Fashion's Warm and Fuzzy Trend and the Life and Misadventures of Simcha

For whatever reason you can draw your own conclusions clothing trends have sharply veered toward the soft and fuzzy. It's as if collectively we need to cocoon ourselves and be comforted as we traverse the landscape of our daily lives.  At least that's how it seems here in Southern California where you can't walk into any clothing store without noticing all the plush and fuzzy jackets and hoodies this winter.  And it must be the same everywhere because Knitwear designers have taken note of the trend and have embraced the very warm and fuzzy "kid mohair/silk" with cultist devotion.  Never have I seen so many new designs for sweaters, hats and shawls incorporating kid mohair/silk.  But to truly get that "on trend" fuzzy fabric you can't just "incorporate" kid mohair/silk.  You have to go all in.  Go big or go home.  Double down.  And that's exactly what this shawl does.  It doubles down and is knit with kid mohair/silk held doubled yes doubled throughout and wow what a super trendy and super fuzzy shawl it is.  Trust me wearing this you will be the object of envy of anyone close enough to pet you.  You better hope no creepy entitled politicians are lurking nearby.

The pattern itself is brilliant in it's simplicity.  While there is a lace design that gives it an ephemeral quality there are panels of garter stitch that give it needed density and structure.  There's 150g of kid mohair/silk used in the design.  That's 1,475 yards and that's a whole lotta kid mohair/silk.  The reason that the shawl is not overwhelmingly large is, as I mentioned above, that you hold the yarn doubled throughout. The finished size is just perfect to wear over a sweater for an evening out or on a cold day.  And leave the jacket at home cuz you won't be needing it.  
       


Over the years I've knit a lot of fingering weight shawls.  But I have to confess that knitting shawls with fingering weight yarn just isn't doing it for me any more.  I still knit a lot of socks and sweaters with sock yarn but not shawls.  I've also discovered that while they look pretty I don't really enjoy wearing sock weight shawls.  They aren't really that warm and some part of my anatomy is usually exposed.  But large shawls that are warm, soft and fuzzy are calling to me.  And this one is perfection.

PARTICULARS: Sinja designed by Katrin Schubert (German knitwear designer); US 6 needles; 3 skeins (150g) A Homespun House, Kid Mohair/Silk, colorway Velvet, (50g / 492 yrds per skein).  No modifications whatsoever.  I had 9g left over.  

N.B. I can't even pretend with a straight face that this is my first foray with kid mohair/silk.  Way back in 2007 I posted my beautiful lacy Dove shawl.  But this is the first time that I've used it held doubled throughout.  While my Texture Time shawl knit designed by Stephen West incorporates melted baby suri (which is similar to holding kid mohair/silk doubled) it is used as an accent and not the main yarn.  But I do love it and am tempting to knit more of his designs that incorporate melted baby suri including his Wonky Starfish shawl, Suriously Holey Shawl, Flying Foxtail Shawl, and Hiberknitting Cowl. 

To see other projects that either use or incorporate kid mohair/silk see Birch Shawl, Silver Birch Hat, Kobuk Hat, Calm Sweater, Willow Wrap, Anisette Stole, Trieste Shawl, Personal Pattern, Bella Mittens and a personal favorite The Fleur Wrap.   

The  Life and Misadventures of Simcha ~

I haven't shared much about Simcha the last few years.  Yes he's mellowed with time but rest assured he still oozes personality, intensity, and gamesmanship.   Including his intimidating deadeye stare that I managed to capture above.  If he had lived in days of the Old West he would have been a gunslinger.  On the right side of the law, of course.  More of a Sheriff.  "The sheriff" is actually one of his nicknames because he likes everyone to get along and behave - including Steve and myself!  And let me assure you that Steve is a big misbehavior. Snicker.  While some might find his deadeye stare intimidating that's only because they don't know that he has a heart of gold.

Until next time be well, love well and before winter slips away try adding some warmth and fuzziness into your life!  If you are looking for an instant fix of fuzz here's my totally unsolicited and unpaid plug for a product that Steve and I love (I should clarify that for any product mentioned on the blog it is always unpaid and unsolicited unless stated otherwise).  In any event the product is ~ ta dah ~ Malden Mills Polar Fleece sheets.  Starting last year Steve refused to switch back to regular sheets in the summer so we now use them year round.  Nuff said.  A ton of retail stores carry them but I buy them on QVC.

The Indispensable Trait of Determination for Knitting and Life

It's been unusually cool this Winter in Los Angeles, California.  How cold has it been you wonder?  So cold that we've been needing clothes that we typically don't need in LA.  Like socks.  Fortunately that's no problem for me as I've knit many a pair over the years.  But I don't have many of the sturdy variety and hence these Carlos and Arne socks have been great to have this winter.

I have to admit that knitting these socks was a love/hate affair.  It's obviously a self patterning yarn and, incidentally, the first commercially dyed self patterning yarn I've knit with.  While I loved the beautifully intricate pattern magically unfolding as I knit without any effort on my part, whatsoever, I was also turned off by the scratchy feel of the wool traversing over my fingers.  And knitting is a very tactile experience.  Hence the hate.  I almost tossed them aside as not worth the bother.  To be fair it was summer when I was knitting them and in the warm summer months lots of wools can feel scratchy.  But when I thought am I such a wimp that I can't handle a little scratchy wool?  Seriously?  That's pathetic.  So I determined to finish them and am very happy that I did.  You know what else?  Magically when the weather turned cool the wool suddenly wasn't scratchy any more.  I have no idea what the science is behind that. 

