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A week or two ago Larissa Brown of Stitch Marker fame posted a recipe for granola. I finally remembered to pick up the required oatmeal today. I highly recommend this recipe. It is quick and easy to make and so much more delicious than any of the store bought variety. I made the granola exactly as Larissa wrote it, but it would be very easy to make little changes to customize it.
From time to time I've mentioned SKK & ARK's musical interests. Over the past several years we have spent a good deal of our time going back and forth to NYC for lessons, rehearsals and performances. It has been an amazing experience to watch them grow as performers and musicians. Music and performance have allowed them to develop in so many other ways as well. They have become more mature, responsible, intellectually curious and confident. They have been exceptionally lucky to have caring, talented teachers and mentors who not only instruct them, but serve as role models. What more could a parent wish for?
This past weekend they performed with their band "Blame the Patient" at Southpaw in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The band was amazing. It was obvious from their stage presence that they have reached a level of confidence that allows each member's personality to shine through. I could not be more proud of them.
In other news, there are knit alongs starting in March for two of my patterns. Both Breathe Deep and Dr. G's Memory Vest have been chosen to be part of the Malabrigo March KAL in the Malabrigo Junkies group on Ravlery. If you've been wanting to knit one of these patterns, head over to the group and join in. You'll find the Breathe Deep thread here and the Dr. G's thread here.
With rich colors and explosions of blooms there is nothing timid about Clematis. Worked in the intense colors of the Indie Dyer's subtly variegated "Sock-it-to-Me" yarn these mittens are reminiscent of the lovingly worked tapestries and carpets from another time and place.
Deep textured cuffs keep wrists warm.
Bright colors spice up dark or neutral winter coats.
CLEMATIS
Sizes: One Size
Finished Measurements:
7” (18cm) at cuff
8” (20cm) at palm
11.5” (29cm) overall length
5” (13cm)from inside thumb to fingertips
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm) and US 2.5 (3mm) or size to obtain gauge. You may use DPN’s or Circulars whichever is your preference for working in the round.
Gauge: 34 stitches and 34 rows = 4”(10cm) in stranded pattern on larger needles, blocked
Yarn: Indie Dyer “Sock-it-to-me” 80% Superwash/20% Nylon 450 yard (411m) per 100 gram skein. Color “A”: 1 skein “Ice Blue”, Color “B”: 1skein “Warm Heart Red”. (I used about half of each skein for my mittens.)
Additional Materials:
Tapestry needle
Scrap yarn
Place Markers
Price: $6.00 US
Thank you to Kelly, Mai, Leslie and Charlie for test knitting.
A cause for celebration? In my little world it is. This pattern has been hanging over my head for a long, long time!
After being delayed by more pressing deadlines, my own procrastination & computer crashes (I lost my Excel spread sheet with all of the numbers and had to rework them - for 12 sizes! UGH!) Staccato is finally ready! Thank you for all of your patience and the gentle reminders that you still hoped I might publish the pattern.
Doesn't DD#1 look pleased?
Staccato is designed with the color lover in mind. I have given the stripe sequence for this pattern, but please feel free to stray from it and design your own stripes. Choose fewer colors, or more. Make your strips of equal width or more randomly sized than in mine. The possibilities are limitless.
STACCATO
Sizes: 32(34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54)"
81(86, 91, 97, 102, 107, 112, 117, 122, 127, 132, 137) cm
Materials: Dream in Color Classy, 100% Superfine Australian Merino Superwash, Approximately 250 yd/228m per 100g /4oz.ball]
Color “A” - In Vino Veritas 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins
Color “B” - Flamingo Pie 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins
Color “C” - Spring Tickle 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins
Color “D” - Gothic Rose 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins
Color “E” - Beach Fog 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins
Color “F” - November Muse 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins
Color “G” - Blue Lagoon 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins
US #8 / 5mm 32” circular needles (or size to get gauge)
US #8 / 5mm DPNs (or size to get gauge) or the 32” circular from above may be used with the magic loop method
Scrap Yarn
4 Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
22[22, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 27, 27, 27]” separating zipper
Gauge: 18 sts / 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Price: $6.00 US
DD#2 likes to develop new ideas on her dress form. On Saturday night, thoughts were of paper. The bodice is made from the New York Times, duct tape and packing tape. The skirt shaped with carefully selected pages from Craft Magazine.(Don't worry it was an issue that we had two copies of, we'd never tear apart our back issues otherwise.)
Alice in Wonderland, seen on one of the side panels of the skirt, is a tribute to her sister's favorite book - DD#1 has read Lewis Caroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" & "Through the Looking Glass" more times than I can count. She has most of the poems in the books memorized.
This dress will actually fit DD#2. The dress form is adjusted to her exact measurements. DD#2 plans to model it, if she can figure out a good way to add fasteners.
You may remember the shoes she made last year. This leaves me wondering if the bag to match will be next. . .
I realized a few days ago that I haven't been the best blogger. I have been so busy with design work that I haven't taken the time to show you other things that I've been working on.
Whenever I need a break from knitting my wheel comes out. It is such a relaxing and rewarding activity for me. Often my spinning happens late at night when I don't have the energy for anything else. If you are into spinning too, you might want to check out Neither Hip Nor Funky's Handspun February group over on Flickr. You will find inspiration and like minded friends there.
I had a few friends over to watch the inauguration. One of them, Jennifer (blogless), was kind enough to bring along her drum carder. She left it here for me to play with. This, my friends, is a very addictive activity. For a few days I could not walk past the drum carder without stopping to play. I've been thinking of buying one for myself. I still haven't decided - they are expensive, and do I really need something else to distract me from exercise, laundry & shoveling snow and ice? Yeah, put that way, maybe I do.
See all of those folded over, lumpy bits. That's probably not right, I guess I've got a lot to learn.
I sent this batch through the carder twice in hopes of getting a heathery effect in the finished yarn. I could look at the batts all day.
Along with spinning and carding I've been trying to get my sorry butt into shape. All of the knitting and designing I've been doing has led to a very sedentary girl. That's not like me. I've been pretty active all my life, with tennis, gardening, hiking & golf among other things (karate & gymnastics in my younger days). Getting enough exercise has never been an issue until recently. In the past I have taken pride in my strength. I've realized lately how quickly that is lost for those of us past a certain age who spend too much time knitting and spinning. It is clearly time to do something about that. I've been pretty dedicated to my treadmill for the past few weeks. Hopefully it will pay off.
I'm tickled and honored that my "Lisa's and Katie's Berets" were selected as "Jess's Pick" for the month of February over on Ravelry. Thanks Jess and Mary-Heather!
Of course, there are still new designs in the works. That's my new and nameless mitten. It's worked in Indie Dyer's Fingering - Sock-it-to-me. The pattern and more details coming soon.
