weight and enjoyable to knit a scarf on. Finished Dimensions: 5" x 56." I love this yarn but it is handcrafted and highly variable with "flaws" within the skein. I like the rustic appearance of the yarn and am not bothered by the slubs of silk and thick and thins spots. My first version of this scarf is blogged here and a shawl I knit also designed by Linda Romens is blogged here (both projects use the same yarn). I find this an interesting pattern to knit and I particularly love the serpentine cable which is unlike any other cable I've seen in patterns for handknits.

Simcha at 7 Months

I would have liked to have had Simcha model my new scarf which reminds me so much of him. Except he's still a wild thing and knitting and yarn are not safe anywhere near him. You'll just have to use your imagination and pretend he's wearing it.

She Plays With Fiber

I don't believe in hiding myself under a barrel. At my age, it's more about expressing my personal style than anything else. I love the drama element this flower adds to my plain black top. Plus I made it myself and therefore I wanted to wear it and (trust me) it looked better pinned to my top than any other conceivable way of wearing it.

I made this flower by following a tutorial I bought on Etsy from Ingermaaike a very talented fiber artist who writes the blog Daily Fiber. Her instructions are wonderfully clear but I've so much to learn about felting that it even resembles a flower I think is a huge achievement! I'm new to the experience of playing with wool tops and roving that the spinners swoon over. Now I get it. The love of playing with fiber. Maybe someday I'll even learn to spin.

Until next time, be well and love well. I know it's hot out there, but it's almost Fall and time to assess what you will be knitting to wear come the cooler days of October!

Maddox the Mischievous Monster

2010-08-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so much for your many suggestions on what toy to knit for Ellen's little boy. I let Steve make the final selection and he chose Maddox the Mischievous Monster! A big thank you to Hilary (TheYarniad) and Kelly (Celtic Cast On) (both awesome knitters) who came up with this suggestion.

Maddox the Mischievous Monster is well known for small acts of mischief such as hiding socks and jumping out from under the bed and someone is responsible for my chewed up glasses. Just look at those teeth. And yet. There is someone else in this household with big teeth. Someone with more of a criminal mind. I don't think we can lay blame for my glasses on Maddox. Do you?

I was pleased that this was the toy Steve liked best because I wanted to make something fairly substantial in size that could be hugged and lugged about (the little boy is only just turning four next month). It was also important to me that the toy be tactile in appeal similar to a fuzzy teddy bear. To achieve that feel I selected a very soft base yarn and stranded it with a mohair yarn and it did come out very soft and fuzzy.

Oh, before I forget, aren't his eyes great! They are Suncatcher Craft Eyes in metallic purple (24 mm size) sold at an incredibly reasonable price on-line by ChezMichelle.

Particulars: Maddox the Mischievous Monster by Danger Crafts; 1 skein (plus a small amount of a second skein) of Rehue Multy by Araucania, colorway No. 10 (baby alpaca 75%, silk 18%, 7% polyamide) stranded with kidsilk aura by Rowan; US 9 needles using both straight and circular. No modifications except I used a kitchener stitch to BO instead of a 3 needle BO as I think that creates a softer seam. Dimensions: 10" (height) and 17" (around his middle).

Toys Toys and More Toys

There were so many cute toy ideas either left as a comment or sent to me in a private email that I wanted to make a list for quick reference as a thank you to all of you for being there for me!

Bunny by Berroco ~ free pattern
Garden Slug by Cheezombie
Airplane by Patons ~ free pattern
Daphne and Delilah by Danger Crafts
Itty-Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson
Knitted Toys by Zoe Mellor
Toys by Fuzzy Mitten
Penelope the Empathetic Monster by Danger Crafts
Nautie by Knitty ~ free pattern
Toys by Twins Knit
Otto by Ysolda
Teddy Bear by Debbie Bliss
Loch Ness Monster by Hansi Singh
Horse by Lion Brand ~ free pattern
Rosemary or Robert Bunny Rabbits by Adrienne Deaville
Bunnies by Mary Jane's Tea Room

The Long Journey Home

Miss Elly (blogged here) and Maddox the Mischievous Monster are getting ready to start their journey to their new home. I'm sure they will be BFFs ("best friends forever") just like the children who will receive them. That is actually a prayer I have for these children. That they will be BFFs forever and ever and ever and never grow apart.

PS the flower attached to Miss Elly is a broach I made with hand painted wool roving. There will be more about wet felting with wool roving coming up in later posts!

Pancakes Anyone?

Maddox the Monster just loves pancakes for breakfast and, coincidentally, so do I. So I thought I would send along a recipe for pancakes so he can be fed properly in his new home and I'm going to share the recipe with you too. This recipe makes thick fluffy pancakes just the way I like them. The recipe came from an old copy of Joy of Cooking (at least I think it did) which is slightly different in the current edition. Because I like them made this way, I'll share what I believe is an original version of the recipe:

Joy of Cooking ~ Original Pancake Recipe

Sift before measuring 1 1/2 C. All Purpose Flour
Resift the flour with the following:
Scant teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 3/4 teaspoons double acting baking powder

In a separate bowl combine:
1 or 2 slightly beaten eggs
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 to 1 1/4 C. Milk (or slightly more to make batter consistently you like)

Steps:
Mix liquid ingredients quickly into dry ingredients. Immediately cook pancakes on hot oiled griddle pan.

Tip: I like to flip my pancakes prior to all the bubbles bursting as I think it helps fluff up the pancakes to have some of the air bubbles still trapped. Serve with butter, maple syrup and fresh fruit.

Until next time, be well, love well and why not add a Mischievous Monster to your life? It's a great excuse to make pancakes!

More Heartfelt and A Pet Vacation

2010-07-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

I'm wearing Bonnie from Kim Hargreaves' Heartfelt, The Dark House Collection. I love this pattern booklet and have already knit Calm, Haven, and Emily from it.

This pattern has a fun lace design with a zig zag insert that creates a lightweight and feminine hat. The yarn I used was given to me by my swap partner on Ravelry's Group Cuppa Tea? and a big thank you to Jody [Ravelry ID] for being a great swap partner! She also sent some other fun gifts including Prince of Wales black tea so I feel very spoiled and had a great swap!

Even though this yarn came from a tea swap, I see nothing wrong with wearing it for a morning coffee at my favorite Santa Monica, CA cafe, Le Pain Quotidien. On the weekend, Steve, Simcha and I often will go out for a morning coffee but I'm the only one who ever eats anything. But what is a coffee out with no pastry? I think his spartan view of life must come from his Midwest upbring. But, I do not let that stop me. This morning I had a lemon and fennel scone topped with ricotta cheese and cherry jam. Yum yum.

Particulars: Bonnie from the Dark House Collection; 1 skein Serena Yarn by Manos del Uruguay (60% baby alpaca /40% Pima Cotton); colorway #2457; US 3 needles.

Modifications: 1. I substituted the yarn to Serena (pattern calls for Rowan Bamboo Soft); 2. Because I used a heavier gauge yarn I used larger needles (US 3) which I used for both the hat body and the hat band; 3. Again, to account from the heavier gauge yarn, I only knit the pattern repeat 3 additional times (instead of 4); 4. I knit the hat band in reverse garter stitch (i.e. I purled every row) instead of the recommended moss stitch and BO in knit stitch; and 5. I hand steamed/blocked the body of the hat prior to seaming (this hat is knit flat).

This is obviously a cold weather hat and I've worn it in the pictures just to show you how it fits. But I am looking forward to wearing it this Fall!

A Pet Vacation

We took a pet vacation over the 4th of July holiday. That's right, we took a vacation from our pet. I haven't felt this relaxed since, frankly, we brought Simcha home. Now before you think too badly of us I do believe Simcha had a nice time too. He stayed at a lovely "pet resort" right here in Topanga Canyon where he ran with a pack of dogs all day. He came home happy and exhausted and slept for hours. I'm beginning to warm to the idea of dropping him off periodically for their day care program.

It is with great relief that I can report we are starting to see improvement in his behavior. Up until last week, the word "no" meant nothing to him. You may recall his "graduation" from obedience school several weeks back (a training course based on positive/reward theory). Hahahahahaha. Nuff said. We are now approaching his obedience training with two hour weekly private lessons, the traditional way. A natural self confident dog, Simcha simply saw all the treats he received as confirmation that he was the one destined to be our "pack leader" This was not good for his character.

Beautiful, isn't he. You can almost understand why he believes he was born to rule.

Until next time, be well, love well, and get out and about this Summer ~ why not treat yourself to a lovely morning coffee out!

Wristlets with an Edge

2010-06-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

These edgy wristlets are designed by Inna Voltchkova who was born in the Ukraine and is a graduate of the Kiev Institute of Fashion Design and Technology.

I'm ridiculously happy with these wristlets. They are very simple, but elegant and fun too. I particularly love the modern look to the design despite wristlets being an accessory reminiscent of the 1800s and the Victorian era.

