by Kat | Jan 19, 2018 | General
Stopover is in a bit of a time out. I almost always have lots of extra yarn left over when I finish a project. So, this time I ordered accordingly so that I would NOT have left over yarn and now I am in fear that I will not have enough to finish. So, I put it aside for the day while I thought about options that did not include buying another skein of yarn that would not be the same dye lot. I then determined that there was only one way to know if I have enough – finish sleeve one and weigh it. Start sleeve two just through the color work, weigh that. Then do a bit of this absolutely brilliant knitter math from Kate Davies. Talk about divine intervention… Kate, if you are listening, I am sending you a HUGE THANK YOU for that awesome post!
Yesterday, I should have been putting together my warping mill so I can get going on the weave along, but I got distracted by some super simple slippers. I could not resist them when they showed up in my top pattern list on Ravelry this week!
Something fun (?) this weekend… kmkat and I will be live tweeting during Vikings vs. Eagles game on Sunday night. What could be more fun than a couple of knitters tweeting about football. Want to follow along? You can follow kmkat here and me here. Mary has pointed out that this will curtail knitting time, but sometimes you just gotta tweet!
Links for this week:
Berroco is hosting a Lopi Sweater KAL Need help knitting a sweater? There will be a Lopi Knit-Along newsletter with tips and tricks! They have some great sweater ideas in this blog post. There are some great FREE sweaters on this list: Ryðrauð, Glaswegian Cardigan, Aftur, Ellen Cardigan, Iðunn, Antipodal, and Hela. Take it from me, knitting a Lopi is really so much fun! Not a fan of Lopi yarn? They have suggestions on how to use other yarns as well!
Romi’s Inner Light is just stunning.
TTL Mystery Sock 2018 is discounted until February 1st!
If you loved Deschain Tee, but you don’t like to knit with linen, then you will be happy to know that Gabrielle solves that problem nicely! P.S. a genius #makenine2018 maker did this without sleeves and I LOVE IT!
Strathendrick, oh.my. It’s Boxy meets colorwork….
Need a good cardigan? Stockbridge is a classic and I love the construction!
Sparks and Lucky Dip from Justyna’s Speckles collection is a wonderful way to use speckled yarn!
Plain & Simple from Quince is available for pre-order and, oh my. The patterns are all just wonderful!
Oh, Carole…. did you see Chess Club? Gah! It is so cute!
That’s all I have for you, have a great weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jan 18, 2018 | General, Words
This week I am doing my take on Bonny’s post from last week and that eternally dreaded question: “What’s for dinner” …
That question is the equivalent to nails on the chalkboard for me.
But, sometimes all you need is a bit of inspiration!
Inspiration One:
I pulled from my blog annals the recipe for Sichuan Pork Noodles from The Splendid Table. I want to tell you all how easy and good this meal is, and it is equally good with ground turkey. It makes a hearty amount, so if there is just two of you, there will be leftovers! Add a bit of the noodle water to the leftovers and it reheats beautifully!
Inspiration Two:
Vicki shared an Instant Pot recipe for Lentil Soup. I made it yesterday and wow! It is super easy and good! And, if you are making this in the Instant Pot, in less than 30 minutes you have dinner on the table! Changes I made: I only had French green lentils (Le Puy Lentils) in the house, so next time I would reduce the Instant Pot cooking time as these lentils need less cooking time. No spinach in the house either, but I did have frozen asparagus. I cut the spears up and added them in after the cooking time was done, covered and waited for them to warm through. You could make this soup on the stovetop easily and in about an hour. This soup was a big winner and will be in the rotation again this winter!
Inspiration Three:
Pizza! I make a pizza dough from a recipe from Peter Reinhart’s free Craftsy class that is really very good. But, you need to think in advance to make it, which is not always plausible in my household. However, TJ’s to the rescue. They have these WONDERFUL pizza crusts that come 2 in a package. Brush them with olive oil, toast them in the oven for a few minutes, top them with your favorite toppings from traditional to not so traditional. We love them topped with pulled pork, barbeque sauce, a bit of cheese, and sliced jalapenos. They are so good with anything you top them with and so easy!
