Wow! It's been 9 months since I've been here!

I seriously had to request the password just to get back in! 

In 2012 I knit 14 pair of socks.  Several for KALs or Knit-A-Longs and then my usual Grace Ennis.  I was also lucky enough to FINALLY get ALL of Grace's patterns for my collection!  YAY!!!  I had a little help motivation-wise by joining the KALs and also a group on Ravelry, 12 in 2012.  Such beautiful socks were knit by this group of people and so many patterns to add to my list of future projects!  Here are some of my completed 12 in 2012!

Angee by Cookie A

 Noro Enterlac Socks by Jamie Fritz

Whozit by Rebecca Mercier

Cauchy by Cookie A

Sunshine by Cookie A

Eunice by Cookie A

Khotan from Silk Road Socks

Water to Sky Anklets by Thakshayini Shanthakumar

Winter Garden by Betsy Lee McCarthy

Toe-Up Socks with a Difference by Wendy D. Johnson

Hot Rod by Grace Ennis, Graphic Knitting Patterns

 

The 12 in 2012 group was just a huge hit that they have extended it into this year:  13 in 2013.  I've completed 2 for the year and will have #3 finished by this afternoon, hopefully!

 

Weeping Angel by Marie Martin

Harpa Socks by Natalie Jacobs

Golly Socks by Nicki Miller

 

I have Glynis by Cookie A on my needels as well as Boo Socks and The Gardener.  I have Pixi Dust too but not digging the heel so far so I may frog or at least change the pattern up to fit my comfort level!  Not a bad start to my 13 in 2013!!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Conchas!!!

Well, the little masks really didn't work out as planned so nix the Teenage Mutant Ninja part and just focus on the TURTLE CONCHAS!!  haha--yum!

This is the recipe I always use http://allrecipes.com/recipe/conchas-mexican-sweet-bread/ when making Conchas-a Mexican Sweetbread found here in Texas everywhere. They are a yeast bread that isn't too sweet with a butter/sugar coating that is baked right on.  The design in the coating is made to look like a conch shell, hence the name Conchas.  I made a few little changes in my Turtles.

I used the McCormick FALL liquid food coloring for my nice dark green "shell".  I also added 1 1/2 teaspoons of Matcha Powder or Green Tea Powder.  Kinda mixing things up here just a little but the coating is really yummy with the Matcha and it is very good for you!!

I followed the above recipe exactly as written.  I've made them before and they've always worked very well for me!  Instead of making just round Conchas, I saw on Pinterest where someone made little turtles and I just had to make some too!  http://pinterest.com/pin/195414071301574155/.  So, here are my little yeasty naked turtles before rising.

Then for the coating, I added the vanilla and the Matcha Powder to the butter, flour, sugar mixture and created the shells.  After mixing your "shell" ingredients together make little balls and flatten in your hand.  Lay on the top of your little turtles.  If you have some left over then gently press the extra pieces evenly among the turtles.  There are little gadgets to create the "perfect" patterns in the coating but I just use a knife and make any shape I want.  Swirls, turtle shell shapes and little squares.

Now let your little guys rest and rise for about 45 minutes before baking them.  See how the design "pops" after the buns have risen?  Yay!!

I had TOO many turtles on my cookie sheet and there was fusing!!  Doesn't change the taste at all and they turned out the perfect texture, density so I've got a happy tummy.  They won't be winning any beauty contests sadly but oh well. 



There is some green on the front of his head from the turtle shell in front of him.  Also, from this angle you can't see his little turtle legs but they are there.  No so purdy, but Oh So YUMMY!!  



 



Oven Roasted Salsa for 2!

Ever want yummy homemade salsa but not a Gallon of yummy homemade salsa?  Chris is a Pace Picante (Hot) guy so there is never a need to make more than a cup and I rarely ever go to the trouble.  I had 3 Roma tomatoes in the frig today though and they were screaming SALSA!  Since I also had FRESH HEB tortillas, I decided today was the perfect day!  So, here is what you do for a little salsa!

Preheat your oven to Screamin' hot.  The thermastat in mine is trying to decide if it wants to die or not and I am having a heck of time getting a true oven temp reading.  My little hanging thermometer said 450F.  Line a sided cookie sheet with foil.  Cut 3 Roma tomatoes into wedges.  Peel 2 garlic cloves.  Cut and wedge an onion.  Cut and quarter 2-3 jalapenos.  The seeds and veins are what make a pepper hot so toss 'em or leave 'em in, it is up to you.  For mine, I left the seeds in 1.  Drizzle with EVOO and a quick little sprinkle of Kosher Salt.  Pop the tray into the oven and keep an eye on it.  You want the veggies to get some color and soften up but you do NOT want CHAR. 



