Finally FINISHED!!!

It's done.  It's Finally FINISHED!!!!  The sweater that has taken FOREVER to finish.  It didn't really take forever.  I began knitting this sweater in November.  Hoping to finish it in time to give to my Dad for Christmas.  I also had a list of other things to knit for Christmas.  December came and I didn't have a chance to knit Dad's sweater.  Why do we knitters think we can get so many projects done during the month of December.  Things are so hectic with life, that knitting time was not available.

In any case, I did not finish in time.  I finished the back part of the sweater and wrapped that up and promised to have the entire sweater done soon.  I took the back home with me and continued knitting.  The only problem was boredom.  This sweater has a ton of cabling.  Not something that you would normally get bored with.  I think it is the amount of time.  Even my knitting speed decreased by half.  Too many different stitches.  Too many opportunities to f*ck up.  I love mistakes.  But I didn't want a ton of them.  Take a good look at this sweater and you will see mistakes.

I don't rip out.  What's the point.  Most mistakes I can fix later.  Others I leave as a design effect.  In this sweater there are purls where there should be knit stitches.  I think of them as my own take on the design.

February began and I took up the sweater with a vengeance.  Every spare moment, every game night, every minute watching movies or TV I was knitting.  I wasn't always knitting this sweater.  As I said boredom was a problem.  So when I was really bored, I worked on and finished other projects.  Mainly hats.

BUT I AM FINALLY DONE!!!

Take a look:

The color is light grey.  The first photo is taken outside.  The others inside.  The yarn is Lion Brand wool ease worsted weight.  The pattern is the Northshore Cardigan by Lion Brand.  See the details on my Ravelry page.

Yummy Pot Pie

We love pot pie in our house.  But not the traditional pot pie-you know the one-dripping in sauce.  We prefer a slightly dry but packed with flavor pot pie.  Here's how I make it.

I start with a pre-made pie crust.  I bake the bottom for 10 minutes in a 450 degree oven.  Make sure to poke holes in the crust.

While that is baking, I cook the filling for our pot pie in a large saucepan.  Tonight I am using leftover turkey.  (I've used chopped up chicken and canned chicken in the past).  Chop up the meat into smaller than bite sized pieces.  I add a chopped onion and seasonings.  Poultry seasoning, pepper, salt, garlic powder (or minced garlic), cayenne pepper, and worcestershire sauce.

Once the filling is heated through add a DRAINED can of veggies.  (I use Fresh and Easy's peas and carrots).  You can use fresh or frozen or whatever you have on hand.  Make sure to drain the liquid out of the filling.  Once the veggies are cooked through I add a can of cream of chicken soup and a quarter of the can filled with water.    Mix the liquid into the filling until it is thoroughly incorporated.

By now the bottom crust should be done.  Take it out of the oven.

Add the filling.

Add the top layer of crust.

The pan is HOT so be careful.  I use a fork to press the sides down and to punch holes for venting.  It doesn't have to be pretty-just yummy.   Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.

Enjoy.

Bingham's Pot Pie

Meat (Chicken or Turkey-chopped)-Use however much you want.  I used approximately 2 cups
Pie crust
onion
peas
carrots
can of cream soup
1 tsp poultry seasoning (or to taste)
Pepper to taste
salt -1 tsp
cayenne pepper (to taste-I used 1 tsp)
garlic- 1 tbsp minced or 1/2 tsp powder
worcestershire sauce -1 tbsp or to taste

Bake the bottom crust, cook filling on stove, adding soup last.  Fill pie crust, add top crust and bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees.

Helpful Pretty Things

I love stitch markers.  They are essential when knitting (and sometimes while crocheting).  There are all different types of stitch markers.  Small, medium and large.  Those that lock and those that don't. Plastic, beads, metal, etc.  You can purchase the little plastic locking ones or the little plastic hook type. My favorite are the locking stitch markers.  (Forgive the awful pictures...camera phone today).

The last thing you want to deal with when knitting is forgetting to move a non locking stitch marker and have it become a permanent part of your project.  Or cutting the marker or ripping out to remove it.

