Hand-spun scarf

Mini Scarf – just in time for spring.

I've always admired the two-ply, two-color yarn that is most often hand spun.  I think it makes the most beautiful yarns.  So I was excited to buy this skein from "Spun Monkey" last summer at Squam.  I wish that I had photographed it in it's un-knit glory, because it's something that I think was almost more beautiful before it was knit.  (Is it a crime to admit that?)

Handspun yarn loveliness.

I did knit it though.  The small fry asked me for a scarf and I think she liked the color variation in this yarn.  She's little enough to think that some of what I wear is worth mimicking and I love to wear scarves.  And as you might guess, I was happy to oblige.

She's a character this one.  And you knitters out there will appreciate this:  when we dress her in the mornings, if she ends up wearing a sweater, she asks if I knit it.  Isn't that funny and wonderful?  I love that she understands that people can make things - useful things - like clothing, and art, and birthday cakes.  She's a good girl, if I do say so myself.  (And as I re-read this, I realize I sound about as objective about her as my own mother is about me.  Ha.)

Gorgeous colors, right?

The scarf is a simple one.  It was cast on size 8 needles, and began with 4 rows of seed stitch, and then I continued up the scarf with the first two and last two stitches in seed stitch and the center in stockinette.  I finished it with 4 rows of seed stitch to try to prevent too much rolling.  I highly recommend this yarn, it's beautiful and even more so in the skein.

Baby shorts

Cute pants on cute "Jack and Jill" chair.

How about these for a cozy baby bum?  I was so enamoured of the photo of Baby Shorts in the Debbie Bliss book, that I thought I would cast these on.  (I have a strict personal rule about wearing anything knit over my own backside, but I think that people in diapers are able to carry it off.)

I knit these out of some leftover Louet Gems that I had purchased a few years ago from a sale bin.  I was able to get an aran sweater out of it, and now these... I don't remember what I paid for the yarn, but it's netted a couple really nice little finished projects.

These knit up really quickly, and cleverly use short rows for extra length in the back of the pants... to accommodate the diapered bottom.  The finishing was really simple, as there was only the seam down the center front and back and the short inseam between the legs. The legs are finished nicely with a picot edge.  If you haven't knit a picot edge before, I'd recommend trying it.  It's really very simple and the results are very satisfying and make a really nicely finished edge.

Picot edge.

I wanted to mention this little chair too.  Isn't it darling.  I picked it up in the best little antique store... more a boutique than a typical antique store.  They have a knack for selecting and artfully arranging really fun and eclectic pieces.  It's called Roots in Maplewood.  If you are ever in St. Louis, you should check it out!

I hope that you and yours are keeping warm in your respective regions.

Quill Cowl

Quill - can't wait to show you
in better lighting

I am a long lost illustration student. I love details and fine work. And I started quite some time ago drafting an illustration that I could translate into a two-color piece of knitting.  Needless to say, it grew and grew and is now an unwieldily chart.

But I just love the image and the fluid repeat.  And I think it turned into a really nice cowl.  There will be a pattern coming soon, until then, here is a sneak peak...  it reminds me of paper quilling.

There was a birthday celebration...

...complete with all the requisite things.  Home-made birthday cake, doting grandparents, balloons and the birthday banner, good friends and food and a few gifts for the birthday girl.

Three!

All ringing in year three!  Cheers to our girl!

Neopolitan Cake. Yum!

Finished - Grand Central 2.0

I've managed to cast off the second version of leeleetea's lovely Grand Central cowl.  This one is for  one of the dearest girls on the planet.  My friend Jess is one of the kindest, smartest, most generous and thoughtful people.  And I was just thrilled when she asked me to knit something for her.

Modeled by my ever-willing sister.

If you are looking for a simple and easy to follow and remember knitted cowl pattern, look no further. And if you haven't tried a tubular cast on or off, this is a great way to start.  It makes absolutely the best finished edges for 1x1 ribbing.  I love it.

The yarn is also fantastic.  This is Jill Draper's Hudson in Mourning Dove.  It's got a great twist and wonderful, subtle variation. And I can promise that it will wear extremely well.  I have worn mine almost every day this winter and it looks as good as it did right after it was blocked.  (I even wore it to chop firewood, so it's not only been marching around inside my dress coat, it's actually gone to work. P.S. Sawdust shakes right out of this super wash.)

Granted, we're not facing winter weather to the extreme that New England is, but it will be delivered in good time for some use this winter.  I can only hopes Jess likes it as much as we like her.

Noodles

Once upon a time there were a dozen eggs, a pinch of salt, some "OO" flour and a bit of semolina.  Some water and oil, a little elbow grease and a bit more flour.  And this was the net result.

Sunshine and nostalgia

I channelled my late and much beloved Noni (grandmother) for a few hours this weekend.  She was my original tutor for all things pasta. We spent hours at her basement "working kitchen" rolling sheets of yellow translucent pasta through the hand-crank machine. We made noodles, tortellini and ravioli full of the best fillings and folded, cut and crimped with the greatest care. We would emerge a little more tired and slightly flour-dusted but excitedly anticipating the meal that was sure to follow that would wow the lucky recipients.  She was a wonderful teacher, cooking companion, grandmother and friend.  I miss her.

Rolling, rolling

Drying a little before cutting

This weekend, I didn't go all out.  I hadn't had time to make fillings, so plans for ravioli and tortellini will have to wait.  But we did make some lovely fettucini and a fair number of pasta squares which should make a great compliment to a bowl of brothy soup.

Drying time

I made two batches of dough. The first was her recipe which is especially yolk laden and wonderfully yellow.  I have yet to run across another recipe like it.  And the second was from a new cookbook that my sister had given to me, called The Glorious Pasta of Italy (Marchetti).  It was Saffron Pasta Dough, and it smelled wonderful.  It's funny in these pictures that the two are drying together and it's impossible to tell the saffron from my family recipe.  The golden yolks and those ruddy saffron threads net nearly the same result. 

Mangia!

It was an industrious and pleasant afternoon.  Followed by a nice meal spent in good company. There is nothing more I could ask for.

Kilkare Socks

In June of 2012, I visited the most wonderful place, full of the most amazing women, beautiful scenery and inspiring classes. It was that event and those experiences that prompted me to start this little blog.  And the yarn for these lovelies was purchased there - at Squam Art Workshops - last summer.  And isn't it fitting that I finished them up the same week I received my confirmation for this summer.  I cannot wait. 

Vanilla socks

As a testament to how good Squam Art Workshops really are, I give you a few pieces of evidence: 9 women who were unfamiliar with each other, were so well matched (by Elizabeth) and compatible that (what I hope will be) a lifelong friendship has been created; we enjoyed each other's company so much that we couldn't wait an entire calendar year to get back together, so we met in Chicago in October, and of the nine of us that met in 2012, seven of us are returning to be room-mates again this coming June.  Is that good, or what?

So it looks like we'll get to experience a new cabin, but I'm betting that the porch will again look something like this. 

Several days accumulation, ahem.

Warm feet and fun times ahead! Is it June yet?