McGreen Experience

My kids don't appreciate me

2012-03-02T09:19:00.000Z

While I work away on my larger projects, I managed to squeeze in a few small ones as well. It helps to keep me entertained.

First up, I made a doll's cardigan. Here's a funny little story. My girls attend Rainbows. Each week a different girl gets to take the little Rainbow doll home, and you are supposed to do fun stuff with your doll, and then write about it in her travel journal. Since I have twins, they each get a doll to take home instead of just one of them. One doll has a sweatshirt, and the other does not (I think perhaps because she is the neglected "back up" doll). So I thought I would be nice and knit a wee cardigan for the one that was cold. Mainly I did it because the girls were fighting constantly about which doll got the sweat shirt.

It is adorable, really, it is. And I don't normally say that about the things I make. My daughters HATE it! They refused to use it, even though I keep putting it back on her. Oh well, best intentions right? Well last night at Rainbows when we were leaving a different girl had the doll to take home. And I noticed that the doll she was holding was wearing the sweater I had made. Apparently it was a big hit with everyone else, so much so that now she is the chosen doll instead of the other one. I feel vindicated.

Lastly, I made this totally cute and utterly adorable Chubby Chirp. I do not normally go in for knitted toys--I find all the little parts you have to sew together totally intimidating. However, as you know I finished the baby blanket for my friend and was getting ready to ship it off to California. Then I thought..............my friend has a 2 year old, and wouldn't he feel sad if he didn't get anything in the parcel. The Chubby Chirp was born. I wasn't sure about his colours because it was a variegated yarn (now finally finished from my stash) but everyone around here agrees she's pretty darn cute. I'm making another in red right now, with the leftover from the blanket. Totally baby safe, yarn eyes and all!

That's all for me, I'm off to knit on my top secret project. I finally got it started yesterday and that green yarn is a dream!

WIP's of the week

2012-02-29T10:30:00.003Z

I am pleased to announce that I finished the back of my leaf cardigan, and I'm onto the left front. You can even see most of one leaf in the picture. Hurray!!

If you are thinking to yourself that it looks very small--you are not alone, I think it looks TINY! I know there will be quite a bit of ribbing added on, but I still think this is going to end up pretty fitted. At this point I'm choosing not to doubt and just go with it.

Lastly, I made some progress on the girls sock, hurray. I think after this I'm going to have to try socks with a pattern, because I find them incredibly boring! Next to it in the red is the bottom end of Chubby Chirp. I've already finished one I'll show you on Friday. So cute!

The other day I went on Amazon and checked out their list of Top 100 most popular free ebooks. I like very little more than I like free. I ended up downloading about 6 books, which makes me happy. Last night I started reading Ketchup is a Vegetable and other lies Mom's tell Themselves by Robin O'Bryant. I was pleasantly surprised, it is really funny. However I just went to the website to pull this picture and it is no longer free. What is up with that??? There are other good ones though, so if you haven't before and you have a Kindle, check it out! Another thing you should check out on a regular basis is the Kindle Daily Deal. Bargains to be had!

Here's where I share my crafts:

Pirate Costume on the cheap

2012-02-27T11:09:00.000Z

A week or two ago my girls got invited to a pirate themed birthday party. "What fun!" they said, "With what costume?" I said. So we put our heads together and came up with two pirate costumes, for very little money.

First, I made them each a skirt. I didn't have any pirate themed fabric in my stash, but I did have heaps of this red with white stripes. So that is what I used. I used a pattern I already had, but seriously, a girls skirt with an elastic waist has to be the easiest thing to make.

Next I made them each a pirate vest. For this I bought a meter of red velvet fabric on Ebay. It cost £3.70 including shipping. I used a free pattern, from leila & ben. Super easy pattern, though it only went up to 5T so I had to make it a bit bigger. They are red velvet on the outside, and more of the fabric I used for the skirt as the lining. Buttons are from my stash.

For the head we just made a simple head scarf out of the extra red velvet. These were just cut into long rectangles and tied around their heads. I let them pick out leggings and shirts, I like them to have some say in what they wear.

Their swords are very old--check out the curve!

Happy Friday!

2012-02-24T08:36:00.000Z

I don't have any FO for today, so I'll share a little bit of funny with you instead. This made me giggle, I hope you enjoy it too!

Continuance

2012-02-22T09:28:00.000Z

No, you aren't having deja vu, these are the same three projects from last week. I've made progress on all of them, and I'm enjoying the blanket the most.

It is almost impossible to see the designs. Sigh. Sorry about that. I've just finished the 4th block and now I'm having doubts. I was planning on doing 5 blocks long, but even for a throw blanket I'm not sure it will be long enough. And I'm not sure I'll have enough wool. So.................my thoughts are:

1) Just keep on going, hope for the best, and order more wool if need be. Maybe extend it to 7 blocks long?

2) Frog it. Perhaps alternate colours in a checker board fashion, maybe all the plain stockinette blocks in a different colour?

3) Stuff it in a bag and forget about it until next winter and decide then.

Any opinions?

I've also made progress on the back of my leaf cardigan. I'm thinking I should focus on finishing the back so I can start the fun stuff on the front. That's my goal for the rest of this week. I'm also now at the point where I can start the heel on the girls sock, so that's good news. It looks like I'm just as slow at small socks as I am with big ones, oh well.

Lastly, the wool arrived that I ordered for a top secret project. You won't see it again until a FO Friday after I've gifted it. Fingers crossed it all goes according to plan! I seem to be a big fan of Araucania of late. This one is called Lauca and is 80% wool, 10% camel, 10% silk. Little bit of heaven in my hands.

On to books! I just finished an awesome novel, the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It was so compulsively good that I just devoured it! It has magic, love, a circus! What more could you want?

I always think it is hard to start a new book right on the heels of an excellent one, but since I had two library books at the same time and I only get two weeks for them, I had to! I'm about 6 pages in to The Far Country by Nevil Shute. In my opinion you can't go wrong reading a book about Australia, and I loved A Town Like Alice, so fingers crossed!

Hopping Here:

Mishmash of Craft

2012-02-17T10:01:00.000Z

I finally finished my first pair of socks!! Here they are:

I have to say, they are pretty comfy, and I'm rather pleased with my first attempt. I used Ann Budd's book Getting Started Knitting Socks, and she not only commented on my socks on Ravelry but invited me to join her group Budd's Buds. What a nice lady!

Now don't judge me too harshly, but I am not on Pinterest. At this time in my life I feel that I already spend too much time on the internet, so one more thing is just too much. However, I am aware of it, and I even found out how to see if other people have pinned any of your crafts. If you don't know how to do it, here it is:

Type in the following: http://pinterest.com/source/

and then your blog address. For instance, for my blog it is:

http://pinterest.com/source/mcgreenexperience.blogspot.com/

First of all, I was surprised and pleased that any of my crafts had been pinned. Secondly, I was surprised that my most pinned item was the Capri Sun bag I made for my daughters teacher for Christmas. It is also funny because this week I was working on another one, this time for my niece.

Lastly, there have been loads of fabric heart cards floating around the web for Valentines Day. I saw more than one version. Here are the cards I made for my two special Valentines, they were so pleased!

Check out the Blog Hops here:

Knitting Infidelity

2012-02-15T09:24:00.000Z

On Monday night I finished a project that had been languishing for a bit too long. Hurray! However that meant that I only had one project on the go, the leaf panel cardigan I started last week.

I've made progress, namely about 4.5 inches, but it is oh so boring! The pattern has you start on the back which is plain stockinette stitch. You know what I'm talking about, B-O-R-I-N-G!

So I had to think up a few more projects that wouldn't be so mind numbing. I'll do the stockinette stitch while I watch tv. Sorted.

I have been wanting to knit a blanket for some time, and I have an amazing block book:

I seriously love this book. So I've picked my blocks and with some yarn I had leftover (where I ordered about double what my Mother-in-law needed to knit my Dad his Aran jumper). I've decided to do vertical rows of 5 blocks, and to knit them in a continuous strip. Then I can do vertical joins between the rows, instead of joining a ton of blocks. Will this work? I sure hope so. Here is 3/4 of a block I started yesterday. It is hard to see the pattern. It is called "hourglass."

The second project I started is a pair of socks for the girls. I have this beautiful yarn I ordered on accident (yes, I am that thick sometimes). I am using the most basic kids sock pattern. So far, just the cuff and a few rows of the leg. I'm hoping I don't take as long on these as I did on mine. I figure making small socks will help me improve. Plus, I really wanted to use that gorgeous yarn for something!

That's all for me this Wednesday, check out the creativity here:

Hey Girl

2012-02-12T10:07:00.000Z

Because Ginny makes me giggle.

Tiny Tea Times Two

2012-02-10T09:49:00.000Z

Well here they are, in all their sweater wearing glory!

I made the rather silly mistake of making and giving the girls rice krispie treats right before I attempted to take their pictures.

All was going well until I asked to take one of just Rori, since it was her sweater I had just finished. Then I got the sad/mad face below.

And then all was well as she threw herself back into the picture in front of her sister.

Pattern: Tiny Tea Leaves

Yarn: Araucania Aysen. It is 70% merino, 20% alpaca, 10% silk

I have some of the yarn left over, and I love it. I'm not sure what I'll do with it, besides making a few of these i-cord bracelets. For whatever reason they really please me. I'm a sucker for Celtic knots.....so I love the button! The picture is rather terrible, but you all know how hard it is to take a picture of yourself.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!

Whereupon I catch up on things left undone

2012-02-08T08:54:00.000Z

Last year some time in the early spring I ordered myself a pattern and some yarn for a short sleeve leaf panel cardigan. However when I told my Mom what I was up to she checked out the website and asked me to make her a different leaf themed top, to which I couldn't say no. I gave it to her last year for Mother's Day.

