Stasia's Place Of Grace

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

 

Mission Impossible?

I cannot find, anywhere, a fabric similar to the one on Samantha's dress:

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: if you can find a simple, white, rosebud-sprigged, cotton length of fabric, let me know - you just might win a prize!

(While we're at it, anyone got a good source for Swallow Casein size US2 DPNs?)

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A Better Way To Help...

Have you seen how much your siblings-in-knitting have donated to Doctors Without Borders (who actually DO need your money, no matter what the US news media have incorrectly reported!) at Yarn Harlot's blog?

And if you donate, you have a chance to win the awesome Latvian mittens Stephanie is working on!

Stephanie mentioned Abby's blog, and I see she's instigated a Charity Yarn Diet 2005 - check it out. What a good way to use up some of your stash and help others - win/win all the way!

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In Fibery Pursuits...

We have the first fiasco of 2005!

So much for Jeff's Koigu "KPPPM" nightcap. Actually, maybe this would be good for him to take on his overseas flights... he can forego the KLM sleep mask.

While I think of it, would someone please tell me - though I am hesitant to appear such a knitting knitwit as to have to ask... how does one pronounce Koigu?

Ribbing would have been a better choice, but there were so many colors in this yarn (how do they do that?) that I couldn't stand to take the focus away by using any stitch other than stockinette.

I will just have to rip back to where the increases stopped and knit it smaller. Actually, I'll rip a bit farther, as I initially miscalculated: I thought a negative 5% fit would work - negative 10% would be much better... I hope.

Jeff is rolling his eyes at my latest attempt:

The Koigu "KPPPM" hat was done top-down, increasing one stitch in each of eight sections every other round, which made a domed top. This "Calmer" hat started with six sections, and I increased one stitch in each section every round, which made a flat top. So far so good. I then did four rounds of purls to make a curled border, and now am working down in 2x2 ribbing.

I calculated the circumference of the hat by measuring the diameter of the six-section-circle, and multiplying that number by Pi. That total is now negative 10% of Jeff's actual head size. We'll see if that smaller measurement, plus the tightening ribbing, makes this thing wearable.

I swear, I'm about set to go to the Vermont Country Store and just order him a flannel nightcap.

At least we had one success today:

This is "Nine Grain Bread" from More Breaking Bread by Father Dominic Garramone, who had a show on PBS. It uses a multi-grain cereal mix (like Bob's Red Mill kind - it's like porridge, not like cold cereal), millet seeds (which pop like caviar when you chew them!), flax seeds (which are full of Omega-something-or-other and which lower your cholesterol) and sunflower kernels (my own addition).

It is the most fantastic bread and a loaf rarely lasts a day here.

I love the Father Dom books, but Jeff recently got me this, the Bible of bread baking books. As with my knitting, I want to understand the whys of baking artisan bread, and not just follow patterns... er, I mean, recipes. This book explains how everything works, using percentages (the Elizabeth Zimmermann system of baking!) so that you can develop an understanding of how to make up your own breads.

But judging by my made-up nightcap, perhaps made-up breads are not something I should attempt!

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Finally Comin' Down

After apocalyptic predictions of snowfall all day, with nary a flake in sight (though we did, believe it or not, have an escaped kangaroo on the loose, which has since been captured), snow has finally begun to come down. They're predicting 7" by morning, but I think they'd do better to watch the juncos at the birdfeeder (they flock there before a snowstorm) than rely on Live Doppler Radar. I don't know what Live Doppler Radar is - I just know it is always wrong! (Right, Kary?)

Tori and Fiona are hunkered down for the night. That would be my felted "Welcome Back, Old Friend" wool and silk tunic they're using for a coverlet.

I found Mr. Valentine looking for bread in the kitchen:

Who, me? I had enough flour last week!

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May you be snug and warm tonight, and may your needles be clicking away, merrily or soothingly, as required.

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