But leave it to a sister to ask what some might consider an awkward question. Whilst showing them to my practically minded sister during a recent visit she said "they are very pretty.... but when will you wear them?"

Why, I'll wear them.... hum.... yes, I see.....hum...... I know! I'll wear them to a musical recital! Kidding aside, I don't see why I can't wear these just about anywhere. I've shown them here in a dressy way, but I think they could be worn casually too. On a cold morning I can see them with jeans and a sweater... no? It's all about attitude. I live in SoCal after all.

Particulars: Inna Voltchkova's Knitted Wrist Warmers; Piecework Magazine (July/August 2009); US1 double pointed needles; 1 skein Schulana Mosco Yarn color No. 11 (67% viscose, 20% mohair, 13% nylon). This is a very easy and fun pattern to knit. I made no modifications to the pattern except to substitute the yarn.

Rustic Rye Bread

In honor of the great knitters and knitting traditions that hail from Eastern Europe, including Orenburg lace, I'm going to share a recipe for a rye bread that is typical fare for Eastern Europe and a favorite recipe of mine.

Light Rye Loaf ~ recipe adapted from The Baking Book by Linda Collister. I love this baking booking and have made many of the recipes over and over again.

Ingredients:
3 3/4 cups unbleached white BREAD flour (not all purpose flour) (450g)
2 cups rye flour (230g)
1 tablespoon caraway seeds (plus extra for sprinkling on top of loaf)
1 tablespoon salt (kosher or sea salt) plus extra for sprinkling on top of loaf (5g)
1 package active dry yeast (7g / 1/4 oz) or .06 oz cake fresh yeast
2 cups warm water (used to proof yeast)
1/2 teaspoon molasses to feed yeast
1 egg white mixed with 1 teaspoon water to make an egg wash
Small amount of olive oil used to grease bread rising bowl
Small amount of corn meal to prevent loaf from sticking to baking sheet

Steps:

1. Add water to mixing bowl along with package of active dry yeast and molasses. Allow to proof for 10 minutes. Yeast should be bubbling.
2. Add flour to water as follows: using a dough hook and your mixer set on low speed add the flour 1 cup at a time waiting until the flour is incorporated before adding the next cup. Begin with the rye flour and after the second cup of rye add the salt and caraway seeds when adding the 1st cup of bread flour. When the mixture comes together as a dough turn out onto a bread board and finish adding the remaining flour and kneading process by hand (this is roughly the last cup of flour for me). When the dough is ready it should be soft but not sticky. The recipe book says the hand kneading process takes 10 minutes but I only hand knead for a couple of minutes as I use the dough hook for most of the kneading process.
3. Place dough into rising bowl with small amount of olive oil and turn dough to cover surface with olive oil. Place a warm damp cloth over bowl and place bowl in warm spot to rise for about 2 hours (until double in bulk).
4. Turn dough out onto bread board and punch down to remove air pockets. Turn to form an oval loaf. Place loaf on baking sheet covered with cornmeal (to prevent sticking) and sprinkle top of loaf with small amount of bread flour to prevent cloth from sticking. Cover with damp cloth and set in a warm spot for final rise (roughly 1 hour).
5. Approximately 1/2 hour before final rise is complete preheat the oven to 425 degrees. When loaf is risen, uncover the loaf and slash top several times with sharp knife (I use a bread lame) and then brush loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with salt and caraway seeds. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and then reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake a further 20 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the base. Cool on a wire rack. When completely cool slice. This bread freezes very well.

Rye bread is a strange bread as it's best toasted, even when fresh from the oven. I absolutely love this bread in the morning with a good Seville orange marmalade and pot of plain yorkshire gold black tea. It is also wonderful with savory meats and cheeses and makes a fantastic hamburger bun. Just don't forget to toast it first!

Until next time be well, love well, and remember that it's time to start thinking about your Fall knits. We will be away over the 4th of July holiday and hope you will have a wonderful celebration!

Miss Elly, a Knit Toy Elephant

2010-06-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

Life has many hurts and challenges along the way. One of the most difficult things each of us will face is the loss of a parent, regardless of whether the relationship was good or bad. I am fortunate and both my parents are still living but Steve has lost both his mother and father. When his mother died several years ago it was devastating for him and left many unanswered questions. No matter what age you are when you lose a parent, the sense of loss is profound.

But perhaps a little more so when you are young. After a long battle with cancer Steve's dear cousin, Ellen, passed away at the too young age of 45. She left a bereaved husband and two small children, a girl age 7 and a boy age 5. What can be said of such a sad thing. Nothing material can replace a mother's love but a little pink elephant is at least something to cuddle on the difficult days. So I knit Miss Elly for the little girl to have and hug.

Stuffed animals are great companions, no matter what your age. They can join you outside on a garden bench. Or keep you company for a cup of tea in the afternoon. As an aside, since this is a Summer in which I am exploring new teas, I'm going to suggest that you try Lady Londonderry to perk up your afternoon tea. Lady Londonderry is a black tea with hints of strawberry and lemon and I've found that adding a dash to a pot of plain black tea makes it a little extra special. I think you'll like it.

I now need to come up with what I'll knit for the little boy. Some type of monster, maybe? Any suggestions as to what I might make for the little boy would be greatly appreciated!

Particulars: Elijah by Ysolda S. Teague; Stray Cat yarn in colorway Tea Rose by Wandering Cat Yarns; hand-painted yarn; super wash merino; 8 ply sport weight yarn; US 3 DPNs; This is a well designed pattern that was a pleasure to knit. My only modification was to embroider the eyes in satin stitch rather than make french knots. If you aren't familiar with Ysolda's knitting you will enjoy her blog. I'm certain this will not be the last pattern of hers that I knit.

You may have noticed that I knit Miss Elly a shawl, exactly like the one I made for Matilda the Mouse. To knit a small shawl for a toy simply knit a basic triangle as follows:

CO 3 stitches
R1: K1, yo, knit to last stitch, yo, K1
R2: knit
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until desired length. BO stitches.
Finishing: add a small button or bead as a closure.

BEWARE OF DOG It has a yarn fetish.....

I hate to tattle. Really I do. But this is in the way of a public service announcement. Simcha has a yarn fetish. On several occasions Miss Elly had to be literally pried from his jaws. He even stole Miss Elly right out from my hands while I was sitting and knitting away on her. I'm surprised that you didn't hear my yeowls of distress. It's a miracle that Miss Elly has survived. So be warned and approach dog with caution. Incidentally, I understand Monika's puppy, Denny, also has a yarn fetish. I hope it's just a passing phase.

Until next time, be well and love well, and why not knit a toy this Summer? Either for yourself or someone who needs a hug.

Ribbon Tank and Chinese ChrysanthemumTea

2010-06-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for the lively discussion on the Blog Cafe! I enjoyed hearing everyone's views on organic food/farming and came to the conclusion that freshness probably is the biggest factor influencing taste and we are darn lucky to live in a country that has conventional farming capable of feeding the masses at an affordable cost.

Summer Ribbon Tank

I'm still recovering from the time difference (15 hours) and the jet lag so haven't been knitting much. Instead, I'm going to share a project I knit a few years ago (but never blogged) that is a great Summer project. It's a simple tank knit with a ribbon yarn.

Ribbon yarn is comfortable to wear and creates a nice drape to the fabric. A simple shell tank is easy to knit in this yarn and your local knit shop can help you calculate your gauge and dimensions. I added the flowers to jazz up this tank and Betty at Binding Off used tuck stitches to embellish her stylish Tuck Stitching Summer Top.

Particulars: Personal pattern; ribbon yarn (can't recall brand but a nylon blend) Note: Larissa (Stitches in Play) left a comment and I thought I should clarify that the ribbon yarn I used was slightly serrated. I believe this helped the fabric have a nice bounce and hold together well, giving it something like a slight felting effect similar to what happens with Shetland wool. I added a picture of the ribbon on my Ravelry notebook [here] so you can see what I'm talking about; US 7 needles. Simple tank design: single ribbing at the bottom and double crochet to finish armholes and neckline.

Chinese Tea Series: Chinese Chrysanthemum Flower Tea

I discovered in China, to my chagrin, that I didn't know as much about tea as I thought I did. China is a "tea culture" and Chengdu has 20 millions residents and only slightly fewer Tea Houses. Some are elegant and others don't offer much beyond rickety chairs and a wobbly table. The picture below is the roof of one of the prettier ones we visited (although not in the traditional style).

The Tea Houses primarily serve herbal tea which is brought to your table as a scoop of loose herbs dumped into your glass with hot water sloshed in. There are no scones or cakes, which was a disappointment. I have to admit, though, that the Chinese teas are not well suited to sweet pastries. Rather, the fruits and nuts served in small condiment dishes suit them better, unless you are hungry. I'm not going to apologize for having a healthy appetite, I'll just say that a small dish of sunflower seeds for a table to share either requires that one use restraint or adopt a brazen attitude.

