Baby Hats

I saw Dulaan Project on many knitting blogs and I decided to participate. I knitted these two baby hats last night after dinner while watching TV. The pattern is garter stitch band hat from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I tried to use my old old circular needle but I remembered why I hate the circular needs. The cord was inflexible, needles weren't smooth. I read many reviews that Addi needles are good, maybe I will try them one day but meantime I used my good old sz 5 dpns. The hats were fun and easy to knit. I used left over yarns from my daughter's hats. I started another child's hat today and I planed to finish it tonight. I will be taking a break tomorrow, since it is my birthday. My dear husband brought my beautifully wrapped gift downstairs and put it on the mantel to tease me. I have to wait till tomorrow! He is such a sweet, loving and considerate guy. I know past four months have not been easy on our family, he had to work twice as much, take care of me and do all the things I would normally do. So a birthday gift was the last thing I expected but now that it is here I am dying to see what is inside the box!

Anxiety Socks

These are the socks that causing me anxiety. I am not sure I have enough yarn to finish them. The remaining yarn is in my new knitting bag. I saw the bag in Yarntootin, I was looking for a small bag to carry my socks for sometime. Ziploc bags are OK to keep the cats out but the needles make holes and I have to have another bag to put the ziploc in when I go out (which is very rare). I immediately ordered my GoKnit pouch from Scout's Swag . So far I am happy with it, I can secure my yarn inside the loop and I can snap the outside loop to my belt or arm of my wheelchair. Well, back to the socks, I got the yarn (J.Knits Columbus colorway) from am auction on eBay. While I was thinking I had such good deal I didn't realize I actually needed two skeins to make socks not one! My daughter liked the color so I told her I will knit her a pair. The socks are knitted in broken rib pattern with us sz 2 dpns. Like I said the remaning yarn is in the bag and I am not checking how much left. I did not close the toe of the first sock just in case I made need some yarn to finish the other one. She told me I can always make the toes different color. That would drive me crazy but she would not mind since most of the time she chooses to wear odd socks anyway! I should know by the end of today whether one skein is enough then I will start mine since I bought three different skeins on that auction. Smart... Next time I should pay attention to the description of the item.

Another Striped Sock

KnitPicks Simply Stripes yarn , Basic Sock pattern knitted with us 2 dpns.

I meant to post this photo earlier. This pair is for my daughter's roommate, Jessica. Both girls liked their socks at least that is what they said on the phone. I think my daughter is converted now and she tells me that she only likes the socks knitted by me and wants more. Like she knows anyone else who knits. It is funny that I am the only knitter among my circle of friends and I have one other friend who crochets. Everyone says how busy they are like we are not all busy. It is a matter of priorities and we tend to use no time as an excuse. I wish I had more time and I could do things I love more. Right now my top wish is being on a sunny beach with beautiful blue sky and calm water and walking by the water since it is snowing here in St Louis again. I will just keep having warm thoughts...

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day! While I was getting cards and flowers my family had to do with my e-cards. Wait that's not true, I finished Argosy scarf for my daughter and I steam blocked it, first time for me and I also finished Stu's Multidrectional Scarf but he wanted a little longer, two skeins of Noro Kureyon was not enough!

Noro and Argosy Scarf

I never heard of Noro yarn before I started reading knitting blogs. I liked what I see in all those pictures posted. I was curious but not brave enough to order online. I had my chance to see the yarns in person this past weekend. Our Saturday mornings are always dedicated piano and ballet classes. Since I can not drive anymore Stu became the dedicated chauffeur and I was left home alone (minus the dog and the cats). I was determined to go out past Saturday so I was up and ready to go when they came downstairs and we left the house on time. Once my daughter was in music school, Stu settled me in St Louis Breadco (aka Panera Bread). I was so happy and felt good working on my socks and drinking my cappuccino. Once the lessons over I convinced them to take me to LYS which is literally across the street. The store has good selection but it is very small. Some aisles were so narrow for my wheelchair but the owners were really nice and told us we could remove stuff to make room. I saw my first Noro Kureyon in one of those narrow aisles. I loved the colors and some of the colors were on sale! I had no particular project in my mind but my daughter liked some for a scarf then I saw another color 51 for a Stu scarf, then some pretty mohair yarn for a sweater vest that I promised my daughter.

Once we got home, the pattern search began. I did not want a mundane pattern and I was also afraid that I would not have enough yarn. My daughter loved Argosy pattern. The pattern is easy and directions are very clear and photos are helpful. I started Sunday morning and I have only 3 more rows left. I have to block it though, something I am not looking forward.

As far as Noro yarn goes, no offense to all Noro lovers but I am not impressed. the colors are beautiful, changing from one color to another is interesting but the yarn is poor qality maybe it's due to poor spunning. Some places is very thick yet some places it is very thin almost non existent and I had several unexpected knots in one ball. I also like soft yarns but that's personal preference. I would probably try Noro Silk Garden before I pass my final judgement. The scarf: Noro Kureyon(2 skeins) color 164 us sz 6needles.

Simple but Practical

Simple baby bibs are finished. I had to buy another set of buttons, it took no time to sew the buttons. These bibs are from Mason-Dixon book. I used Peaches and Cream cotton yarn with us size 5 needles. I followed the general idea but made the bibs smaller (34 st) since the baby is still tiny. I think they are practical and my friend could use them . I never thought knitting bibs for my girls. Of course I was very busy at the grad school and had time only for cross stitching then...

Nostalgic Baking

It is Sunday, rest day but I can not rest. I got up very early as usual, knitted till 7am then I tried to watch some TV. I wanted to be useful and productive again but I found myself so limited. I was about to prepare my morning tea I don't know what it triggered but I remembered how much I used to love "Pogaca" with tea when I was young. It has been long time( years) that I haven't baked any. Thanks to technology and the web, a quick search on Google revealed many recipes. I choose not to use yeast due to fact that I am not the most patient person and wanted to prepare them before Stu wakes up and gets downstairs. So after countless trips to the pantry and the refrigerator, I managed to get everything I need and I prepared the dough. I used the traditional feta cheese + parsley filling. Unfortunately Stu was up early too so he witnessed the baking part. They were good but not the same taste I remembered from my childhood.

Here is the recipe for Pogaca:

Dough:

1/2 c. plain yogurt

1/2 c. vegetable oil or light olive oil

1/2 c. melted margarine

3 eggs reserve 1 yolk to brush the pastries later

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 c. + all purpose flour (this is the least amount).

Filling:

1/4 or 1/3 lb feta cheese

1/2 bunch parsley (snipped)

Mix all ingredients except flour well, slowly add flour, start kneading and adding flour until the dough is soft, pliable and springy to touch. It should not be sticky. In a separate bowl, crumble feat cheese and mix with parsley well. Press the pin pong ball size dough into flat round shape, could use dough cutters or any large round class. Put feta filling in the lower half of the round dough and fold in half, press the sides to seal and put them on an ungreased cookie sheet or tray. Use a pastry brush and the reserved egg yolk and brush top of the pastries. bake in 360F oven for about 18-20 minutes or the tops are golden brown. Best when served with tea :-) Bon Apetite!