I decided to make some of my own markers.  I have a large box of beads left over from making books about 15 years ago.  (Anyone else out there play around with homemade books?)  First problem- I had no idea how to make stitch markers.  So I googled.  I love the internet.  I remember what we did before the internet.  I love the library.  Card catalogs and tons of books.  Books- My first love.

Anyhow...Google had a few suggestions.  There are some tutorials online-sort of.  The type of tutorials for people who already know what they are doing and forgot.  I think.  Not the type of tutorial that someone who has NEVER made jewelry or stitch markers looks for though.  I did not find one of those.  A few of those tutorials and websites had a list of tools and supplies necessary.

I took an early morning trip over to Michaels (a lot of people there on a weekday early am).  And found a plethora of options.  Most people suggested getting headpins.  No one mentioned that you need a headpin that is larger than the bead holes.  (FYI you want a headpin larger than the bead so that the bead doesn't just slip off.)  Not to worry I had some supplies from a friend who made some beaded necklaces and attempted to draft me into the project.

Back to supplies:  headpins or wire, closures, crimp beads, beads or whatever you want to decorate with, wire cutters, and good lighting.

This is what I came up with:

I'll work up a tutorial eventually.

Owls

Owl motifs have been really popular lately.  Kate Davies, an author, blogger and yarn artist from Kate Davies Designs introduced me to the motif first.  She designed this sweater entitled "Owls" (search for owl on Ravelry and you'll find it).   I then found an awesome pillow in the form of an owl from the Purl Bee and really really wanted it.  It’s still on my list of things to make-so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I am still working on the cable sweater for my Dad.  It’s only been 4 months.  (At least I haven’t been working on it continually and only have half a sleeve and finishing work to go).  When I get to the point where I don’t think I will ever finish something, because it is taking FOREVER, I grab something fast and finish it.  I get a finished product and feel that sense of accomplishment. 

Last week I reached that point and found the “Who” hat by Sara Amoroso.  I choose a skein of Caron Soft in grey from my stash and got to work.  The hat was a fast knit, taking me about 5 hours.   I knit it on circular needles, using the magic loop method at the top.  I also used a spare double point needle for the cabling instead of a cable needle.  Here it is in progress:

Choosing buttons is another story altogether.

My husband suggested putting grey buttons on every other owl so that they look asleep.  Others suggested black buttons for the eyes or white pearly buttons.  I still haven’t decided. 

Check out the finished hat.  

Viking Hat

I've had this hat on my list for a little over a year.   My nephew asked me to make it for him.  There aren't a lot of patterns out there for viking hats.  I found one on Ravelry-but it's designed for a baby.  I decided to follow the pattern for the horns only.  I cast on 80 stitches and made a beanie-just winged it based on other hats that I've done in the past.

A lot of other people have made this hat and posted pictures on Ravelry.  I went through most of the comments and project pages looking for some ideas and insight into how they chose to make the horns. I didn't want droopy horns.  I didn't want the horns to look like bunny ears.  Which is exactly what happened when I followed the pattern as written.  The horns, once attached to the hat drooped.  I tried to bring them up by stitching them onto the hat in a different way.

The result:

Yep.  That's right.  It looks like a bunny hat.  Really bad.

Here is a close up of the horn:

I surfed the net, looking for a better idea.  I talked to friends at my local Twisted Stitchers meetup group.  Using pipe cleaners was suggested and rejected.  We tried using a string on the inside to change the shape of the ears.  That didn't work either.

I then tried to crochet the horns.  That wasn't going well either.

Finally a friend suggested to try working them like a sock-using the heel turn technique to get the horns to make the turn upward.

Here is the final result and I am happy with it.  Mainly because I am cannot take making any more horns.

I know that the horns look droopy here.  They perk up when the hat is worn.  No droopy horns here.

Go Vikings!

Chicken Parmesan

I love chicken Parmesan.  It is one of my favorite dishes.  I recently came across a recipe for a modified chicken parmesan that has 300 calories a serving.  I think it was a weight watchers recipe, but I'm not sure.  I modified the recipe.   I also saw a recipe using cauliflower in place of rice in a fried rice recipe.  It intrigued me.  I had some cauliflower that I had intended to use to make Wisconsin cheddar soup.  So I decided to try the two ideas together.  I riced the cauliflower and used it as the base for the chicken Parmesan dish.