The women in China (at least in the tea houses) primarily drink Chrysanthemum Flower Tea (pictured above) whereas the men generally drink Jasmine Flower Tea. I was told that the women believe the Chrysanthemum Tea enhances beauty, and Chengdu is a city where that seems to matter. I was struck by the number of Chinese people who told me that Chengdu is known for having the most beautiful women in China. I drank lots of the Chrysanthemum Flower tea while there (and am currently drinking copious amounts) and I'm still waiting for the miraculous beauty benefits.

The Chinese put great store by their herbs and your selection of tea can be revealing. Steve, of course, is never one for conforming and instead of drinking Jasmine Tea like other men he chose a passion flower tea, to the amusement of the tea house attendant, and my slight embarrassment.

Chrysanthemum Flower Tea: A full bodied cooling tea. This tea is best brewed in glass or ceramic/porcelain to avoid taint to the flavor. The water should be very hot but not boiling and your glass can be refilled with hot water many times before the flowers lose their flavor. Because the flowers float this tea is served with a straw for sipping. This tea usually has wolf berries added (the red pods seen above) and rock sugar is sometimes added as a sweetener. Both the Chrysanthemum flower and Wolf berry are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Recommendations for Stories set in China

The White Pagoda, by Fay Angus. I am sorry to say that I've not read this story..... yet it is written by a dear family friend who has written many inspirational books. The Angus family were a huge part of my childhood and while I knew my Auntie Fay had written a book about her time in a concentration camp in China, I was too young when it came out to have read it. I'll read it now with great interest. I borrowed this review off Amazon: The White Pagoda by Fay Angus is a quick, interesting read. Set in the Shanghai of the 1930's, Angus gives a brief look into the foreign culture of pre-war china that continues through her time in a Japanese concentration camp during WWII. She explores her childhood and adolescence in an environment very different from that of most American teenagers. I would recommend this book, particularly to teenage girls, as a brief glimpse into the life of a girl growing up in another time and another culture. A good introduction to studying Asia during the second world war.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I loved this story which gives a fascinating glimpse into the culture and time surrounding the binding of girl's feet in rural China.

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. A classic. If you've not read this book yet, it's time. The characters in this story are so richly drawn you are unlikely to ever forgot them.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon This is a movie (make sure to get the English dubbed version) which will take you into the mysterious life of the Chinese warriors. The story is poignant and the scenery is stunning.

Until next time, be well, love well, and this Summer try experimenting with different types of teas!

P.S. I will also be writing about green tea and traditionally brewed black Chinese tea for those interested.

Welcome to the Blog Cafe!

2010-05-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Blog Cafe! Hi, I'm Claudia and it is my pleasure today to host the virtual Blog Cafe. That means I get to take you to a location of my choice and pick a topic for us to chat about.

I know no better place to chat than over a cup of coffee, so I'm taking you to my favorite coffee haunt Cafe Mimosa, located in Topanga, California.

Topanga is a small mountain community in Southern California located just outside Los Angeles. It is well know for it's eccentric populace and hippie culture that is still very prevalent today. For the Joni Mitchell fans, her album Ladies of the Canyon is referring to Topanga Canyon.

Cafe Mimosa has a rustic feel and a relaxed atmosphere; pillows are scattered about and the shelves have a sampling of local artist wares which range from $250 felted handbags to small beaded trinkets and coffee mugs. It's an interesting spot for people watching too.... as lots of locals flow through here in the mornings. I'm perfectly normal, of course, but I can not vouch for the rest of them. But looking at these pictures I can't understand why I am not wearing one of my handknit Victorian lace shawls. Whatever was I thinking?

My Topic: Organic Food ~ Is it All Hype?

I typically talk about knitting here on this blog, but today I'm going to talk about another subject near and dear to my heart. Food. Studies that have found that organic produce has no health benefits over ordinary foods, see BBC and other news outlets. I was surprised by these findings. Still, I think focusing on the measurable nutrients misses the whole point of why eating eating organic foods is more healthful. One of the primary reasons that I eat organic food is that it tastes better and it has the texture nature intended. Strawberries are tender and sweet; tomatoes are juicy and firm; and potatoes have thick skins that bake up crunchy and hard. How is this more healthful you wonder? Because when your produce has great natural flavor it only requires simple cooking and/or preparation, and that reduces calories and makes meals quick to fix and delicious. You also consume more ruffage which means you are more likely to feel satisfied until your next meal. At least that seems logical to me.

It's not cheap to eat organic produce, so I'm curious to know if you think eating organic food is more healthful ~ or are the benefits all in my mind ~ and I've bought into a scam?

Edit added May 18, 2010: To see this issue from the point of view of a fourth generation "conventional" farming family, I invite you to read Hilary's comment below. She raises some interesting points and dispels some notions that make me wonder anew about organic food. For those who take it for granted that organic farming is better for us and society I think it is a perspective you might find interesting. Thank you Hilary (The Yarniad) and to all of you who have left comments!

Thank you for visiting the Blog Cafe! If you'd like to host the Blog Cafe one Monday, please email: theblogcafe@yahoo.com. They'll put you on the list and give you a hosting date. You can also click on this image on my sidebar to visit the latest Blog Cafe posts.

Simcha Update ~ Graduation Day

I guess he's obedient now. He's got a certificate that says so.

Until next time, be well and love well and give organic produce a try ~ and see if you can taste the difference!

P.S. The scarf I am wearing is a quick knit using a fab yarn on large needles ~ that makes for a fast and fun knit and a cool way to express your knitterly style, as you dash out for your morning coffee! Scarf Designed by Murielle Knitwear; US 13 needles; Araucania Rehue Multi (Alpaca, silk, nylon)

P.S.S. We're leaving for China on Friday so I won't be in "my space" here for a few weeks. I'll looking forward to catching up with you when I get back!

Cabled Riding Jacket (AKA: "My Great Matter")

2010-05-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'm wearing Teva Durham's Cabled Riding Jacket, that I've come to think of as "My Great Matter."

It occurred to me last Summer, while watching the miniseries The Tudors, that just like King Henry VIII, I too had a "Great Matter." For those of you haven't watched The Tudors, or are not anglophiles, King Henry VIII had a problem he referred to as his "Great Matter." It preoccupied his every waking moment. It was his desire to marry the beautiful Anne Boleyn. A feat impeded by his already being marriage to another woman, Catherine of Aragon. Only the Bishop of Rome had the power to grant him an annulment, which he was not willing to do. King Henry VIII's petitions for annulment fell on deaf ears. So annoying when you can't buy a ~~legal~~ ecclesiastic opinion, when you own an entire kingdom. Life is just not fair.

So how is it that my cabled riding is similar to King Henry VIII's "Great Matter"? Simple. The moment I saw the Cabled Riding Jacket I was captivated by its beauty. I. Wanted. It. But the pattern was all wrong for me. The design was ill suited to my petite body frame; the pattern was not easy to downsize; and all the different cables made reliance on gauge speculative. But I had to have it anyway. So I embarked upon a path fraught from the outset with problems. But my passion kept me motivated and, at long last, two years later, *sigh* consummation. After all that, I do believe I'm happier with my Cabled Riding Jacket than King Henry was with Anne Boleyn. There won't be any frogging in the town square.

The modifications that I made to the original pattern are too numerous to recount. To give you an idea of the extent of "downsizing" that I did to the pattern, I only used 8 out of the 13 skeins recommended for the small size. But I will share with you in broad strokes my knitting tips on how to downsize a pattern:

Knitting Tip: How to Downsize a Pattern

If you would like to make a knitting pattern smaller there are several ways to go about it. First, look at the design elements. If the design has a cable then you can reduce the number of stitches in each cable. For example, in this sweater the cables are written for 5 stitches. I reduced the cables to 4 stitches. You can also reduced the number of stitches in between each of the cable motifs. Or, you can also eliminate some of the cables entirely. In this sweater, I eliminated 2 columns of cables down the back. Another trick is to use a thinner yarn and smaller needles than the pattern calls for. If you study a pattern carefully, you can find lots of creative ways to reduce the overall size.

Particulars: Cabled Riding Jacket, Loop-d-Loop; Mostly Merino (77% Merino & Corriedale wool/ 23% mohair); Sumac colorway; US 8 needles; Modifications: too numerous to recount. I would not recommend this pattern except to a very experienced knitter.

Serendipity

Serendipity is finding a dog that looks good with my new sweater!

Until next time, be well, love well, and persevere on things that matter to you. It keeps life interesting and challenging. No guarantee that it will bring you happiness, though, so chose wisely. Do you have a "Great Matter"? Simcha and I would love to hear yours!

Cupcakes and Puppies!