The moral of this story is that sometimes you have to stick with things through thick, thin and scratchy times.  Because if you don't then you may miss an opportunity to add color, warmth, and satisfaction to your life.  Like these socks have to mine.

PARTICULARS: Pairfect Design Line by Arne & Carlos, Schachendmayr Regia Sock Yarn (75% wool / 25% polyamide); (Colorway #9090); 100 g 459 yrds.; US 1 DPN; I followed the pattern provided on label and made no modifications whatsoever, other than I followed my own toe decreases from my Colorblock Socks pattern.  This sock yarn is a tremendous value and I highly recommend making your own Pairfect socks!  They should wear like iron.  But if you are more interested in luxury sock yarns I would recommend a mix of merino wool, nylon, and 10% cashmere and a favorite brand of mine is Sun Valley Fibers, MCN (80% merino, 10%cashmere and 10% nylon) which is what I used for my Winter Rose socks and for another pair I have yet to photograph.


Simcha and Determination

The topic of determination and sheer doggedness would not be complete without a Simcha antidote, who has more determination in his right pinky err paw than most people have in their entire body.

For Simcha size has always mattered.  From the time he was a little puppy it didn't matter if it was a toy, treat, or stick it was clear that bigger was definitely better.   Out on the trail hiking he doesn't pick up any old stick.  Instead he will forage to find the very biggest stick around and then he'll carry it for long distances before eventually discarding it.  It's not always easy for him to extract these massive sticks.  They are often partially buried in the ground or entangled in limbs of trees and bushes but he will thrash about pulling until it breaks free (I used to pitch in and help him with this until he accidentally sliced my finger in half and after that I decided he was on his own). There was only one time when I thought he was going to be defeated.  He had jumped off the trail into some brush below and there was a  sheer rock wall that had to climbed to get back on the trail.  I stood and looked down watching him.  He had found a large stick that he clearly wanted to bring with him.  He was whining in frustration because he had made several failed attempts to get up that rock wall with his stick.  I could see the problem was that he didn't have enough space to run and gain any momentum to help carry him up.  I thought he was beat.  But then he put his head down, griped that stick in his jaws, raised his head up and by the sheer force of his determination clawed his way up that rock face onto the trail with that giant stick in his mouth.  I was astonished.  He's older now and doesn't have the same drive and determination but I'll never forget seeing him do the impossible.

There's a number of excellent books about dogs and their amazing stories.  I know he's fictional but I think that Simcha has much the same personality as Buck from Call of the Wild by Jack London.  I also love the book Where the Red Fern Grows about a boy and his dogs growing up in the Ozarks.  And my dad used to read Old Yeller aloud to my sister and me when we were little.  These are all sad and yet wonderful stories.  If you have a favorite book about a dog I would love to hear your recommendations. 


ST. LUCIA BUNS ~

I love the idea of welcoming winter with celebration and those things that bring warmth and comfort into our lives. Which is why the St. Lucia celebration in Sweden appeals to me.  Well to be perfectly honest it's the rich tasty St. Lucia buns that appeal to me.  Flavored with saffron and vodka these buns are warm and savory with a tiny sweet crunch from the pearl sugar topping.  They are simple but I really like them.  It must be the Swed in me. If you are familiar with St. Lucia buns and this celebration then you know that I'm late in making these (St Lucia is celebrated on the first day of winter).  But honestly being untimely hasn't effected my enjoyment of the buns one tiny bit. Note to self: Make these every winter, preferably on St. Lucia Day.  Recipe from Bake from Scratch Magazine, November/December 2018.  The New York times shares a St. Lucia Bun recipe (highly rated) free online.

Until next time, be well love well and may your winter months be filled with warmth, comfort food, good books and cozy socks!

Baa-Ble Hat and Slip Slidding Along the Trail with Simcha

I'm late to the party but better late than never!  This is the Baa-ble hat that has become an iconic pattern for the online knitting community.  It's been many many years since I last saw a pattern that captured the hearts of so many knitters.  The last time that I recall this happening was in 2009 with the still and ever popular bakkus scarf, a pattern that I attribute to single handedly spawning a whole industry shift to the humble bumble garter stitch after knitters saw how amazing hand painted yarns looked in this stitch.  If you recall prior to the bakkus most shawls were knit in a lace pattern on a stockinette background.

But back to the Baa-ble hat! This is a very fun design with easy color work that works up quickly in a worsted yarn. Whether you are an experienced knitter or a novice with color work this is a pattern that you will enjoy knitting.  And with the cute sheep ringing the hat it will appeal to all age groups.

Many knitters have found this hat knits up very large and as I have a smallish noggin I decided to follow the downsize modifications recommended by Susan B. Anderson.  Except and only that I knit my hat brim differently.  Because not only it is important to me how a hat fits but also how it looks on.  I'm shallow that way.

