Lost Hat

If you see this hat, know it was 'stolen' (I left it on the subway train in all the bustle to get off the train last week when we had a jumper). It's a lovely hat, though a bit floppy really. There is one tiny mistake, but it's only noticeable if you really look for it.

 

I can't decide if I want to knit another one just like it, or if I want to knit myself a chunky hat, or if I want to knit a hat like this in a firmer yarn that won't flop so. I just can't decide!

Food I've made!

This post is devoted to food I've made recently that I'm proud of.

First, I made thanksgiving dinner, for the first time ever. Everything was made from scratch, and man, was it good!

 

Here's the Apple Pie. My first, if you can believe it.

I also made my first Carrot Cake for our first anniversary. It was, in a word, magnificent.


 

Now, clearly, I didn't make/cook this, or rather I don't have a picture of it cooked, but I just had to share it as I think it's really really neat. Yes, neat. It's a pointy cauliflower. It tastes like regular cauliflower, but it's green and pointy. I saw it at the market and couldn't not buy it, it was too neat. Yes neat. I'm a goober.

You know, all my life I've wanted to be great at something. Just once I wanted to be great, at whatever, just something. I've always been good at whatever I studied, but I had to work my ass off to get there. I was an average university student. I made it, it what I say about it. I'm a good writer, I think. Or at least I know I'll be good, but not great.

Well, I've finally found what I'm great at. I'm a great baker and cook. It's like I have golden fingers -- everything I bake turns out fabulously. And it's easy! And I'm learning how to tweak certain kinds of baked goods the way I always do with cooking. It's awesome. I love doing it. And, my mom, I can hear the pride in her voice when we talk baking. She knows I'm awesome at it, and she's actually told others I'm good! :D It's.. it's everything I wanted and more. It won't bring in money (I'm too ill to bake and sell it), but it brings me joy, and my family yummy baked goods. Finally, finally I'm great at something.

Wedding Sea Creatures!

Seeing as our wedding was over a year ago now, I thought I'd (finally) share the sea creatures I knit. To be fair, although I knit four octopuses for the kids coming to the wedding in time for the wedding (see above), the ones I knit for Sabrina's kids I finished at the end of July, so not thaaaat long ago.

So let me introduce you!

This is the Mega Kracken I knit for Caleb. He's big and squishy.

This is the wee Kracken I knit for Conner, her youngest. He was sooo excited to see him! Conner jumped up and down with him. I won major points that evening. :)

You can see the size difference here:

Last but certainly not least, this is the octopus I knit for Kiera Bella

Yummy Things I Make - Brie En Croute

Brie en croute sounds fancy, looks fancy, and is dead simple. It's the perfect thing for parties and get-togethers with cheese lovers. Or maybe it's just a girl thing... Cause the women seem to love it. I've gotten more marriage proposals with this than I think anything else I make. ;)

Sadly, I don't have a picture so you will have to use your imagination. I keep forgetting my camera! But they tend to get devoured quickly!

Ingredients

• Double cream brie (600g is a good size for a smaller gathering or a gathering where there will be lots of other snacks)
  
• puff pastry, defrosted (for 600g brie you will only need to defrost half the package)
  
• sweet preserve (apricot jam or honey work well)
  
• tangy preserve (raspberry jelly is all I've used, I could see orange marmalade working)
  
• dried fruit (cranberries, currents infused with whiskey, chopped apricots maybe)
  
• chopped nuts (I've only used pecans, but other softer nuts would work)
  
• melted butter, approx 1/4 cup

Directions

1. Roll out puff pastry with floured rolling pin on a floured surface(a clean counter is perfect) to about 12 inches square.
   
2. Smear thin layer of sweet preserve on the approximate area the brie will cover when placed in the centre of the pastry, leaving a 1 inch boarder around the edge. Repeat with tangy preserve.
   
3. Sprinkle dried fruit and chopped nuts over preserves.
   
4. Place brie gently on top of the aforementioned fixings.
   
5. Wrap pastry around brie. Slightly moisten the edges of the pastry(wet fingers work perfectly) where they touch to glue them down. Cut off the excess pastry as you wrap the brie (there will be far more than needed to cover it if you have a 600g or less brie).
   
6. Turn brie over - the smooth side becomes the top. Place the brie on a oven-safe serving dish.
   
7. Use the excess pastry to make a bow or leaves or other embellishment on top (don't worry if it looks a little limp, once cooked almost all flaws will be smoothed out). Use a little water on your fingertips to glue down the embellishments.
   
8. Brush the pastry liberally with melted butter. At this point you can wrap it in plastic wrap and take it to your party.
   
9. Bake in a pre-heated oven on the middle rack at 375˚F-400˚F for approx 20 minutes or until pastry is lightly browned and brie has exploded(it's totally okay if your pastry explodes, it just looks more appetizing to your guests! honest!)
   