So with the baby blanket done, the girls jumpers done (I'll show you on Friday!!), and my second sock almost done (I've no steam for the sock, so it's slow going but I've finally turned the heel),

I decided to start on my leaf panel cardigan.

As you can see, I've gotten really far. Ah ha ha ha. Well, it'll keep me busy for the next long while.

As for reading, I picked up a book that starts off rather oddly with a monkey telling the story, yet it is very moreish. It is called Red Earth and Pouring Rain by Vikram Chandra.

Click below for awesome fiber fun!

Insert Catchy Title Here

2012-02-03T09:31:00.000Z

I know I'm not alone when I start a project with great expectations, then find it a bit repetitive, put it aside and only work on it now and again. It isn't even that I didn't like the pattern--I really do. I just got bored. I have knitting ADD. Well, I turned that around this week, and of course, like always, found out how fast things go when you aren't measuring every few inches. That is my roundabout way of saying my chalice baby blanket is done!!

I had a terrible time getting a good picture of it, and I really wanted to do it justice.

Anyway, you get the idea. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Then I started thinking perhaps I should throw a wee hat in with the blanket, so I whipped up this:

The pattern is Spud and Chole's Hello Baby Hat. The yarn I just had in my stash, it is acrylic.

It looks rather small to me, but according to my good friend Google the average newborn head is 14" in circumference. This fits nicely around the small 15" basketball I use as a baby head model, so I think my fears are unfounded. I might make another in a different pattern because I find baby hats to satisfying. Adorable and fast.

Hopping Here:

A tartan what?

2012-01-27T07:55:00.000Z

Hello crafty friends, I am feeling happy it is Friday. Why? Well I'm getting my hair cut today. I know, no big deal. I hate getting hair cuts like I hate going to the dentist. I am sure there is some deep psychological reason why, but I haven't figured it out. I hate it even more now that I've got the kids, because pregnancy and the aftermath did awful things to my hair. I had a blond fro for a while. However I seriously need a new style. Or rather, any style. Anyway, I digress. By the time my American friends read this, I'll have a new do.

Here's what I've wrapped up this week.........

The slippers!! They are done, felted, and being worn as I type this.

Here's the info:

Pattern: Felted Slippers

Wool: Patons Classic Wool in a denim blue (100g) and a self striping colour (maybe 30g?) and some Fishermans' Wool in cream (mayb 30g?).

I like them. I ran out of the blue yarn and the striped yarn, which is why the left slipper has cream in it. I actually intended to put one square of cream on the back so I knew which was left, which was right, but there is a bit of

cream on the side too.

Even with the different yarns, they felted pretty much the same, hurray! Hopefully these will last!

I also finally finished the toddler pull over for KAS I was working on. It is knit in Hayfield (I think?) 25% wool, 75% acrylic. I finally finished off the jumbo 400g ball I had. Hurray!

Lastly, I had a little sewing project on Thursday. My girls attend Rainbow's once a week. This past Tuesday was Burn's Night, and the girls were asked to wear something tartan to the meeting. Yikes! I should know by now, having lived this long in Scotland, to have tartan things handy at all times. Oh wait, I DO have some tartan fabric.

I whipped up these tartan and purple flowers, and just used a safety pin to attach them to their tops. Job done.

That's what I've been up to this week. Here are the hops:

I can't focus, WIP

2012-01-25T09:08:00.000Z

This week I decided I would, in fact, work on a few projects I've been thinking about. I don't actually mean anything I already have on the needles, but things I was waffling about whether or not I would do. So I cast on two new (or rather, old) projects this week.

First up is my second blue sock. After washing the first one it still fits just fine, so I've decided to make it a sibling. Really, what is the point of only one sock? I've also decided to start my second Tiny Tea Leaves pullover for daughter B (that's what she was called in the womb, baby A already got her sweater). I am going to make it the next size up to give her a bit more room, as she is slightly larger than her sister. I'm pleased to get it going, because she is getting pretty excited!

The last project I'm currently working on is the red baby blanket. I'm still plugging away on this one, and I'm about 70% done. I actually need to find out when the baby shower is, so I can use that as motivation. Any time I have a long time for a project I just take ages. Sorry about the terrible picture, red is worse than black!

That's all from me for now, see you guys on Friday!

Tiny Tea Pullover

2012-01-20T09:06:00.001Z

I am happy to report I've finished my first Tiny Tea Leaves Pullover. See, it is so special is gets capital letters! I'm really pleased with it, and so are the girls. The only real problem now is I have to make another one...............

These pictures were taken before I blocked it (ok, I still haven't blocked it, I'm easily distracted). So I am hoping to get a bit more size out of it then. I measured the girls and made one size bigger (don't they just grow so fast?) and still it could be bigger. So I'm away to block. Soon. Sometime.

Pattern: Tiny Tea Leaves

Yarn: Araucania Aysen. It is 70% merino, 20% alpaca, 10% silk

I also finished my first sock for the Turning Heels in the New Year with Beth over at Visions of Sugar Plums. I admit I worked like mad yesterday to get it done on time. I love having a deadline, it really helps! It is..........ok. To me it looks like blue camouflage. At least it fits, though after a wash I'll get back to you. Last week there was a comment on my post that this particular yarn shrinks. Eeek! I've decided I really need to buy some sock yarn I love, and that will make all the difference.

Here are the blog parties for this week:

Felted Slippers

2012-01-17T11:45:00.000Z

As I sat down to write this post I realized just how much I love a back story. I'm not sure why I feel I always need to include one, but I do. So here is today's.

I currently work from home. I know it won't last forever, and I'm already looking for another job (fat chance around here, the job market is terrible) but for now, I'm home pretty much all the time. It is a really good gig if you can get it. At our house we have a strict inside/outside shoe policy. No outside shoe may ever touch my carpet (so much so that when I had to run back inside for something yesterday I used the plastic dog bags we keep by the door to put over my shoes). You will understand when I tell you that I have free range chickens wandering around my garden. Anyway, I wear slippers all the time. I have yet to find a slipper that I like and can withstand the amount of use I put them through.

Recently when my last pair of slippers died I found a pattern for felted slippers. It is the kind of felting that takes place after you knit the item, which I am keen to try again. Also, the pattern couldn't be simpler, check it out here (or on Ravelry here). You basically knit a strip, then a few squares on the side, fold it up and sew. I used some Patons Classic Wool I had in my stash. I've got one ready for felting, here is what it looks like:

Gratuitous dog picture

Now I'm off to go and felt it, because I don't want to wait for the other one to be done, and I want to make sure I like it before I make another one.

As for reading, this week, I am gearing up for spring (yes, super early). We are waiting for the OK to put up a poly tunnel, and I really hope it all works out. I can't wait!

Now hurry and check out all these crafty blogs!

Blueittude heel

2012-01-13T09:13:00.000Z

I fear I might be falling behind in my sock knitting. I've turned the heel and done the gussets, now I'm working on the foot.....and getting a bit bored. Really my Tiny Tea for the girls is much more interesting. But for now, here is my progress:

January 13th we'll show off our heels

One reason I didn't knit socks for quite a while is the only sock yarn I had (see above picture) I didn't really like. However I have to say I am rather tickled with the colour changes going on from leg to heel and now into the foot. It really humours me that it looks so strange. I do so like strange.

I also want to share the ball of wool I won from Jess over at Storied Yarns during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway recently. It arrived about a week ago but I've been too busy to take a picture of it. It is lovely, isn't it? Any ideas on what I should make with it?

And that's all from me this week. I feel confident I'll have a Tiny Tea jumper to show you next Friday, with another one in the works. Until next week, happy crafting!

Please check out these Creative Blog Hops

Tiny Tea with a Twist

2012-01-11T09:17:00.001Z

I will admit that I'm the sort of parent that lets her children dress themselves--no matter how it turns out. I like to view it as self expression, and everything from spots and stripes to terribly clashing colours is allowed. To that end, I like to involve the girls when I knit them something. I want them to wear what I make, or really, what's the point?

Recently we came to the conclusion that they each needed a new jumper. Both girls were quite specific--they both wanted a pull over sweater, not a cardigan. We decided on the pattern together (ok, mostly me), and selected Tiny Tea Leaves. I'll stop you right there, I know it is a cardigan, bear with me.

After much searching from a seemingly endless supply of online yarn stores, the girls agreed on a yarn (the same one, no surprise there). I ordered the yarn, bought the pattern, got a few extra needles I needed, and then waited for delivery. I hate waiting. It took especially long because I ordered it a few days before Christmas, so of course I had to wait until after New Year for it to arrive. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, did I mention I hate waiting?

The yarn they picked is Araucania Aysen in a variety of shades of pink and orange. I LOVE this yarn. It is 70% merino, 20% alpaca, 10% silk. I swear to you, my children have better taste in yarn than I do. They put me to shame.

I'm not one to mess around with patterns, truth be told. However, I really like this pattern, so I put my mind to the task. Fingers crossed it all goes according to plan. Here is where I'm at so far:

As for reading, I just finished The Luminist by David Rocklin. It was really very good, I recommend it, especially if you like historical fiction.

I've just picked up the Last Days of Ptolmey Grey by Walter Mosley. I can't comment just yet on how good it is, it is certainly different that my normal book choice though. I'll keep you posted.

Lastly, please check out these blog hops:

Blueittude Socks

2012-01-06T08:56:00.003Z

For the next few weeks I'm joining Beth over at Visions of Sugar Plums for her New Year's Sock Challenge. Here's today's:

January 6th we'll show off our cuffs and leg of the sock.

I'm using Ann Budd's book, Getting Started Knitting Socks.