If you live in an ultra cold environs you probably won't want to make my modification.  Unless you too care how your hat looks on. What I am referring to is the extra bulk that a hat brim adds that can be less than flattering when worn. Or maybe it's just not flattering on me.  In any event my modification for a less bulky hat brim is as follows:

Knit hat brim in a twisted double rib (i.e. k tbl, k tbl, p,p) for 1.5 inches or desired length and then knit the same length in plain stockinette instead of more ribbing.  You are now set up to begin following the regular pattern instructions.

This modification allows you to have a hat brim to keep your ears cozy without the additional bulk from a double layer of ribbing.  And I love love love how mine came out!

Particulars:  Baa-ble Hat (Ravelry download only), designed by Donna Smith and the official pattern for Shetland Wool Week (2015); US 7 and 8 needles; my yarn came in a kit purchased from Dyed in the Wool Yarn Co (worsted weight); 1 skein Thunder (50g); Cranky Crock (50g) bonehead (50g) and black (25g).  I followed the downsized instructions here as graciously provided by the amazing and very popular blogger Donna B. Anderson, with the addition of my hat brim modification as discussed above.  I also completed all the charted decreases as I wanted a bit of a slouch to my hat. This is a wonderful pattern and super fun hat to wear!  FYI the official pattern for Shetland Wool Week (2016) is the Crofthoose Hat (as of yet still a free pattern) by Ella Gordon (blogs as Textile Maker).

Other color work projects I have blogged include: Osbury Rock (scarf) and Hebe (hat) both of which are very wearable pieces and favorites of mine.

Incidentally I knit the Gaucho Vest that I am wearing in these pictures.  I am quite possibly the only person who ever knit this pattern which is a shame because it has been an amazing wardrobe piece (so easy to dress up or down) and I wear it all the time!

Slip Sliding Along the Trail with Simcha

I often talk about my hikes with Simcha but I rarely take you along with us.  So for a change here's a few pictures from a cold, wet and muddy day. In other words a perfect day for wearing a warm woolly Baa-ble Hat!

The sunrises in Topanga, California are gorgeous in the winter months when the air is clear from all the wind and rain. The sun rises over the city of Los Angeles and looks different every morning as sometimes the city buildings are standing tall in the distance and other times obscured by a layer of fog and clouds.

Even though we live relatively close to the city we are in a very rural environment and the hiking is beautiful.  But you have to know where you are going because the trails are extremely muddy during the winter and Simcha and I have discovered that only too often!

But sometimes it's good for the soul to hike in the mud and just get down and dirty and frankly just can't be avoided. Simcha and I have been on trails where my shoes have been so heavily caked in mud that my feet practical come out of my shoes with each step.  When that happens I just clump clump along until I come to a rock where I can scrape some off some of the mud.  Other times the trail can be so slick with mud I just hope that I don't skid off the trail and land splat on my butt.

Simcha on the other hand is never troubled by the mud. That is until he hears the word bath.

Until next time be well and love well and get out and experience this wonderful wet winter season!  Perhaps in your own Baa-ble Hat.

A Yankee Doodle Shawl and Simcha Stories

Being a proud American I couldn't resist naming this my Yankee Doodle shawl!  For non-Americans that is a reference to a popular folk song during the American Revolution.  It's the Doodler of course designed by Stephen West.

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed, but it seems shawls keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Where will it all end, I ask?  When I first began knitting shawls 10 years ago I would buy a single skein of sock yarn, knit a very lacy pattern, block the bejeebers out of it and have a shawl.   But that's old school.  

There has been a seismic change afoot in the designing world that makes it an incredibly exciting and interesting time to be a knitter.  Today's designers use little lace work and it's rare to find a new pattern release that doesn't use at least two skeins of sock yarn and can run anywhere from 800 to 1,000+ yards. This shift to more use of color and materials with less lace work makes for more modern looking shawls. A change that is being noticed even by non-knitters although they don't understand the reason why today's knitting looks different.  Suffice it to say they're nonplussed when they see a project like this.  I recently had a gentleman comment "that's not my grandmother's knitting."  I'm sure he meant it as a compliment although I had a grandmother who knit wonderful cozy slippers and I loved her knitting.  But I understood what he was saying to me.  The shawl looked nothing like what his grandmother would have knit in shape or color.

Leading this charge and redefining what modern knitting looks like is knitwear designer and Instagram phenom Stephen West who designed the Doodler shawl I am wearing and has amassed incredible portfolio of amazing modern designs.  He's not afraid of color and uses the term "shawl" loosely.  I absolutely love his work and although it's only August something to keep in mind is that he has an annual mystery KAL usually in November that you can keep tabs on in his Ravelry group West Knits Fan Club.  

You have to be careful with these multi-colored projects though.  You do after all want to have a shawl that you can wear when all is said and done.  You can pretty much count on a Doodler with a neon green wing span, a black accent color, and a sparkling rainbow trim being a hard shawl to find an outfit for.  So I don't throw in completely with Stephen West on that score who is a big fan of bright color and extreme contrasts. He can pull off that sort of color combination beautifully.  But then he has a unique sense of style. Speaking of his style you need to see his music video Baby You're a Knitter as it will give you a taste of his crazy fun personality.

