autumnal awesomeness

We started off this sunny autumn Sunday with harvest pancakes and apple/gouda chicken sausage. YUM! I tweaked this recipe a bit.

Harvest Pancakes

Pulse in food processor or blender:

1 cup quick cooking oats

3/4 cup nuts – any combination of pecans, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts

Place in large mixing bowl and combine with:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 Tbsp ground (or whole) flax seeds

1 Tbsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/3 cup sugar

Whisk together in separate bowl:

1 3/4 cup buttermilk or milk (skim is fine)

2 eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Add to dry ingredients and stir just to combine.

Lightly oil or spray a large skillet and cook over med to med-low heat.

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Capricha is enjoying a lazy Sunday, too:

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AND I'm almost done with a new scarf...
Crest of the Wave pattern (rav), knit up with an aran-weight wool/silk blend rather than fingering weight yarn. I decreased the cast-on to 41 stitches. The Madelinetosh Pastoral (in "Oxblood") is wonderful to knit -- so smooth, soft, and with just a bit of sheen. It's a bit delicate, though, and I don't think it will stand up to heavy wear.

revisiting

I'll make up for yesterday's brief, drive-by post with a bit more substance today.

1) Francis Revisited ~ off the needles, onto me

Pattern: Francis Revisited, by Beth Silverstein (free!)
Yarn: Cascade EcoWool, "Latte," 2 skeins
Needles: US 9 and 6 bamboo circs

Notes: Super easy and unbelievably quick to knit. I actually used less yarn than the pattern recommended -- 2 skeins for a custom size somewhere between xl and xxl. I did not make it as long as the pattern said, and it actually might have been nice to do another inch or two on the body. The bell sleeves are cute and comfy in real life, but don't photograph terribly well.

The cowl is written the same way for the whole gamut of sizes; if you knit a larger sweater, you may want to add a few more rows and a few more extra stitches. It would be great to use a yarn with a little alpaca or silk for more drape, but it's hard to beat Eco Wool for affordability. The yarn really softened up when washed and blocked; it's no merino, but it's good stuff nonetheless.

2) cable owls ~ still love 'em, this time in squishy "squirrel heather" merino...

Pattern: Owl Tuque, by Barbara Prime
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Bulky, "squirrel heather," 1/2 skein
Needles: US 7 & 8 16" bamboo circs + US 7 Brittany Birch DPNs
Size: 6 months

Notes: Amazingly cute and exceedingly fun to knit. I gave this to a fellow knitter's little guy on Sunday, and it fit great. I love that Barbara Prime worked seed stitch into the hat. Switching to larger needles for the owl section is a very clever move, especially since those cables really do pull in.

This isn't a free pattern -- it's a $2.75 download on Ravelry -- but it's worth every penny. $2 from each pattern sale goes to the Montreal Ecomuseum.

3) Stephen Fry in America
Awesome! I loved Stephen Fry in Jeeves & Wooster and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (plus he was the only palatable part of V for Vendetta); this 6-part TV series wherein he visits all 50 states does not disappoint. Originally aired in 2008, it's being shown again on HDnet. Two things especially noteworthy: 1) winters in the upper Midwest are apparently a bit too chilly for this Briton, and 2) he actually goes ice-fishing in Minnesota.

4) One Fast Move or I'm Gone
Ben Gibbard & Jay Farrar teamed up to write songs inspired by Jack Kerouac's Big Sur for a new documentary. A little bit of Son Volt-style alt country, Gibbard's wonderful voice, inspiration from Kerouac, what more could you want? Especially if you went through a teenage Beat poetry phase, as I did. You can stream the new album here, from the sidebar of this review. More info here.

Gibbard and Farrar are playing a show at the new Lincoln Hall on Oct. 26. I'm so there! Apparently the makeshift band for this limited tour includes members of Son Volt, Death Cab, and Mountain Goats.

red or dead

striped baby hat

size: 6 months

yarn: Mission Falls 1824 cotton ~ 4 partial skeins
needles: US 7 16" circs and DPNs
(I actually used US 6, but I'm a loose knitter)
gauge: 4 sts/inch

Notes:

Cast on 66 sts with color A. Do 5 rounds of K1P1 ribbing, then knit 5 rounds.

Join color B and do 1 purl round, then 10 knit rounds. Same deal with color C.

After I did 1 P round with color D, the hat measured about 5 inches. I started decreasing every round, and topped it off with a little 4-stitch i-cord (worked for about 5 rows).

Next time I’d do 8 rounds of each color, and I’d decrease every other row at the top.