Want to see what other things people are talking about? Head over to Carole’s to find more!
by Kat | Jan 17, 2018 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Unravelers!
It has been quite the week here with the continuation of cold and snowy weather. I might almost think I am back in Michigan!
Fortunately, all this cold makes it easy to knit sweaters! And, knit I have! I am moving along nicely with my Stopover. Sleeve one is well underway (and much farther than the above image shows) and sleeve two will be soon to follow!
Add to all this much improved reading this past week and you have the makings of a practically perfect week!
I finished The Last Tudor, and gave it 4-stars.
I started listening to The Orphan’s Tale and I am about half way through. So far, it is wonderful!
I am reading Lie With Me, which I got an ARC from Netgalley. So far, I am finding it very hard to connect the dots in the story, but I am hoping that clears up soon!
I have some very good things coming up:
Louise Penny’s A Trick of the Light and Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers!
What are you making and reading this week? Please leave your link if you are participating today!
Thank you!
by Kat | Jan 16, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
This quote is the January inspiration from The Balanced Life and it is speaking volumes to me each day. I have included it in my morning mediation and it has been a wonderful help in homing in on that which improves my one “wild and precious life”!
This year, I have not made “resolutions” nor have I set any “intentions”. I did not spend time thinking about any little words to choose for the year. But, rather this year I have decided to move forward with those things that worked well last year with hopes of improving them even more this year. Those things include healthy food and activity, inspiring creativity in myself and others, and giving more – especially my time.
So, with these things in mind, here is my “right now”:
Queueing Up: as many healthy Instant Pot recipes that I can for these cold winter days. I have started a board on Pinterest, and last night began day one of our “Instant Pot” suppers. I am always wowed by how easy the Instant Pot is, seriously. In less than 30 minutes start to finish dinner was ready! I would like to get to the point where I don’t need a “recipe” and feel comfortable using the Instant Pot for a variety of meals. Vicki shared a link yesterday, and I will be making it later this week. I will let you know what I think! Last nights supper was super easy: Boneless pork loin chops, frozen diced red peppers from last summer, 1 diced onion, a bit of salt and pepper, half a cup of water and half a jar of salsa. I served this on warm cannellini beans and topped with a diced jalapeno. It was so good, and the pork chops were so tender and moist!
Stitching: For a much longer time each day. I have already filled about half of my fabric and I am really happy with how Winter is progressing. I am using the books Margene sent to me to help me learn new stitch patterns and I have been enjoying practicing the new things I am learning over the course of several days. I have also been planning how to put together last years stitching, and I think I am ready to begin that process! Then I just need to figure out what I want to use for backing!
Procrastinating: Yes, this is still a problem in my life, but I am working on it! I want to participate in Beth’s Weave Along, but I have yet to wind my warp. I am procrastinating because the thoughts of warping the loom are more than a bit daunting. I am not sure I remember exactly how to do it. However, I have queued up a Craftsy class with hopes that it will jog my memory and spur me to get this done!
Selecting: Yarn from my stash to knit Kirsten Kapur’s mystery socks in February. I am also wondering why I can manage to finish mystery socks, but non-mystery socks remain in the unfinished category. Perhaps, non-mystery socks need to go in the procrastinating category! Ha!
Moving: Several times a week I have been doing this HIIT workout that Robin sent out; it is HARD but I feel so good when I am done! This has been super helpful in these bitterly cold days when getting outside at all is a challenge!
There you have my life currently, what are you up to?
P.S. A big thanks to Gale for her photo inspiration!
by Kat | Jan 15, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Or Hello from Pittsburgh in January!
In less than 24 hours we went from temps in the 70’s. Seriously, it was 72 here on Friday and we got over two inches of rain which then changed over to snow with temps in the teens on Saturday. My back yard is now a snow-covered ice rink! All that standing water from all that rain froze solid overnight.