Particulars: The Doodler Shawl by Stephen West; 3 skeins Hedgehog Fibers Skinny Singles (colorways Urchin, dark truffle and Monarch); US 4 needles.  My project page on Ravelry has some "tips" for conserving the main color yarn as the first color runs very tight and many people ran out during the KAL last year.  I finished with literally a yarn or less of yarn in the main color.  I made no modifications whatsoever although I did not block the shawl aggressively. You can see that I did add the embellishment on the edging and I'm very happy with that decision.  It's a small aspect of the design that adds a nice finishing touch.  Finished blocked dimensions: 47" x 18" (as opposed to the 60" x 24" of the pattern dimensions).  I chose to block to a smaller dimension as I thought I would find a smaller shawl in this pattern easier to wear.

N.B.  There are several things to be aware of when knitting a shawl like this that uses multi-colored yarn/skeins.

1.  You need to check for color fastness before beginning your shawl.  My post on knitting multi-colored shawls gives a few tips on what you should do before casting on; and

2.  You might want to consider how aggressively you block your shawl. Sometimes less is more and in this case I only lightly blocked my doodler (see my finished dimensions above).  My post on the Lunna Voe Shawl discusses creative blocking such as I used here.

Simcha Stories ~

It's been a long time since I've shared a Simcha story.  We still go for our daily hikes but he's no longer the terror he was his first few years so there's not as much fodder to talk about.  He's still an imp though and likely to be to the end of his days.  Part of his personality is a contrariness that runs deep in his spirit.  If you want something from him he will be loath to part with it.  So it happened that we found a ball on our hike and I wanted to throw it for him.  But he didn't want to give it up, even though he loves to chase a ball.  Being the firm disciplinarian that I am I decided to ignore him. I lay back on the grass with my arms outstretch above my head, closed my eyes and enjoyed the warm sun soaking into me.  After a few minutes of pure blissful relaxation I felt a gooey slimy ball being placed very gently into my outstretched hand.  It was time to play ball.

Until next time be well, love well, and have fun picking out your fall and winter projects!  PS I'm very excited about the project up next.  Hint it's the perfect Fall and Winter piece. 

Lunna Voe Shawl, Lace Blocking Tips, and Recap of Ysolda's 2015 Shawl Club

Lunna Voe the Final Installment of Ysolda's 2015 Shawl Club ~

Leave it to Ysolda to design something traditional and timeless and yet somehow modern too.  This is Lunna Voe the final shawl from her 2015 shawl club and I'm very sorry that this club has ended. 2015 was Ysolda's very first yarn club and her future clubs will not be the same.  Gone are the exclusive club colorways, exclusively spun yarns, and the sense of being part of a small group of adventuresome knitters willing to take a risk on the unknown.  Despite these changes I have signed up for her 2016 club as I was very happy with the beautiful yarns and patterns from 2015 and expect more of the same in the 2016.

Design Inspiration for Lunna Voe Shawl

Included with this yarn was a picture with a note from Ysolda written on the back explaining how the picture inspired the color and design of the shawl, to wit:

No one can capture the light and colors of Scotland on yarn quite like Lilith of Old Maiden Aunt.  For this colorway, on a Shetland fibre base, she was inspired by this photo taken by Jeni Reid at dusk in Shetland.  Lilith says the coastline reminds her of a hap shawl edging.  My design combines traditional elements of hap and fancier lace patterns.

Parenthetically, the photographer, Jeni Reid describes taking this picture at dusk near Voe, Shetland (hence the shawl's name "Lunna Voe") and, like Lilth, she was struck by the shoreline as resembling the edges of a Hap Shawl.  There is something magical and mysterious about the Shetland Islands and the women who knit so many beautiful shawls and sweaters to keep their families warm and provide the family with extra money.  This shawl is one that I'll particularly treasure as it gives me a connection to that history as it could easily have been knit and worn by a woman living in Shetland centuries past.  Today many of the hap Shetland shawls are knit from wool blends and not a pure Shetland wool.  That Ysolda chose to use a pure Shetland wool dyed to capture regional colors makes this a very special piece. 

Creative Lace Blocking Tips ~

Lunna Voe is a hap shawl and, as mentioned above, is a design indigenous to the Shetland Islands.  It is knit in a laceweight yarn and, as is the case with all lace, requires blocking to showcase the beautiful pattern. Blocking lace has both a technical aspect and a creative aspect and I am going to share my tips on the creative aspects of blocking lace.  If you need help with how to technically block lace I refer you to Yarn Harlot's tutorial which is how I learned to block lace along with countless others.

Once you are comfortable with the technical aspect of blocking lace it is time to explore the creative aspects of blocking lace.  It is through the creative blocking process that you finish a shawl so that it expresses your individual taste and personality.

What do I mean by the creative blocking process?  This is the process where you decide what you want your shawl to be.  Do you want a shawl that is formal and dressy or soft and feminine?  Do you want your shawl to be long and narrow, or short and wide, or more like a crescent?  Do you want the edges to be crisp or to have a natural roll for a more rustic look?  If you know in advance what type of shawl you want then the blocking process goes from technical to creative as you bring forth that character from your shawl.

For example with the Lunna Voe shawl I wanted a soft and casual wrap that I could throw on as a layering piece so I used a very soft block on the lace.  A soft block is to gently lay the fabric flat and smooth the fabric with the palm of your hands without much pulling.  This is in contrast to a firm block where you firmly pin out (stretching open) the lace to create a whisper thin fabric that shows off a distinct lace pattern.  To compare the two styles of blocking using this shawl as an example I refer you to the picture that came with the pattern (see firm block for the Lunna Voe). You can see that these two different styles of blocking created two very personalities in the shawl.  Mine is a very rustic and casual shawl and Ysolda's is a formal and dressy shawl.  The only difference is that I used a soft block on the lace whereas Ysolda used a firm block to create a crisp and sharp design and a beautifully elegant finished piece. It's just a matter of personal taste and how you want to wear your shawl.