I'm using the 8 stitches per inch pattern, with a 6" cuff/leg.

Wool: Cesana sock yarn (from Lidl's). It is a wool/nylon blend

4 DPN's, size: 3mm

I CO 72 stitches using long tail cast on. This video helped.
Then I knit 3, purl 1 for 6"

Here's the link to the Turning Heels in the New Year Party:

And of course, I'm doing some knitting other than socks. I just cast on a sweater for my daughter, I'll try to post on that next Wednesday. I'm in love with the yarn she chose. My girls also got a late present from their Aunt in Mississippi, a couple of Barbies. I was pretty excited, because I loved my Barbie when I was a girl. I whipped this up:

I found a link through Ravelry of a website with literally over a thousand free Barbie patterns. Hurray! I've since completed a skirt, I just don't have a picture yet.

Check out these Blog Hops, and all the wonderful craftiness out in blogland!

A few more gifts

2011-12-30T08:57:00.001Z

Here are a few gifts I finished that I haven't posted about yet. This hat (formerly my nemesis) is a late present for a friend in California.

Pattern: Slouchy Copy Cat Hat

Yarn: Katia Azteca 7833. I love this yarn, and I'm sorely tempted to buy another ball in this colour way for myself. I would love a hat and cowl.

This adorable little top I knit on a whim. I made it for a good friends new niece. It will be included in the package with the hat above, and should be on its way across the ocean by the time you read about it!

Pattern: Seamless kimono sweater

Wool:Wendy Peter Pan DK

I am a little bit in love with this sweater. I love all things seamless, and this really comes together nicely. I did have some issues with the sleeves, but I think practise would make me better, so really I just need more friends to have babies!

Lastly, here is the finished ear warmer that I made for my daughters. An odd thing here, the first one was better than the second one, which is odd, isn't it? At any rate, they love them, so I was really pleased.

Pattern: Knit earwarmer with crochet flower

Wool: Robin fascination

When I started this pattern I thought it looked.......not great. But I stuck with it and was rewarded with a really nice ear warmer.

Check out these blog hops--go on, get your craft on!

and the Knit goes on

2011-12-28T08:48:00.000Z

I hope that each and every one of you had a happy holiday celebration of your choosing. We had a wonderful time here, and I am enjoying having my family all around me. Additionally I am enjoying solitude of not leaving the house! I am one of those people that stock pile food before Christmas so I don't have to rush out for anything for a few days. It's been brilliant.

As is often the case over the holidays, I once again reflected on how blessed I am. Happiness, health, a loving family. Of course our thoughts often turn to charity at this time, though I strongly believe they should at all times. I've been remiss in my charity knitting, so I've been working on that.

I've blogged before that my favourite knitting charity is KAS, but I haven't knit a square in months. Correction, I haven't finished a square in months. I got caught up in knitting gifts and it fell by the wayside. Last night I finished a square that was languishing, and I started a new pullover. I love the absolute ease of this pullover, I was able to finish 1/2 of one while watching a movie with subtitles. How cool is that?

I've also been working away on my baby chalice blanket. I really love how it is turning out. I'd say I'm about 1/3 of the way done. I've also decided that photographing red is even hard than photographing black. Here's the best I could do

As for reading, I just got a new book from the library. It is called Cutting for Stone, and so far is really very good.

Please check out these blog hops, and all the crafty people that inspire me!

Dad's Head Hugger Hat

2011-12-23T08:56:00.000Z

Last year my Dad requested a hat from me (hurray!). We looked at loads of patterns online and he selected this one, which I blogged about last February. His second place hat was the one I made him this year for his Christmas (won't he be surprised!). It is called the Easy Head Hugger Hat. Right off I want to say that this is the strangest hat I've ever knit, and I do love to knit hats! You knit the band and the top at the same time, and then graft them together at the end. I'm not really describing that well, but it worked, and I was surprised and pleased. It is really pretty darn cool. For almost the entire project however, I kept wondering if it would look like crap.

The Stats:

Pattern: Easy Head Hugger Hat

Wool: Noro Silk Garden, 45% silk, 45% kid mohair, 10% lambs wool. Colour is 236. It took a ball and a bit from a second. The size is for a 24" head--yup, my Dad has a big head (he's very smart with that large brain). If you did the smaller size it would probably only take 1 ball.

What I learned: How to do the Kitchner stitch/grafting. How awesome is that? I love that knitting just keeps on getting more and more fun. I used a video on youtube.

Have a happy, safe, and joyful holiday season everyone!

A baby blanket.......in red

2011-12-21T07:48:00.000Z

Hello fellow crafters! This week I've begun steering away from Christmas presents, well, almost. I cast on a baby blanket for my friend who is having baby #2 in the spring/early summer. The picture really stinks, you can hardly see the pattern. It is the baby chalice blanket, and I'm loving the pattern. How do you feel about the red? I wasn't sure, but so far I'm liking it. I am not a person that thinks babies need pastels colours all the time. A little visual stimulation is a good thing!

And as is often the case, my nemesis has become my love. I'm almost done with the Copy Cat Slouch, and once I got over my initial hurdles--I love it! I am seriously thinking about getting another ball of this yarn to make a hat of my own.

I really like the yarn, which is Katia Azteca. It is 50% wool, 50% acrylic, and the colours are so pretty. This will be a very late Christmas present, but that's ok, I think it will be worth it!

Please check out these blog hops, and other crafting delights.

Fun With Capri Suns

2011-12-16T09:26:00.000Z

I've been having fun crafting with Capri Sun's this week. I recently saw the tote bag that Beth has posted on her website, and got rather excited about it. I want to make one as soon as I have enough saved, and can locate a zipper the correct size. However, for right now, in keeping with my "use what I have" motto this Christmas, I made a smaller one. I found the directions here.

Now, some people (ehum, who shall remain nameless) think my obsessive compulsive crafting nature is a bit odd, and that so are some of my creations. I get it, not everyone wants a gift made out of used drink containers. Environment haters. But I digress. I turn to you, my fellow crafters to ask your advise. I made this with the thought of giving it to my daughters teacher for a Christmas present. Perhaps putting in a few little items to fill it full of Christmas cheer. What do you think? Would you take a moment to answer my little poll and help me out? You can answer honestly, I promise my feelings won't be hurt. The upside is if you say I shouldn't give it as a present, I get to keep it for myself. As it is now the girls are fighting over who gets the next one!

My nemesis

2011-12-14T09:27:00.000Z

Well, things have really been slowing down around here, and I've been spending time thinking about what to knit next. Of course there are loads of things swirly around in my head, I guess I'll just wait to see what comes to the surface first. In the meantime, here's a long back story you can read only if you want to.

When I was 17 my older sister got married, and in the first year or two of their marriage they took a trip to Europe. They went to the UK, Ireland, France, and who knows where else. This was of course waaaaay before I knew I'd end up living in the UK, or travelling anywhere at all. Funny where life takes us. But I digress. She sent me postcards from each place (isn't she a good sister) and brought me back a few presents. One thing she brought we was a huge pair of wool socks from Ireland. They are gorgeous, see:

I lived in California at the time, so had no need for them. However like the pack rat I am, I've been lugging these socks around for (oh my goodness I just did the math) 17 years (and now I feel old). Finally, I've been putting them to good use. I like to wear them over my regular socks, and pulled over the bottom of my trousers in my snow boots. My feet feel invincible!! So in honour of my Irish socks I've cast on a pair of pure wool socks myself. Yes, we are back to my sock drama. I've cast on 2 different socks already and finished neither. Sigh. What is it about me? But I have hopes this time, last night I turned the heel so of course now there is no stopping me. Here is a picture I took before I turned the heel:

They won't be quite as long as my Irish socks, but hopefully they will be warm and make good over-socks as I like to call them. I am knitting them in left over Fisherman's Wool from my Tappan Zee cardigan. Yay for stash busting!

And lastly, just to bore you to tears, here is a picture of my nemesis:

Yes, you are probably thinking that it looks exactly the same as last week. No, I guarantee this is a new and different picture. This hat hates me! The first one I started was too small, which I discovered about 3 or 4 inches in. So I pulled it out and started over. I got about 1.5" into the ribbing when I noticed it was twisted. Yes, I knitted that much without noticing the HUGE TWIST in my ribbing. When I saw it I started doing this sort of hysterical maniacal laugh that made my husband stop and see what was wrong with me. I just thought it was so funny, and so annoying. So I pulled it out, and put it to bed for a while. The other night I got it out while I was watching tv and at least got the ribbing done for the edge. Now I'll start the pattern again and see how I get on.

As an aside to self, always take the time read other peoples comments on a pattern. Then I might have seen it was too small and cast on for a larger size. Now I have found quite a few helpful remarks that I will incorporate into my hat.

If you are still with me, please check out these blog hops, and other crafty people's WIP's!

The boxes have been sent!!

2011-12-09T15:10:00.000Z

Well we came through the horrendous wind storm yesterday in one piece. This morning I was lucky to accompany my daughters school to the cinema to see Puss in Boots. It was worth riding in a bus full of rather loud excited children to go and see it. I love Puss.

Anyway, according to the Royal Mail, today is the last day to send parcels to the USA and hope they get there by Christmas. So I duly trundled off (so many layers to keep warm now) and sent my presents whizzing away. Here are a few more I made this week:

For my nephew I made a few bow ties.

For my Aunt, another calorimetry. Yes, I can't get enough. And because I love her oh so much, I slapped a big ole' flower on the side. I think she will like it, I'm half in love with it myself.

I also finished Ryan's Basketweave Scarf, I LOVE it. I hope he does too.

Sorry about the rubbish picture. The sun shined in the window and I got excited but it still doesn't look great. You get the idea though, and I figure I can't win photographing black anyway.