My garlic cloves were done a good while before the other veggies so really do keep an eye on it.  Your tomatoes will have oozed, keep it, after putting all the other stuff in the blender, pour the juice in. 

I know, dark picture but see the veggies, soft, a little color...just right.  Get your blender out!  Pile the veggies in with the juice from the cookie sheet. 

See, pretty huh?  Now blend!  It is just that easy!  Here's the To Taste part. I put in the juice from half of a medium lime. (Not a huge lime fan) A small amount of fresh cilantro (I AM a HUGE fan but Chris doesn't love it) some Kosher Salt and a little Cumin. Cumin is a personal choice here. I LOVE IT but you don't have to use it at all. TO TASTE. Add a little then taste. It is easy to add more of something and almost impossible to remove it!!!  This stuff will be HOT since you've just taken the ingredients out of the oven.  Let it cool!  You can even put it in the refrigerator.  Your salsa, it's up to you.  I like mine cold.  Even if you like it warm give it a little while for the flavors to marry and get happy with each other.  YUM!!  Serve with chips!  =)

Fresh Oven Roasted Salsa for Two

3 Roma Tomatoes

2 garlic cloves

2-3 Jalapenos (more or less to taste)

1 small onion or 3/4 large onion

fresh cilantro

1/2 a fresh lime

Kosher salt

EVOO

cumin





Flippant Socks! It's That Time of Year Again!

I actually finished these in April of 2011 but never posted about them and they did turn out really cute.  These are called Flip Flop Socks.  WHAT?  You don't wear socks with Flip Flops...Yes, you can!  These are designed to keep that annoying toe thong from rubbing and they do a really good job of keeping the ball of your foot cleaner.  Here is Texas we wear (read I) flip flops all year long and these little guys are just great any time.  This is a FREE Ravelry download if anyone is interested in making a pair.  I used Premier Yarns Serenity Garden in Gems for these on size 2 needles.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flippant 

Cookie A Cauchy Socks!! Cookie A Sunshine Socks!! Water to Sky, OK, LOTS of Socks!!

I found a sock pattern book at Half Price Books and couldn't resist.  These are NOT Grace Ennis and there is no colorwork involved.  Lots of exciting texture though!  I do NOT like the way the colors of this variegated yarn pooled but I do like the design and they are nice and stretchy!  The yarn is TLC Baby Multi in Snookie.  Size 1 needles.

These are Cauchy Socks by Cookie A.  All of her sock patterns are interesting!  They look all complicated and intimidating but are actually LOTS of fun!   Here's a link to the Ravelry site but this is not a free pattern.  You can purchase it individually or (cheaper) just get the book!!  =)  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cauchy

These are called Sunshine and only one sock decided to make the trip into the office with me!!  I hope I didn't actually drop it somewhere between home and office to tell you the truth!!  LOL  Again, these are Cookie A from Sock Innovation.  The yarn here is Caron Simply Soft in Mango on size 1 needles.  Link:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunshine-11

These little ankle socks were an experiment at Toe Up construction.  I don't have any issues with the Toe Up part, or even the foot or leg but the toe up heel is totally beyond me.  There is Wrapping and Turning and blowing my mind!!  These are called Toe Up Socks with a Difference and I thought "what the heck?"  Still some wrapping and turning but I muddled through.  Don't look very closely at the heel because I'm sure I didn't do it right!!! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/toe-up-socks-with-a-difference.  These are a FREE Ravelry download.  If you've never attempted a Toe Up sock then do so sometime.  The really great part about it is you can try your sock on without trying to squeeze your little fat foot between 3 pokey needles, oh wait, MY little fat foot, sorry...

The yarn here is Bernat Baby Jacquards Florals in Pansy on size 1 needles.

These are a lacy patterned "hidden" or "invisible" sock.  I made them using Hobby Lobby's Yarn Bee Snowflake Wool blend in Apple Blossom.  I wish you could see the pattern better because they are really pretty.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/water-to-sky-anklets  These are a FREE Ravelry download as well!  ENJOY!

And last but not least my Grace Ennis Graphic Knitting Patterns Hot Rod #7251 Socks for the Grace Ennis Group on Ravelry's KAL.  SLOW going but there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!  These are FUN!!  And Oh So CUTE!!  

This is where I stand to date.  But below is what the image looks like in case you were wondering!

K2P2 Bulky Weight Pit Bull Keyhole Scarf Pattern!! FREE!!!

you can see strings of yarn that still need to be woven in, sorry....

sunlight streaming in through the sliding glass door...sorry

not the right angle, lots of movement and blur, sorry...