10. Allow to cool slightly. Keep your guests from trying to eat it for at least 5 minutes or cheese lava mouth burns could ensue.

Yummy Food I Make - Classic Brownies!

Ingredients

Brownies

• 3/4 cup butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
  
• 5 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  
• 4 large eggs at room temperature
  
• 1/4 tsp salt
  
• 2 cups sugar
  
• 1 tblsp vanilla extract
  
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped medium

Frosting

• 1/4 cup + 1 tblsp butter
  
• 7 tblsp Hot water, to start
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  
• dash of salt
  
• 1 1/2 cup icing sugar
  
• 9 tblsp cup cocoa

Directions

1. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment, ensuring the paper goes up the sides to avoid sticking. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350˚F.
   
2. Melt chocolate and butter in heatproof bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
   
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs and salt until light and foamy. Gradually add sugar and vanilla. Beat until mixture is creamy.
   
4. Fold cooled chocolate mixture into egg mixture until just combined. Fold in flour. Fold in nuts.
   
5. Pour batter into prepped 9x13 inch pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours, then remove brownies from pan by lifting parchment overhang.
   
6. Frost brownies as a slab then cut them into squares and serve. (Store leftovers in airtight container at room temperature, for up to 3 days, or, ahem, in the freezer until your resistance gets the better of you.)

Frosting

1. In a small heat safe bowl, melt butter over heat/pot of simmering water if you prefer.
   
2. Pour hot water over butter, and stir to melt further.
   
3. Add vanilla extract, and a dash of salt(optional). Stir.
   
4. Add icing sugar and cocoa. Stir well. (You really gotta use your arm here!) Continue to add icing sugar and cocoa until flavour is how you want it. Add more hot water if needed - must be moist or it won't stick to the brownies!!

I made these for a BBQ I went to today. I took all but 5 brownies from the 9x13 pan (because they wouldn't fit in the container), and everyone loved them! I took home an empty container! That's pretty amazing. I'm truly thrilled/proud since I sort of smushed together two brownie recipes to get this, and somehow ended up with truly amazing brownies! Moist, chocolatey, dense, delicious! Not too sweet, yet lots of chocolate flavour; moist but not gummy. Yay! Just what brownies should be, in my opinion. I'm so very pleased! And really simple to make! :D

Knitting FO Parade - 2008

I can't believe it's been sooooo long since I've talked about/shown off my knitting! It's not like I haven't been knitting; I have! Doh.

Here it is May 2009, and I realise I've not shown you anything since last summer!!

Time to set things right!


September 2008

[one]
I knit Sushi! And even made it a little bento box to complete the look. I didn't have/use any patterns, I just went by pictures I found on the internet. I knit this as a birthday gift for a friend that loves sushi. I'm incredibly proud of how it all turned out.



Especailly the Ginger Rose:



[Two]
I knit a sweater and hat set for Chris' newest nephew, Cooper. I used Knitty's Trellis pattern, but modified it a little, and designed or unvented as EZ would say, a hat to go with it. I knit this in Mission Falls Supwerwash wool. It was my first time working with it, but certainly not my last! It was such a pleasure to knit with! And to touch! There just aren't words for how soft and luxurious this yarn is! And it's soooo reasonably priced too!



Cooper's mommy, and her mommy both loved it! She even took pictures of him in it later in the fall! I was thrilled. I got to see him in it too, when Mommy and son came to visit in January. It looked soo cute on him! :D I love seeing things fit, and mommy's happy with my work. It makes it all worth while when my work is appreciated, I tell you what.


October 2008

[three]
I knit a Jester's Hat, and matching mittens for Chris'other nephew, Callum, for his first bday. I've only met Callum once, when he was 5 months old. I had no idea how big to make either the mits or the hat. So I guessed. I found 'averages' online, and guessed somewhere in the middle. I made the mittens in the smallest size pattern I could find, and hoped they'd be small enough (the pattern said it was for 2-4 year olds, so I made them a little shorter and hoped it would be enough). Lots of hope went into this one. Lots of fretting. I'm happy with how they turned out though. I think they were cute as could be.


Seen here being moddeled by my teddy bear, Shakespere.



Sadly, I have no idea how they fit/if they really ever fit as my numerous requests to know were never answered. :( Not even a thank you. *sigh* I figured if they were too big when he got them he'd likely grow into them by the end of winter. They live in Montreal, winters are long there. I think he did grow into them. I hope he got to wear them... But like I said, I don't know as they never said boo to me about it. Very unsatisfactroy ending for me. Only stealed my opinion that knitting for children should be avoided!


November 2008

[four]
Sweater Curse Defeated!!

