The tiny distraction project of the week is the Bainbridge Scarf. I have these two skeins of Cascade 220 wool in an awkward medium green that I’ve been doing different swatch patterns with, because I thought I would want some kind of simple green scarf to go with my brown winter jacket. However, there is just something about this shade of green that turned normally nice stitch patterns into “ehhh” swatches. Or maybe I have just been in a bad mood… Nonetheless I finally settled on this very simple scarf, and so far I am quite happy (finally).
I would like to take some time and make one of these cheap light boxes. Until then, my bed sheet, laptop, or lap will continue to serve as photo backgrounds. At least the color combination here is cute? Also not entirely sure which side of this pattern I will use as the outside. At first I was going to have the st st rib on the inside for comfort, but now I think the rib looks better than the seed stitch type pattern (top of page). The scarf should soften up after soaking and blocking, anyhow.
The main project of the season, however, would be the entrelac blankets (yes, plural…). I’m not tired of these yet, but entrelac in general is such a slow process for me ;_; Still, there is time and I think the end products will look nice.
Having to be on a no fruits, no vegetables, no sweets, no caffeine diet for ANY amount of time is torturous. (Mine is only for 3 to 5 days tops; yeah, I’m a wimp). So I searched for a good fruit tart recipe in anticipation of my digestive recovery and found “Our Patisserie,” a desserts blog filled with altered recipes and pictures. Just check this portion of the archive out; I basically want to make everything on this page, and more. The authors also cite the original recipe books, which is an especially nice/convenient thing since I also just figured out that Borders is not all that difficult to get to. I’m excited to try some things! Now, if there was only a similar blog concerning entree items…
Nothing special but very lean ground beef is always a plus in my book. Plus this is probably the first time I have voluntarily eaten mushrooms; not that I really, really dislike them, but… well, these were good wrapped up in lettuce. And sesame oil = A+.
Much, MUCH more importantly, however, there was the matter of last night’s dessert:
Very, very awesome recipe courtesy of Ysolda. To show why I am so amazed by this seemingly run-of-the-mill cake/brownie type dessert, let me list the ingredients:
- dark chocolate, melted
- sugar
- sliced pears
- eggs
- almonds
- avocado
And that is all. Avocado? Oh yes. And no butter. It is quite reminiscent of a brownie-type dessert (no complaints here) and the baked pears really complement this. Peter is requesting some kind of berry compote with this instead of the pears; I’m considering doing a layer cake; two sheets of this with dark chocolate mousse or that coffee panna cotta in the middle and then raspberry compote/sauce on top. Deadly? Probably. But it sounds so good… :)
Seriously, try this recipe. You don’t taste the avocado, it’s healthy/healthier (another note: this called for 4 oz sugar; I used a little less than 3), and it’s delicious!
So while I get a big kick out of being able to make sweaters, cardigans, dresses, etc., I’m taking a little break from them because there are other pressing matters at hand, namely:
Yes, year after year, I AM that idiot who promises some relative something I made for Christmas, realizes that it’s only x number of days to the family gathering, and scramble like hell to get it done. Fortunately I’ve been able to do this with at least some success; unfortunately this year I promised something far huger than your typical scarf or mitten or hat… namely, two blankets.
…
To my credit I only promised lapghan sized things, but it’s one for each of my parents and DAMN it’s taking a long time. As someone on craftster pointed out, a talented gal like Eunny could probably knit a cozy to cover a house in a week (I’m paraphrasing, but I’m also in total agreement.) Alas, I am no speed knitter, but at least this year I’m starting two months–not two weeks–before the holiday. Fortunately entrelac is a good pick it up, finish one square, then put it right back down projects, so even though you’ve done very little–I’m doing 10 st wide blocks, so one block is only 200 st total–you get a visual sense of accomplishment because there is a nice little block sitting there that has eaten up another one of the base triangles.
So I think for a while it’ll be these blankets plus some little tiny side things, like that bath puff and something like a (partial) Fetching to alleviate entrelac stress:
Or, what happens while being sick and staying home Saturday/Sunday:
Pattern: Bath Puff by Priscilla Hewitt
Yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n’ Cream in some sort of pink striped colorway
Hook: H
I had to go a hook size down because H is the biggest I have. This could be bad because while I think the finished product is pretty, it is a DENSE little thing and may not dry properly after use. An update on this once I use it.
Some mild waffling while doing theory homework.
No secrets here, WYSIWYG :) Only notable but not visible thing is sesame oil. (Surprisingly) delicious! Especially for on-sale-in-bulk, 1.5 weeks in the fridge (?) chicken.
My first three favorite tapes to watch as a little kid would definitely be Tonari no Totoro, Panda Kopanda, and Pingu. (Hi Carlos. Am I missing any?) So I was thrilled when I found this amigurumi pattern by heavens_hellcat. Easy! And her finished product is, well, awesome:
And my progress:
I haven’t worked on this since the summer, but it’s not far from completion and I’m already tempted to make another. The yarn is some KP Shine Sport which is pretty great for amigurumi if you don’t mind the bit of shine. I don’t remember which hook I was using. The eyes and one “ear” are also completed.
Wheeee fingering yarn on size 2 needles!
Pattern: Thermal from Knitty
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in petal
Needles: Size 2 Knit Picks circulars
I’m pretty sure this will only be a vest because damn I can’t make a sweater out of yarn this thin (even though the sweater is awesome: FO from Team Knit) and originally I got the yarn from a different project. But I forgot that KP colors always end up more brilliant/nearly florescent than what I think it will be (and yes, I know I should get a color card since I buy from their store all the time, but alas) so I left it alone until this brilliant pattern came along. Another reason for vest/tank instead of sweater: can I really wear a hot pink long-sleeved sweater? I don’t think I want to. But something sleeveless and layerable? Better.
This is the slowest WIP ever, but at least twisted rib is more interesting than regular 1×1 and I don’t get those funky loose knit-side stitches I usually do in rib:
Still not at the waffling… sigh.
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK in Bordeaux
Needles: Size 4 Knit Picks Options
My most impressively complicated WIP so far… or not, haha. Who doesn’t love 14×2 ribbing for 30+ rows? Like a lot of these other projects the original photograph in the magazine is nothing fantastic, but this one (knitting anarchy via craftster) I really like. Actually, I like everything she’s made in this particular post… the equestrian blazer is another cool project from Interweave–some stiff yarn or not as much ease would be necessary because a fitted blazer like that would probably look a little odd when it’s on the lacy side/slumpy–and the (free pattern!) best friend cardigan gets cuter the more I look at it. Chunky yarn is simultaneously overrated and underrated in my mind; for example, you tell me whether you find the following intriguing or incredibly ridiculous:
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m tending towards the intrigue. Or maybe I’ve just been browsing through too many issues of VK. Sure, practicality is shot, but the irony is fun.
Seriously though, I think the best FO picture I’ve seen of the chunky best friend cardigan is from Another Shopgirl; scroll down a little to see the sweater worn with a belt. Good, yeah? It’s moving up on my mental list of things I want to make.