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goody two, goody two

goody, goody two shoes

you don't drink, don't smoke,

what do you do

Hooray for new shoes! I copied Kate at Needled and ordered these Red or Dead "Rolos" from Schuh. They appear to be out of the red, so I went with this playful purple/burgundy shade. The brown ones are super cute, too.

nothing says fall like...

a wool handbag?

Pattern: Booga Bag, by Julie Anderson

Yarn: Noro Kureyon, #170, 3.5 skeins
Needles: US 10.5 16" circs and DPNs

Notes:
Easy pattern, and it's fun to watch the Noro knit up, but the handles seem a little insubstantial. Fulling took a few rounds through the washer and created tons of fuzzies in the washer even though I used a zippered washing bag. I'm always afraid of destroying the washing machine with felted knits (NB the Yarn Harlot's warning).

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My parents (in Minneapolis) actually had snow yesterday, and already I have busted out scarves, mittens, sweaters, and wool socks for the season. Paul and I still ate brunch outside today at Milk & Honey Cafe despite the cool breeze, as it's probably our last chance this year.

We also tried O'Fallon Pumpkin Ale - pumpkin-y and spicy, but not nearly as good as the pumpkin whiskey from last weekend.

starting off Socktoberfest...

on the right foot!
I'm not a big sock knitter (although I am a big wool-sock wearer!), but the Socktoberfest bug does seem to have bitten me. I finished #1 of my little pumpkins socks on Oct. 1, setting just the right tone for the month.
My aim is to knit second socks (Dragonfly, Little Pumpkins, & Little Shell below) so that I actually have some pairs to wear as it gets chilly.

Also on the list are the Cable Footies from One Skein in red Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted that has been earmarked for this project for eons, but perhaps that would be shooting the (harvest) moon.

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also on the autumnal front...
Milwaukee's Great Lakes Distillery teamed up with the Lakefront Brewery to make Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit. It's distilled from Lakefront's Pumpkin Lager, and it's quite tasty -- essentially a pumpkin spice whiskey. Last night Paul mixed up some Pumpkin Old-Fashioneds, inspired by a recipe here (and a trip to Brocach last fall):

Pumpkin Old-Fashioned
2 oz Great Lakes Pumpkin Spirit
2 maraschino cherries, muddled
2 dashes blood orange bitters (or regular bitters + an orange slice)
dash of maple syrup
seltzer
maraschino cherry or orange wheel, to garnish

In an old-fashioned glass muddle the cherries and orange bitters. Add Pumpkin Spice Seasonal Spirit, seltzer, maple syrup, and ice. Stir well. Garnish with a cherry or an orange wheel.

I'm excited about trying a pumpkin spice martini next!

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Francis Revisited is blocking on the dining room table as I type. What an easy and quick pattern! I'll post photos as soon as it's dry.

Francis Revisited

Francis Revisited is knitting up oh so quickly! Just the cowl left to go! Great pattern, very easy to follow. I was afraid that the fit wouldn't be very good since all the directions are just so darn simple. My worrying was needless, as it looks good so far, although we'll have to see what blocking does. I know it will grow widthwise. That Eco Wool is great stuff -- affordable, natural, and easy on the hands and wrists. The "Vanilla" shade I used for the Hap Blanket is much softer than the "Mocha" shade here. Curious!

recent reads

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, by Eva Rice
A charming book about a young woman coming of age in 1950s London. Rock & roll, a moldering estate her family can't afford, a spot of romance... I enjoyed the narrative voice, and the time period was a welcome change. I often read books written during the period between the wars or set during that time.




The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley
Precocious Flavia de Luce (once again growing up in a moldering country estate her family can't afford) finds a man dying in her backyard. She aims to get to the bottom of the case, armed with a keen mind, a penchant for chemistry, and a desire to figure out her father's past.

I highly recommend both!

good things

This is the best version of the Owl Baby Vest ever, knit and photographed by Luscious Luka (rav):Holy cow, that's hilarious. Thanks for brightening up my day! Photo and knitting credits are all hers. It's gratifying to know that people are actually knitting my patterns; it's even more awesome to see tabby cats modeling them.

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I have devised the perfect cupcake frosting. Seriously.

Mocha Fudge Frosting

4.75 C. sifted powdered sugar
.5 C. unsweetened cocoa powder -- I used natural (not dutch processed)
.5 C. butter or Earth Balance margarine, softened
1/3 C. espresso (hot!) (you can fake it with instant espresso powder and boiling water)
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add butter, espresso, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed till combined. Beat for 1 min. on medium speed. Cool for 15 min. or so. This frosts 24 cupcakes or the tops and sides of 2 8- or 9-inch cake layers.