The creative blocking process is one of my favorite parts of knitting.  I like to sit down with a large pile of pins and slowly let the shawl's personality emerge.  It's not at all unusual for me to block a shawl or be half way through blocking and decide to remove all the pins and start over because some design element of the shawl was not emerging as I wished.  I don't rush this process because like most finishing work it is what makes the difference between having something artistically handmade versus having something that looks homemade.  

I hope you will use the creative blocking process to bring forth the inner personality of your shawls and increase your satisfaction with your handknits.

Pattern Details ~

Lunna Voe designed by Ysolda Teague (Shawl No. 6 from 2015 Shawl Club); 1 skein Old Maiden Aunt Shetland wool 2 ply laceweight (800 yrds); Shoormal colorway (exclusive to club); US 5 needles; no modifications whatsoever.  This is the 6th and final shawl from Ysolda's 2015 Shawl Club.  If you wish to see a full sized hap shawl I knit the Cora Shawl designed by Sharon Miller which takes a whopping 2,849 yds of lace weight yarn.

Just for fun a picture of Simcha wearing Lunna Voe.  There's something about this picture that reminds me of the dapper fellows at Cambridge University in the 1800s who would spend their free time in rowing clubs and writing poetry.  Simcha would happily adapt to that lifestyle now.  When he was young I think he would have preferred to have been a policeman but somewhere along the way he's developed an appreciation for leisurely living.

Recap of Ysolda's 2015 Shawl Club

As Lunna Voe is the final installment of the 2015 shawl club I thought it would be fun to create a collage of projects I've made from the club yarns.  This was a unique and special club with exclusive yarns and future clubs will not be the same which is all the more reason to have a memento!

From top left to right the projects and link to related blog post are as follows: Caer Idris; Lunna Voe (this post); Cokern Tor; Malton Oolite; Stac Shoaigh; and Osebury Rock.

Patterns for each of these projects will be released one year from the club release and already I am seeing many beautiful and colorful versions of Stac Shoaigh on Ravelry which was the first club shipment in 2015.

If you can't wait or missed out on her club then take heart because Ysolda has begun the launch of own line of yarns and patterns (no club membership required) with Yarn Blend No. 1.  I have no doubt this venture will be very successful with her winning talent of combining yarns and patterns.

Until next time be well and love well and whatever you do or wherever you go follow your own path as being true to yourself is what makes the journey uniquely yours.

Classic Dinner Rolls ~

Who doesn't enjoy a good roll?  What with the cold, wet and dreary winter we are having here in Southern California I find myself craving more breads and comfort foods than I have the past few winters which have been much dryer and warmer.  And these rolls are just the thing when you are chilled through and want a nice hearty meal to take the chill away at the end of the day.

This is a classic dinner roll recipe that I've been making for the past twenty years.  It's based on an old version of the Walter Sand's bread recipe that was given out at a King Arthur Flour's baking class that I've adapted to making dinner rolls.  These rolls are wonderful served warm from the oven with butter and they are also great sliced in half to make a delicious kaiser roll for small sandwiches or my favorite treat is to top with cream cheese and lox for a savory brunch item.  I have no doubt these versatile rolls will become a favorite of your family!

Yield ~ 16 dinner rolls

Sponge:
1/2 cups warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons or 1 package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons King Arthur unbleached all purpose flour
1 tablespoon mild flavored honey

Dough:
1 1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 tablespoon granular sugar
1/2 cup dry milk
2 tablespoons softened butter
1 tablespoon kosher salt
51/2 to 6 cups King Arthur unbleached all purpose flour

Topping:
Poppy seeds

Misc:
cornmeal to prevent sticking to baking sheet

Steps:

1.  Make the Sponge:  Warm a bowl with hot water and wipe dry.  Add 1/2 cup warm water and stir in yeast, flour and honey.  Set aside for 10 minutes.  The mixture should be bubbly and foamy.

2.  Make the Dough.  To the sponge add: 1 1/2 cups warm water, sugar, dry milk, butter, salt and 5 1/2 cups flour.  Using a dough hook or large spoon stir mixture until it begins to cling together.

3.  Kneading:  Turn dough out onto a wooden kneading board and place the remaining 1/2 cup flour in a pile next to the dough.   Knead dough until it begins to feel smooth, adding only enough flour to keep it from sticking to the board or your hands, roughly 3 or 4 minutes.  Allow dough to rest while you clean and lightly grease your rising bowl (I use olive oil).  Continue kneading dough another 3 or 4 minutes until it feels smooth and springs back when pinching an ear lob portion of dough.

4.  Rising:  Form dough into a ball and place in greased bowl, turning to oil top.  Cover and place where it will be warm without drafts.  Allow dough to rise until doubled (roughly 1 to 1 1/2 hours).

5.  Shaping:  Knock dough down and divide dough in half until you have 16 equal pieces of dough.  Form each piece into simple round rolls or roll in hands to make a long rope and twist into desired shape (link to a youtube video demonstrating how to form rolls).