And that's all for me this week, check out these crafty hops:

More gifts in progress

2011-12-07T09:39:00.000Z

Just as I tell myself I'm reaching the end of my Christmas knitting, I find a way to add more things to the list. Here are two that I've added that weren't on the list to begin with:

Pattern: Slouchy copy cat hat

Yarn: Katia Azteca, in a really pretty purple/blue blend

I'm excited about this hat, the wool feels so thick and snuggly. I've just finished the ribbing, so on to the good stuff!

I'm also trying to work up a couple of ear warmers/head bands for my daughters as little presents. I figure I can't go wrong with one more thing to open. Plus, I haven't knitted them anything for Christmas yet!

Pattern: ear warmer with crochet flower.

Yarn: Robin Fascination. This yarn was an Ebay purchase at a great price uhm, years ago. It is rather odd. Pretty though, the girls really like it.

The crochet flower might test my very limited knowledge of hooking, so wish me luck.

As for reading this week, I've picked up an old, friend Peter V. Brett. I love the trilogy he is currently writing, of which I've read two, the Painted Man and The Desert Spear. While I wait for The Daylight Wars I am reading his novellas. Currently I am on Brayan's Gold. While I'm not really one for Fantasy/Science Fiction there are a few authors out there from that genre I love, and he is one of them!

And while I sit here at my computer and write this blog post, it is snowing absolute buckets outside. It makes me think my groceries won't be delivered yet again today. Winter doesn't want me to get my treats. It is pretty though, here's a picture I took right before the heavens opened.

Check out these other WIP's:

Gifts I've Finished!

2011-12-02T09:41:00.000Z

I'm not 100% sure why, but I'm feeling rather rushed off my feet by the end of this week. So I'll do a quick, picture heavy post and I'm sure you will forgive me. I've finished Dani's Scarf, and I couldn't be more pleased. It was knit in Sirdars Crofter Chunky yarn to match her hat. I'm finishing up her brothers scarf and then I'll mail them off next week!

I knit another Calorimetry, which was supposed to be for my aunt, until my daughters saw it. Now I have to knit another with the rest of this yarn, and they will each get one for Christmas. Hopefully it will be somewhat of a surprise as they still think I'm sending this one away to my aunt. It is knit in 100% wool, with some Patons Classic Wool I brought home from the States on my last trip. Yes, that's right, I hit the sales even (especially) when I'm on holiday!

This little rose was just for fun, and literally took 10 minutes. I am going to be playing around with flowers a bit, as I think they make nice decorations on hats, etc. But I've got a bit more practising to do..................

These mittens weren't for a gift, but my daughters school play. She is playing a sheep in the play "The Grumpy Sheep (she's not the grumpy one)" and part of the costume was black gloves or mittens. I used my never ending ball of black wool, and whipped them up over the course of a couple of days. She LOVES them, which is saying something since she isn't a big fan of the colour black. I think they are very nice indeed and would like a pair for myself if I can ever find the time. They came out quite thick and warm.

Lastly, I made this ear warmer/head band for my sister. The wool is really wonderful, it is called Wendy Viva. It is soft, chunky, silky and gorgeous. The pattern is very fast and I think very rewarding. I knit it up on 8mm needles. I think I might make a few more as extra gifts, because they literally take an hour or two.

And that's all I've got for this week. Things are slowing down a bit around here as I try to wrap up Christmas gifts. I am already thinking about what to do after the holidays, I'd like to work on a bigger project after all these wee ones. Time will tell......... each day I seem to add more and more to my "I want to knit" list.

Stash Busting Holiday

2011-11-30T09:28:00.000Z

Hello!! I don't know about you guys, but I am doing pretty well on my Christmas knitting. Best of all I've decided that I will not buy any yarn, the presents have to come out of my stash. Does anyone else get a little sad when yarn gets used up? I will admit to it, but at the same time I tell myself I can replenish later, which fills me with a certain glee.

I've got a few of little FO's to share on Friday, but here are two more things I'm working on right now. I just cast on a thick scarf for my Grandpa, using left over wool from his hat last Christmas. I am using cream on either end and the blue in the middle. I've done a provisional cast on because I don't think I'll have enough to make a long scarf, and then I can just join the ends together to make a circular scarf. I'm pretty sure my Grandma will steal it anyway, she did so with the hat!

The yarn is Sirdar Denim Ultra, 60% acrylic, 25% cotton, 15% wool. Thick and soft. It is just going to be a plain garter stitch affair.

Lastly, I'm making yet another Calorimetry. I can't stress enough how much I love this head band, how easy it is, how gift-worthy I find it. I'm on my third one now (more on the second one on Friday). One reason I LOVE this pattern is that it is fully adjustable, because you use the holes that are created in the pattern for the button. I am making this one for my Aunt, who has a tiny head, and I don't have to worry about it fitting her, which is great.

For this particular one I'm hoping to add a flower for a bit of bling, wish me luck on that though! This is a mystery yarn from my stash, which I bought when I first started knitting and had no idea how to figure out how much yarn I needed for a project. Come to think of it, I still don't. :) The picture doesn't do it justice however, it is much prettier in person.

And very lastly, I have a book this week! As I feel more and more on top of my Christmas knitting--I'll make the postal deadline--I have more time to read without feeling like I should be knitting. I'm about 1/2 way through the Swan Theives by Elizabeth Kostova. I enjoyed her other book, The Historian, so I have high hopes for this one. It moves along at a steady pace, but is a rather gentle book thus far.

Please do check out all the other great WIP's on the go this week:

It's Crackers Around Here

2011-11-25T08:28:00.001Z

I've been knitting about 3 years and in that time my husband has never, ever, let me knit anything for him. Something about his Mum being a knitter and never letting him pick anything she ever knit for him..........I'm not really sure. At any rate, he surprised me lately by asking me to knit him an ear flap hat (I think he was taken with the ones I made the girls). Anyway, I went onto Ravelry with him and looked at patterns and he surprised me yet again by picking Ron's Cracker Hat from Harry Potter.

Confession time (this will surprise none of you), I have never done any colour work before, because the very idea scares me. Well, let me tell you, I've done it now, and I'm now convinced anyone can do it!

A few words about this pattern--it is crazy off on size, which I learned the hard way. Even if your gauge matches, this hat will come out the size of a babies head. So I got all the way through the colour chart and then realized it didn't even fit my 5 year old. Sigh. Back to the beginning. The next time I CO 80 stitches, on my 8mm DPN's. It came out just a tiny bit too big, which is way better than infant sized. The hubby and I are debating whether it needs lined with some fleece or not, because that's a project I would like to try. Anyway, he's worn it quite a bit since I handed it over, and has decided he now needs Jayne's Hat as well. For those of you Firefly fans out there (you are awesome!!) that is the hat I thought he would choose in the first place.


Gratuitous chicken shot

Stats:
Pattern: Animal Cracker Hat
Wool: Sirdar Big Softie, 51% wool, 49% acrylic. I'm not a huge fan of this yarn, but it is soft and there are loads of colours available, so that was a bonus.
Needles: 8mm DPN's

Here's where I'm hopping this week, check em' out!

The never ending ball of black wool

2011-11-23T08:25:00.000Z

In keeping with all things gifty, I am working on a scarf for my 16 year old nephew. He is brother to Dani, whose scarf I am still plugging away on. I looked for a pattern I thought would be "manly" enough for a teenage boy. Fingers crossed, you never can tell with teenagers. I however, absolutely love how this scarf is turning out. The pattern is simple enough to do in front of the tv (not that I ever do, euhm), but looks quite nice knitted up.

Stats:
Pattern: Basketweave scarf
Wool: Sirdar Bonus Aran, 80% acrylic, 20% wool (I have a huge 400g ball of this, it is so soft). I seem to be using a fair bit of it lately, yet the ball never seems to shrink.

Check out these wonderful blog parties:

Oh the things that I do

2011-11-18T08:47:00.001Z

I finished two projects these week; little ones that have kept me busy between the bigger projects. First, I have to tell you what a putz I am.

I wanted to make a few dishcloths as back up gifts, and just because it sounded like a good idea. Mainly because my Grandma gave me 3 over the summer that she had made, and they really are wonderful to use in the kitchen. I love that I can just throw it in the washing machine when I'm done. How perfectly environmental! So I found a lovely pattern, and I was please the pattern was simple, because it was purely in chart form. Oh no, I have never done purely chart!! Well I gave it a go. I had to rip back about 3 times because I wasn't paying attention. Then I finally finished it, sewed in all the ends, and turned it over and...... WHAT THE...................... check out what I did:

Yes, I missed out on some garter stitch on the border, and made it stockinette stitch. Gasp--I can't give that as a present. Needless to say, it is in my kitchen now. How something so simple could have been so difficult is beyond comprehension!

Stats:
Pattern: Spring Tulips
Yarn: Sugar'n Cream 100% cotton

Anyway, I also finished my Calorimetry that I was working on for this weeks WIP. It was fast, and really lovely! It will be heading to my sister for her Christmas present.

Stats:
Pattern: Calorimetry
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden shade 236
Because the yarn I used was left over from another project, I was paranoid I wouldn't have enough. So, if you are like me, just so you know, I used 37g of the above yarn.

Now, this next bit isn't about crafting at all (it's about food!!), so you can go ahead and skip it if you want to. Briefly, I participate in a thing called BzzAgents. You get free products to try, and then you get to give people your honest opinion about them. I haven't done any surveys with them in years, and just recently I received an email about a campaign they were doing on.....ice cream. I LOVE ice cream, and normally make my own. I jumped on this one fast, who wouldn't?