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Thai Beef with Chiles and Basil over Coconut Rice was a huge hit Monday night. I don't usually eat beef, but I made an exception for this. Very easy to make, to boot.

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Bright Star, the new movie about the Romantic poet John Keats is coming out soon, and Tony Scott has written a wonderful review of it in today's NYT: "Keats and His Beloved in an Ode to Hot English Chastity." How's that for a review title?

renegade

and we're not talking about Lorenzo Lamas...
There's still one more day if you haven't been yet! My favorites this year...

- Sofia Masri handmade porcelain jewelry
- Oliba organic soap
- Kitchen Sink Dyeworks yarn
- Nate Duval's prints -- I picked up these two:
Very nice! I only wish I had seen this one at Renegade, too. J'aime le café.

We went to the Wicker Park location of Jerry's for lunch, and it was fabulous -- a dizzying array of delicious vegetarian sandwich combinations. So many veggies and cheeses, YUM!

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I'm missing out on Wisconsin Sheep & Wool this year, as my budget just can't take two big crafty events in one weekend. This is especially sad since I drank our last Spotted Cow (available only in WI) as I typed this post. Stitches Midwest is this weekend, too, but I'm not one for convention centers.

Despite the gorgeous weather, fall is most definitely in the air here. Some trees along Lakeshore Drive are changing color, I had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season this morning, and I cast on for a new sweater:
Francis Revisited (rav), à la Sarah. I just couldn't resist, and the Eco Wool has been hibernating in my stash for a couple of years already. Plus the designer is both a Midwesterner and a grad student, in the humanities, no less. It's good to support our genus. :-)

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Speaking of designs, here's a teaser of a baby sweater design I'm working on. I need to do some tweaking and knit up a second version, so it may be a couple weeks before I release it.

mermaid avenue

I've been knitting a bit less lately, and spending more time reading, cooking, taking guitar lessons, and working on ye olde dissertation. And just plain trying to make the most of the last gasp of summer by getting outside, picnicking, going to the farmer's market, and catching up with friends at BBQs.

an amazing mushroom patch at the Heller Nature Center on our Sunday outing

There is a shawl on the needles, though:
It's the After Hours Shawl pattern, knit up in Briar Rose Celebration, both purchased at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair this past summer. The colors remind me of mermaids, and I've been listening to one of my favorite low-key albums, the Dirty Three's Ocean Songs, while knitting. The colors and sheen are fabulous, but I'm not sure bamboo is for me.

On a more seasonal note, I'm also working on socks. Pumpkin socks, to be exact. :-)
I'm not the world's most dedicated sock knitter, so it's a good sign that I've already turned the heel. I was supposed to alternate the pumpkin patterns both horizontally and vertically. Oops! That's what I get for not reading directions, but I'm sure as heck not going back now.

We also bit the bullet and finally bought a new computer. I went for the iMac, and now I'm trying to figure out iPhoto and all that good stuff. Plus I still need to install a bunch of new software, which is a fairly major expense when coming from a PC.

I'm a little envious of someone's amazing ability to relax and take things easy:

new math

6+6+6=24

WTF????

Oh no, I used to be good at math! I have three new patterns in the works, and the equation listed above managed to foil me this afternoon. Yes, apparently 6+6+6 does really add up to 18. Sigh...

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a different sort of math...

We have cable, mainly because Paul's such a big enthusiast of Wisconsin sports and we're out of market for the Badgers/Packers/Brewers games. Plus the new Dr. Who's are on Sci Fi. :) I'm horrified by the price tag, however, especially since our special sign-up deal expired.

Last week Paul managed to get the cable company to lower our rates by following these suggestions from the Consumerist. Nice! It's definitely worth a try.

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Apparently Kylie Cat was abducted by the Interweave Knits crew for a photo shoot..
Actual Kylie shots:


Uncanny resemblance, eh? I suppose brown/black tabby cats are a dime a dozen. The Kylie-lookalike is modeling the 40 Winks Basket for the new Interweave Knits Weekend special issue. Check out the preview here. I especially like the Gooseberry Cardigan.

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Kristen Rengren is sharing two super-cute vintage-inspired baby patterns for free -- the Stella Pixie Hat and Cleo Kitty Slippers.

delightfully saucy, both metaphorically and literally

I managed to knit, sew on buttons, wash, and block this little baby sweater all in one weekend. That's a record for me, as I usually drag out the finishing and blocking processes as long as possible.

I dug out some "precious" hand-dyed sock yarn that had been marinating in the stash for quite some time. What an unusual and beautiful combination of colors! At least that's what I think... Paul thought they were kind of weird. Then again, he's red-green colorblind.