6.  Final Rise:  Prepare 2 baking sheets by covering with cornmeal or poppy seeds to prevent sticking.  Place rolls on baking sheets and cover with either a floured linen cloth (flour rubbed into the linen prevents the rolls from sticking to the linen and also removes moisture) or a lightly oiled plastic wrap. Allow rolls to rise 1 hour.

7.  Baking: At least 15 minute prior to baking preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Just before baking mist rolls with water and sprinkle with poppy seeds.  Bake approximately 15 to 18 minutes or until centers of rolls read 190 F on an instant read thermometer or when rolls sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.  The tops should be lightly browned.  I usually bake each tray of rolls separately.

As an additional bonus leftover rolls freeze well!

Loosely adapted from the Walter Sands bread recipe in the King Arthur Cookbook.

Until next time, be well, love well and why not live large this weekend and enjoy a hot roll ;)

Simcha on top of the world enjoying a morning hike with his mommy.  No cold weather will keep him inside and aside from comfort food I've rediscovered the comforts of wearing long underwear!

Glacerie Shawl and Still a Puppy at Heart

It has been a "knitters winter" here in Southern California.  Not only are we having fr-fr-freezing cold temperatures but starting in January the long promised El Nino rains arrived.  Which is just as well for the meteorologist who predicted (and coined the phrase) a "Monster El Nino" event was coming to a drought weary Southern California.  Poor man.  By December there were more than a few skeptics wondering where his so called El Nino rains were.  I saw him being interviewed and he said he feared that he would have to enter the government's witness protection program if the rains did not materialize, people would be that disappointed.  But his fears are over because rainy days are definitely here now and with it lots of opportunities to wear hand knit shawls, hats, socks and sweaters!  A knitter's winter in Southern California.  At long last.

Normally I just wear my hand knits on early morning hikes with Simcha but with the colder days I've been wearing my knits while out shopping and visiting the farmer's market, etc.  I find it amusing when I'm chatting to someone and I'll notice that their eyes are wandering and it's not that their eyes have drifted to my breasts either.  No, instead I can see their eyes are perusing my shawl or hat or whatever hand knit I'm wearing. Sometimes they'll comment on it and sometimes not.  But if they do compliment what I'm wearing then I'm always quick to assure them that it's super easy to knit and a fabulous life long hobby and send them off inspired to visit their nearest yarn shop.

Whoops!  I almost forgot to mention that I'm wearing my Glacerie shawl in this post.  Too funny.  I'm just so excited about the rain!  But I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I couldn't be happier with this gorgeous shawl.  Paired with a lofty yarn it makes a cozy shawl perfect for a cooler Southern California winter.  Although we did not take the picture this way (I wanted to show the design off) I love to wear it wrapped around my neck like a cowl which makes it into a dramatic and fabulous accent piece.

Particulars:  Glacerie Shawl designed by the very talented Hilary Smith Callis (blog: TheYarniad); US7 needles; 2 skeins Old Maiden Aunt Organic Corriedale (sport weight).  My only modification was to substitute the method of increases from a traditional "Make One" increase to a lesser known method of knitting into the back of the loop of the stitch below where you wish to add an increase, which I found easier to execute.  Post "relaxed" blocked measurement: 56" x 21.5."  If you wish to see another design by Hilary that I've blogged check out her super popular Stardust Cowl (that I adore!).

Beautiful raindrops collecting on my juniper plant!

Still a Puppy at Heart

Although Simcha may look like a mature dog he is actually still very much a puppy at heart which I had forgotten, until recently reminded.  It happened like this.  Over the years Simcha has had innumerable toys and some have lasted better than others but usually there are a few scattered about the house until their condition deteriorates to the point they must be disposed of.  Without giving it much thought recently his toys had one by one been removed to the dustbin without being replaced. But then I began to notice that Simcha seemed "down" and not his normal cheery self.  No kisses in the mornings, no galloping about the house, and no happy tail wags on hikes.  At first I thought it was age or maybe he wasn't feeling well. But then it dawned on me.  He didn't have any toys to play with.  I immediately went to the closet and scrounged up a toy and like magic he was a puppy again.  His changed attitude was dramatic and clearly linked to having a toy to play with.  As you can imagine I felt just awful that I had allowed this to happen by sheer oversight and not appreciating how important his toys were to his happiness.  I'll never again underestimate how important toys and playing are to him.

Until next time be well, love well and make time for the people and pets that you share your life with. Lastly, don't forget the importance of play time and sharing activities that they enjoy doing..... Tug of War anyone?

Wisp of Smoke Cowl and Nantucket Cranberry Tart

I always like a little bling at the holidays.  It's the one time of year when it's actually okay to over dress and pull out the black strappy shoes, flashy jewelry, and dark red lipstick topped off with sparkly lip gloss. What's not to like about that!  Each year I knit something special for the holidays and this year it's an opulent silk cowl with pre-strung glass beads that positively oozes sparkly bling. It's a piece that really has to be seen and touched to be appreciated though, otherwise it may appear more low key than my past Christmas projects.  Of course you haven't seen me wearing it with my fishnet stockings either.  That gives it a whole different vibe.

