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(to borrow from Soulemama) Right Now I'm...
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95JQFOcuTg]
What are you up to?
Mr. Cleaver and I tried quinoa for the first time this morning, we used the Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa Recipe from Chef MD's Big Book of Culinary Medicine via 101 Cookbooks and it was definitely tasty and filling. I'm looking forward to trying quinoa in more savory and salad dishes too.
In other news, it looks like spring is finally making it's way to Maine!
I was pleasantly surprised when I was told that Quince & Co. would be releasing my newest design this week, as I didn't expect it to see the light of day until the fall knitting releases, so while this isn't the springiest sweater, it's without a doubt one my favorite designs.
I wanted Kaeryn to be one of those cozy weekend sweaters that you could just throw on, be comfy and still look good. I wanted it to be something infinitely wearable and a go-to item. My knitting buddy Karen must have thought so, because ever since I pulled out the sketch for the first time, she was encouraging me to hurry up and finish it so she could knit one of her own. And since Karen served as my design-approver throughout the process, I named it after her (though I changed the spelling to look more knitting-pattern-y)(though technically, I think the new spelling would be pronounced kay-ren, but I'm cool with however you want to pronounce it).
In many ways, this is a very basic raglan, a-line sweater, but I think I've added a few details that make it pretty special. Perhaps the most noticeable are the moss-stitch panel and its seamless kangaroo pocket. I also like the clean lines of the turned hems at the collar and hem. I discovered the decrease bind-off while working on this sweater and it's perfect for keeping the hem sketchy.
Also of note are the moss-stitch cuffs, which are decreased into a soft point.
The sweater is knit in Quince & Co's worsted weight Lark yarn, in Frank's Plum.
When possible, I strive to write my patterns for a while range of sizes and this comes in a bunch: 30½ (32¾, 34¾, 36¾, 39, 41, 43¼, 45¼, 47¼, 49½, 51½, 53½, 55½, 57¾, 59¾)”
To purchase the pattern, visit the Quince & Co. website or you can queue it up on Ravelry.
Like I said, I love this sweater and totally want one in my own size, so I'm up for a knit-along nearer toward fall if anyone's interested!
[All photos with model © Carrie Bostick Hoge, courtesy of Quince & Co; all other photos by me]
This is the last one of these for a while, as I've finally run through all the fabric I purchased to make School House Tunics, so I'll be moving onto other patterns in the near future, I promise!
For this take on the School House Tunic, I added 4 inches to the tunic-length to make it dress-length for me; added a series of three pintucks to each side of yoke; and made it short-sleeved, because I ran out of fabric.
The fabric itself is a cotton/linen blend in a color Bristol will want to steal from me, that I picked up at Z Fabrics.
I think this version will get a ton of wear in the warmer months, but for now I'm pairing it up with some tights, boots and a long-sleeved tee.
While I failed at my last cookie baking attempt, I've had a bit more luck in the vegetarian cooking department. First off I wanted to thank everyone for their recipe suggestions, I'm still looking through some of the ones posted last week, but there are several I can't wait to try - keep 'em coming!
Two things I've learned quickly, chickpeas (and beans in general) are my veggie-cooking friends and that taking pictures of food in my kitchen lighting at night is less than ideal.
Also, not specifically related to the vegetarian-eating thing, but banana and nutella on toast may be my new favorite breakfast.
Recipes used this week:
Also made (not-photograghed) Chana Masala, which I improvised with a bunch of veggies, chickpeas and a jar of Masala sauce from Trader Joes.
I had such a spectacular baking fail last night that I just had to share.
Unless I was aiming for chewy chocolate pancakes, that is. Granted they taste fine, but as Mr. Cleaver said "they're not cookies."
So did I...
If you picked #2, you're correct!!
I tried putting the dough in the fridge, but that didn't help (something about the heating permanently changing the structure of the butter). So after two failed batches I decided that the remainder will find a new life as dough - maybe in some ice cream.
Ever since I made my first School House Tunic for the Fall Palette Challenge I have been wearing all the time, pretty much, if it's clean, I'm wearing it.
I fell in love with this pattern for three reasons:
It's also fairly easy to adapt. For this version I added some more substantial button loops (thanks to Mags and Bristol for help with the placement) and I've got fabric lined up for a longer version with some pintucks planned.
The fabric in this one is slightly stiffer than the last one, which gives it a crisper shape, and I'm in love with the Anna Maria Horner print.
I can't wait until I have time to sew a third version. Do you have a favorite go-to pattern?
Another spring and another Lent is upon us already!
In the past I've given up jeans, non-cash forms of payment, television, and pants.
This year I'm doing something a bit more traditional and giving up meat (with the usual fish on Fridays exeception, because Mr. Cleaver really likes seafood).
Yep - I'm going vegetarian!
It's a veggiesaurus Lex, veggiesaurus! -Jurassic Park
I tend to pick my Lent challenges months in advance and my decision to go veggie is part of the reason I declared 2012 a Year in Food/conscious eating.(The other is that I have high hopes for an edible garden this year).
One of my greatest conscious eating successes so far this year has been the daily addition of fruit, but veggies, particularly those outside the "intro veggie" range (peas, broccoli, lettuce, etc.), are harder for me, so what better way to to expand and explore than to go vegetarian.
All-in I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. (In any case, it'll be warmer than giving up pants).
I've started a folder (and a Pinterest Board) of some recipes I'm going to try, but if you have some favorite recipe links or vegetarian cooking blogs to share, I'd love to check them out. So fill up the comments with suggestions!
So I may have made negative progress on my Taos sweater this weekend, but I did finish spinning all my yarn for my sheep heid hat! I'm not 100% in love with the dark brown color, mostly because it and the black are the only dyed fibers and I feel like it sticks out like a sore thumb.
That said, I have a huge knitting backlog of projects to get through, so I probably won't get to knitting the hat itself for a while, so there's nothing to stop me from spinning up something else if I come across something I like.
I may have been named one of Knitscene's "8 Designers to Watch in 2012," but it doesn't mean that I'm not capable of a spectacular knitting fail every now and again.
[See that shameless little plug I did there? Wasn't sure how to work that in. ;)]
Take for example exhibit A up there. I've always prided myself on even gauge, but both of those socks up there are same yarn, same pattern, and yes, the same needles. Unlike my pal Aimee, my tools aren't to blame it was all me. It's like an inch shorter at the foot and the cuff.
Le sigh...
I plan to knit a third sock and see which one it matches up to (fortunately I have enough yarn), but I needed a little break first (especially since I suffered that sock defeat and a Superbowl loss on the same evening).
[SOCK UPDATE ADDENDUM: I recounted the rows on both socks and it seems that my ability to count and not gauge was the issue. On sock one I did a cable feature every 7th row and on sock two I did it every 6th - shorting myself by several rows]
For something completely different, I started this muted Taos cardigan. The official color name is "blue note," but I have dubbed it Cookie Monster blue. I started it last night at knitting and since it not secret knitting, I'll be sharing my progress as I go along (and check one solid-colored cardigan off my knit-a-lution).