2010-04-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

I have been exceptionally busy these past few weeks, so this is just a quick post. I do have some knitting to show you, but I'll save that until next time. For today, it's just about cupcakes and puppies!

Blueberry Cupcakes

I much prefer a cupcake to a muffin. Do you? I think it's the lighter texture to the confection and its whimsical character. These cupcakes are inspired by ones that we enjoyed on our trip to New Zealand. While in Christchurch at a fancy department store I had a wonderful blueberry muffin with white chocolate frosting and I've longed for another ever since. This is similar but instead of using chocolate frosting I made a lemon frosting to please Steve (who isn't fond of chocolate but is very very fond of lemon frosting). But I do think he could have waited until I took the pictures before he had his first one! Boys will be boys *le sigh.*

Cupcake Recipe:

This is the Food Network's classic white cake recipe into which I simply folded approximately 1 cup of blueberries as a final step. The recipe is found here. I often use this recipe for a basic white batter as it produces a nice light cake. It yielded 18 cupcakes.

The frosting is a a simple butter frosting but instead of adding vanilla extract I used lemon extract. I used lemon because it goes well with blueberries and the clear lemon extract kept the icing a nice crisp white.

Lemon Butter Frosting:
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sweet (unsalted) butter - softened
1 tsp. lemon extract

Beat ingredients, scraping bowl often.

On to the Puppies

Actually, it's just one puppy. But it feels like more. We had forgotten what raising a teething puppy was like! Alex, our first German Shepherd, we adopted twenty years ago and he passed away in 2001. Enough time to have forgotten what all is involved! But, as promised, a little about Simcha. Simcha is a pure German Shepherd of West Germany descent which means he is less likely like to have health problems from inbreeding. He is very very smart and is growing by leaps and bounds! He was twelve weeks old before he came home with us, rather than the typical eight weeks. That means he had 4 additional weeks with his litter mates. On the shelf, so to speak, until we spotted him. I mention this, because that additional time with his litter gave him ample opportunity for wresting and developing a strong self confidence and, to our mind, a rather exalted view of his position in the pack. A position that must necessarily be bit lower in our home. As Jane Austen might observe, he is to remember when mingling in society that he is to always be the lowest and the last. Hard to remember when you are a little dog. And, he's so darn cute, it's hard for us to remember too!

Until next time, be well, love well, and do find time to enjoy a cupcake!

PS Simcha is playing with a toy Moose that was sent all the way from Canada from my dear friend Monika (Smoking Hot Needles) and her son, David. To say Simcha was overjoyed with his gift, would be an understatement. Thank you Monika and David!

A Transitional Scarf ~ for a Transitional Time

2010-03-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for playing along and divulging your favorite teas in the last post! You sure are an eclectic group of tea drinkers. Congratulations to KnittySue the winner, compliments via a random number generator.

A Transitional Scarf

Times of transition and change can be difficult as we adjust to the new "normal." But some transitions are enjoyable and are easier to welcome. Such is the transition from Winter and it's darkness to Spring and it's longer days, burgeoning flora, and crisp blue skies. The transitional month of March takes us from Winter to Spring and is the perfect time to knit a transitional scarf to ease you into the warmer days ahead.

How do you go about choosing which transitional scarf to knit? Sometimes it just happens, as in my case. My choice began with a swap I joined back in December hosted by Theresa, of TDoesWool. It was my good fortune to be paired with Kim of Chronic Ennui, who, as you can see from the picture above, gifted me with the Cadillac version of a Magic Yarn Ball. Kim (on top of her skill as a world class shopper) has a great sense of humor, is a prolific knitter and following her knitting adventures is a pure delight.

The yarn she sent me needed to be transformed. But into what? For that I had to first transform it from a Magic Yarn Ball into a simple skein so that I could view it unadorned and in a natural state. The seawall in San Clemente was a perfect spot to study it.

After seeing it this way it was easy to decide, for I could see that this yarn needed to be a simple design allowing its natural hues and simple beauty take center stage. I settled on a design by Evelyn Clark that featured a garland of hearts along the trim. I know. Let's hear an "aww isn't that sweet." But that's one of the design features that I really like about Evelyn Clark. She has a knack for creating shapes in knitting. For example, her Pacific Northwest Shawl has fish, trees, and waves all clearly depicted.

I've decided this will be my "guest scarf." If you are like me, you will have had guests who forget to bring along something to pull on as the day turns chilly. This scarf with its neutral color will be the perfect accessory for that purpose and will transition from person to person with ease, sharing it's warm and beauty.

Particulars: Heart to Heart Lace Scarf by Evelyn Clark Designs; US 4 circular needle; 1 skein Casbah sock yarn by Handmaiden Yarns. As with all Evelyn Clarke's designs, this is a well written pattern and easy to knit. The only modification I made was to do one extra repeat (16 total) for the "fingerling" directions. Due to this yarn's high merino wool content (80%) it will not hold a block as well as other fibers. It has "relaxed" into the finished dimensions of 56" x 11." Other Evelyn Clark designs I've knit: Pacific Northwest Shawl; Flower Basket Lace Shawl; Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl; Swallowtail Shawl; Versatile Scarf (modeled by Mr Puffy).

A Transitional Time

And the biggest Transitional of all? The addition of Simcha ~ which means joy ~ to our lives. There will be more about Simcha after we all settle into our new routine. But, for now, I leave you with his picture. Until next time, be well, love well, and enjoy your transition into Spring!

The Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy

2010-03-11T15:16:00.000-08:00

This is The Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy, which is a simple and fun tea cozy that I designed to celebrate the memory of our little beagle, Mr. Puffy, who passed away several months ago. He loved tea time and I think he would approve.

It was several seemingly unrelated events colliding that culminated in my writing The Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy pattern. First, I asked my Mom if she would like me to knit her some bed socks. She replied "No, dear. What I really would like is for you to knit me a tea cozy for my morning pot of tea." Apparently she missed the rhetorical nature of my question.

Next, I received in the mail a lovely "care package" from Tracy of Pink Purl who was concerned about me after I lost Mr. Puffy. In her package she sent some lushes yarn (*pink* of course) that she thought I might use to make an accessory. But this yarn was too special for just an accessory that would lie about rarely used. Instead it needed to be enjoyed and somehow remind me of Mr. Puffy. Let me think. Mr. Puffy and I always enjoyed our tea time together. Maybe it should be a tea cozy? Yes, that's it. A tea cozy.

And so it was. Need met inspiration, and The Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy positively flew off my needles.

I added the contrasting flowers to give the cozy a sense of whimsy and fun. That's really what I remember the most about Mr Puffy. How happy he was and the pleasure he took in the little treats in life such as his daily walks, naps, and our tea times.

Particulars: The Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy - a free pattern - designed by yours truly; US 8 needles (main body) US 4 needles (flower embellishment); two contrasting colored aran to worsted weight yarn and scrap yarn for the flower embellishment; blocked finished dimensions 8"(across the base) x 6" (high) and should fit most round three (3) cup (24 ounce) teapots. The pattern is easy to adjust for width and height to fit a larger or smaller round teapot. Pattern link: if you are a Ravelry user click here / if you are not a Ravelry user click here ; I've explained the "Bramble Stitch" on the Ravelry pattern notes.

Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy Giveaway ~

Would like a Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy? The dark green one goes to my Mom (to match her boudoir) . The light blue/pink one goes to Tracy of Pink Purl along with a big hug and thank you! I'm keeping the dark blue/pink one for myself. That leaves the teal cozy (pictured below) for one of you! It will fit most round three (3) cup (24 ounces) teapots and is knit with a Shetland wool (base) and Malabrigo wool (top) so should keep your teapot warm and happy. If you would like this little tea cozy simply leave a comment on this post telling me what is your favorite tea to drink before I update next (generally I update every two weeks) at which time I'll randomly draw and announce a winner. Please feel free to enter even if you are outside the United States.

Until next time, be well and love well and ~ add a little whimsy to your life ~ with a Mr. Puffy Tea Cozy!

Gift of Jewels

2010-03-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

Gifts of Jewels.....

We have a choice in this life of turning towards people, or turning away. That sounds like a simple statement and generally it's an easy choice. However, if you have ever been hurt you know that turning towards people, especially the person that hurt you, can take a heroic act of the will.

It's all about participation in life's experiences that makes the journey fulfilling and memorable. For that reason, I try to chose to turn towards people, and the Internet provides a mind boggling number of opportunities for doing so.

Recently, I participated in the Gift of Jewels hosted by Se'Lah, a woman with a wonderful heart and a passion for celebrating life as well as reflecting on quiet moments of solace. Her blog, Necessary Room is an inspiring and caring place to visit.