The point of this little blurb is for my UK friends, in that I have vouchers for £1 off a tub of the ice cream, called Choka Blok. It is sold at Tesco, and the vouchers expire December 18. If you want one, just send me an email with your address and I'll pop it in the post to you, and you can enjoy some too. The ice cream is good---not Ben and Jerry's good, but much better than your usual UK ice cream. No offense here, but lots of the ice cream on this side of the pond doesn't even have milk or cream as the first ingredient. The US rules this particular frozen treat market.

The ice cream is full of goodies---and by that I mean hunks of chocolate and the like. They have names like Cherry Bomb (wish I had that one), The Chocolate Extremist, and Billionaires Shortcake, how can you go wrong??

Here is where I'm hopping this week:

WIP update

2011-11-16T08:37:00.000Z

Hello! I wanted to give an update on how I'm doing on Dani's scarf, and to apologize to the pattern I was so mean as to say I hated last time. I did think I hated it, but now...........well, I guess hate and love really are two emotions that are closely related. I love how it is turning out. I think it is nicer than the hat was.

The picture isn't great. I wasn't very smart about picture taking and it was dark by the time I got my act together. So you can't really see the bobbles and whatnot, but you get the idea. I'm not working very fast on it, I keep getting distracted, like starting this one:

That little beauty is a Calorimetry, which I saw on someone's blog last week (or the week before), only now I can't remember on whose blog I saw it. If it was yours....thanks! This is a fast project that is using up the remaining Noro silk garden I had from a Christmas project.

Hops:

Infinity Scarf

2011-11-11T09:04:00.000Z

That's right, I've hopped on the infinity scarf bandwagon. The wind was so cold a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but think it was a fun, fast project. Now the weather is suddenly............not as cold (I really don't want to jinx it) but at least I know I'll be ready in a few weeks time.

I used tutorials from all over blogland, and finally cut it about 60" by 12". The blog that inspired me however, is Vixen Made. I used a piece of fabric I had that was long enough, and while I'm not crazy about the colour/pattern, I didn't taken it off for several days after I made it. So comfortable. So warm. Who would have thought?

In addition to my tiny bit of sewing, I've also done a tiny bit of cross stitch. To be fair, cross stitch was the very first craft I developed a passion for. It was too limited for my tastes however, I love to make things I can use daily. Hence my passion for knitting. However, I digress. Here is the little card I made.

I did have one knitting project finished this week, a present I made for Christmas. It is for my Dad, and since he doesn't read my blog (much) I'm hoping to get it posted next Friday.

For everyone that offered sock knitting help---THANK YOU so very much. I've cast on my first one, using magic loop. I ended up looking at all the patterns everyone recommended, until my eyes went blurry. I also purchased Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Bud with a gift voucher I had. So I feel pretty prepared. I agonized over the first 1/2" however, thinking it looked like rubbish. Then it started to look.........like a sock! Now I'm super excited. I'll post my progress next Wednesday. You guys are the very best, thank you!

Here's where I'm hopping

Single cable fingerless mitts

2011-11-09T07:49:00.000Z

In between my copious amounts of Christmas knitting (I finished a gift today, hurray!) I've been working on another pair of fingerless mittens. These are for myself, just to practise on, and eventually keep my hands warm.

Here are the stats:
Pattern: One Cable Mitts
Wool: 75% acrylic, 25% wool. It isn't the nicest wool, but it is warm and I have a rather largish ball of it.

What I've learned thus far: I need to keep on practising to avoid those ladders. It seems hard with thicker yarn, or is it just me??

Check out these other wonderful WIP's

A birthday present for me!

2011-11-04T08:43:00.002Z

You know what I wish? I wish that there was a snappy name generator for blog post titles. I am terrible at naming what I'm writing about, so it usually ends up being called, "a hat" "a short sleeve cardigan" etc. This weeks title is about my short sleeve cardigan--which I finished in time to give myself as a birthday present. Plus, I think I already used "a short sleeve cardigan" back when it was a WIP!

I am really pleased that I finished my Tappan Zee Cardigan, and I love it! I went into town just to find suitable buttons, because the three I had planned on using just didn't look pretty enough after all that work.

It fits just as I want it too, so all in all, a great success. I'll be wearing it to the girls school today for the assembly.

Now, what is better than one finished project? Two of course! I also finished the hat for my swap partner, and just got back from posting it to her. I love how it turned out, though I'll warn you I had a hard time taking a decent photograph, I blame the slouch!

I believe I've said before that I'm not a fan of slouch hats---well this one made me change my mind. I tried it on, you know, just to be sure it would fit an adult human head, and I didn't want to take it off. The wool is gorgeous, soft, and WARM. The pattern flattering. It took all my willpower to put it in the bag and get it out of the house before I changed my mind. I do hope she likes it.

Here are the details on the hat: Diamond beret by Petra Johnson. Wool from The Wool Bothy, 50% wool, 50% mohair.

Lastly, I've got a favour to ask of any helpful soul out there. I think I am finally ready to try my first sock (the big chunky one turned out ok, now I want one that will fit in my shoe!) and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good beginners book? I really do want a book rather than an online pattern as I want a step by step, hand holding guide I can keep referring back to. I will overcome my sock fear!! Thanks in advance if anyone has any suggestions!

Check out these great blog hops:

A scarf for Dani (WIP)

2011-11-02T10:19:00.000Z

What do I love more than someone requesting a knitted item from me? Well that would be someone willing to trade with me for it! I emailed my niece a wee while ago asking if I could buy a print of hers that she recently posted on Facebook (I hate FB, but that's a whole different story). She is graduating high school this June and plans on studying photography in college. I love what she did:

She said yes, she would make me an 8x10 and in exchange (I offered to buy it) would I please make her a scarf to match the hat I gave her last Christmas. I said, "OF COURSE!!" Here is a picture of her in the hat, not a great picture, but I'm not a great photographer. With her is my nephew Archie, also adorable.

So I dug out the pattern, this is the one I used:

The pattern is D, the lower right corner. I tried to put on a star on it and failed miserably!

And here is how far I have gotten:

Not very far! I forgot that I hate this pattern! It looks great, I don't mean that, it is just that I have to FOCUS on what I am doing. I have to pay attention, which means I can't do it when the kids are around, or the tv is on, or any other distraction. I'll get there.........I've got a good month and a half.

The Low Down:
pattern: Sirdar 9211
yarn: Sirdar Crofter Chunky in thistle I believe
needles: 6.5mm (hurray for big needles!)

Here's where the hops are:

A hat for me, ninja mask for her

2011-10-27T19:58:00.000+01:00

I've waited long, I've knitted often. Finally, a hat I like!

I've also learned, I don't read instructions/ingredients/lists very well. Could be I am always just too impatient. Never mind, here is the hat!

I used the JC Slouch pattern again, even though I'm not a huge slouch fan. See how I live on the edge! For the yarn I used a ball of Sirdar Peru I bought on Ebay (yes, I have a problem). I originally thought (here is where the lack of reading skills comes into play) it was pure alpaca, but alas it is not. It is only 10%!! The rest is 50% wool and 40% acrylic. Oh well, it is still lovely stuff, and warm. I didn't have enough to do the whole hat one colour, so I used some 100% un-dyed wool I had to give it some stripes. I love how it turned out.

In the last picture you can see one of our new little ladies. About a month ago we bought some Hy-Line chickens and they are so much fun. They are the friendliest chickens I've ever been around. They even like to peek in the windows:

Additionally, I've finished my second ninja mask, for my daughter. They had a great time posing in the garden after school today. The yarn is the same as the first one, I just switched the arrangement around so they could tell them apart.

Check out these blog hops, some people are crazy creative, I live in envy!

A hat swap WIP

2011-10-26T09:27:00.000+01:00

Today I have a hat on my needles, for a swap I am taking part in on Ravelry. I think it is great to do swaps, as it encourages me to try new patterns and new wool. I am making the Diamond beret by Petra Johnson. It has been a really fun knit so far. I ordered the wool from The Wool Bothy on Ebay, and it is 50% wool, 50% mohair. As my swap partner is in the USA, I wanted to send something truly "made in Britain." This fits the bill nicely. Plus, I've never knit with mohair before, wow is it silky!

I wasn't sure how much I would need so I bought two hanks, and it looks like I will need part of the second to finish off the hat. I'm thinking there might be enough left over to make myself a little something.............

It looks a bit like there is a big gaping hole in this picture, but rest assured all is as it should be.

As for reading, I just finished Pope Joan. It was a good read, but tended to drag just a bit for my tastes. I have moved on to Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. I'm not far enough in yet to tell if I like it or not, so I'll refrain until I've read more.

Check out other great crafter's WIP's:

Halloween Decoration

2011-10-22T10:27:00.000+01:00

The other night while surfing the net--I admit I have a problem--I was browsing patterns over at Natural Suburbia. If you've never been to the site, get yourself there now, it is amazing. I find Linda very inspirational, and she is so generous listing free patterns. Fully in Halloween mode, I knew my girls would LOVE the bats, so I whipped them up this morning. Let me just say, they are fast. Three bats in about an hour, including the time I took for a snack. Knitting is hungry work you know. Then out to the garden for a suitable stick, and away we went.

mustachio

I think it is adorable, and best of all...............free! Everything was already in my crafting supplies or out in the garden. Of course, keeping the dog pictured above away from the stick was no easy task. Luckily she can't reach where I've hung it up!

Link Parties:

Love at first stitch

2011-10-20T20:23:00.000+01:00

Do you ever love a project just as soon as you cast it on? Normally I fret, I frown, I wonder if it will fit. This time.............well yes, I did all that (it looked so small), but I also loved it. I LOVE this pattern. I love the yarn I used. I love everything about it, and I am proud of it!

