VT 2009 Socks

I finished a pair of socks. I wasn't sure what to call them since I'm not doing the sock a month thing. Though I did finish these in a month. The pattern is Rich from Cookie A's Sock Innovations. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill bought in their tiny story in Barton Vermont, where the yarn is dyed. This wasn't as fun a knit as it should have been. Something about it. Maybe that the yarn doesn't really work best for this pattern. Maybe I'm just over socks for a little bit. Interestingly the right one, which uses k2tog is smaller than the left which uses ssk. Interesting....
There may be a brief sock hiatus...Not sure how long it will last. Who knows I may end up casting on a pair next week....or maybe some fingerless gloves.....

DAL

In case you haven't noticed I'm a bit of a sucker for the knit a long. You say it I'll be there with yarn in hand. It's fun and a nice adventure and makes you break out of your mold a bit. Now I've taken it to new level; I joined the ravelery group for kool aid dyers. I've wanted to dye yarn for a while now and this has inspired me and given me a place to start. They have monthly Dye a long where a theme or color is suggested. This month was purple nice and easy one color.

I read after the fact that it's recommended to use two kool aid packs per 50g. I used two on 100g. I think that is the reason mostly for the splotchy. I've been doing more reading and am feeling excited about February. The bug also thought it was a lot of fun. She'd never seen kool aid packets before. There is a pitcher of purple liquid and grapes on the outside of the packet; she informed that it was juice. I explained that it didn't actually have any fruit in it though. This confused her then once she smelled that fakey grape she wasn't at all interested in the juice.

Clue 3

Finished Clue 3 the other night. Never mind that Clue 5 has been out for over a week. I know it doesn't look like much. Lace and all. One of the things I like about shawls is how they grow. You go from just a few stitches to hundreds. I think that's fun.

Plans....

Saturday night this happened. Thus I was not able to get to knit group to partake in the cast on for the mitten winter knit a long.
A long day of finding a new shed and starting to put it together. Two and a half hour construction time my hand knit sock covered foot! Forgetting about lunch, getting a headache from the low blood sugar and various other crazy icky ness. No, we don't have a shed yet....hopefully today..... Did I mention that the temperature is currently in the 20's? I then sat down for a few minutes and cast on for the mittens. They shall be the Vespergyle Mittens.

Cowl

Last month Mr. Gnome asked for a cowl. Ok he didn't say cowl but you know.... It is so rare for him to ask me to make him something I jumped at the chance.
Manos 2x2 rib all around with a couple of cables on the sides to keep me from going crazy...I mean to add some interest to the piece. He's been wearing it and really that's all I can ask.

Pumpkin

In the fall I got a bunch of pumpkins at the Farmer's Market. I baked them then froze them. It turns out a muffin tin is about half a cup. I'd measure half a cup put it in the muffin tin then the next day unmold and place into freezer bags. Now I have cups of local pumpkin in my freezer. A can is about 1 1/2 cups but a lot of recipes call for only one cup. I try thaw them out in the fridge over night but I don't usually think that far ahead. 2 minutes in the microwave and a bit of a stir thaws it out without making it too hot.

Yesterday we used some to make pumpkin cranberry scones. Mmmm

The Bug's Idea

Way back at the Earth Day celebrations the Bug made painted this bit of cloth. Shortly after this she decided it would be cool to put it on a shirt. I used fuisable interfacing and attached it to the shirt. I then suggested we sew the edges to make it look even cooler. She liked this idea and I showed her how to do a simple zig zag stitch.

Over the past number of months she would sit down and do a few stitches. A little over half way through the top she decided that she was done and wanted me to finish that side and that would be all the sewing this shirt needed. I think it turned out very cool. I also think she's pretty cool for thinking if the idea.

Scottish Oat Cakes

I love getting the new Vegetarian Times in the mail every month. I'm not the sort of person who likes to make the same thing over and over (this is true for knitting too). Yes, there are a few stand byes because they are quick, or cheap, or just very good (less true for knitting). But I just love a new recipe. The February edition came today and I immediately sat down to start meal planning. I make a list of everything I want to make and what I'll need to make each. I'll get what I need as the weeks go by, there are usually way more recipes I want to try than can fit in a week.

These Scottish Oatcakes are in this month's and they are very yummy. It makes 24 and there are now 11 left. These have homemade apple butter on them and they've also been enjoyed with homemade strawberry/raspberry jam.

Clue 2

Mr. Gnome was working last night so I cheated on some commissioned hats and finished Clue 2 of the Mystery Shawl. I do say it is lovely. Mr. Gnome is working tonight as well so I'm going to start on Clue 3. It should be noted that Clue 4 came out today. So sad and behind. Ah well. It's not like I would wear a shawl in the snow anyway.

Mmmm Cables

The sweater is moving very slowly. This is probably because I've only been knitting on it during knit group. Sad but true. This is the back, it's almost ready for sleeve decreasing. Then it's just the front. Really that is all there is to show.

New Year

Our New Years Brunch. The Breakfast Ring from the current Vegetarian Times. Eggless; I didn't have any vegan cheese, so not vegan. But very yummy. Mr. Gnome had seconds.

I also cast on for a new pair of socks. Last year I started socks on New Years Day and it just seems like a good thing to do. Bring in the new year with a new project. Just like the year it is full of potential and lacking in mistakes.