Irish & Linen Stitch

1. I have had this pattern for awhile and it is looking like time to start on it. I am still collecting some koigu yarn ... enough for three separate scarves. One in green, another in blue and also plum. The scarf is worked entirely in a linen stitch and can be knitted from almost any stash of odds and ends. You can find this pattern at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas.   Oh and Happy St. Patty's .... I've shamrocks in the window and on the table and I have been planning my;

St. Patrick's Day Menu 

Guinness,

Chicken Sausage

Scalloped Potatoes & Spring Peas

Irish Soda Bread 

  Irish Coffee &  Oatmeal Cookies

The Irish Soda Bread Recipe came from a very dear little Irish Grammie who makes the bread for the Irish festival at the Hagley Museum every year.

Irish Soda Bread

3 c. flour

2/3 c. sugar

1 t. salt

2 T melted butter

2 eggs

1 T. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 1/2 c. raisins ( I like golden)

1 3/4 c. buttermilk

1 T. caraway seed (opt.)

Sift all dry ingredients. Stir in raisins and caraway seed. Combine beaten eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork till just moist. Don't over stir. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from pan immediately.

A Victory Garden

I have harvested seeds from last years Jarradale (Blue)Pumpkin. I shared about half of them as winter feed for the squirrels and planted the rest. They are above, enjoying a sunny window sill. I harvested butternut squash too but the rest of my seed has been ordered from Victory Gardens. I will buy my eggplant and peppers from Leon's Garden Shop and I do expect last years tomatoes to come up on their own

... All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, And all things wise and wonderful;The Lord God made them all.

 ~Cecil F. Alexander

She Said "Yes"

My great aunt & uncle, Gordan and Mary Peterman, get engaged. Love the sweater and the enthusiasm! They had five children .... my California cousins .... Uncle Gordy is with Jesus now.

Simple

I've begun a blankie in the moss stitch. The wool is Rowan purelife (13 circular needles). I plan to toss over my favorite chair so I can snuggle. It is also a simple break from trying to figure out more complicated patterns.

Knitting & Upcycle

I do not only knit for myself. The above items are part of my nesting projects for Samira and perhaps some other children. I knitted and felted the hats (a free online pattern) to match some upcycled gloves on etsy from Felt Sew Good. The gloves, as shown to the right, are my own first attempt ... the little grey pair with the wayward thumbs. I did make about three more pairs, from thrift store sweaters, which turned out much better. I cannot show them because they all went under the Christmas Tree .... I may try to make a couple more, in the near future, as I promised my mother a set.

Basketweave Cowl

Done and finished this lengthy but lovely project. Above, with my cowl, are some pretty, little, recycled mittens from Felt Sew Good on etsy. Allthough they match so nicely, I am tempted to knit a set of mittens in the very same basketweave design. I did find a helpful site online, where you can graph and print a digital design for fair isle knitting or other motif. And so I am in the process of designing my set of mittens on Tricksy Knitter. You can find a link under my list of blogs and tutorials. My Basketweave Cowl is made from a Danish 100% wool from Kauni. My project required 2 skeins (150 g. each) with some left over for the mittens.

Norwegian Christmas Socks

So here are the Norwegian Christmas Stockings or "little red socks" I have been promising to blog to you about, dear reader. They are knit on #2 circular needles and double points.

As you can see I am stopped conveniently at the heel, awaiting the stamina to figure out the next step. I have a pretty good idea about how to proceed and may be able to show you at least one finished sock very soon. I have hung up the idea of making a set of Christmas Stockings for a pair of socks. These will be for just two little feet .... mine.