Start by ricing the cauliflower.  I don't own a ricer-you don't need one.  I used my pampered chef chopper.  You can rice the cauliflower by chopping it with a knife or using a cheese shredder.  You just want to chop the cauliflower until it is about the size of rice.  

I flavored the cauliflower with salt, pepper, minced garlic and olive oil.

Next I cut chicken breasts into large bite sized pieces.  You can leave breasts whole if you'd like, but I like it cut up to cook faster.  It also tends to go farther.

Add Parmesan cheese to the chicken (use however much you want).  I sprinkled it over and didn't measure.  Next add mozzarella cheese.  Again you decide how much (and you control the fat and calorie content as well).

Add marinara sauce.  You could also put chopped fresh tomatoes.  On top of that, add more of both cheeses.

Cook at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

I forgot to take a photo of the finished dish before we dug in.   This is a very tasty low calorie chicken parmesan.  Let me know what you think.

It's almost Thanksgiving.  It's my favorite food holiday.  I like that we take a day out of our year to reflect on those things that we are thankful for.  I love that we spend time with family and friends.  I love that I can spend the day cooking all of those yummy foods that are so very bad for our health.  I love spending the day with my friends and family.

This year we are hosting a small dinner at home with my cousin's family.  Our family is spread out.  A large group will be getting together in Utah, another in Oregon and the rest will be spending the day with friends and close loved ones in DC and England.

I will be whipping up a traditional menu for T day.  Starting with Turkey with stuffing inside (yes the stuffing will be inside the turkey.  I've been eating it that way for 36 years without anyone dying of salmonella poisoning).  I also make some outside the T for those so inclined.  We'll have fluffy mashed potatoes, candied carrots, sweet potato casserole, veggies, green bean casserole (courtesy of Sarah-along with pie and cranberry sauce), the usual rolls, pickles and lots and lots of olives (at least enough for everyone to put an olive on each finger multiple times).  And Rosemary blue cheese potatoes.  These are the best ever.  Chef Kathy Casey in Washington State published this recipe about 6 years ago.  It is delish!  It gets better with time.  It is yummy right out of the oven and even better the next day reheated.  If you haven't tried it-I highly recommend it.  The recipe can be altered slightly to be less caloric (but really it's T day- just go with it).

I have been knitting as fast as I possibly can.  I have a long list of things to prep for Christmas and a major cabled adventure to finish.  The pattern isn't advanced, but or some reason I feel like I am knitting at a snails pace on this one.  I am about 50% done with the back.  I have both front pieces, both sleeves and the finishing to complete.  I am really hoping to be done with the back by Friday.  Here's a little preview:

I really do love the cable pattern.  It's going well-with the exception of a major opps- that I am leaving and calling a design affect.  If you spot it-don't tell me.  I don't want to hear it.

I also have an update on my blanket square swap progress.  If you remember it is my knitting and crochet group- Twisted Stitchers that is participating in this one.  I have 5 new squares to show you:

This is going to be a great sampler blanket.  I was going to sew them together as I got them, but have decided to wait until I have all the squares and can find the best way to showcase each one.  I'll show you when I have it done.

There are a couple of events next year that I wanted to tell you about-

First- Yarn Bomb Los Angeles will be covering the front of the Craft and Folk Art Museum with granny squares.  They are asking for submissions.  You can participate from anywhere in the World.  Just crochet up a 5 by 5 inch square and submit via mail.  Check out the website for more info on how to participate, what colors and types of squares needed and where to mail.  There is also a mock up of the finished project: http://www.yarnbombinglosangeles.com/.

Second is the Yarn Crawl LA County which is set for April 11-14, 2013.  The website: http://yarncrawlla.com/ has all the information you may need.  A yarn crawl is a lot of fun.  Save up or dedicate some funds for this day (because who can go in and out of that many yarn shops without finding yarn you can't live without) and find some friends to travel LA County with.  You'll get a passport and at each shop you'll get stamps and a chance to win some awesome prizes.  There is no requirement to purchase-but remember these shops need local support and you should check with local shops before purchasing online.

36 Knitting days left until Christmas!!!!