I think the metaphor for the Gift of Jewels is that we all gave the gift of ourselves. Therefore we were the jewels sparkling and bringing light into the world. It was purely about letting someone know that they were special, for no particular reason. Just because. My Gift of Jewels arrived around the time we lost Mr Puffy, and I received a beautiful caring note of condolence from Carol who happens to be a talented artist. The note card (pictured below) is of her artwork and her words of sympathy were heartfelt; it's now kept in my "keep forever" file. You can see more of Carol's beautiful artwork on her blog, My Painting Room.

It was my pleasure in the Gift of Jewels to be assigned to Elizabeth, a woman in Denmark who, be still my heart, is a skilled embroiderer and a pure delight. She too was going through a difficult time with a serious eye condition at the time and my note arrived when she also appreciated some kind words. Her blog is a lovely place to visit filled with beautiful inspiration for drawing, sewing, and writing. Go see Elizabeth at Landanna and enjoy.

Not everyone reading this has the time or inclination to write a blog. But blogging and reading blogs has been a very positive influence in my life and is an example of how you can turn towards people. The picture below illustrates what I mean. In this picture (taken this past weekend) you will see a scarf I knit (originally blogged here) that was made with yarn I won on Theresa's blog T Does Wool and a vest I knit (originally blogged here) that is embellished with buttons I received from Kim of Chronic Ennui as part of our Magic Yarn Ball swap. These woman, and others I have met on-line, have become wonderful friends and I would not be the knitter I am but for my participation in the on-line knit community.

Until next time, be well and love well and, perhaps, think about ways in your life that you turn towards or away from people.

A Treat for Your Feet ~ Vintage Socks!

2010-02-21T13:30:00.000-08:00

Sock knitting mojo has returned! Do you believe in love at first sight? The minute I saw these socks I was in love. Vintage style? check. Knee highs? Check. Glitz and Glam? Check. This was the sock pattern I had been waiting for. Don't tell Steve.

I'll get to the socks in a minute. First, a little down time for all of us. It's been a tough start to 2010 for so many. When going through tough times it is more important than ever to take care of yourself so that you are better able to weather the storm with good grace.

For me 2010 has been difficult because I lost Mr Puffy and I'm having to work especially long hours. I miss that Mr Puffy always knew when it was time for a break. He would periodically insist that I get up from the computer and go for a walk or play. He brought fun into my life, and I miss him. We shared so much together, even bath time. Mr Puffy was a great one for bathing. He loved to sit by the tub keeping me company or on occasion having his own spa treatments.

It's not the same without him. But I do carry on. Since I have some new socks, I thought what a great time for a home pedicure! I really ought to do this more often. It's so relaxing. I turn on soothing music (usually a Sarah Brightman CD) and soak my feet for about 10 minutes in bath salts. I then give them a good rub a dub dub and apply various lotions and potions and I'm done. I don't make a big production of it. Keep it simple is my motto. You will agree, I am nothing if not a practical woman!

In the picture above you'll notice one of my hand knit washcloths. I love how soft these have become with time. You can find a post on knitting washcloths here. Knitting touches virtually every aspect of my life and brings comfort to me in countless ways. But I digress. Back to pedicures. After a nice soak your toes are ready for a cheerful polish. Nothing says "cheerful" quite like the color "Making Whoopie" (Lippmann Collection). At least, it always makes me smile.

Now that you've pampered your feet it's nice to finish up with some cozy socks! These socks are based on a vintage pattern originally published in Weldon's Practical Needlework, Volume 15 England, 1900. Nancy Bush (well known for her vintage sock designs) reworked this pattern to change it from an over the knee style to a traditional knee high. If you are concerned about keeping your handknit socks up (knee highs in particular) follow the advice of Murielle of Murielle Knitwear (link to her Etsy shop). She has recently launched a knitting blog "Murielle Handmade Knitwear." Murielle has generously shared some of her designer Tips and Tricks here on this blog over the years and before you knit knee high socks you should read her article, Keep Your Socks On! The Many Uses of Lycra.

Particulars: Evening Stockings by Nancy Bush; Piecework Magazine; US 1 Double pointed needles; 3 skeins Glimmer (black) by The Alpaca Yarn Company (97% baby alpaca/3% polyester). Modifications: None. However, if I were to knit these socks again I would not make the heel flap so long. I would probably reduce it by 4 or 5 rows. Further, if you are not an experienced sock knitter you probably should pick a light colored yarn for this project. I found that the dark colored yarn combined with the flecks of gold thread made it difficult to see the stitch definition for this lace pattern, which might be frustrating for a new sock knitter. The pattern was designed for the colorway "White House" and that is probably a better choice if you have any doubt.

Until next time, be well and love well. No matter how busy your life is, find 15 minutes to relax and give yourself a pedicure. We all need down time and you will feel better for it.

Winter Wool Skirt

2010-02-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

It seems somehow disloyal to move on after loosing someone held so dear as Mr Puffy was to me. But moving on is something we all must do because life is a gift and meant to be lived and enjoyed. Before doing so, thank you all for your concern, sympathy, and understanding. It was nice to hear from some of you whom I've not heard from before and, after reading a comment by Marie Luisa from Portugal (sorry no profile link available) it occurred to me that I should clarify Mr Puffy's role here on the blog. As Marie correctly observed, Mr Puffy did many things but he did not knit. That's right. Instead, I would describe Mr Puffy's role as that of a design consultant and knitwear model. He had great fashion sense and no one looked as cute in a hat. His presence, insight, and modeling will always be missed.

But I am a knitter and she who knits must knit on. I'm wearing my new winter wool skirt, Carmine, designed by Dutch Knitting Design. I'm pretty happy with it. Ya right. It's hard to curb my enthusiasm for this rockin little skirt. I have wanted a simple tasteful wool skirt simply 4ever. Something I can throw on and look casually look put together for afternoon tea or strolling about a museum. How often do I do either of these things? Never. Who cares? I am ready to accept any invitations.

This skirt has great texture which is hard to show in the pictures. The design has triangles running the length which gives it a visual interest that I'm afraid do not show up well. A couple of the following picture do show the design, if you look really closely.

Whenever you knit a skirt in wool you need to be concerned about sagging. If you chose, as I did, to use a pure wool then I think you should look for a yarn with a tight twist and plied ~ something with a bounce and good memory. Your LYS owner is a good source for suggestions. And, because you want your new skirt to fit you perfectly, I'm sharing my Perfect Fit Knitting tip!

Knitting Tip: Getting a Perfect Fit

When you invest the time and money into knitting a skirt (or anything for that matter) you want to make sure that it will fit you. And getting the perfect fit is all about gauge. Here's my Perfect Fit Knitting Tip: Do not follow the conventional wisdom and knit your gauge swatch using stockinette as patterns generally instruct. Instead, make your gauge swatch using a full repeat of the knit design used in the actual pattern. In this case, it would be to knit a full repeat of a triangle. Then wash and block your gauge swatch before measuring. When wool is washed it can have a dramatic impact on your swatch. By following these steps you will have a more accurate gauge from which to base your knitting. I never consider a project truly completed until it is fully washed, blocked, and lightly ironed.

Particulars:
Carmine skirt by Marleen van der Vorst who blogs as Dutch Knitting Design; 5 skeins Zara (extra fine superwash merino wool) by Filatura Di Crosa (a division of Tahki - Stacy Charles, Inc.); US 6 circular needles; size XS; my only modification was to reduce the waist band to 6 rounds instead of 10. Tip: BO stitches firmly to reduce the tendency of BO edge to expand. This will give you a "neater" finished look. However, to allow the necessary "give" for the waist band to slip over your hips, you will need to very loosely whip stitch the waist band edge in place.

Valentine's Day Fun:

Growing up I thought Valentine's Day was just for lovers and that's just not true! It's a whimsical and fun day and can be celebrated by everyone with a heart (that includes you) and zest for living! This easy peasy wine charm took me all of an hour to knit ~ and is just one of zillion quick and easy crafting ideas for Valentine Day. I'm also tempted to crochet some of Knitter Gal's bright, happy "Me Mine" Coasters (you can see them here).

Particulars: Heart-Shaped Ornament by Ann Budd in Piecework Magazine (Nov/Dec 2009)/; US 2 double pointed needles; red scrap yarn

Until next time, be well, love well, and have fun preparing for Valentine's Day!

In Loving Memory

2010-01-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

(photo: December 2009)

Mr. Puffy

1/17/1993-1/22/2010

It is with great sorrow that I let you know that Mr Puffy passed away last week. Steve has written the following tribute to Mr Puffy's memory that we have shared with family and friends and I am sharing with you.

Dear family and friends,

As you know, Mr. Puffy was on chemotherapy treatment as a result of his bladder cancer. His struggle ended last Thursday.

Puffy had a long and happy life until the very end. He was a source of joy to everyone he met.

There is much about Puffy that many of you don’t know.

