I'm still "refining my projects for this coming year but I have a new page up for this Year of Projects on the left side of my blog and last year is there too. For now though I'm trying to finish up a couple of WIP's from last year. I started sewing the I-cord into a spiral for my chair pad last night. I am using DMC #8 perle cotton. This is the same thread I use for my wool applique and it is easy to work with and strong. You use a whip stitch to stitch it together. I didn't get too far as Summer leaves me exhausted by the end of the day! LOL! Like I've said before......it's double the work load in the summertime around here and trying to get the house "real estate ready" and keep it that way is going to be a whole other challenge.
I finally got the pillowcase done with the blanket stitch which is the foundation for the crocheted edging that I hope to get to this evening. It took me about 3 tries before I got the gist of it and this is a stitch I am very familiar with! Heaven help me! LOL!
This is my first knitting instruction book that I bought a few years ago. It sat there for awhile before I started using it but it's a great book for a beginner and I still refer to it. I was thinking of doing all the patterns in it but not this year. I really would like to join or start a group to knit or crochet through a book some day. I think that would be fun to knit the same things with a group of friends at the same time.
I also promised you a "quick and easy" recipe so you could have more stitching time. I have a sweet tooth....not a bad one but a sweet tooth none the less. I always have to have a little something in the evening with a cup of tea. Usually it's a cookie of some sort but when I'm short of time I make a Dump Cake. Some of you are probably already familiar with this quick dessert but just in case you're not here's my favorite version of it.
Also, since I live alone, I make mine in an 8 X 8 inch pan but you could double for a 9 X 13.
Dump Cake
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Put 1 can of unsweetened cherries with the juice into the pan. Add 1/2 of a box of yellow cake mix, lay 16 pats of butter (using an entire stick of butter) on top (4 X 4 works for me) and sprinkle on 1/2 cup of chopped pecans. Bake in a 350 degree, pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!
This recipe takes like 5 minutes to put together and you are back to stitching! I refrigerate but you can always heat up a piece in the microwave as it is so good warm out of the oven with that ice cream! I did not say this was healthy or low in calories....I just said it was quick, easy and yummy! LOL! Enjoy!
Stitch 'N Bitch was one of my first books too and even though I rarely buy books anymore, (I just buy patterns off Rav), it's still a staple in my collection and well loved.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your stash building question when I first started knitting I would pretty much buy anything pretty that caught my eye. Sock yarn is a great one for that as you can do most socks or gloves from one ball.
Now that I have been knitting for a long time, I really only want to buy yarn for specific projects. I will always have a small sock yarn stash, but I don't need as much as I currently have. Also, I hate having to tear everything apart to find one or two balls.
Really love the icord, even though I know its long and tedious for you. Hope the house comes together and stays together for you. That is the link to her bag. I have her blog bookmarked so I normally just head there and you'll find lots of other projects you want to do when on her blog but well worth the visit and copy away ! I love my bag. I just wish I was better at sewing so I could line them a bit better. For cables you could do a dishcloth and it would be a way to practise them and have something useful then you could do the scarf and onto your pattern ? I know I've done a celtic know kind of one in cables, dishcloths that is, not sure if its on my projects page on Ravelry but I know I've the pattern here somewhere if you want the name of it.
ReplyDeleteThe pillowcase looks great. I'm so envious of sewers. I hope to start lessons one day with my mum.
ReplyDeleteThank you for popping by my blog. Your comment was sweet and fun and so enthusiastic. You've just enabled me to be more selfish, LOL.
You have a great array of projects planned. I also liked how you mentioned how you're sewing up that i-cord. I've always wondered as I had taught my duaghter how to handknit but we had all those dang snakes about.
Your blanket stitch looks nice and even - well done. I'd never get anything done in the heat, although cooling off with Rum and Cokes probably has something to do with that :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the house sale. These days the real estate stagers won't let you leave anything out ... not even a toothbrush in my friend's case :(
yeah, the icord is really coming along since the last time I saw it..and thanks for the treat idea..I must try it as I have a sweet tooth!
ReplyDeleteI need to learn the blanket stitch! Yours looks so pretty and tidy :)
ReplyDeleteI love the i-cord, it's a really celever idea, and it looks like it's going to be really comfy.
ReplyDeleteLOL What a creative book title! I love the idea of Crochet-a-longs but it all comes down to money to buy yarn for all those patterns. I was checking out your list for the year and while cables are still on my to-learn list, I think you should make that scarf either way because it's so cool! I love cables.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen that badge for yop...saw quite a few new ones few weeks back, perhaps I need to pop over and look again. I have that book also, but only look at the pictures. Don't think I've actually used it for anything. My DD bought it for me as a Christmas gift a few years back and I don't remember anything catching my eye,,,maybe I'll take another look, as it was also before I felt very comfortable doing much knitting or following patterns.
ReplyDeleteOh! A pillowcase almost complete with the border--you are so close to reaching a goal there! I am totally going to make that dump cake! Dump and go is my style.
ReplyDelete*smiles*
I am anxious to see that crochet edging..I could never master it! :)
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