Finally, I finished Chris' sweater! Just in time for hime to wear it to my Family's Christmas party. I was as proud as any peacock! It's perfect! Or at least as perfect as I could get it. Once I saw him in it, and saw him smile, tearing out that one damn sleeve seven times was worth it. It fit like a glove! He looks so smashing in it too, I think, anyway.




December 2008

[five]
Suprise Christmas knitting! I didn't think I was going to knit anything for Christmas, then I got the bright idea to knit slippers for Emyele, Cooper's mommy, and send her a kind of 'comfort' package. I based the size of the slippers on my feet since, from all the pictures I could find on Facebook of Emyele, she looked to be about my height. Again, I hoped I was gussing right. I unvented a pattern for the slippers since I couldn't find what I wanted. I knit them in a lovely grey wool blend that was machine washable. I was tickled pink with the result. Just what I envisioned.




Me modelling

They kinda remind me of Medival boots - something I didn't realise until I put them on. They were nice and warm too! They were also stretchy, so hopefully if her feet were bigger or smaller they'd still fit. Once again, I have no clue how they fit as I never got an answer. *sigh* I guess that means they were either not liked, or didn't fit. Very disappointing, but what can you do right? Mope. That's what I do!


[six]
I had a migraine one day in December, the kind that makes me feel like I'm losing my mind. That kind of pain. To distract myself I was on Ravelry pattern searching and found this pattern (Goldfish, I believe it's called) while looking for something else entirely. It made me smile. I had to make one. It was my bright spot through the pain. And now I loves him. My little Dope Fish.





I was so amused by my little fishie that I brought him home to show my mom. Both my parents got a kick out of him. He made them laugh and smile too. He's a charmer, my little Dope Fish. They always seem so impressed that I can knit things like that. heh. Anyway, my Pa suggested it would be a good toy for a baby since he has little fins that little baby hands could grab on to.

When I heard that Emyele was bringing Cooper to come meet Chris' family, I knew I had to knit one for him. I figured, even if he wasn't too interested in him, at least Emyele might get a kick out of him. I didn't take pictures of the second one. They are nearly identical. And frankly I finished him like the day before we went to meet Emyele and Cooper. I had just enough yarn in the same ball I used for mine to make Coopers. I was a couple yards away from not having enough. It was very nerve wracking as it I was knitting the fins on, I tell you what.


[seven]
For New Years, Chris and I went to a Silly Hat New Years Eve party at a friends house. The idea was we would all wear silly hats. I bought Chris a sombaro, I think they call them. He looked so so so amusing. I giggled and laughed and clapped like a school girl seeing him in it. I have to say though, I do think mine was the silliest by far. I knit a raw chicken in the form of a viking helmet!




Side View

I cannot take credit for the idea at all. I found it on Ravelry. The pattern was a little vague in how to do the decreasing and how to do the drumsticks, so I had to kinda make it up as I went along. The earflap instructions were aces though, and I'm very glad for it as I had no clue how to make them. I think it came out wonderfully myself. Everyone at the party liked it too, so that made me all more pleased.


That was the last thing I knit in 2008. I actually finished it on Christmas eve on the bus to Hamilton. Hopefully sooner, rather than later, I will post about the sweater I made my mommy. It really is lovely, and I'm ever so proud of it. But for now, this post is long enough!

FOs!

I have finished objects! And I've left them so long, I actually have three! For me, that's a LOT at once. I guess I've been knitting more lately.. Or rather I've been kniting littler (is that even a word?) things lately.

(1) My Koolhaas Hat.


Ta Da!

I actually made two of these hats. Identical except for the number of CO stitches. I thought it silly to take pictures of both, so pictured is v2, the one that fits me. And here is my favourite picture of me in my hat. (If you click through you can see all the notes I added. Maybe it's the new antibiotics messing with me, but I just found this shot too amusing.)


(2) The Klein Bottle Tea Cozy


I'm really quite proud of this one. It's knit entirely from a pattern on my own creation. I was inspired by the Klien Bottle hat on Knitty, but this one is all me. I knit it for Chris' brother who is the only person I have ever known to get excited about a Klein Bottle.


I really hope he likes it! Personally I think it's pretty damn cool.

(3) The Pentagonical Star
Inspired by Pepperknit's stars that she's made recently, I decided to followsuite and make one for my Chris' newest family member - his nephew.



I used left over Fleece Artist wool in a lovely bright purple and blue. Sadly, I didn't have enough, so instead of frogging the whole thing, I finished the last three points in a white yarn I had that I knew felted. They didn't felt anywhere near the same though. *sigh* What's a girl to do?

Regardless, I think it's cute damnit. It's imperfections add to it's perfection. I never understood that until now. The more I look at it, the more I like it. I like that it's a little lopsided, I think it's kinda charming! Hopefully the recipient (and his parents!) think so too.

