May 10th, 2008
Another sock, this time with a rather silly name. When I was trying to decide what to name this sock, I was thinking of holes, and, quite naturally for me, holes led to “Toad in the Hole” one of my favorite things to eat. The food is yorkshire puddings with sausages baked in them, covered in thick onion gravy. The sock is a simple lacy wonder done in STR Pondscum - quite an appropriate yarn, I thought. The photo below is close up detail of the sock - but don’t judge me too harshly, it isn’t blocked yet!
The sock was originally done in ShiBui, which took two skeins but it only needs one STR medium weight.
The pattern should be available here for download by next weekend if the paypal gremlins cut me some slack 
My Yorkshire Pudding recipe
- (Heat the oven to about 400 degrees)
- Large rectangular roasting pan
- Six or 8 good quality pork sausages
- Lard or veg oil
- 4 or 5 large heaped desert spoons of plain flour
- 3 large eggs
- a generous pinch of salt
- milk
- cold water
Mix the flour and salt, add the eggs and a splash of milk and mix rapidly in one direction only until smooth. Add more milk and water (about 50/50) until it’s the consistency of good heavy cream, being sure to beat only in one direction (you’ll beat all the air out otherwise)
Set aside to rest.
Stab the sausages and place in pan along with enough lard or oil to cover the base of the pan. Slap them in the oven until fully cooked, turning as needed. Give the pudding batter one last beat then pour over the sausages and the bottom of the pan. Stick the pan back in the oven and leave it alone until it’s risen and a lovely dark brown color. Resist the temptation to keep opening the oven door - your puddings’ll go flat (as a pancake - lol) if cold air get on them.
Cut into portions, cover in thick onion gravy and enjoy
May 8th, 2008
I’ve had this idea for mitered cables since I read an article on Ravelry about traveling cables and was intrigued to say the least. Erica at River Colors tempted me with some delicious blue Mal and I was off and running.
It really took some figuring to get that mitered corner, but I’m pretty happy with the results, and whilst it may not get the approval of purists, I’m fairly certain that it will be easy for intermediate knitters or even confident beginners who have done a cable or two in the past.
Here’s a pic of the corner -
it’s a little fuzzy, but that’s ok, you get the idea.
If all things go to plan - and I realise that was the kiss of death - then I should have the edited pattern for the jacket up for sale by next weekend, along with my other patterns and various stitch markers, pin cushions, etc.
NOTE: yes, I gave it all the kiss of death… le sigh……
May 8th, 2008
I have to throw this out there - it has nothing to do with knitting, but enquiring minds need to know.
Am I the only one who has noticed that every week, within 37 minutes, someone brings up Lupus on House? The first season, it seemed that the mom was usually to blame for the patient’s ailments. I’m guessing they got rid of a misogynistic writer or two, but lupus? Every week? Come back Jeeves and Wooster - all is forgiven!
May 8th, 2008
I made this sock a while ago. Equal parts frustration and admiration led to the pattern, which in all honesty is a poor relation of Eunny Jang’s Bayerishe sock. I’m utterly in love with the Bayerishe. I don’t know how many times I started this sock and tinked it back in frustration. There was some serious mental blockage going on there. I’m not saying that it’s a difficult pattern, and I must stress that it is very well written - I just had this huge mental block telling me that I _could not_ knit this sock. In the middle of my frustration, I decided to take each pattern component and practice working it individually. And that was the birth of the Merry Go Round. The cable is a variation of the Seven Sister’s cable, however, the use of Tofutsies really defines the gorgeousness of the stitches.
I really get a kick out of stitch definiton in cables - it’s kind of my thing right now.
As you can see, the original was done if Tofutsies, and can be seen at River Colors in Rocky River, Ohio. I revisited the pattern this week, however, and since my stash of Tofutsies is ear-marked for other projects, I’ve used some handpainted yarn of the same weight. My talented friend Martha painted this for me, and I love it. I’m especially happy with the way it just has those hints of rust here and there. Delicious socks
BTW - I did finish my Bayerishe and am still utterly in love with them and in awe of Eunny’s skillz.
May 7th, 2008
I can’t believe it’s been six months since I blogged - I’m not even going to attempt to play catch up, however, one of my infamous lists may just whet your appetite - if you want to know more, just let me know.
So, in the last six months I’ve:
Made costumes for a HS version of Guys and Dolls
Attended seven IEP meetings - the longest lasting over five hours
Had six cortizone shots in my back
Participated in two knitting swaps - scarf and amigurumi.
Lost a brother
Had a four day impromptu visit from my mom
Got a lovely pattern in Shannon Okey’s “How to Knit in the Woods“
Got six (yes six) lovely patterns in Shannon Okey’s “Alt Fiberr”
Had red streaks in my hair
And got rid of them a month later
Crocheted three amigurumi’s and 2 doilies
Knitted three pairs of socks, four scarves, a jacket, a cushion and two hats
Edited a book - ok, I’m halfway through 
Designed enough patterns to keep me knitting for years
Probably not slept more than four hours in any given 24 hour period.
I think those are the highlights. I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten a thing or two, but you get the drift.