Weekend bonus? All that cold weather meant that Treysta got lots of wear time! And, while I did not make my “goal” and start on sleeves on my Stopover, the body is almost done. And with this cold weather hanging around here for much of the week I have plenty of incentive to keep knitting and get those sleeves done pronto!
I spent some time this weekend playing with the Ravelry Project Challenge, which I think pairs well with my #MakeNine2018 goals. I have set a goal of 18 projects which is very wishful thinking! But, as in all things: if you don’t set goals – you achieve nothing! Like my Goodreads challenges, I never imagined I could do it until I did!
I also did some reading this weekend in a Net Galley book, but I keep having to go back to re-read parts because I feel like I am missing something. I am not too far in, so I hope this will sort itself out shortly!
On tap for today? Line up a bunch of Instant Pot recipes to make meal planning easier this week. (and to perhaps avoid that dreaded question of “what’s for dinner”)
I hope your Monday is warm and easy!
by Kat | Jan 12, 2018 | General
Despite temps that reached the 70’s with the sun out yesterday, Treysta got her debut yesterday and, oh my, I just LOVE her!
Hindsight in knitting, I should have gone down once size I think, but it fits and is incredibly comfortable! Treysta is a well-written pattern with excellent directions on yarn dominance and how to carry three colors in the few rows where three colors are worked at the same time.
I did some minor modifications to the pattern: no ribbing at the cuffs or at the bottom of the sweater, but rather I did the rolled edge like the neckline and the fit is much better. I did 4 rows of stockinette with a smaller needle on the sleeves and 6 rows with the same size needle on the bottom hem. No other changes were made at all. This is my first FO of 2018 and I could not be happier with it. My love of Lettlopi grows, it absolutely knits into the most wonderful fabric!
My sweater knitting is not yet over and I am cruising along on my Stopover! I am through the waist shaping and will likely start the sleeves this weekend. I had forgotten what a quick knit this is and this will easily be done this month!
Now, how about some links!
I Knit New York has some fantastic knits in it! And, if you head over to those crazy girls at Mason Dixon, Jane Jacobs is free for a limited time!
JumperCables released Mock Rib Cowl which is on sale right now!
Mary and Vicki are leading a little KAL with the Parallelogram Scarf and there is still time to join in!
This January thaw is nice, but I promise that winter is far from over…Narwhal and Fossil (and the pattern is free!)
BT Winter 18 has some lovely knits!
And, finally, a pattern I have been stalking all week! September House by Kirsten Kapur. I really love it!
Have an amazing weekend stay warm and dry! See you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jan 11, 2018 | General, Words
There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bit of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogs. Hal Borland
January thaw is well upon us and here in Pittsburgh and we achieved temps in the 50’s yesterday. It is supposed to be similarly warm today.
So, here are my three things for today:
Thing One:
Take a nice long walk outside!
Thing Two:
Bring the paper white bulbs in from the garage and get them planted today.
Thing Three:
Start a new gardening page on Pinterest with thoughts and ideas for this year’s garden.
Ahhhh!
Want to see more things that might be a bit more riveting than these? Head over to Carole’s!
by Kat | Jan 10, 2018 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Is it just me, or does this month seem be moving by and a most rapid pace? Not that I mind at all and the days are getting every so slightly longer, which is a very good thing!
Speaking of good things: Treysta is DONE and is currently getting a bit of a Soak™ and then some blocking. Glamor shots later this week!
And, I even managed to start my Stopover last night, and got a few rows done. I had forgotten what a fast knit this is!
Reading…for all the reading I have done, very little of it was good and in fact most of it was disappointing:
In the disappointing category:
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan. This started out really wonderfully but for me just sort of fell apart from about a third of the way in to the end. 2-stars.
Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss. After reading and deeply loving The History of Love this just fell incredibly flat for me. I kept paging back because I felt like I missed something in the story. 2-stars
Sadly, I do not recommend either of these books at all.
I finished my first book in for the “read harder challenge” Killers of the Flower Moon. I thought this was done really brilliantly. It is a fascinating story told from three perspectives – each was better than the last. This was a very quick listen and the narration was excellent. 4-stars.