Knit Obsessed.

Why is it so hard to find something when you know just what you want?! Doh. I guess that's the trouble, I know exactly what I want... Makes it near impossible to find.... I need a DK weight yarn, with a tension of 22 sts/4 inches on 3.75mm needles, that knits to 24 sts/4 inches, in a rich olive green, preferably in a superwash merino.

You see, I knit one of my favourite little ladies this hoodie awhile back. She's teeny tiny so I actally had to totally rework a pattern - it was the hardest thing I've ever done knitting-wise. I used Mariah from knitty.com, only I converted it to a v-neck hoodie. It took me over a year to finish it. I actually had it 80% done at one point and realised I'd made it far far too big, and had to redo 50% of it. That was crushing, but in the end it worked out beautifully, if I do say so myself. I've never been prouder of anything I've ever knit.



What does one have to do with the other you ask? Well... I knit it in an alpaca blend... Hand wash only with a wool detergent.... The day she ran out of the detergent I'd given her, she used a woolite knockoff, and it felted... She was devasated - she really loved it.

Tonight her husband, also my friend, has asked me to knit her another - it kills him to see her sad. Truthfully, when I first learned she destroyed the sweater, I thought of knitting her another, but I can no longer find the yarn I used in that colour. Also, once a felter always a felter. I know that's harsh, but.... I put SO much of myself into my knitting, I couldn't bare to see another sweater felted! So this is why I'm looking for a superwash merino. At that weight it will be nice and soft. But I can't seem to find anything appropriate! Damnit!

In other knitty news, I've been thinking of knitting hats for my Chris' family for Christmas. I've been thinking a lot about what to do for Christmas presents for everyone lately, in fact. I don't really know his partents all that well, normally I would get them a box of chocolates or sweets, but I know they've been passing off sweet things in their house to Chris, so I figure that wouldn't be too appreciated. I've been knitting myself a hat - a tam! - the past two days (lets not talk about my progress or lackthereof), and there is another hat in the pattern book that, when I looked at it again, made me think of Chirs' dad. So I thought hats!

I figure just about everyone will wear a hat. The one for his dad is a fairle isle in brown tones. I'm not too sure brown will look good on his dad, it would probably look better in blues. For his mom, there is this seed stich hat in the same book. It's a roll rim, flat top hat. The one in the book is pink and has flowers pinned to one side. His mom would not like a pink hat, I know that much. But I have this really pretty blue heather yarn that I think would work very very nicely, for both her and the hat. I hope for her anyway. Trouble is, if I make them both blue hats, isn't that a little too matchy-poo?

Then I thought, if I knit them hats.. what if they open them on Christmas morning and Chris and his brother Robert are there, seeing as they both live in Toronto. I wouldn't want Robert to be left out! I could knit a hat for Robert, I know just what would work. Chocoloate brown, superwash merino, so there was no way he could felt it, done in the Utopia Hat pattern from smariek knits.

Then it occurred to me, if I knit Robert a hat, I must knit something for Chris' brother David, his wife Alice and their new son Callum - only fair. For David, I knew just what would work. The same hat I've knit for other blue eyed, pale men:



Only trouble is I don't have enough left of that yarn to make a hat. I'd have to buy more, assuming I could find it, and it's uber expensive, but you do get a lot, I just don't know if I'd ever use it. I might be able to find a similar slubby yarn that was sold in smaller skiens though. It's definately worth looking for.

For Alice.. I was thinking hunters green and some kind of ear flap hat. I thought it would be fun. She'd like fun. I'd also make sure it was very warm, since they live in Monteral, warm is very important. I don't have a pattern though, and I can't quite see in my mind what I want. So I thought I'd use left over yarn from the hoodie I mentioned above, double knit, in a staghorn and rib pattern, with a folded over brim for added warmth.

For little Callum, I knit him a hat and sweater before he got here, I didn't know if another hat would be....useful. Not that what I thought of is useful, but I thought it might be sweet. I have this teddy bear I bought, oh ages ago, meant to give it as a gift, with a handknit scarf, never did. I thought if I knit a scarf in left over yarn from his swater, in the same cable that's on his sweater, that would be a nice gift.

I've put a lot of thought into all this this evening, as you can tell. I still don't know if it's a good idea. I mean, would it be weird for me to knit for them all? And if I don't, what the heck should I get for his parents?!

Update:
Shot down! I should have known, should have seen it coming really. Doh. *sigh* I suppose it's a good thing, saves me a lot of work. I'm still no where closer to figuring out what to get his parents. I guess I just thought if I knit something, it would be you know, more personal and thoughtful. Obviously not. *sigh* I give up. *pout*