I really love the added dimension that beads add to a project and if you haven't added beads yet you should give it a try.  I've knit projects both with using yarn pre-strung with beads and projects where I've added the beads as I knit along.  Each method gives a very different effect.  I would say the pre-strung beads have a more random effect and depending on the number of beads can almost result in a sequin effect.  Whereas adding beads as you knit has a more structured appearance because the beads are generally placed at regular intervals in the pattern. Unfortunately these days it's harder to find pre-strung beaded yarn but Artyarns (founded and manufactured in the US by Iris Schreier in 2002) is one of the remaining companies that sells pre-strung beaded yarn and even has some yarns with sequins.  Their website has some gorgeous designs and I just might have to knit the Glitter Wave Top.  On the other hand there are tons of bead stores everywhere and they are very easy and inexpensive to add to a project.  In January I'll be joining the Donna Druchunas KAL to knit a small Estonian shawl that has beads added along the edging (Sunshine and Tea Shawlette with kits available on Etsy) and I think this would be a fun introduction to adding beads for those interested.

Particulars: Wisps of Smoke Ring designed by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer (Heartstrings Fiber Arts); US 7 needles (knit in the round); 2 skeins Tilli Tomas Plie natural plied silk (50g/140yds per skein) and 1 skein Tilli Tomas Rock Star (natural spun silk) with glass beads 100g/150 yrds.  Unfortunately Tilli Tomas is no longer in business.  Finished blocked dimensions: 17 inches in length with a width of 12" across the top and 16" across the bottom.  Projects I've knit with beads (individually added) include: Soul hat; Triesete Shawl; and Netsuke Wrap projects using pre-strung beads include: La Dolce Vita gloves; Handspun Scarf; and Romantic Beaded Scarf.
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Nantucket Cranberry Tart Recipe ~

My sister Lynne has a very busy social life and is always taking desserts to gatherings at her church, school (she's a teacher) or other get togethers with girlfriends and, as a result, has a number fail safe recipes and this Nantucket Tart is one of those recipes.   If you have ever been asked to bring a dessert you know how nerve racking it can be to come up with a recipe that you think will appeal to people and yet is simple enough to execute without mishap.  But stress no more.  This is the recipe for you and perfect for this time of year when fresh cranberries are available and there are lots of family and social gatherings. You'll also want to freeze some cranberries so you'll have this as an option any time of year.   It's very easy to make, delicious, a little different and almost impossible to ruin (she's actually taken it under-cooked and had the entire tart eaten and complimented).  So without further ado here's my sister's Nantucket Tart Recipe ~

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup (scant) sugar (you can use just regular white granular sugar or mix in a bit of white sparkling (course) sugar which adds a nice crunch)
1/2 cup (generous) finely chopped pecans (or walnuts which is what my sister uses)
2 eggs
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup heaping white granular sugar (you can use up to 1 cup which is what my sister uses)
1 cup all purpose flour

Steps:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Generously butter a  pie or cake pan that is preferably 10" but even a smaller 9" size will work.  I used a 9" tart pan with a removable bottom for my tart pictured above.

2.  Evenly sprinkle cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar and chopped nuts into the base of your pie or pan.  Set aside.

3.  Prepare dough as follows:  whisk eggs, 3/4 cup (heaping) white granular sugar, and flour in a medium sized bowl. Using a dough whisk or wooden spoon incorporate the melted butter until a smooth and fairly thick batter forms.

4.  Pour batter evenly over the cranberries/sugar/nuts.  If you use a smaller (9") pan you should use less of each the cranberries and batter.  I like the look of the cranberries showing through on top so I only add enough batter to just cover them.  There is no rising agent in the batter so you can easily gauge the depth of the tart and how much you wish to fill your pan.

5.  Bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes if using fresh cranberries and up to 60+ minutes if using frozen.

6.  Serve directly from the pie or cake pan or cut into slices and remove onto a serving tray as I did. You can also (while the tart is still warm) turn out onto a plate for an upside down cranberry cake which is very festive with the cranberries on top.  Optional is to add powdered sugar on top with a scoop of ice cream for a fancy dessert.

Enjoy!

Until next time be well, love well, and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Steve, Simcha and Claudia.

Our tired little Santa.  Too much eggnog and dancing to Baby It's Cold Outside.

Malton Oolite Scarf and Simcha's Pumpkin Passion

It seems like I look forward to Fall forever and then it flies by in a remarkably short period of time.   And I never have the time to do everything I would like to do.  So instead of getting down on myself for things I would have liked to have done but haven't had the time for, I instead focus on doing just a few Fall activities that I really enjoy.  This year I've been having fun playing with and decorating with all sorts of pumpkins and gourds and they make me smile every day when I see them about my house and garden.  I display them on the first day of October and leave them up through Thanksgiving, which for me is the official end of Fall.  No matter that the calendar may say otherwise. Once Thanksgiving passes, then too Fall is gone like the leaf that falls into the river and floats downstream to disappear from view.  Immediately my thoughts turn to Winter and Christmas which loom large.

But whatever else is happening in my life you can count on the fact that I have also been doing some Fall knitting!  The lovely scarf I'm wearing is knit with yarn from Ysolda's 4th installment of her 2015 Shawl Club.  Note that I say it's knit with the yarn from her club, but not that it is her design.  I must confess that when this kit arrived I was not of the mind set to learn the brioche stitch so I (to my mind) adroitly substituted a pattern that maximized the beautiful colors and lofty yarn to make a fabulous long flowing scarf that I absolutely love wearing.

