On March 29, while I was going crazy with anxiety awaiting the amniocentesis results, I went the Purlescence Yarns to hang out and help tag merchandise. I didn’t bring my current knitting. (Danger! Danger! Entering a yarn store without supplies!) I didn’t want to go home after I finished the task, so I ended up buying a skein of Malabrigo and a circular needle and casting on. I had no idea what I would make; I just needed something to do. After working it for a few days, I decided it would become a felted bag, because I had two random skeins of Malabrigo that I’d no idea what to make with because the colorways were so bold. Well, I finished it today and felted it. (Working diligently on it this week helped me cope with the loss of my dear kitty.) Wow! I was a little worried it would remain huge, but I kept it in the washer a little longer (checking it frequently) until it was a size I liked. It’s very firm and sturdy. The handles aren’t perfectly aligned, but it’s a small quirk. I made this without a pattern, and I’m super pleased with the result. Look see!

Malabrigo Kettle Dyed Pure Merino Wool, worsted weight, 216 yards per skein: 3 skeins of #186 Buscando Azul, 1 skein #7 Cadmium yellow, 1 skein #97 Quartzo purple; knit on size 10.5 circular 29" needle.

Part of one ball of Rowan Calmer (75% cotton 25% acrylic/microfiber), colorway 482; size 6 needles using this pattern. I’m using up my stash of random yarn.

Here’s a batch of from-scratch goodies. I will never buy a box mix again. I always have the necessary ingredients on hand. I just haven’t ever tried to make homemade before. Vastly better! The recipe makes a fudgy brownie. For a more cakelike texture you can use 1/2 tsp. of baking powder.

Homemade Brownies

1 & 2/3 cup white sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 Tbsp. water
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 & 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup of baking cocoa or 4 squares of unsweetened baking chocolate
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips or nuts (optional)

Stir together the sugar, butter and water in a large bow. Stir in eggs and vanilla. (If using chocolate squares, melt over low heat and stir into the mixture.) In a separate bowl, combine flour,cocoa, and salt. Stir into the sugar mixture and then add the chocolate chips or nuts. Spread into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out a little sticky. Cool in pan before cutting.

We were invited to a party on Saturday, and I was assigned dessert. (Wise choice by the host, as I love to bake. I also made from-scratch brownies.) I had only three large apples; not enough for a stand-alone apple pie. I searched the internet and came up with a recipe for apple-pecan pie. I modified a couple of things, and the recipe is below. One thing I’d do differently next time is not use molasses. The pie tasted fine; in fact, if you like mincemeat pie, the molasses is a plus. I’d like to try it without though and see which I like better.

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup dark molasses (next time I’ll sub with an extra 1/4 cup corn syrup)
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg, plus a sprinkle for the top
2 or 2.5 cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 9-inch pie shell.

Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in eggs, molasses, corn syrup, lemon juice, and spices. Add apples and pecans and mix thoroughly. Pour filling into pie shell. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and crust brown. Cool before serving.

While I’m busy knitting the short-sleeved top (which is inches and inches of stockinette), I offer you a new forum to explore.

If you like to cook or bake, check out Bake Space. Join and hang out in the kitchen! Link up as a friend by visiting my profile.

My sister-in-law is in town tonight for several days, so the knitting is taking a small vacation too.

Today I knit a swatch to get gauge for a simple knit tee. My mother bought the pattern for me at Christmas, and I have yarn in my stash. After I got the gauge, I cast it on. Cheers for me!

It’s not incredibly complicated, but it’s several levels more complex than anything I’ve knit so far. If I can keep at it and just finish, it will help me break through my avoidance by perfectionism.

The dish cloths I made in the past were too large, and I didn’t like the stitch, so I made new ones this weekend. Knitting with cotton makes my hands ache. I used Sugar ‘n’ Cream yarn.

I made these dishcloths for my Mom for Christmas. I ended up making four (one a day) and she loves them. I made them from Rowan All Seasons Cotton on size 7 needles.

Four 100-yard balls of Classic Elite Waterlily extra fine merino wool, colorway 1927, lot 6209, on size 9 needles

This will be a gift. I didn’t enjoy the yarn as much as I would like, because it split so easily. However, the color variation gave it depth and the stitch texture is great. I’m pleased with the overall result.

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Update: the lower right corner of the scarf looks a little faded. That’s really a dash of sunshine!

This is savory and served warm. Incredibly good.

2 lbs. red new potatoes
olive oil
caraway seeds
dill weed
2 bundles of green onions
1/2 stick butter
3 Tbsp flour
1 can of beef or chicken broth
3 Tbsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp spicy German style mustard
small jar of apricot preserves
salt and coarse ground pepper
1 lb. of crisp lean bacon

Fry bacon, cool, and crumble. Set aside.

Select good, firm small new potatoes. Boil until tender yet still a little firm. Slice with the skins left on. Sprinkle with oil, caraway seeds, and dill weed. Add chopped green onions (use the bulb too) and set aside.

Melt the butter and 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet. Add 2 Tbsp of flour and stire. Add broth slowly & whisk until mixture thickens into a thin cream sauce. If it thickens too much, add water to thin down the sauce. Add vinegar, mustard, and preserves. Salt and pepper to sates. Pour small amounts of the hot thin cream sauce to coat the potatoes (there will be sauce left over — too much will make them mushy). Sprinkle bacon on top and serve hot. If not serving immediately, keep warm in a 150 degree oven. Add some of the remaining sauce if the salad dries out.

Makes 12 servings. Weight Watcher points per serving: 6

This recipe made two lovely baguettes. I got it from a Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast packet.

2.5 cups all-purpose flour
2.25 cups whole wheat flour
1 envelope Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1.25 cups water
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp butter or shortening

Combine flours in a large mixing bowl. Reserve 1 cup; set aside. Add undissolved yeast, sugar, and salt to flour in mixing bowl; mix well.

Heat water, milk and shortening to 120F to 130F. Add warm liquids to dry mixture; mix well until well blended. Gradually add enough reserved flour to form a soft ball of dough. Turn dough onto floured surface.

Knead (with reserved flour) for about 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.

Divide dough in half. Roll each half to a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Roll up length-wise, as for a jelly roll. Grease baking sheets; place each loaf on a baking sheet. Slash top of loaves diagonally about 1/4-inch deep and 2 inches apart. Cover; let rise until doubled, about 30-40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F. Brush loaves with cold water. Bake for 15 minutes. Brush again with cold Bake for 10 minutes more, or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

My husband is the elf for my brother this year (we each select one sibling to give to). However, he’s insanely busy, as is my brother; my brother doesn’t have time to think about what he wants and my husband can’t go shopping. So, I’m making a knit object for my brother. I’m the helper elf (basically I manage all gifting in our relationship, except for his gifts to me). But I realized today just how much I need to get going for it to be ready by Christmas. And we’re heading out in ten days; I’d like to have it finished by then.

I will not get sucked into seasonal stress, I will not get sucked into seasonal stress, I will not get sucked into seasonal stress, etc.

No more sitting at the kids’ table!

This is my first sock! I’m really proud of it. I got a little teary when I was done; I was so pleased with my accomplishment. Now I can make regular socks (this one I’ll use as an ornament). It was knit on size 6 needles.