Puffy was a rescue dog. He was unhappy in his early life and ran away from his first family in Indiana on a regular basis. He was shot by a farmer and had hundreds of pieces of buckshot in his body. Shortly after that we adopted him. We never knew about his injury until he had an x-ray that lit up with little luminescent areas from his head to his tail. We then called his first family and found out the whole story.

Puffy had an incredibly kind heart. Shortly after we got him he escaped from our housekeeper while we were at work. She chased after him, running through the woods until it became apparent that she couldn’t catch him (Puffy was fast). Out of desperation she lay down on the ground and started crying. Puffy heard her, stopped, came running back to her and licked her face. He was worried that she hurt herself.

Puffy had fans all over the world. As you know, he and Claudia shared a knitting blog and thousands of people enjoyed following his adventures and looking at the knitting. In just the single week from 1/21/2010 – 1/26/2010 he had multiple readers from the following countries visit his blog:

Brazil, Denmark, Poland, Netherlands, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lithuania, Latvia, Switzerland, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Turkey, Australia, Spain, Canada, Ukraine, Taiwan, Estonia, Kazan – Russian Federation, Slovakia, Nizhniy Novgorod – Russian Federation, Portugal, Italy, Finland, France, Norway, Kenya, Germany, Krasnodar – Russian Federation, England, India, Hungary, Romania, Moscow –Russian Federation, Romania, Iceland, Bosnia, Herzegovnia, Switzerland, Ireland, Indonesia, Croatia, Uruguay, and of course the United States.

He was also honored by the Orange County Register with a story and photos about two weeks before he died.

Sample quotes from his fans:

1/24/2010 from Katherine: Mr. Puffy is a hero in our house! We are praying that our Jack Russell Terrier Macy will get along as well for as long as he has! Go Puffy!

1/20/2010 from Michelle (Northernstar28): Hooray for Mr. Puffy! Man about town. Ever so newsworthy and ready to put a bright spot in everyone’s day. Thanks for sharing the story and recipe. Worldwide humanity rules.

1/11/2010 from Amanda: Mr. P. is looking happy and that makes everyone happy.

He got similar comments on a regular basis.

Puffy and Claudia enjoyed an English Tea every day from 1-2pm. Puffy waited for his little biscuits, enjoyed them and then lay down next to Claudia and watched BBC programs.

As Puffy’s veterinary office said, Puffy was a sweet, sweet boy who was loved by everyone he met. He is missed very much.

Steve and Claudia

Claudia's Postscript:

This blog was a journey that Mr Puffy and I began together and, at least for a time, I shall continue on in his honor. I think in my heart I'll always know what Mr Puffy would want to say.

Spend an Evening in Chile ~ Pollo Arvejado

2010-01-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

Sharing and caring. Personal sacrifice. Kindness. Whether a tragedy on the magnitude of the Haitian earthquake or those smaller ones that take place in our own communities it is these attributes of the human spirit that bring people together.

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
-- Stephen Grellet

Spend an Evening in Chile and enjoy Chilean Pollo Arvejado

January is universally a cold and blustery month and a good time to share recipes for warm and delicious meals that bring comfort to a winter night.

Years ago when Steve and I traveled through Chile we met a young woman who was working as a hospital resident in the port city of Antofagasta located in the remote Atacama Desert. It is an extremely poor city which exists mainly to support mining and industrial work. Those few consumer goods available have their prices displayed in "layaway" terms (i.e. the price broken into monthly payments) even for common items such as shoes and clothing. The purchases we made came without boxes. At least those were the conditions when we were there in the mid 1990s.

Steve, who was a practicing physician at the time, saw this as an opportunity to share how medicine is practiced in the United States with someone just beginning her medical career in a disadvantaged area. So we invited this young woman, Annie, to stay with us so that she could get experience in the US and qualify to take US medical exams, which she did.

This was a busy time in our lives and we all were going in different directions but I did manage to corner Annie and get a few recipes and learn a little about her life during the time she stayed with us!

Annie loved drinking merlot wine and as you might know Chilean wines are excellent. From her stay, to this day, I have a preference for merlot and enjoy it best the way she taught me. Cooking for Chileans is a social time in the kitchen and wine is sipped and enjoyed during the cooking process. The wine bottle is placed on the stove top so that it warms and releases its fragrance to mingle with the food being cooked. I'm not sure what a wine connoisseur would say about this, but for a merlot I find it works really well.

And this is one of Annie's recipes, Pollo Arvejado. In the past 15 years I've made this dish countless times and always enjoy it. I hope you will too.

Chilean Pollo Arvejado

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken cut into pieces (organic or kosher chickens have the best flavor)
1 yellow onion - diced
1 medium potato - diced (I like yukon gold potato in this dish)
small amount of grated carrot
peas

Steps:

1. Remove skin from chicken pieces and dry thoroughly. Rub kosher or sea salt over the chicken pieces and then coat in flour just before cooking.

2 Brown chicken pieces over a high heat in olive oil (Edit: use just a small amount of oil - approx. 2 tablespoons). When nicely browned, lower heat to simmer and add the diced onion, diced potato and grated carrot. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Cover and cook for approximately 1 hour, depending on size of chicken pieces.

3. Place on serving dish and add a few peas and garnish with parsley. Serving remaining peas as a side dish.

Enjoy!

Mr Puffy Update

We are just so tickled, Mr Puffy made the news! You can see Mr Puffy in the Orange County Register here.

Until next time, be well, love well, and share this warm and delicious meal with your loved ones!

He Said ~ She Said

2010-01-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

I showed Steve a picture of this sweater pattern and said - see - isn't it beautiful! I'm going to knit it with this fluffy yarn.

He Said: I don't think you should knit that. I don't think it will look good.

She Said: Nothing (she's a smart lady) and knit it anyway. Because it would feel good.

Therein lies the differences between the sexes. Most men are visually oriented and most women are feelings oriented. Even if I ended up looking like I was wearing something that the cat spat up I would be happy lounging about the house in it. Paramount to me is how will it feel. Will I like putting it on? Will I feel like flouncing about the house it in? Yes yes yes!!! I love it. I even think it looks good, but then I'm bias.

Between you and me, Mr Puffy had told me in private that he thought it would both look good and feel good. Mr Puffy has such good instincts.

This is an extremely basic sweater design by Kim Hargreaves but she makes it special with two of what I think are her signature design features. Shaping and finishing detail. This sweater is designed to be form fitting with a relaxed yet elegant appearance. The elegance is achieved with the beautiful filigree neckline.

While it is a very basic knit, but there are several small things that I did to help the "finished" sweater have a polished look, rather than making me look like a purple polar bear. First, I ignored the advice to do a gentle steam block. Instead, I did a full wet block and while it was still wet I used my hands to press the fabric into a flat smooth surface. I did that several times during the course of the drying. I think this helped the fabric have a nice sheen, open the stitches, and lay flat. Second, once it was sewn together, I did a targeted steam block of the neckline to encourage it to lay flat rather than allowing the fabric to follow the natural roll of the stockinette.

It's a warm material (heavy gauge mohair/silk) however the open stitch work keeps it light and comfortable to wear. Even here in sunny Southern California.

Particulars: Calm; HEARTFELT The Dark House Collection by Kim Hargreaves; 5 skeins Rowan Kidsilk Aura; Needles: US 10; 10.5; & 11.

Mr Puffy Update

Mr Puffy is a miracle of modern medicine! He continues to bring joy and love into our lives. It's amazing how well he has responded to the chemo medication. I wanted to show you him running like the wind on the sand.... but it's hard to capture that.

I do better with still life.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season and may I recommend Calm after the storm of activity. Whether your calm is a soft sweater or a nice cup of hot cocoa ~ enjoy. Until next time be well, love well, and happy knitting.

Christmas Capelet

2009-12-20T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is my Christmas Capelet and it raises in my mind the specter of dress style for today's couples. Do you have a mate who's idea of getting dressed up is to wear dress shoes with jeans? I do. But I've take the view that one must dress to please one's self. Steve, bless his heart, is just not happy getting dressed up. But, what he lacks in dress style he more than recommences with wit and good company!

I'm calling this my Christmas Capelet because I knit it to wear this Christmas. I wanted something special to wear on Christmas day but not one of those gaudy Christmas sweaters that one finds in the stores. It is unfortunate that Christmas has become so commercialized because the real beauty of the holiday can get lost in all the trappings. About ten years ago we spent our Christmas holiday in South America (Chile). I was struck by the absence of a jolly red Santa on every corner. Instead there were nativity scenes and decorations made from greenery and candles. I think I like it best if there is a balance. Decorations are nice but the spirit and essence of the holiday shouldn't be lost.

I remember we spent Christmas Eve in Puerto Montt, Chile and it was cold and drizzling out. Despite the weather the streets were filled with families all dressed up milling about and the air was filled with excitement and happiness. I asked our hotel if there was an event taking place. But no. Apparently it simply is the tradition in that town to dress up and walk as a family downtown Christmas Eve. I loved being there and feeling a part of their celebration and enjoying the quiet beauty of the nativity scene, the focus of the town's decorations. It felt very special.