These fingerless mitts were made for a swap. They are the second attempt I've made this week. The first pattern I used I got all the way to the end of the thumb before realizing I just didn't like it. Frogged. Back onto Ravelry to pick something I liked better. Now I am so very pleased, and these can go in the post this week. Phew, I met the deadline. Now I can start on my hat swap.

The low down:
Pattern: Emily Dee Mitts
Yarn: Sirdar Denim Tweed DK. 60% acrylic, 25% cotton, 15% wool.
What I learned: the sewn bind off. Awesome! I used the video here.

I have got the fingerless mitt bug in a bad way now. I'm thinking of making a pair of these for my niece for Christmas. Next time I'll make them a bit longer so they go up to the knuckles. For myself (it is cold today) I'm going to try Fire & Ice Mitts, I love a Celtic cable.

Here's where I'm hoping, check it out!

On my needles

2011-10-19T08:00:00.000+01:00

I'm working hard to overcome my fear of knitting socks, because, for a long time, I've really wanted to start knitting them. Is it normal to have certain knitting phobias for no real reason? I sure hope so. I'm been learning a few new techniques this past week, so I thought I would throw socks into the mix. I got this book at the library:

** Ok that didn't show up well at all! It is called Simple Knitting by Erika Knight.

Inside are several projects I want to attempt, and two are socks. The first is a chunky thick sock knit on two needles. "Perfect" I said to myself, that will help me gain confidence before I start on DPN's. I've also been practising on my DPN's, which I'll show on Friday.

Anyway, I'm almost finished with the first sock, and feeling pretty proud of myself. A complaint about the book is that you have to "wrap and turn" to make the heel and I had no idea how to do it. The book doesn't show you!! I had to hop onto YouTube (much love), but I found a great video that really, really helped.

Besides that I've got another ski mask on the go, much to my daughters delight. She is a slave driver, and is nagging me endless to finish it so she can have one like her sister. In all honesty I get bored doing the same thing twice, but this is almost all 2x2 rib and stocking stitch so it is going pretty fast. The sooner it is done the sooner I can move on to something new!

Reading:

I finished Lady MacBeth, which I was reading last week---loved it! I just love historical fiction, especially when it takes place in Scotland! Yesterday I started Pope Joan, and so far so good. At the same time I am reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, but that can be a bit dry so I like a novel at the same time.

Here is where I'm hopping this week, thanks for stopping by!

Girlie Ninja Mask

2011-10-14T11:07:00.002+01:00

I am really pleased that I have finished my first ski/ninja mask. Here are some pictures of it in action:

In all honestly it is too big for her. I like to always tell myself better a bit too big than a bit too small, so I'm losing any sleep over it. I haven't washed it yet, and I'm hoping (in vain probably) it will tighten up a bit. The gussets could be better too, but for a first attempt I'm pleased.

Here's the info:
Pattern: Wee balaclava
Wool: the pinks are both Wendy Mode Chunky, 50% merino 50% acrylic. The cream wool is Lion Brand Wool-Ease, 20% wool, 80% acrylic.
What I learned: the provisional crochet cast on. It was awesome! I can see a lot of uses for this, so I'm pretty pleased.

Blog Hops to Check Out:

Still plugging away

2011-10-12T14:13:00.002+01:00

Here is a repeat WIP, because I am not making as much progress on it as I would like. Don't get me wrong, I'm getting there, but I have a terrible habit of knitting several things at once (and I just signed up for two swaps on Ravelry, yikes!). Speaking of projects, my ninja mask I showed here last week as a WIP is DONE!! Hopefully I will post as a FO this Friday if my daughter will slow down long enough to get some pictures taken.

Here is how far I've gotten on my short sleeve cardigan:

I'm not being shy, it is just that my 5 year old isn't great on the non-blurry picture taking, and only one of the back pics looked good enough. I tried taking one myself, but that was a disaster! At least you get the idea. I love that this is knit in the round so I can try it on, and that it fits!! In fact, trying it on has motivated me to devote more attention to it. I love it!

Recap:
Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool, 100% wool
Pattern: Tappan Zee Cardigan

What I'm reading:

Now, for my knitting and reading friends, here is what I have on the Kindle right now:

I love that you can get library books on the Kindle. Sure, sometimes you have to wait ages, but this one was ready right when I wanted it. I love a good Scottish story!

For more yarn miracles, check out these other creative people:

Cowboy Cookies

2011-10-10T12:58:00.000+01:00

My girls love to bake. They love to help and I love cookies. Here is what we made this week:

Cowboy Cookies

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used canola)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup desiccated coconut

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream butter, oil, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until well blended. Mix in oats and butterscotch chips. Drop from a teaspoon onto un-greased cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven, or until edges are golden. Let set up on the cookie sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.


All gone!

Check out these other delicious food creations!

Cute wee pumpkins

2011-10-07T07:35:00.001+01:00

Normally I am not one for making cute little knitted animals or decorations. It isn't that I don't like them, I just don't think I have the patience for the tiny details. However, recently my girls and I have been feeling very autumnal, and they made me a centrepiece for the kitchen table.

I thought it was adorable (they did it all by themselves!), but I also thought it needed a little something. That's where my cute wee pumpkin comes in. I found the pattern on Ravelry, of course, and I knocked it out in just over a day.

And just to show you how really stinking frugal I am some times, I stuffed it with the fluff my dog pulled out of her latest toy. She LOVES to demolish stuffed dog toys. Here it is with the leaf on the centrepiece. I LOVE IT!!

Well, the next day (or two or three) I was surfing the blog hops, as I do. I came across another pumpkin pattern on The Sitting Tree. Well, I had to try it! It was even easier and faster than the first one, and I love it too.

After my daughter saw this one, she said, "Oh, can we have an apple too?" Seems I've opened a whole can of worms with my love of pumpkins........

Check out these blog hops to see other great craft items:

Ninja Mask

2011-10-05T09:44:00.001+01:00

For ages my girls have been asking me for "a face mask" because they hate having cold faces. In truth I always sort of laughed it off because I thought they would look silly walking to school with one on (we lived in the city!)

Well, the other day I was surfing Ravelry (probably looking for another hat pattern if I'm truthful) and I came across the Wee Balaclava pattern. It is adorable, so I decided I would make them each one for this winter. We just moved into the Highlands of Scotland, and we are gearing up for a snow filled, cold winter. I figure they will be perfect for using with the sleds my Mom and Dad just sent us!

Front


back

This has been a fun and fast project so far. I also get to practise my provisional cast on, which I've only messed about with before. I'll let you know how I get one. I used the provisional crochet method, and I watched a video on youtube for extra help!

Now on to reading. I am just a few pages into Villette, by Charlotte Bronte. I'm reading it on my new Kindle (thanks Mom and Dad, best birthday present ever). I've been wanting to read this book since I first read, and loved, Jane Eyre but my library doesn't have a copy. Thankfully, there are loads of free classic books for the Kindle. Sorted!! My favorite book of all time (one of many I think) is also free on the Kindle if you have one--The Counte of Monte Cristo. Such an awesome book!

Check out these other amazing WIP's:

Pear Upside Down Cake

2011-10-03T10:29:00.000+01:00

Today I had it in my mind I would make a pineapple upside down cake. I have a recipe I really like, from the Cooking Essentials book, that I have successfully made before.

I was going to use some left over fresh pineapple I had, just to get rid of it. Well......as I got started it turns out the pineapple didn't look that great, and I felt sad at the thought of no cake. I turned to the cupboard and the only tinned fruit I had was pear. So pear it was! I used the same recipe, just substitute the pear for the pineapple, and it was GREAT! In fact, I like it even better than the original.

Here is the recipe:
4tbs butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
most of a can of tinner pears, sliced into sections
candied cherries

     Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Grease and line an 8" springform pan with waxed paper. I make sure the paper comes all the way to the top of the pan, otherwise the butter can leak through the cracks and make a mess. Melt the butter and pour it into the pan. Sprinkle the sugar.

     Drain fruit and slice. Arrange on top of the sugar. Place candied cherries--I do this because I like them, and they are pretty.

For the cake:
125g (1/4lb) soft butter
125g sugar (1/2 cup)
175g (1 1/2 cups) self-rising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs

     Make the cake: place the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs in a large bowl. Add 2 tbs fruit juice from pear tin. Beat with an electric mixer on slow speed for 2 minutes. When the mixture is soft enough to drop off the mixers, spoon the mixture into the cake tin. If it isn't soft enough, continue to add fruit juice a tsp at a time until the desire consistency is reached.

     Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the cake is risen and spingy to the touch. If it browns too much during cooking, cover loosely with foil. Hold a warmed plate upside down over the pan and turn the two over together to the cake inverts onto the place. ENJOY, especially with a cup of tea.

Here is where I'm sharing the recipe love:

Let's Catch Up..........

2011-09-30T09:02:00.001+01:00

First of all, let me do a bit of catching up. I posted a few months ago about knitting my Mom a Leafy Top, and I wanted to share a picture of her wearing it! It was made for Mother's Day, but I didn't get to see her until July. I'm am really pleased about how well it fits!

Now, while I was slaving away on the Leafy Top, my Mother-in-law and knitter of over 70 years was slaving away on an Aran jumper for my Dad. I bought the wool for his father's day, and she knit it up in, I swear, about 2 months. Can we say, "talented" because she blows my mind! Anyway, he was over the moon with it, and now he wants to visit me in winter so he can wear it. Alas, he lives in Phoenix, but perhaps for not much longer..........

And if you are wondering, yes, those are my girls wearing their pj's while playing in the garden in the middle of the morning. Isn't that what summer is all about?