Pattern: Boheme, by Allegra Wermuth (free!) ~ rav
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun Instant Gratification
"April Showers," about 2/3 skein (~ 200 yds.)
Needles: US 5 circs
Size: 6 months

Notes:
The pattern's very easy to follow, and I especially loved knitting the garter stitch bodice. Only a few minor modifications:
- moving the buttonholes closer to the edge – just K1, then k2tog, yo, etc.

- instead of decreasing 1 stitch where specified (after the bodice), increasing 3 stitches evenly, then using the extra stitches to do a 2-stitch garter border on the front edges. I think a 3-stitch border would be even better.

- skipping the picot bindoff and did 4 rows of garter stitch and a regular BO knitwise instead.

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Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
adapted from Jeanne Lemlin's Main Course Vegetarian Pleasures

perfect for pizza!

1/2 lb. roasted red peppers, either roasted yourself (yum!) or from a jar (easy!), patted dry
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1.5 T. olive oil
1.5 tsp basil, chopped (or .5 tsp dried)
dash of cayenne

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree, scraping down as needed.

simplest pizza dough recipe here ~ I use the breadmaker's "dough" setting

topping ideas:
- shredded pepperjack
- cubed fresh mozzarella
- thinly sliced zucchini or yellowsquash
- sliced tomatoes
- pepperoni

star-spotting at the Green City Market

We ran into Rachael Ray (and her filming crew) at the Green City Market at Lincoln Park this morning! I picked up veggies for carrot coriander soup and a Parmesan tomato tart. Yum!

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I tried a new brownie recipe -- Emily Martin's favourite brownies, from (Inside A Black Apple).

Very sweet! You can really taste the brown sugar, which is nice, but the sheer sugar overload is almost gritty. I still prefer my tried-and-true recipe from Land O'Lakes, with or without the raspberry swirl.

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On the Minnesota front...

The upper midwest's representin' on Project Runway! Christopher and Ra'mon live in the Twin Cities. This was my first time watching Project Runway, and I enjoyed it immensely. That Tim Gunn's a hoot.

Also, good news from the ELCA's big meeting in Minneapolis.

21 songs

Tentenknits and cocoknits posted their top 21 favorite songs today, and I'm following suit. This is pretty unscientific and off the cuff, as I didn't even look at iTunes. Like Nicole, I'm pretty sure this list would be different on any given day.

1. There's a Light that Never Goes Out, The Smiths
2. Skyway, The Replacements
3. Fall on Me, R.E.M.
4. Running to Stand Still, U2
5. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man, Prince
6. People Got a Lotta of Nerve, Neko Case
7. Red Right Ankle, The Decemberists
8. Laid, James
9. Valerie Loves Me, Material Issue
10. Boxful of Letters, Wilco
11. I Will Follow You into the Dark, Death Cab for Cutie
12. Cecelia, Simon & Garfunkel
13. Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying, Belle & Sebastian
14. Train in Vain, The Clash
15. Hope I Never Lose My Wallet, Mighty Mighty Bosstones
16. Anchorage, Michelle Shocked
17. See a Little Light, Bob Mould
18. Mrs. Potter's Lullaby, Counting Crows
19. Pictures of You, The Cure
20. Love My Way, The Psychedelic Furs
21. Furr, Blitzen Trapper

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PSA for those of you in the Chicago area, the Music Box Theatre is showing 16 Candles as a midnight movie both tonight and Saturday. "Life is not whatnot, and it's none of your business"

happy to be home again

A cup of coffee, a new knitting project, and a snuggly kitty at my side...
The Tiffany blue yarn is well on its way to becoming Damson, Ysolda's first pattern release from Whimsical Little Knits 2. Lots of garter stitch made this great car knitting over the weekend as we traveled around Wisconsin. I'm using the Plucky Knitter's merino superwash fingering weight in "Audrey" (aptly named, indeed).

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Madison was awesome, as usual. Super hot pizza at Paisan's, Spotted Cow and a live band on the Union Terrace, a Brewers victory, and lots of family togetherness.

Madison truly has the best farmer's market.
All around our beautiful State Capitol. We didn't get there quite as early as we should have, though, so it was awfully busy. After 9 am it slows to a snail's pace, but it's still worth it.

