Stasia's Place Of Grace

Saturday, January 15, 2005

 

A Valentine's Day Knitting Pattern For You

Click on the images if you would like the pattern for these Valentine Mitts. They're very easy and fast and would make a nice gift for a fiberartist friend.

There are also three other Valentine's Day charts from which you can choose - or work the mitts all in ribbing instead.

Hope you enjoy these. Have a great day!

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Tuesday, January 11, 2005

 

Quickest Blog Update Ever

First, a note to yarn manufacturers who gyp customers on yardage or weight: you know who you are, and so do I. I am on to you! We customers already pay a premium price for your products - don't take advantage of us by shorting us!

I encourage everyone who uses purchased yarn for their projects to check the weight and yardage if they're able to do so. If the amounts are not what they should be, let the yarn manufacturer know - and let them know you'll be telling your LYS, as well.

We demand truth in [yarn] advertising!

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I don't know about you, but I am in an "It's-January-Must-Get-Organized" mode. I want to sort through everything, file everything, clean everything, throw out everything... I'm driving my husband nuts as I rearrange furniture, hang shelves, (well, as I ask him to rearrange furniture and hang shelves!), and try to complete knitting projects so I can get them out of the way. That is why I'm rushing through this blog update!

This beats my usual "It's-January-Must-Get-On-A-Fitness-Regimen" mode, though, so I'll take it, as I'd rather have a sorted yarn stash than another herniated disk. Slow and steady wins the fitness race where I'm concerned, and I'll just keep up with my Pilates, stretching, and weekly hippotherapy sessions. I will however, be incurring the typical January expense for fitness equipment, as I've been advised it's time to get my own saddle. Sigh. Saddles are not cheap, so I won't be buying much yarn in the coming months! Well, that's what stash tubs are for... right? (But how cool - I'm ready for my own saddle!)

I got frustrated at not being able to find any information from knitting patterns when I needed it for reference (for instance, for thumb gussets on the fingerless mitts I've been working on), so I broke down and sorted my knitting and crocheting library. I got some magazine holders and Pendaflex folders from Office Max, sorted books and patterns by type, and I'm in business!

Sorted Knitting/Crocheting Library

I finished Jeff's nightcap. He loves it, as it keeps his head toasty in our sub-zero, north-facing bedroom. He won't even let me wash or block it because he doesn't want to do without it (I'm going to have to wash it at some point, Jeff!) so here is a rather bad pic of it:

Jeff's Nightcap, Rowan "Calmer"

I also - finally - finished a pair of ribbed fingerless mitts for myself:

Stasia's First Mitts, Rowan "Pleasure"

I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy wearing these, but they are really comfy when I knit in the evenings. I notice, though, how much cooler my uncovered fingers feel when I wear them! I was inspired to make them by Claudia and I adapted the pattern from info I found online and in books. They're pretty good for a made-up first attempt (only took me five tries to get them right - sheesh!)

I'm working on another pair, the pattern for which I'll publish here soon as a Valentine's Day gift to y'all:

Valentine Mitts, Cleckheaton "Angora Supreme"

I make no promises about the clarity of my pattern, though! I am not a pattern writer - just a dabbler. But I have some Valentin-y charts all set for you anyway.

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Pamela asked about the patterns I scarfed up at the LYS the other day. Here they are: Crocheted and felted booties (with sheep!) by Fiber Trends (AC-67X); crocheted hat, scarf, stole, and shawl by Fiber Trends (AC-29); and Caryl's Kerchief (with a beaded edge, out of a skein of Koigu) by Patternwrite Designs (PWD 514).

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Jessica asked whether bread wasn't made by a simple recipe (after all, how many recipes could one want?)

You're right Jessica - but I'm trying to make a more "artisan"-type, dark- and chewy- crusted bread, and from what I understand, those require use of a starter, similar to sourdough. So I'm hoping the "big book" will clarify that process for me - I'd like to make more traditional and ethnic breads - European-style breads - withouth the use of commercial yeast or added sweetener.

I had pretty good luck last night, making a giant rye-onion-dill loaf, without those extra ingredients, using Carl Griffith's 1847 Oregon Trail Sourdough Starter. This starter has been handed down for generations, and you can obtain it, for free (though it might be nice to send them a wee donation for their great efforts), by going here. Bread made with this wild-caught yeast starter tastes much better than that made with my own, commercial ingredient starter... and the bread rises just fine without anything but flour, salt, and water being added.

Maybe those of you who homeschool might like to combine history and science lessons with this stuff? I think it would make for an unforgettable educational experience.

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With all this cleaning commotion, we've been burning incense to cleanse the air and energy of our home. Our current favorite is "Tranquility" in the Spa line by Maroma. This is the only type of incense I've found that uses pure essential oils and resins, and the fragrance is very "real" and clean - not perfumey or smokey.

I hope you are feeling organized and raring to go in 2005!

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