cosmicpluto knits!

catching up

It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? It feels like I’ve been spinning my wheels a little bit (but unfortunately, not the yarn-producing kind) – I keep starting and stopping on different things, and I have so many various projects on the go that even though I’m knitting all the time, I’m not actually finishing anything!

That said, I’m putting a bit more effort into trying to finish things up for the end of the year. I guess late fall is a good kick in the pants, since it gives me a reasonable amount of time before the new year to get things off the needles and my to-do pile. I even have some photographic evidence of said effort!

This is more backward than forward, but I ripped back the body of my mitten. It just wasn’t working out the way I wanted. I’m not sure what I want to do with this now, but it feels good just to admit it wasn’t working. Maybe I’ll just do something really simple, like an all-over colourwork lattice pattern or a checked pattern. I could use some new mitts!

I picked up my neglected Hanne Falkenberg kit – Diva in Olive/Cyclamen – and finished a sleeve! That is a whole lot of fingering weight garter stitch right there. I’m almost done the body, but it’s too big to carry around so it’s not seeing a lot of time at the moment. I’d really love to get this done my Christmas, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. It’s more of a long term project.

And, I finished a pair of simple socks that I started a few months ago! They’re meant for a Christmas present. Just my basic sock recipe, 64 sts on 2mm in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. I’d really love to get another pair or two of socks done for presents, along with some woven projects. I guess I’d better get on that, hmm?

How’s your year end knitting wrapup going?

colourwork inspiration

A little while ago I was looking through my knitting books for something (I can’t remember what, obviously) and found a book I’d completely forgotten about!

Seriously, I don’t remember buying this book at all – I might’ve bought it in Japan, but on the other hand I might’ve gotten at a Knitter’s Frolic here in Toronto. At any rate, I’m glad I found it again, because it has really awesome designs in it! The book is crammed full of patterns. I’m totally on a colourwork kick right now, at least in my head if not yet on my needles.

This tunic and scarf combo just look so cozy.

A classic yoked cardigan, with a great chart!

You can’t really tell from this photo, but that’s a button-down capelet – straight across the bottom and really cool.

The diagrams and charts make any of these patterns totally doable, even if you don’t read Japanese (I don’t). And of course, the inspiration is priceless – the garment shapes, the colourwork patterns, the colour combos.

This button-up cowl would make a great intro to colourwork and steeking, if you don’t want to commit to a whole sweater.

I have been knitting a bit of colourwork, although it’s stalled out a bit. You can’t really tell what it’s supposed to be yet – there’ll be some embroidery as well. Hint: it’s not supposed to be leopard print!

poppy for remembrance

Remembrance Day is this week (along with Armistice Day/Veteran’s Day) and here in Canada we wear a poppy to remember the sacrifices of those who came before, and to remind ourselves to look to the future in peace.

These knit poppies are super quick to knit and I love that we as knitters can make them with our own two hands (and pointy sticks).

You can download my Poppy for Remembrance pattern from Ravelry here.

Poppies are not bought or sold; you can make a contribution to your local Royal Canadian Legion.

rhinebeck 2010 in photos

Slightly kicking myself for not taking more, but here we have it!

summertime eats

Well, I’m knitting lots, but it isn’t very exciting to look at – mostly working on my cabled scarf (so close to the end!) and I’ve restarted that little shrug too. Really I’m just itching to cast on for some new fall sweater projects, but I really need to get a few things done first!

So today I have a little bit of food to share, instead.

I brought home rather a LOT of pickling cucumbers from the produce stores near my work yesterday, and today set about making some refrigerator pickles. No water processing required, no fear of bad canning, and they stay so very crispy, which I love!

I made one huge vat of cucumber garlic dills – it’s 1.8L/2qt! The slightly smaller jar in the back is beans, done up with basically the same spices and brine. They were yellow, green, and purple to start with, but unfortunately now they’re all kind of greeny grey. Oh well, they’ll still taste awesome.

Super Easy Garlic Dills

Veggies:
Whatever you like. I did sliced kirby cucumbers and trimmed green beans, I’m sure this would be great with carrots, cauliflower, radishes, whatever! I’m not sure how many cucumbers I used – probably about 10 small ones for the 1.8L jar.

Brine:
4 cups / 1L water
4 cups / 1L white vinegar
6tbsp pickling salt

Seasonings:
garlic, peeled
dill seed
red pepper flakes
black peppercorns
celery seed
fresh dill

Mix together water, vinegar and salt in a largeish pot and heat on the stove to a simmer. While it’s heating, prep your veggies and add seasonings to your jars.

For the 1.8L jar of cucumbers, I used: 4 cloves garlic, 4 tsp dill seed, a dash each of celery seed and red pepper flakes, 3 stalks fresh dill and a few whole black peppercorns.

Pack the veggies tightly into the jars leaving some room at the top (1/2″-1″, not as important as when processing because we’re just sticking these in the fridge). Slowly add brine to cover. Let the jars cool on the counter, then stick them in the fridge. That’s it! They’ll begin to taste pickled after just a few hours, but it’s best to wait at least a few days.

Wow, that’s a giant jar of pickles!

I also managed to find Ontario strawberries at the big chain supermarket, which I was pretty surprised by – I picked up three containers and made jam with half (I might get more tomorrow or soon and make more or ice cream!). I prefer freezer jam because it uses much less sugar, and has that just-picked-fruit taste that you just don’t get with cooked jam.

I just followed the recipe on the gelling agent packet and it came out perfectly. I’ll definitely have to make at least 1 more batch of freezer jam soon, maybe wild blueberry!

What are you doing with this summer’s awesome produce?

silk, silk, everywhere

I finally, finally (after ripping and reknitting several times) finished the little shrug I was working on before TNNA, out of Sweetgeorgia Merino Silk DK. The yarn stood up surprisingly well to the ripping, not a pill anywhere!

Unfortunately it’s too big for me. I made a bit of a math error and although it’s proportional and everything, it’s just about a size too big. I’ve blocked it and woven in the ends already (denying to myself the fact that it was too big) and I don’t want to rip again. So it’ll go off to a friend and I’ll work up another one. At least this time it’ll be even faster since it’ll be smaller?

In latest spinning news, I pulled out some tussah silk that I’d started spinning well over a year ago.

It’s Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks, definitely purchased at Rhinebeck – maybe the first time I went? I had spun up the first half of the fibre and it was just sitting on the bobbin all this time. I spun up the second half fairly quickly (not very evenly, really) and plied it together to get 430 yards of laceweight (2oz). Should be enough for a little shawlette! I love the colour.

I think my last bit of Tour spinning will be this silk/camel. It spins like a dream, but the pink comes off on my fingertips a bit. Super soft though! I’m planning to spin up the whole 4oz and chain ply by the end of the week.

After the Tour is over, I’m definitely going to keep spinning – it’s really given me that kick to get back to the wheel. It’s meditative, doesn’t require math (like my knitting always does) and it’s a good break from working on my knitting like I always am!

Have you achieved your Tour de Fleece goals? What are you planning to do with your spinning after it’s all over?