Woolly: The True Story of the Quest to Revive One of History’s Most Iconic Extinct Creatures. This was a recommendation from someone in my knitting group and while I found it very interesting, I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as she did. If you are a science buff, there is so much fascinating information in this book. Also, while parts are true – much of the book is fiction. I gave it 3-stars.
The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld. A well-written and riveting tale – and a quick read! 4-stars. I highly recommend this book.
Currently reading:
The Last Tudor which is not that fantastic at all. I am listening and pushing through as I am almost done with it.
Up next: The Orphan’s Tale
What are you making and reading today?
If you are joining me today, please leave a link in the comments! And, thank you for participating!
by Kat | Jan 9, 2018 | General, Making
Yesterday, I saw this post from Gale which then took me to IG where I happily fell down a bit of a rabbit hole looking at #makenine2018 collages.
But, Gale was the starter of all this craziness and thanks to her I have also become a Ravelry Stalker of Kirsten Kapur’s pattern page watching for the release of not one, but two patterns: The September House Sweater and of course, her Mystery Socks which I hope will both be out soon.
I was going to “cheat” a bit and add my Treysta, but since I have less than 20 rows to go, I feel like it is already done (or it will be today!)
I have a little bit of sewing here, and lots of knitting.
Here is my Make Nine 2018:
- Ysolda’s Strokkur: I have the yarn, and am itching to cast on!
- Veronika Cardigan: I hope to spin some Romney to knit this.
- Merchant & Mills Curlew Dress
- Lotta Jansdottor’s Tunic from her Everyday Style book
- Through the Loops Mystery Socks
- Blaer: again, I already have the yarn for this
- Hygge, from Laine Magazine Issue 3: This is knit with Brooklyn Tweed Loft, so I am going to try and spin a similar yarn.
- Stopover: this time as a pullover!
- Autumn Forest, again from Laine Magazine: This is the only project that I have already in progress, however I have a good bit to still knit with 15 pattern repeats to go!
In addition to this, I would like to find some kind of sock mojo this year and maybe knit a couple of pairs of socks in addition to this list. I am amazed by those who somehow manage to knit a pair of socks a month… I have plenty of single socks that are sadly waiting for a mate. Either I find some sock mojo, or perhaps I start a trend of wearing mismatched socks!
What about you? Are you joining the #makenine2018 challenge?
by Kat | Jan 8, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Sometimes the best thing about a weekend is the surprise extension of it on Monday morning. That’s right, Steve’s office is closed today because if you have days on end of at or below zero-degree weather, when it rains and instantly freezes creating a ginormous disaster of ice.
That puts Monday in the win column an even nicer treat after the quiet weekend we had.
I read lots. It felt so good to just sit and do not much but that.
I also did some knitting. I was really not happy with the ribbing on Treysta, so I ripped it out and did the same thing as the neckline (a rolled edge knit with a much smaller needle) This looks much better to my eye and in trying it on, it feels much better than the loose ribbing. I think I need to put ribbing on the list of things that I need to work on improving this year.
The weekend might have included more than one of Lidia’s An Italian in Manhattan. Oh.my.gosh. These are so good! And, they are super simple to make:
An Italian in Manhattan, ala Lidia Bastianich:
First off, Lidia says to put your glasses in the freezer at least 15 minutes before you plan on sipping this delightful concoction. She is right, it is an absolutely necessary step!
**Please note, this makes 1 cocktail**
- 2 ounces whiskey (we used Crown)
- 1-ounce Cinzano Rosso vermouth (we did not have this in the house, but I did have Martini & Rossi and that worked just fine)
- ½ ounce Averna (or other Italian amaro) **amaro is in the Campari family, it is the much darker cousin
- 2 amarena cherries in syrup, drained (I found the cutest little jars of these at my local Trader Joe’s)
In a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes, combine the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Averna. Stir to combine. Strain into the chilled glass, drop in the cherries, and serve.
I would add: repeat as necessary, just because.
And, so now on with my Monday that is a continuation of the weekend. I hope you are warm and dry wherever you are!
