Last night I found myself perusing a pattern company’s buy 3 get 1 free sale. In the spirit of “conserve” — my word for 2022 — I closed out the browser and decided to look at patterns and fabrics already in my possession. I looked through my spring Ottobres while sipping coffee this morning and came up with the following items to sew this spring.
Culottes in indigo or black linen, maybe both?Cropped pants in gray cotton twill.White cotton interlock tee.Charcoal cotton jersey flowy tee. I think I’ll save the speckle for another Piedra dress.
I still have more fabrics to find garments for. I will make a blouse out of the Liberty blue paisley cotton lawn, but I haven’t found the right pattern yet. I want to make a jumpsuit out of the eggplant linen, I’ve found a pattern I like, but I’m trying not to act on that right now. I have enough to sew. Maybe next year!
I’ve had the book Knitted Ganseys by Beth Brown-Reinsel for such a long time. I have always wanted to design my own gansey and knit it using the guidelines in the book.
In the spirit of “conserve” (my word for 2022) instead of buying yarn, I begrudgingly trawled my stash for something appropriate. This Quince and Co Tern in Sea Star is fingering weight, but close enough to sport, especially with my loose knitting. Since the content is wool and silk, I knit a swatch to see if the stitches would be crisp enough for a gansey, and I think it works. It will be a nice, light, spring gansey. And, yes, I will probably put an anchor on it somewhere. I’m thinking ladders, wedding lines, a tree of life, and an anchor in a quiet spot. As someone who has moved from place to place throughout my life, an anchor is a symbol that is meaningful to me, even though I don’t live a nautical life.
Have you ever wanted to knit a gansey? If so, are there any symbols that are particularly meaningful for you? If you would like to learn more about ganseys, I found this article Ganseys for Dummies on the Knitting Genie site. I especially liked this bit, “The modern word ‘yarn’ comes from the Old Norse ‘garn’ (Old English ‘gearn)’. That initial ‘g’ in Old English was actually pronounced more like a cross between a ‘h’ and a ‘y’. So the ‘gan-sey’ may just be a corruption of ‘yarn-sy’, ie: ‘thing made from yarn’.”
I can’t wait to start knitting on my pink yarnsy. I have some math to do first, though.
Everything is delicious. It’s surprising how red the raspberries made the switchel. We’re learning about Robert Burns by watching a BBC documentary on YouTube.
My oat cakes came out delicious. I had one with butter and marionberry jam for breakfast.
I based my recipe on this one, but made some modifications.
1 cup coarsely ground gluten free rolled oats
1 cup gluten free oat flour
1/4 cup vegan butter at room temperature (I used Flora, my new favorite. You could also use regular butter. I used salted, but you can use unsalted and increase the salt to 1/2 teaspoon.)
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup hot water
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
I dumped everything except the hot water into my mixing bowl and stirred on low. Then I slowly added the hot water about 1 tablespoon at a time to bind the dough. Once it held together and pulled away from the sides of the bowl, I stopped. If you accidentally add too much hot water and your dough is too wet, just add more oat flour until the consistency is right. The dough should be firm and not sticky.
Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness on parchment paper and cut using a round 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter. Once the oven is preheated, bake the oatcakes on a cookie sheet with parchment paper for 25-30 minutes, until browning at the edges. Transfer to a cooling rack until cool. (My dough didn’t actually need the parchment paper for rolling or baking, so you could try it without.)
Yesterday, I pick up rutabagas and russets for Bob to make neeps and tatties. My switchel is brewing in the frig, and it tastes pretty good! I’ll post again later to share pics of the feast.
I’ve reached the point on Freya’s Musselburgh Hat where it’s round and round in stockinette. This is going to make great relaxation knitting. I can see why this pattern becomes addicting for some. I also learned the pinhole cast on, which is pretty great.
I am making good progress on Arrowhead now that I make sure to knit one row per day. I thought I would treat you to a photo of where the steek will be cut when the time comes. I love knitting in Lettlopi and will definitely use it again.
I’m going to spend more time practicing my spinning today. It’s been a couple of weeks. I’m going to use up my wool top that came with the wheel before trying a new fiber.
Burns Night Supper Prep
Last year, Liz sent me a link to a virtual Burns Night event. I had never heard of it, but I’m all in for a holiday that’s basically an excuse to party in January. I decided this year to do it our way — in front of the TV with food.
Bob will make vegan sausage with neeps and tatties for dinner. (Neither of us is interested in vegan haggis.) I’m going to bake gluten free oat cakes and as Bob doesn’t drink, and I don’t drink whiskey (or any hard alcohol) I’m going to try to make a raspberry ginger switchel with Bob’s homemade apple cider vinegar. We’re trying to find a way to watch the movie Red Rose, as neither of us really knows anything about Robert Burns. If we can’t find it, we will look for a documentary. Also, we will be wearing tartans (flannel shirts most likely).
Bob says he remembers being taken to a Burns Night Supper as a kid and being bored to tears with the poetry readings. I definitely dinna want a rrrepeat o’ tha.
