by Kat | Aug 13, 2018 | General, Making
Are for making.
My list today includes more Cherry Tomato Jam, some Peach Jam, and a Plum tart.
Also, that Basil infused cocktail from Friday got very high marks! I based it on this recipe. It was bright and refreshing. Changes I made: I used regular vodka (not citrus flavored) and no tonic water. Served with a twist, it was the perfect start to the weekend!
Oh, and this will be done today! Well, at least the knitting will be done! Up next, steeks and a zipper!
How was your weekend?
by Kat | Aug 10, 2018 | General, Making
There is a part of me that is entirely ready for the neighborhood kids to all be back in school… really.badly. However, that will mean that summer is ending. Yeah, the inner debate is most interesting, let me tell you! Ha!
BUT!!! I am so excited to do a little test run of the Endless Summer Tunic! I have a MUCH too large Dress No. 3 that will work perfectly, and this brings me to the bottom of my re-purpose stack! I traced the pattern out yesterday and plan to do some cutting this morning! All this sewing has really made clear that I need to do some re-ordering of my “craft office” … I need a space for the sewing machine to live where it is easy to access, but not in the way. I have been mulling this over in my mind all week so if there is any rain at all this weekend, operation craft room reorganization will be underway!
I also have this insane urge to cast on all the things… really, every day there is something new on Ravelry that catches my eye. AND, Kym taunted me yesterday with her start of Tegna…But, I am determined to ignore this urge and knit faster on Rock the Lobster! I now have about 3 inches to go before the ribbing and then the STEEK!! And, I want to thank you all for the GREAT zipper tutorials!
So, how about you? Are you craving a new knit? Here are some links to tempt you!
Stop the presses – have you all seen the Autumn Issue of Pom Pom Quarterly? I especially love Sky Map – the stitching possibilities!
Have you seen this gorgeous cowl by Erica Mercer knit with my friend Carla’s CJKoho Designs yarn!
Eddy Hat and Cowl the “lite” version of The Eddy Sweater/Wrap
Sweater season is fast approaching: St Catherines and Lambert both caught my eye!
And, finally… a new take on a knitted beverage accessory: Dreieck (and it is free!)
And, that’s a wrap for this week…my list today also includes the utilization of some of the Basil from the Basil Jungle in a libation for Happy Hour tonight. I will let you know how it turns out on Monday! Have an awesome weekend!
by Kat | Aug 6, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Except, I am not at all wishing it was Sunday again! Yes, it’s that time of the year when it seems the weekend is almost all work! Take this weekend for example:
After picking 5 lbs. of cherry tomatoes over 2 days, I knew Tomato Jam time had arrived. And, yes, that meant a good chunk of Sunday was spent in the kitchen cooking… but I do have some jam to show for it!
I also made another plum crostata – this time with more tart plums. It was delicious, but we thought the earlier plums were better. But, alas… they are done for the year.
Sunday afternoon we had these crazy pop-up storms complete with several large cracks of thunder that sounded ominously close! And, close it was! Our neighbor’s tree was struck by lightning and we had a bit of a fire show until the fire department arrived to take control of the situation. Nothing says neighborhood bonding like something on fire, amirite? Yes, we all stood in the rain watching the firemen do what they do best – spray water on things. I wonder if they do gardens?
There was lots of laundry because why not right?
We watched Ready Player One, which caused me to change my review of the book. All in all, even though the effects were incredible, I was very disappointed in the movie. Special effects do not trump reading…ever. Pro-tip: read the book and skip the movie!
I also finished the mystery shawl! OH.MY.GOSH!! It still needs a good soak and the tiniest bit of blocking but stay tuned for the big reveal later this week!
I have a bad case of “I want to cast on all the things” but I am trying hard to ignore it. I pulled out this and knit sleeve two while watching Ready Player One and I made good progress (read, I have said sleeve done!) It is going to stay out until I have it finished. This should tell you that I am losing steam with my Vodka Lemonade, but I only have about 14 rows to the sleeve divide when I know things go faster. My focus word for the week is persevere! Ha!
And, with that… let’s get this Monday started! How was your weekend?
by Kat | Aug 3, 2018 | General, Making
I don’t know about you, but I am having a really hard time with the reality that it is August…my brain doth protests much and seems to be stuck in July.
However, yesterday when I posted about a Blanket for Annie… I had hoped that I might get a few knitters who wanted to help. But, I never ever imagined that I would have TWELVE knitters! I have emailed Ann and Kay and I am waiting patiently to hear from them. Blanket knitters… look for an email later today and THANK YOU!! I am so excited!
I had so many finishes this week, but not the Mystery Shawl! KK’s beautiful bind off is slow going but I love how it looks. Also, I think I am doing one too many petals in my flowers, but I like how it looks so I am continuing with the extra petal but, as you can see, I have more than enough yarn. I will settle in this morning with Paris in the Present Tense and see if I can make some good progress on it!
However, my favorite finish is my Notorious Dress inspired by Vicki! I love it!
How about some links to round out your week and perhaps give you some inspiration?
The sweater was strong this week on Ravelry: Sweatershirt and Shamrock if you are a “pullover” person. Or Soyokaze and Margot (Lady) if cardigans are your jam. Don’t like sleeves? Joji has just the thing for you in fingering or sport weight!
Want to knit sweaters for wee people? Bean Cardigan and Waszka
There was some amazing inspiration in the Rectangle Shawl Category this past week as well: Fauxtarsia Wave, Obvious are all gorgeous. I love that eelliotknits posted more yarn ideas for her Fauxtarsia Wave on IG yesterday.
Like short-rows? Then Arabian tales and Summer Dunes have exactly that!
And, for you wash cloth knitters… who can resist Macaron Cloths?
And, I love Cover Your Plans and I might need to do this for the planner I carry in my purse!
That is all I have for this week! Have an amazing weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jul 27, 2018 | General, Making
I am taking a page from Kym today and sharing a TGIF post, because I am pretty sure you are sick of seeing photos of in-process-but-not-finished knitting!
T – Thinking About: Books to fill in spaces on my second bingo card. As you can see, I have a few filled in. I need some help from you all though with a couple of squares: “With an unreliable narrator” and “Audiobook with multiple narrators.” As you can see, those two squares will be crucial in being able to get a bingo or two!
G – Grateful For: Kristen Kapur’s brilliance at writing an extended clue 6 for those of us who will have extra yarn! That’s right, I don’t even have to think about how much more to knit, she has plotted it all out for me! And, the bind off! Oh my! I am not sure I can get through 55 rows today, but I am eager to get this shawl done to share with you how amazing it is!
I – Inspired By: The Smitten Kitchen’s cocktail recipe last week – so much so that I have a peach “shrub” that has been brewing in my refrigerator all week! I will be doing my own riff on her Bourbon Peach Smash for tonight’s happy hour.
F – Fun: More sewing for Genevieve is on deck and I am thinking about all the other possibilities to make for her. Things on my radar include the Geranium Expansion Pack, the Pierrot Tunic, and the Charlie Bundle.
Now, how about some Friday Links?
Do you use Slack? Did you know there is a very active knit community there? Knit Chats is an online community with teachers and scheduled “help” time available. The community is quite active and there is always a KAL going on. And, there is no cost involved!
Marie Greene has a new pattern out today: Whiskey & Rye
This week there is some amazing inspiration with combining two yarns: Watching Over You and Margila
The Mojave Collection from Kelbourne Woolens is just gorgeous!
Negative Spaces Scarf includes a “photo tutorial on how to knit the square holes without cutting the yarn”
Marettimo… oh my.
That is all I have for this week! Have a great weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