It has always been our tradition to take a family walk on Christmas Day. Once the turkey is in the oven we all bundle up and go for a walk on the beach. It's a nice time of togetherness. Coming home we are greeted by the smell of roasting turkey and the beautifully decorated tree. Below is a picture of me and sister walking on the beach on a Christmas morning that has long since past. Yet I still return home and walk on the beach with my parents every year.

Knitting for me is a means of self expression and defining who I am and that's really why I chose to knit this capelet for Christmas.

Particulars: Antonia Shawlette/Capelet a pattern from the Family Trunk Project a collaborative effort explained here. I used Tosh Sock yarn (malachite colorway) by Madelinetosh, US 3 circular needles. My only modification was to add decorative leaf ties as I thought a caplet ought to have a tie closure. You could easily use a satin ribbon instead.

How to Knit Leaf Ties

To emphasize the "caplet" nature of this shawl I added leaf ties reminiscent of what might adorn a cloak. My leaf ties are modeled after the leaf ties on the Cropped Cardigan a free pattern published in Knitty an on-line knitting magazine. I simply adjusted the pattern to a fingering weight yarn and to create a more rounded leaf shape.

Using a fingering weight yarn and using US 2 needles:

Cast on 2 stitches. Knit a 2 stitch i-cord to desired length. My i-cords for this shawl are 15" and 16" respectively. When your i-cord is desired length, form the leaf as follows:

Using a seed stitch pattern throughout:
Row 1: K1, M1, K1 (3 stitches)
Row 2: Increase (knit into front and back) 1 stitch at the beginning and end of the row (5 stitches)
Row 3: Repeat Row 2 (7 stitches)
Row 4: work even in seed stitch
Row 5: K2, M1, K1, M1 K2 (7 stitches)
Row 6 - 9: work even in seed stitch
Row 10: Decrease 1 stitch at beginning of the row using ssk decrease. Continue decreasing (via ssk) the first stitch of each row until 1 stitch remains. Bind off last stitch. Attached your I-cord by twisting into an "S" shape and sew to shawl using a button on the back to anchor the tie as shown in the picture below. The button will help provide some stability.

However, I caution that because shawls are knit into a fine/thin fabric, the tie is largely decorative and for light wear only.

Away for Christmas

We will be away for Christmas and the week following so no Christmas tree for us this year. But still spots of holiday cheer are to be found here and there. This year I've enjoyed making yarn ornaments fashioned after pine cones inspired by Ressurection Fern who has provided a link to all of her tutorials for this and other handmade crafts here.

These yarn ornaments add a festive touch to most everything, or any outing, as Mr Puffy can attest! I simply used odds and ends from partially used skeins of yarn and added a festive ribbon from my wrapping supplies. The yarn ball pictured above is made with Noro's Silk Garden and the one Mr Puffy is wearing in made with Rowan's Kid Classic. These are basically updated pom poms which are a quick and easy yarn project that both kids and adults will enjoy making!

Mr Puffy, Steve, and I wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy Christmas and hope that the New Year will bring good tidings to you and your family. We will be taking a brief break from all things technical here on Mr Puffy's Knitting blog for the next few weeks but shall look forward to seeing you once again in 2010!

Quick Knits and Gift Ideas!

2009-12-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

Cowls are not a new fashion accessory of course; they have been around since the middle ages. But this year they are back in a big way and they are hot hot HOT! Even the Wall Street Journal has taken notice, opining Can the Snood Save Christmas? Snood, cowl, or infinity scarf, it's all basically a circular scarf worn about the neck and head.

They are a quick knit, but I haven't knit a cowl for years. I think it goes back to that first experience I had knitting a cowl. Imagine sprinkling itch powder all over a scarf and then wrapping it around your neck several times. The instant I put it on I knew I had a problem. Funny, though, because the yarn didn't feel itchy or scratchy while I was knitting with it. I totally understand now why someone with a martyr complex is said to wear a hair shirt.

But I'm no martyr and I wore that cowl for all of a New York minute. I had knit it in pure alpaca which is waaaay to itchy for a garment worn about the neck. Take it from me, and I'm pretty tolerant to yarn itch factor.

But cowls are once again seen everywhere. Why shouldn't I knit one too? It's quick and not a difficult knit. And yet. Any knit can have it's complications.....

My second cowl also went down in flames. I wouldn't say the yarn was too itchy. It was more that the yarn was too stiff. But enough already, for this third and final cowl I did my homework. I went into a LYS and looked at the cowls in the shop. Those LYS owners know what they are doing! This cowl is designed by Cardigans Knit Shop and is a designer knockoff knit in a soft, stretchy, non-itchy yarn that comes in great colors. Finally a cowl to love!

Particulars: Infinity scarf/cowl named for its construction. It's knit end to end and joined by grafting the live stitches together so there is no beginning or end to the knitting; hence its name infinity scarf. For my provisional cast-on I used Judy Becker's Magic Cast on demonstrated here I then threaded a piece of yarn through the live stitches until needed. It's a free pattern with yarn purchase at Cardigans Knit Shop in Santa Barbara; 2 skeins Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK; US 10 needles.

There are some beautiful and free on-line cowl patterns. Just be sure to chose your yarn with care! Two of my favorites are the Cable Cowl by Pickles and the Winding River Cowl by Interweave Knits (Winter 2009) [ravelry link].

Gift Ideas for Knitters:

Before I sign off, I've come across some fun gifts ideas that I want to pass along:

Signature Scarf kit:

My friend Murielle of Murielle Knitwear is finally selling kits of her very popular Signature Scarf. She is also making her Signature Scarf pattern available for free on her website Murielle knitwear/free patterns link. All of her kits are one of a kind, but will look generally like the scarfs shown below. These kits are quick to knit, fun to wear, and would make a great gift!

Magic Yarn Ball

I'm participating in a magic yarn ball swap hosted by Theresa of TDoesWool. The idea is simple. Knitters know what other knitters like in a way unfathomable to muggles/non-knitters. I think that's one reason swaps on-line between knitters are so popular. The basic idea of a magic yarn ball is to buy a nice ball of yarn and then roll it up including small items that will be revealed as the yarn is knit. Theresa has given some ideas for items to include on her Yarn Ball blog. This swap is not due until January 31, 2010 so hurry over and you still might have time to join! For pictures of yarn balls and inspiration visit the Flickr Magic Yarn Ball Group. Even if you are not participating in a swap, this would make a fun gift!

Tapestry Needle Case

A tapestry needle case is the epitome of a great gift, i.e. something you wouldn't think of buying for yourself, but are delighted to receive. Knitters use large tapestry needles for finishing work and I have several of these needles that used to rattle about in my craft box, pricking my fingertips as I poked about looking for things. Now they are attractively and safely ensconced in a beautiful needle case and I couldn't be more thrilled. This gift came from Chan of ChanKnits; she has some wonderful vendor friends who donate lovely gifts that she happily passes along on her blog! This needle case is handcrafted using the beautiful and exotic Padauk Wood by ROM Woodworking. If you are on a budget, Clover sells a similar Chibi needle case which comes with a selection of tapestry needles. This is a great stocking stuffer item!

Until next time, be well, love well, bundle up and stay safe as we are all out on the roads more over the holiday season!

A Traditional Christmas Cake Recipe

2009-11-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

In today's busy world I think we have had to sacrificed tradition in favor of ready made convenience. It's so simple when the grocery store has everything you need for a holiday on a ready made platter. But that feels so empty to me and many others. Instead many of us at this time of year will pull out favorite family recipes that we make each year that are special to our family and connect us to generations past.

It's still different than times gone by and the Christmases that my mother and father remember from their childhood. My mother is 83 now, and was a child in England prior to WWII when times were very different. Her family had a separate room that was shut off from the children during the weeks preceding Christmas called Bluebeard's Room. This room was not opened up to the children until Christmas morning when for the first time the children would see the Christmas tree all lit up with presents spread below. The excitement of anticipation was hard to bear. During the night Santa would have delivered a Christmas stocking on her pillow filled with candy, small treasures and a tangerine in the toe. She always received one very special present from Santa. One year she remembers her special gift was a beautiful doll despite her mother having said she was too old for dolls that year and a twinkle in her father's eyes.

One way that I feel connected to my English heritage is though traditional English fare around the holidays. My mother always made a Christmas Cake that was decorated with tiny plastic reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh. I'm not going to share her recipe, though, as it makes too large a cake (it uses a dozen eggs) and, frankly, was sometimes a little undercooked.