UPDATE!!:  No, these are not pictures of a giant Pit Bull modeling a hand-knit scarf they are pictures of a silly Yellow Lab modeling  the hand-knit scarf above mentioned Pit Bull refused to wear this morning for pictures.  I won't even tell you about the huge pee-pee puddle that resulted in the trying on of the scarf!!!  =(  UGH!  This is too large for Cade Brooke although she was a sweetheart and let me put it on her and take a few pictures.  You can see the large gap above the keyhole which is not what you want and wouldn't be there on Chico!  Also, the tails are a little too long for her as well.  I could fold this in half and tuck both ends in through the loop of the fold and this would be the perfect size for her, may just do that and let Chico shiver!

Yes, this is a pattern but more of a method.  I'll give you the numbers I used but if you don't have a giant whimpy baby Pit Bull you will have to use the METHOD instead of the PATTERN to adjust for your doggie.

First I measured around Chico's neck and got 17.5"  I'm going to add two inches to that so I need the area wrapped around his neck to be 19.5" long.  Yes, yarn is stretchy but you don't want it too tight or the scarf is uncomfortable and your pooch is just going to wrestle it off.  FAIL!  On the other hand, if you make it too loose so that there is a gap between creature and nice warm scarf, it will get hung on something, pulled at by doggie pals, paws and legs all akimbo, you get the picture.  This scarf needs to FIT.

I used US size 15 (10 mm) single point bamboo needles and Lion's Brand Homespun in a sapphire blue and chocolate brown.  No tags available but I do remember the brand.  This is a highly textured bulky weight yarn so the ribbing pattern wasn't important.  If you were to use a non-textured yarn like Lion Brand Thick and Quick, the ribbing would show and needs to start with a Knit2 and end with a Knit2.  More on this later.

To determine the width of your scarf, measure your dog's neck.  How wide do you want it?  I actually started casting on and just placed the needle against his neck since he was laying in my lap when I started this.  I decided I liked the look at 6" wide which was 20 stitches.  Like I stated above, this was a Knit2, Purl2 across and I ended in a Purl2 but that didn't matter with the textured yarn.  For a smooth yarn I would have taken it up or down by 2 so that I could start with a Knit2 and end with a Knit2. 

Cast on desired number of stitches.  (20 for my example scarf).
Row 1: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2.  Turn.
Row 2: Knit 2, Purl 2, etc. across (***if you end on a Knit2 then when you turn, you will have to Purl those, then Knit, etc.)

Repeat these until your tail is the desired length.  I chose to keep mine short enough that it doesn't drag and he can't get the tails in his mouth to chew them.  It is up to you.  My tail is 6 inches long.  Now start your KEYHOLE.  Depending on how many stitches you cast on (20 for me) divide that number in half and only work the first (10) stitches back and forth for 10 rows.  You don't have to remove the second half, just keep them on the back of your needle. 
KEYHOLE Row 1:  Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2.  Turn.
KEYHOLE Row 2:  Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2. Turn.  Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for a total of 10 rows.  Break yarn.  Go to the stitches you left behind earlier and join yarn.  Proceed with KEYHOLE Row 1 and Row 2 for 10 rows.  Now on Row 11 continue across ALL stitches.  You just closed up your Keyhole.  Now you are going to create the body of your scarf.  This is where the size of Phydouex's neck is important.  I said his neck was 17.5" and that I was going to add 2 inches.  The 2 additional inches are for the gathers and overlap in sticking one end through the Keyhole opening so that the scarf is not too tight.

After you knit the body for your desired neck width, mine being 19.5" then lay your scarf out folded where the end should go into the keyhole and decide how long you need to knit this end to have it match up with the first tail.  You have a 6" tail and a keyhole that is 10 rows.  For mine to equal out, and with my knitting gauge, I needed to continue on for 10".  Once your ends are the same length, bind off loosely in pattern.  Ta Da!!  Poochie Scarf!

Of course, you could create this scarf for a person and the same instructions apply... =)

My 2011 Gift Exchange GIFT is in the Mail Baby!!!!

So I came across this site  http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/ just in time to sign up for their 2011 Handmade Gift Exchange.  You know me, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make something!!!

I got the info and a very nice email message from my gifting partner Renee Hansen in IA and then started on my project.  I knit Renee a pair of Pedicure Socks.  I have a pair and if I got pedicures more often (ever!!) I would wear mine, certainly on COLD days like we are having now!

Here is a picture of the Pedicure Socks I put in the mail today to Renee (yes the deadline is Nov. 30, so I am NOT late!!!!)  I hope she likes them!

These were knit in Snowflake Wool Blend yarn--LIMELIGHT.  This is a 56% wool, 22% poly, 22% PTT and they are machine washable, tumble dry!  My kinda easy!