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As summer draws to a close, so many wonderful new knitting patterns are being released:

- Multnomah at Hello Knitty (free) - rav - I'm picturing it knit up in my Plucky Knitter Container Garden merino/silk

- A Little Ruffle at Sadie & Oliver (free) - rav

- Laurel at whatifknits (free) - rav

- new Twist Collective
I'm quite taken with Cottage Garden, Vine Yoke Cardigan, and Twigs & Leaves Cardigan

Off the needles:

Pattern: Autumn Leaves, by Nikki Van De Car
Yarn: RYC Cashsoft DK, 1.5 skeins
Needles: Clover US 4 bamboo circs

Notes: The yoke is so cute and fun to knit! I made the seed stitch button bands 4 stitches wide. The shaping of the body is a bit odd. I looked at versions on Ravelry and decided to cut down on the post-sleeve body increases. The pattern doesn't call for any extra stitches to be cast on after the sleeves are put on waste yarn, so the body seems narrow. And the sleeves seem very big! I think it will actually be a very cute almost puffed-sleeve effect. It might work out a bit better to do as one Raveler did and switch to basically a February Baby Sweater at the sleeve divide.
I spent 99 cents total for all 6 of these buttons at JoAnn. They're pretty much perfect, in that they're machine washable and they have a shank, which is always easier for me to sew onto handknits.

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And then there were two...
Another Packers hat, this time for my brother-in-law, who's turning 30 this weekend.

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Speaking of Wisconsin, I'm about to hit the road for a weekend in Madison and Milwaukee. Beer on the Union Terrace, browsing the farmers' market, coffee and knitting at Lakeside Fibers, a family picnic, a Brewers game... should be great fun.

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I picked up this cute little hand-embroidered pouch from Tiny Happy's etsy shop, and I wasn't quite sure what to do with it at first. I couldn't resist, since the embroidery reminded me so much of my grandmother, an inveterate crafter who had a penchant for bedecking projects with little brown-eyed Susans and daisies. Anyway, the pouch turned out to be just perfect for packing jewelry for my trips this summer. I put the little individual boxes and bags within.

if you leave...

Ism's, in my opinion, are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus but it still wouldn't change the fact that I don't own a car.

John Hughes' death last week marked the end of an era. I have watched 16 Candles and Ferris Bueller's Day Off so often that the dialogue is permanently emblazoned in my brain.

the ever nerdy yet dreamy Colin Meloy

Much to my delight, the Decemberists reeled off an impromptu version of "If You Leave" at the Metro on the eve of Lollapalooza. They were fabulous! One of the best Decemberists concerts I've attended, and I've been to quite a few. They did not play The Hazards of Love all the way through (which is pretty much standard on this tour), but rather they played a set-list voted on by fans on the interwebs. "Red Right Ankle," baby! Two rather decorative-seeming girls were on stage for much of the show, clapping rhythmically, swaying strangely, singing some background vocals, etc. They seemed quite unnecessary and distracting... until they got to a cover of Heart's "Crazy On You." Yep, Shara Worden and Becky Starck can really sing. I had to eat my words, and they must sing a lot more in the full-on Hazards shows.

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A feather and fan scarf is in the works to coordinate with my Beanpole Beanie.
The yarn's Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Pagoda, and the pattern's Misty Garden from Scarf Style. Not that you really need a pattern for a feather and fan scarf...

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PSA: If you somehow acquire a sofa that's upholstered in Schumacher cut velvet (whatever that means), be prepared to cover it up with a quilt pretty much 24/7. Sigh.

Thanks so much for all the kind comments on my 3rd blogiversary post! The Count (AKA the random number generator) has announced the giveaway winner:

#3

#3 is barefoot rooster! I hope you enjoy the books and other goodies.

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Speaking of goodies, I received the nicest parcel from Mia:
Gorgeous bulky handspun yarn and cute cards from her own photos! Mia's opening up an etsy shop soon, I think. Now to find the perfect pattern to showcase the yarn...

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Jodi and Sarah helped me pick out buttons for my Debbie Bliss drop collar cable jacket at Josephine's Dry Goods in Portland.
I *think* they're going to work out well, but I haven't worked up the courage to sew them on and give this sweater a final blocking yet. The muggy, 100-degree weather isn't exactly putting me in hurry to finish this up.

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Getting ready for Packers season...

A new Packers hat for Paul! Two more to go -- one for me, and one for my BIL.

Pattern: House Hat (beanie)
Source: Charmed Knits by Alison Hansel
Yarn: Cascade 220
Needles: US 4 and 6 Clover bamboo 16" circs; US 6 Brittany birch DPNs

Notes: Great pattern. I used the directions for size small, since I'm a loose knitter, and just knit it a bit longer. The decreases are very nice for a men's hat -- not too frou-frou. I knit the narrow stripes closer to the ribbing than specified.