Now, making this a long post, here is what I originally intended to post about--hot water bottles! We have moved into a stone farmhouse out in the country, and it is wonderful. However, we call the house "the castle" because, well, it isn't the warmest place to live if I'm honest. Having grown up in Arizona and California, the notion of a hot water bottle is new to me. I jumped on it though, when I found them for sale on Amazon for £2.5 each.

Dave got his cover knit first, in black, because I had it and it seemed manly :)

The pattern is called Pure Warmth, and I found it on Ravelry. The wool is.....uhm, 20% wool, 80% acrylic but I'm not sure what brand it is any more. I've got to keep better track of labels..............

Mine is up next, I've got no interest in it now though and I've moved on to other things. I know as it gets colder I'll pick it up again. If only I had another set of hands!

Here is where I hop:

A very frilly WIP

2011-09-28T08:41:00.000+01:00

This morning when I woke up I opened the curtain to a really gorgeous sight:

It couldn't help but make me eager to face the day!

Last Sunday I went to a felting workshop at my local craft store. It was really good fun, and a bit of hard work! I made a bag and handle--but more on that on Friday. While I was at the shop I couldn't help but have a browse, and I came away with two new balls of yarn. The first one:

Colinette pure wool "sweet dreams"

I want to use it to make myself an ear flap hat like I made the girls (minus the pom-poms I think). It was just too gorgeous to pass up, and it was in the clearance bin. Yay!

The second ball is something I don't normally do--a novelty yarn. It is called Tango by Woolcraft. The shop assistant was sitting knitting a scarf with it, and she had me at the ruffles. She assured me it was easy, "knit every row, skip the first hole." I nodded like I knew what she was talking about. Why I do this, I have no idea!

So I got it home and of course tore into it. I learned two things rather quickly:

1) I had no idea what I was doing

2) I wound it into a ball thinking I was clever after the last tangled wool fiasco, but alas I didn't pay attention to the fact that it was flat like a ribbon. So I actually twisted it all up as I wound it, and now I have to knit a bit, untwist, knit a bit more. Live and learn.

The solution to my 1st problem, was YouTube. How I used to live without the internet, I don't like to think about. The video I used is here. And it is, in fact, very simple. I just needed a bit of help to get going.

So that's what I've been up to. Here is where I'm hopping:

A new Old-Fashioned Ginger Cookie

2011-09-26T18:56:00.000+01:00

I love ginger cookies. I love spice cookies. I love cookies! My girls have recently started school, and as a lot of you out there know, you can break the bank buying stuff for lunch boxes. I want them to eat good, nutritious food, but I also want them to be able to have treats. Goodies make me happy, and they definitely make my wee ones happy too. So in an effort to put less processed food into our girls, hubby and I came up with a list of things we could do/cook/bake/etc. to give them wholesome meals, with some fun thrown in for good measure.

On the top of the list was me--baking more muffins and cookies, and breads. Sigh, so much is asked of me. Just because I love baking things does it mean I want to do it all the time? Well, yes, yes it does! Now I have even more reason to. I want to stock-pile cookies and muffins in the freezer so I always have some on hand. Today I made a recipe out of a really great book,

The recipe is called Old-Fashioned Ginger Cookies, and the only difference between this recipe and the one I usually use is that there is lemon juice in it. Lemon juice? Really?? Yes, and it is really does take it up a notch. We all loved them, and they are going in the lunch boxes tomorrow. I need to freeze the rest right away, to save myself from the extra calories.

Here is what I did:

Heat oven to 160C/325F.
Cream together 1/2 cup (115g) butter, at room temperature, with 233g grams sugar. Or, conversely, 2/3 of 1 3/4 cup sugar (odd I know, that's why I stuck to grams, I refuse to do math if I don't have to). You use the other 1/3 of the sugar to roll the cookies in, if you are confused :)

Add 1 egg and mix in. Stir in 4 tbs molasses (black treacle) and 1 tsp fresh lemon juice. Next, add: 2.5 cups sifted plain flour, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and 1 1/2tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp cloves. Mix together to form a soft dough.

Roll dough into 3/4" balls and roll in sugar before placing on a greased cookie sheet. Leave space for the cookies to spread. Bake in oven for 12 minutes or until set. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Pour a cup of tea and enjoy!

Here is where I hop, and you can find lots of lovely food and crafty things, check it out:

A WIP Hat

2011-09-22T08:25:00.000+01:00

Confession time..........even with all my alpaca loving blog friends, I have yet to knit with alpalca wool. That is, until now! As a sort of hobby/compulsion I like to scan Ebay now and then for clearance wool, and last year some time I bought a ball of 100% alpalaca to try. I like to buy things like this on Ebay because if I end up not liking them, well, I haven't lost much money in the process.

So I've cast on another hat, in my ongoing attempt to make a hat for myself for this winter. My daughter wasn't feeling well yesterday so after school we all lined up on the couch and watched Tangled. I think this is my favorite Disney movie thus far. It might help that Zachary Levi is in it (he's Chuck!!). I started this hat:

Sorry about my really poor photography skills, I was in a hurry to get this post up.

As for reading--I am as addicted to that as I am to knitting. I am currently reading Rebecca, and I just got the best gift ever, a Kindle. I was dead set against Kindles for ages, but the newest ones that have the pearl ink technology are just like reading a book. Now I am hooked. Only, that doesn't photograph well does it?

Check out some other WIP addicts here:

Yarn Along

and

Work in Progress Wednesday

The woolie ear flap

2011-09-21T07:58:00.000+01:00

I'm happy to announce that I've finished both of the girls ear flap hats. I love big needles, this project went super quick. I bought some 8mm DPN's just for this project, they are marvelous.

I made Rori's hat first, and to be honest, it is too big. I was too scared to wash it in warm water to try to shrink it a bit, so I just told her to pull it back off her face :) She can only grow into it. She picked the colours and I think it is the most gorgeous hat. I would keep it for myself if she would let me.

Look how big my pom-poms are!

While I am more happy with the way Isla's hat came out--the second one is always better, am I right or what? I don't care for the colours she chose, but they really speak to her personality. Crazy, fun, off the wall. Her hat fits better.

So there you have it, that's what I've been up to this week. Here is where I like to hop:

Hat Swap

2011-09-15T12:58:00.000+01:00

Happy happy joy joy--my Internet is back and it is finally up to speed. We had to make do with 10 days of it being no faster than dial-up, but now they have finally got it sorted. Yippee, now I can blog in earnest again!! I can also Skype with my family, which is really nice when you live far away!

I've gotten back into swapping on Ravelry this month, which is super fun. I've only done a few before, so I'm still a swapping novice really. This month is HATS--so you know it was a must for me! I just love a good hat project. It was interesting picking out a pattern and yarn for my partner, as her taste is a fair bit different than mine. She likes browns, oranges, pinks, etc. I decided on the yarn first, some girlie camouflage I had, and then found a slouchy pattern I wanted to try. I added the flower on a whim to make it seem more girlie, and add a bit of flair. I've used this flower pattern before on a pixie hat I made. I am pleased with the results, now I just need to get it in the post!

Yesterday the girls and I went to our local wool shop (I love it there) and bought some wool for a new hat for each of them. I am going to attempt this ear flap pattern from Spud and Chloe. I love letting them pick out their own wool, can't wait to see how it works up!

Here is where I hop:

WIP Wonder

2011-09-13T19:26:00.000+01:00

I don't think I have ever posted on a WIP before, but there should always be a first time, shouldn't there?

Today as I was sitting on the floor ripping out about 6 rows from my cardigan, I thought it looked so pretty I had to take a picture of it. Why was I ripping out rows you might wonder? Apparently I am numerically challenged. There were 255 stitches before I started the diamond pattern, I swear. But by the time I got to the 8th row of the pattern I was down to 254. Where that one stitch went I have no idea, but there you go, it happens. Rip rip rip, and start over.

I am really enjoying this project, as I haven't done a top-down cardigan before. I am knitting it in pure undyed wool. It is Lyon's Brand Fisherman's Wool that I bought for another project, then completely forgot about. I am a little bit in love, just in case you didn't know.

And just for fun, here's a picture of my little helper. She is the softest most lovely dog in the world. No, I am not biased.

Here's is where I hop:

Flower Clean

2011-09-06T15:38:00.001+01:00

This summer while at my Grandma's house, she taught me how to crochet. YES!!! Finally!! She had a pattern for a cotton face scrubby, and we set to work on it. I think it was easier for me to learn from her while we worked on a pattern. It made the stitches make more sense. I think the scrubbies are fabulous, and now I'm using mine every day. They are knit in 100% cotton, here are a few of my earliest attempts:

Yes, a bit misshapen, but they were good fun to learn on. When I was feeling pretty confident with that pattern, I looked up a more flower shaped pattern on Ravelry. Here is that attempt.

You'll see I got there in the end, he he he. Once I mastered the flower shape I made one for all the little girls and boys running about, I think 5.

After that, and I'm not sure I should admit this, I made my Grandma a wee bag for her bar of soap. I wasn't even sure anyone ever used these, but she had the pattern and I had the time. So here is a picture of her soap in the wee bag. It was good to try a new technique! I don't have a link for this one, because I didn't bring the pattern home with me. If you click here, the pattern looks very similar.

And really, that's the extent of my adventures on crocheting for now. Here is where I hop:

Intuitive hat

2011-08-30T14:54:00.000+01:00

I started this hat back in July, as my knitting for the air plane. It didn't work out that way however, as the bamboo circulars I was using broke rather early on. I have NO luck with bamboo and I won't buy it again. So ended up playing endless rounds of bejewelled on my cell phone and wishing I didn't get motion sick so I could read. Anyway, I bought some aluminium circulars for the way home, not even knowing if they would make it through security. They did! So I worked on the ribbing until it was 2" and then slept the rest of the way home (yay night flight!).