In addition to the Vertices Unite Knitalong (KAL), I’ve joined another shawl KAL! This one is run by Malabrigo, and I’ve signed up through Mass Ave Knit Shop. I was visiting Indianapolis this week for work, and of course I stopped by the yarn store! The yarn on the left is for the KAL: Arroyo in Marte, Cian, and Frank Ochre. The pattern is La Mondiola Wrap. I guess 2022 is going to be The Year of the Shawl for me.
The pink is Chunky in Hollyhock. I’ve been wanting to knit a Getting Warmer Cowl for myself, and this color stopped me in my tracks. I’ve knit one already for a silent auction item from merino I picked up in Kenya that I dyed vermillion red. I loved knitting it and trying it on, and wanted to make one for myself. I think this pink will look fantastic with my royal blue melton coat I’m going to sew!
The necklace in my photo is from Purlsmith. I love their sterling stitch marker jewelry. And right now I am really identifying with the rough freshwater pearl, feeling as though I’ve been through the wash a few times but still have some rough spots to smooth out. Although today I’m wearing a green agate stitch marker on my necklace, which I received in my Yuletide Mystery Box from November Woods Fiber Co. I can’t believe I never blogged about that. It was a lovely gift to myself in December, including indigo dyed green yarn and a handmade mug.
Did you know this month is Bloganuary? I’m getting a late start. Today’s prompt is to write about what year you would travel to — back in time — if you could. My answer is 1536: Tudor England. Henry VIII turns England upside down for Anne Boleyn, she is queen for three years, and then he has her beheaded. What the heck happened?! I have read and watched so many historic and fictional accounts, but none of them satisfy my curiosity. My latest acquisition is The Story of the Death of Anne Boleyn: A Poem by Lancelot de Carle. His poem is an eye witness account of the event in verse form written for the French king. The book is a translation with essays by Joann DellaNeva. The poem is not new, but a full version has been discovered that was suppressed in England because it’s pro-Anne. I guess Henry didn’t like that.
I did it. I sewed a pink velour Mile End sweatshirt. Pattern is Mile End Sweatshirt by Closet Core. Fabric is rose organic cotton velour from Nature’s Fabrics. Although really soft and mostly cotton, I found the velour a little challenging to sew as it rolled a lot. I may give up my velour fantasies.
Next on my sewing list is a wool melton Clare Coat. Learning curve for sure!
Today I added my finished All Sass and No Squatch Hat to my Knitting Master Plan, and I crossed the 100 miles knit line! That’s not bad for mid-January.
I got Marilee the All Sass and No Squatch pattern for her birthday and then subtly suggested a knitalong. I may have gotten really excited and powered through. I just have the crown to do. You probably can’t see the gold stellina sparkle. When I finish and sew on the pompom I ordered, I’ll try to get a better pic. Can you see Bigfoot? It’s okay if you can’t. Bigfoot is elusive.
I’m making good progress on my Arrowhead Cardigan sticking to my one row a day.
Sewing
I’ve been wanting to sew a velour sweatshirt for a couple of months. What can I say. I’m a child of the 80s. I found some mostly cotton velour fabric. What color, you ask? Well, Valentine’s Day is coming. I thought, “I know. I’ll get rose.” Yeah. A pink velour sweatshirt. Good thinking. Except, it’s really pink. Will I go ahead and sew the sweatshirt? Or maybe I should sew a robe instead? I’m going to stew on it.
Spinning
Nothing to see here. Move along.
Gardening
I ordered some kale, broccolini, and German Chamomile seeds for the garden. The greens under the greenhouse are still alive but not in great shape. I do think that I can plant some kale and cabbage in there when I plant the snap peas, though.
I’m still getting over whatever virus this is that isn’t Covid. I may have had a secondary sinus infection. I’m fatigued. I’ve been working, knitting, and binge watching Scott and Bailey. It’s my new favorite show (after UK Ghosts and Beforeigners.)
I forgot to tell you that my socks are knit from High Twist Merino Sock in colorway Orange Grove by Forest Lane Fiber Co. I used a 64 stitch recipe with a garter stitch heel, based on the Hermione’s Everyday Socks pattern, on a size 0 needles. I wore these all day yesterday and slept in them last night. I may stop knitting garter stitch heels and just knit stockinette heels. I might also try an afterthought heel. My next socks will be sport weight.
I finished sewing my shacket! I can’t remember what the fabric is, and I can’t look it up because I bought it in store at Sew to Speak a couple of years ago. It’s a heavyweight, double-sided cotton flannel. Chamois? I found a double-sided black flannel to fill in for the in seam pockets and interfacing. Pattern is Logan Shacket by Style Arc. I really love the way their patterns are written. I’m still waiting for the big snaps to arrive to sew them on.
I need to figure out why my Juki is balking at sewing buttonholes on anything other than single layer quilting cotton. Maybe it’s a tension setting? I think I’ll spend some time this week on tutorials.
Are you ready for Monday? I’ve been listening to lo-fi chill hop daily to keep me moving with a soft steady beat and low pulse rate.
I’m also trying a new thing. I’ve downloaded the Feedly app, and I’m trying to follow blogs that way. It’s a little clunkier with WordPress sites, since I have to pop out to the browser and sometimes sign in multiple times to like and comment. But it’s much smoother on the Blogger sites. I’ll get the hang of it eventually. But if it seems I’m missing posts or commenting twice or weird stuff like that, this is why!
headknits 