Instead I'll share the recipe I used this year. The pictures in this post are my cake from last year (except for the one immediately above). I did this so that you see could see what the cake looks like when decorated, because I will not decorate my cake this year until the night before Christmas. The recipe I used last year came from Denise of The Knitting Den who was kind enough to share her friend's recipe. It made a wonderful cake, but was a little vague on instructions and ingredients so this year I searched and found a very similar recipe here, that I've slightly modified and/or clarified to incorporate aspects of Denise's recipe.

Recipe for A Traditional English Christmas Cake
One 8 inch (20 cm) round or 7 inch (18 cm) square cake pan. Pan should be 3 inches deep. If you don't have a cake pan in this size, the link above to the original recipe gives the recipe for a variety of different sized pans.

Preheat Oven: 300 F (150 C) Approximate cooking time 2.5 hours

Ingredients (ALL ingredients are BY WEIGHT):
12 oz. Currants
5 oz. Sultanas (i.e. golden raisins)
5 oz. Raisins
2 oz. mixed chopped peel (i.e. lemon and orange)
3 oz. glazed Cherries (washed and cut in half)
6 oz. Butter
6 oz. Dark brown soft sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon Molasses or black treacle
7 oz. All Purpose (i.e. plain) flour
1 oz. Ground almonds
1 tsp. All Spice
1/4 tsp. nutmeg (optional)

Additional Ingredients:
Brandy (I use a 750 ML bottle because I enjoy a strong brandy flavor to my cake)
Apricot Jam
Marzipan (I use 3 of the 7 oz. tubes - 2 on top and 1 for the sides. If you aren't that keen on marzipan you can use just 1 of the 7 oz. tubes on the cake top).

Royal Icing Ingredients:
powered sugar 1 lb. (sifted)
3 egg whites
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Ribbon and Ornaments for decorating
Wax Paper (to line cake pan)

Steps:

1. Begin by soaking dried fruit and mixed peel overnight in Brandy. I cover the fruit mixture with almost a full bottle of brandy because, if I haven't mentioned it yet, I enjoy a strong brandy flavor to my cake. Almost all of it will be absorbed by morning. Drain off excess prior to using.

2. Prepare cake pan. Trace a liner in wax paper by using your cake pan as a template. Cut out forms to fit bottom of pan and strips to line sides. Use butter to moisten pan which will hold the wax paper in place. Set baking pan aside while you prepare your cake mix.

3. Soften butter prior to using. Measure out all ingredients ahead and have ready to combine as needed. Eggs should be at room temperature.

4. Beat butter, sugar and molasses until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. A small amount of your flour may be added at this stage to prevent curdling.

5. Remove mixture from mixer. Add all purpose flour and ground almonds (alternately) and stir by hand with a wooden spoon. When mixture is well combined stir in dried fruit (drained).

6. Spoon cake mix into prepared cake pan and bake approximately 2 hours 45 minutes. Because I have an oven that runs hot, I only needed to bake mine for 2 hours and 30 minutes. The cake is done when tester comes away clean.

7. Cool cake completely in cake pan sitting on a wire rack or your stove top.

8. When cool, remove cake from pan. Cover top of cake generously with apricot jam and use 1 of the 7 oz. tubes of marzipan to make a round cover which you place over the apricot jam. Leave wax paper on the sides. You want the cake to stay moist as it "matures" over the next few weeks. Keep it covered in foil in a cake tin or other airtight container.

9. Feed your cake brandy. It should be clear by now that I like a strong brandy flavor to my cake. Remove the wax paper from the cake bottom and poke a few holes into which you drizzle 1 tablespoon brandy. Recover cake bottom with wax paper and close aluminum foil. Feed your cake brandy once a week by adding 1 tablespoon brandy.

10. Allow cake to mature for several weeks. Decorate the day ahead of serving.

DECORATING YOUR CAKE:

Begin by applying more marzipan so that you have a fresh even surface of marzipan (I like to cover both the top and sides with marzipan). Next prepare your icing. N.B. Do not prepare your icing until you are ready to decorate your cake (i.e. gather any ribbon and/or ornaments that you need) as the icing will quickly dry into a hard surface.

PREPARE ROYAL ICING:

Royal Icing:

Whip egg whites until creamy. Add powdered sugar and lemon juice and whip until soft peaks form. Quickly ice cake and immediately decorate before the icing sets (which happens very quickly).

ALL FINISHED:

Step back and admire your creation! Remember, if all fails and your cake is not "all that" then just smoother it in more brandy, light it on fire, and serve with a side of custard and call it a Christmas Pudding! If it is a success (and I'm sure it will be) then enjoy it on cold afternoons with a cup of tea or a glass of sherry.

Of course, wearing an appropriately saucy apron while doing your holiday baking does help put one in the proper mood! As will listening to cheery holiday music. My favorite holiday CD is Martina McBride's White Christmas which was recommended by the lovely Renee of Renee Knits too last year. Thank you Renee, I love listening to this CD!

I know that not everyone enjoys Christmas Cake, but there is no need to stick your tongue out and go ewww. Thank you Puff, that's quite enough. If you are like Mr Puffy who does not enjoy the flavors of brandy and dried fruits then it is probably not for you either. Instead, you might prefer these holiday cookie recipes shared in years past: Old Fashioned Gingerbread Men; Walnut Cookies; and Almond Crescents.

Until next time, be well, love well, and happy holiday baking! Up next are some quick knits and other last minute Christmas gift ideas!

Twilight Inspired Mittens

2009-11-18T18:39:00.000-08:00

Warm and stylish, these are my Twilight inspired mittens!

I know some of you are perplexed why I knit so many warm items when, after all, I live in sunny Southern California. But it does get cold here! Freezing cold (not literally of course) but pretty darn cold. And this Fall it has been particularly cool..... which is why I am so delighted to have my Twilight mittens!

Has anyone else had an unusually cool Fall? Now don't laugh at this. As I get ready for bed, I sometimes listen to Coast to Coast, a radio program that airs during the late hours. It discusses UFO sightings, conspiracy theories, ghost stories, and new scientific discoveries. It is all utter twaddle, of course. And yet. Around about midnight, when I'm very sleepy, it all starts to make sense. For example, could the diminishing solar flares be having a cooling impact on earth's temperature? Maybe. It is cooler this Fall, at least here in Southern California. Not that I don't find pollution plenty worrisome too, because I do. I'm just wondering if maybe there aren't additional and perhaps stronger factors having an impact on earth's temperature.

Whatever the reason, it is a cooler this Fall and I'm happy to have these cozy mittens! The pattern is Bella's Mittens and this pattern was inspired by the mittens worn by Bella in the movie Twilight. I have to confess, I have not read the book or seen the movie. But I am a huge fan of Subliminal Rabbit, the clever knitter who designed these mittens, so I had to have a pair. Plus, some of my favorite on-line knitters have knit these and it's fun when everyone is wearing the same hand knits! Check out Bella's Mittens knit by: The Yarniad; At Home Mommy Knits; SweetP Knits; and a whole collection at Bella's Mittens Flickr Group. For those of you who haven't the time to knit yourself a pair you can buy Bella's Mittens directly from Ruth Cross who sells the original Bella's Mittens (as seen in the movie) as well as a variety of other hand knits.

Particulars: Bella's Mittens ~ free pattern ~ courtesy of Subliminal Rabbit! This is a very easy to follow pattern and I can't say enough good things about it. It's fun to knit, well constructed, and in a snap you will have mittens sure to delight your Twilight fans! My only modification was to reduce the needle size from US 8 to US7 as I prefer mittens knit at a tight gauge. I also knit these on doubled pointed needles rather than magic loop as I tend to achieve a tighter knit on double pointed needles. This pattern is currently featured in a UK craft magazine and has spawned many accessory knits (hats and scarfs) which you can read more about here.

The yarn I used was a gift from DizzyDragonflies.etsy who is better known as Vicky at Knitting Dragonflies. I stranded the yarn with GGH's Soft-Kid to achieve gauge (soft-kid is a yarn similar to Rowan's Kidsilk Haze). Vicky's yarn is lovely and soft as well as beautiful, as she has a talent for color work. She calls this colorway Fall Foliage and she gave it to Mr Puffy and me to remind us of Fall in Indiana (which was our home for ten years). It is a very special gift and I'll treasure these mittens always. Thank you Vicki, and watch your mailbox as a little thank you is heading your way.

Mr Puffy Update:

Last week Mr Puffy and I had a nice restorative visit with my parents in Santa Barbara. We took long walks, relaxed in front of the fire, and drank endless cups of tea! Mr Puffy loves it when we visit because he is spoiled and he gets to wander freely in my mother's garden which is enclosed and safe to do so, unlike at home where he is always supervised and on a leash when outside. At times I don't think he wants to leave! I can't blame him, I'm never ready to leave either.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone and, until next time, be well, love well, and happy knitting! P.S. Next time I'm going to share a recipe for a traditional English Christmas Fruitcake to kick off the Christmas season and I'm really looking forward to seeing all of the holiday preparations taking place in blog land!