Because it's the colors and texture that makes this yarn special I did not think the pattern needed to be anything fancy.  And because it's all about the yarn, one of the many things that I have really enjoy about this club is hearing the backstory to the yarns that Ysolda includes with her kits.  In this shipment Ysolda describes the yarn and inspiration as follows:

Spun in Yorkshire from a blend of Lustrous British Longwool Titus was the first yarn from wonderful Leeds wool shop Baa Ram Ewe.  We had it dyed in the mustary gold Ilove so much and Joe from BRE took a third of the batch round to local dyer Victoria of Eden Cottage Yarns.  Inspired by the color combination of flowers over leaf Victoria overdyed the perfect partner for some welcome harvest time sunshine!

And this yarn really does create a fluffy fabulously cozy scarf to wear.  But it's definitely a cold weather scarf because of the alpaca and nature of the wool.

Particulars:  Light in Shadows by Nilija Uimonen; Baa Ram Ewe (Titus) yarn exclusive colorway (Malton Oolite set - Ysolda's 2015 shawl club) in collaboration with Eden Cottage Yarns who over dyed the coordinating color in tangerine; 475 yards combination British wool and UK Alpaca spun in Yorkshire; US 6 needles.  Only slightly modified by using the tangerine color on the border until I ran out and then switch back to the yellow for the final few rows. For previous 2015 Ysolda's shawl club projects see: Stac Shoaigh; Caer Idris; and Cockern Tor.

The MisAdventures of Simcha  ~

Simcha agrees with me that Fall IS the best season and he told me (with body language) that he also loves having pumpkins all over the property.

Although he does have some anxiety about those pumpkin stealing coyotes....

Until next time, be well, love well, and enjoy Fall in whatever fashion suits you best!

Fingerless Mitts and Simcha's Corner

You'll laugh when I tell you how long ago I began these fingerless mitts.  It was back in June 2009 and the only reason I recollect the date is that I added the project to my Ravelry notebook!  I'm not sure why I waited so long to finish them up.  They are super soft and will be fantastic to wear this winter. I guess it was just a case of too many WIPs.

Which brings me to the topic of knitting and "work in process" otherwise known as WIPs, UFOs, or generally "projects on the needles."  I have been thinking about this topic lately after Andi (MySistersKnitter) brought up the subject on her blog.  You see some knitters are very prone to having many projects on the needles at one time.  The down side of this obviously is that it takes much longer to finish any one project.  I used to be very prone to having WIPs as evidenced by how long it took me to finish these mitts.

But lately I've cast aside my wild side and consider myself a monogamous knitter. Partly this has come about because of my recent spat of KALs which has forced me to focus on a single project.  But I have also come to realize that I like being current with projects as I feel my projects are more contemporary. Well, as contemporary as knitting can be.  Although some things are timeless.  Like these mitts.  Still, I am happier having fewer projects on the needles and have begun being more selective of what projects I begin.  But as I look around me I can see that I still have more than just one or two projects on my needles.  I can see that I'm still a WIP.

Particulars:  Veyla designed by Ysolda; 1 skein Blue Sky Alpaca, Royal Alpaca (leftover yarn from my Swallowtail Shawl); US 3 needles.  I knit the small size and my only modification was to knit an extra 2 rounds after the cuff (i.e. instead of K10 I knit K12 rnds).  Like all Ysolda patterns this was easy, fun, and gives a wonderful result.  I've knit many pairs of fingerless mitts so instead of linking to them all, I'm just going to point out the ones that I wear the most Kyla Mitts; and those that I enjoy wearing the most because they are so soft and cozy Wild Wild West Gauntlets (my original design) and Lace Me Up Mitts and oh yeah, my favorite handspun fingerless mitts Albina Armwarmers.  To be fair I've given a fair number of fingerless mitts away so just because I don't mention them doesn't mean they haven't been worn and enjoyed.

Simcha's Corner ~

It's been a long time since I've shared any pictures of Simcha or tales of his adventures!  This should by not be taken to mean he does not still get into mischief.  Part of his charm is that he loves to play err tease and will never completely give up his aspirations to rule this roost.  However, he has finally graduated from sleeping in his crate at night and has complete unfettered freedom of the house when we are out and about. This coming of age came at age 6.5 years and, frankly, wasn't a day we were sure would ever come to pass. Surprisingly while we are away he doesn't rip apart the house, get up onto the furniture, or snoop in rooms where he shouldn't be as we feared he would.  Instead he lays at the front door and patiently awaits for our return. It's such a joy to drive up and see him watching for us through the windows.  It's almost as if he's been on the lookout for us.  Hum.  That reminds me of when I was a kid and we would watch for our parents to return so we could quickly turn off the TV and straighten up the house.  Maybe I should qualify this by saying that I don't think he gets into mischief while we are out and about.

And as you can see he's still full of vim and vigor and loves to engage in rousing play with his buddies.  We try and give him a full life and opportunities to express his energy, knowing that he really would have preferred to have been a police dog or had some such manly occupation.

Until next time, be well, love well and enjoy these lazy days of late July as soon there will be a touch of fall in the air.