I found this pattern on Ravelry, and it really lives up to the name of Intuitive. The repeat is so easy it is excellent TV knitting, so I ended up finishing it rather quickly after the house move was complete.

I used a different type of yarn that the pattern called for, so it didn't end up as slouchy as I was hoping, because I ran out and didn't have any more in that colour. The wool is Wendy Mode, 50% wool, 50% acrylic and it is soft and warm and lovely. I love that it is thick and warm. I love that it is reversible. I love the colour. I love the hat. Just not on me. I appear to be incredable picky about what I want on my head, so it's a good thing I like making hats!


Here is the reverse side

Here is where I hop, thank you for stopping by.

Where did my internet go??

2011-08-24T10:42:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog! I have been for gone over a month now, and let me tell you, I missed blogging! I missed crafting. I missed you guys!

First of all, we had a great summer holiday. Two weeks with the family in the Midwest, and it was HOT. That just enabled us to go swimming every day, lay in front of the fan (something we never get a chance to do in Scotland), eat ice lollies every day, and sometimes twice a day!

Second, we moved. Succesfully, or at least, it is done! The house sale was final the beginning of August, and it was such a pain and so stressful, I couldn't be more glad it is over. All of the boxes are unpacked, and I LOVE our new house. I will post some pictures of my craft room as soon as I feel it is clean enough. I am still trying to get organized, without spending any money............

Here are a few pictures of the house though, it is a stone farmhouse in the Scottish Highlands. Gorgeous.

View from the font door

So what if when it rains the water turns murky/golden from the peat in the soil. So what if we have to turn the heating on in August because it is grey and cold. It is relaxation itself. Today the sun is shining and everything in my little world seems perfect. Except........

I HAVE NO INTERNET!!!

I have to got to the library each and every day to check my email, and since I teach online, things are difficult. But still, it is only a hiccup on the road, and should be sorted by the end of August. At least, that is what I am telling myself. So my blog posts will be scattered here and there, but I'll try to get one out every Friday, since creative/crafty/wooly Friday is my very favorite blog day of the week.

Once final note, to tie into kntiting/crafting. I finally have a local wool/craft shop. It is right in the local high street, and full of the most gorgeous wool I have ever seen. An added bonus is that they offer classes. The first one (for me) is in September, and it is wool felting a bag. I can't wait, I've already signed up!

Take care everyone!

View of the village

View of the village and river

Fingerless Gloves

2011-07-07T21:05:00.000+01:00

Hey everyone! I've got news, and it is GOOD! We are in the process of selling the house! Just when we didn't think it was going to happen--it did! I am feeling very lucky right now, and also very stressed. We are moving about 4 hours north of here, up into the gorgeous highlands of Scotland. And hopefully we are destined to live in a beautiful stone farmhouse out in the country (I'll keep you posted on that).

As you know, I'm taking the girls to visit my family and now we have to add the move on to that--I've got stress people! So that brings me to another piece of news; this will be my last post for a month or so. Do try not to miss me too much, and know that I'll be back before too long. But before I go, here is my latest crafty project.

Dad's Gloves

I made these for my Dad for Father's Day, and of course he will get them belatedly (not to mention in summer), but he won't mind. I made them to match the hat I made him earlier this year, and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. My first fingerless gloves, and good fun! I used a pattern I got in this book, which I checked out of my local library. I LOVE my library, especially the mobile one that comes to the bottom of my street each week.

In all honesty, I have three gloves, as the first one I made fit me perfectly, and therefore wasn't any good for a man's hand. On the upside, I only have to make one more and I'll have a pair for myself, and they will match the cable hat I made myself. Almost like I planned it!

Happy crafting everyone, and a fond farewell for a wee while. Keep those needles clicking!

Brownie Cupcakes

2011-06-27T13:00:00.000+01:00

This tasty new recipe arrived in my inbox the other day, so we had to give it a try. Am I the only one that seems to sign up for random craft and cooking emails? I don't even remember where half of them come from, but sometimes a gem arrives!

Brownie Cupcakes

Ingredients:

90g unsalted butter
130g caster sugar
90g dark chocolate
50g choc chips, any type of chocolate
40g plain flour
20g cocoa powder
2 medium eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder

Method:

Melt butter and dark chocolate in double boiler and leave to cool once melted.
Sieve flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into mixing bowl.
Add chocolate chips
Add eggs and sugar.
Add the butter and chocolate mixture.
Beat this chocolate mixture with a wooden spoon til combined.
Pour the mixture into a paper cupcake cases in a cupcake tin.
Bake for 15 mins on 180 degrees or until done.

These were really tasty. One downside, which you can see in the picture--they did NOT want to come out of the muffin tray. I'll admit I didn't use the paper liners, because I have a silicone tray. Doesn't matter anyway, they tasted lovely.

Here is where I hop:

Tiger Lily Tank

2011-06-23T17:14:00.001+01:00

Last week was a very good knitting week for me, I finished two WIP's. I posted about how I finished my Mom's top, and then the next day or so I finished the Tiger Lily Tank Top I was working on.

Some folks might remember that I made myself this skirt in anticipation for summer a couple of weeks ago. Well, after I made the skirt I decided I needed a white top to go with it. Right around then I got an email from Lion Brand (how many knitting emails do I get a week? Too many) Hence my new top was born:

This is me messing around with the effects folder on my photo editor. It is called "warmify" but just looks like "make redder" to me.

It was a very easy and fast pattern. I like to have at least one pattern I can just sit and do in front of the tv, and this one was it. Plus I got to learn the three needle cast off for the straps, and that was fun too.

Of course, now that I'm ready for summer, we are having really dreadful weather. I guess it is good we are going abroad or I wouldn't get to wear my new creations at all!

Here is where I hop:

Smoked Sausage & Cabbage

2011-06-17T12:00:00.000+01:00

OK for those of you that don't like cabbage, listen up--this is a very tasty way to eat it, and not feel like you are eating cabbage. I'm not a big fan of it, unless it is in a fish taco, creamed, or married with bacon. This recipe calls for an entire head, you can use either red or white, I normally use white because it is available more frequently. Also, if the ingredients sound strange, they did to me the first time too. Now I've marked the page in my recipe book with the comment, "Andi's favourite" (that's me, in case you are wondering).

Smoked Sausage & Cabbage

1 small head red cabbage, shredded
1 apple, cored and diced
1.5 teaspoons salt, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 pound kielbasa (or any smoked) sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces

Directions

Place the cabbage in a large saucepan, and add the diced apple, 1 teaspoon of the salt, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil then simmer, covered, about 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
In a small frying pan, melt butter. Sauté the onion until golden. Add the onion to the cabbage along with .5 teaspoon salt, pepper, vinegar and sausage. Cook, covered, 20 to 30 minutes until sausage is heated through.

This is where I hop:

Capri's get whacked!

2011-06-17T11:49:00.000+01:00

My daughters (both of them) have a rather strong dislike for capri pants. I am not sure why, because I think they are great; not quite warm enough for shorts, too warm for jeans, there is your answer! They do not agree. However capri's seem to keep making an appearance in their wardrobe. This time they got a pair each for their birthday, gasp! So I made them into shorts for the summer.

I was going to do a "before" and "after" shot but my scissor hand has a mind of its own. Therefore you get the grey "before" and the black "after" but without any appliqué. Yes, I am currently addicted to appliqué. In a previous post I used it to patch trousers (still doing that, in fact I have a pair sitting next to me that need sewn) and the girls love the idea, and now want little pictures on all their clothes. The fact that these trousers were grey and black didn't impress them either, so we jazzed them up!

front


back

front

back

Two happy girls, and now they have enough shorts for summer. Especially since they don't really wear shorts here in Scotland..............

And now I'm going to do what I like to call "letting the crazy out." I probably shouldn't admit this was my craft project today, but I will. My daughter is a remote control freak. When she and her sister watch tv she holds that remote constantly. The only problem is she has begun to lose it, and it takes us ages to find it again, and often we find it wedged in the back bottom of the couch. How it gets there, I don't even want think about. My husband decided that she needed a "remote control holster" which we both thought was hilarious. Funny enough to actually make. So here it is:

Happy crafting!

Here is where I hop:

Slow Cooker Carnitas

2011-06-13T12:41:00.000+01:00

I love my slow cooker. Normally I use it when I will be away all day or too busy with other things to cook. Woe to me, however, if I'm in the house while I'm using it and have to smell delicious cooking smells all day long. I swear my stomach rumbles all day. Here is a new recipe I just tried, and it is very good. It is shredded Mexican pork, which we used to make soft tacos.

Slow Cooker Carnitas

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 pound boneless pork shoulder roast
1 bay leaf
1 cup chicken broth (I used a bullion cube and water)

Mix together spices in a bowl. Coat pork with the spice mixture. Place the bay leaf in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.

Cover and cook on Low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 7 hours. Turn the meat after it has cooked for 3 hours. When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks.

Ok, here is how I changed the recipe, it isn't much. I only had two pork shoulder steaks which were maybe a pound instead of the 2lb required in this recipe. I still made it exactly the same, so when the pork was done I had loads of liquid. I dumped everything into a saucepan, removing the bay leaf, and shredded the pork with two forks. Then I put it on to boil and reduced the sauce down. It only took 10-15 minutes on medium heat, and it left me with really succulent shredded pork, it was very good.

We used the shredded pork to make soft tacos (because the tortillas I had in the freezer were too small for burritos). To make the tacos we added shredded lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, salsa. Then we had Mexican rice on the side. Yum!

Here is where I HOP:

Should I gift the bag to my daughters' teacher?
	Yes
	No