Completely Cauchy

I haven't done a blog review in a long time, but one of the things I love about the blog-o-sphere is finding new and unique people that I wouldn't have known otherwise. There is a vast amount of wonderfully crafty people and just plain wonderful people.

I have found the blog Completely Cauchy through another blog I read, Knotty bits and her post on Dropping F Blocks.

So I clicked on over to the Completely Cauchy blog and loved as I clicked through her old blog posts. I love it when there is a blog that just seems like it clicks with you and this definitely does. I love her attitude and blogging style . . . humorous, informative, and genuine. I appreciate blogs that are about more than just one craft, since I also enjoy a multitude of crafts.

Some of the posts I like:

~BQF-Hearth is about a wonderful blanket she made with old scraps from pants. I love not only how the blanket turned out, but her approach with color and the beauty of making the old pants new.

~Zum Ziggity is about the scrap crochet blanket she made going off of this pattern. I loved how hers turned out and that she used irregular steps in the afghan. It reminds me kind of like layers of earth over the many thousands of years. I am going to have to make something based off of this . . . maybe some hand towels or pot holders.

~How I Smurfed My Kitchen is about her experience with dyeing with indigo. She doesn't do a step by step but she does provide some very useful information and links to the product she used, which I am now considering trying come summer when I do some dyeing. Her pictures are good and she talks about some different dyeing techniques, such as tying and using acrylic shapes. It all makes my miss my fiber class I took in college.

~Curried Socks Diary Part 1 is where she begins her journey of dyeing some sock yarn with Turmeric. Lovely!

~Dyeing using Neon Food Color for her dyeing, which I don't think I have ever seen those, but will now have to look for them!

~The Behemoth is a lovely crocheted log cabin inspired blanket and I love it!

Anyways, there are many more and I recommend giving her blog a look! If you are offending by profanity, maybe not, but I think it is done in a tasteful way.

Saturday Inspirations

I absolutely love the look of this Ternion Shawl and recommend you hurry up and get it while it's free. Although I love the look of it so much, I'd recommend buying it even if you don't get to it while it's free.

I may have mentioned these before but I love the idea of Embroidering on Metal. Would make a wonderful project with kids too!

I really love this bag and how it was made. Would love to take the time and make me one similar.

Very cute idea for a quilt and there are many different ways to work with color in this.


Recipes I'd like to try:


I think these Mesquite Chocolate Chip Cookies sound interesting and worth trying.

Even if you don't want to dump your chili into little Frito bags, the Chili in this recipe sounds good!

This Ancho Chile, Shrimp, and Pasta sounds delicious!

I absolutely love the whole theory of Homemade Poptarts. I'll have to find a good gluten-free dough to substitute.

These Gluten-Free Apple Fritters look so delicious. Apple fritters remind me of college back in Washington State, where I would often buy one each day!

Even though the author of this blog considers this a crisp, I think of it more as an Apple Cake since it is more doughy than crispy, but it looks delicious no matter what you call it.

This Gluten Free Pizza/Calzone looks good.

Time, what is that?

Ah, it seems to a constant that lately, time just doesn't seem to be in abundance around this household. So as you've noticed, I am still around, just more popping in here and there. Our big project at work started this week, so overtime is back again. For the next 11 weeks I will continue working 10 hour days, which will be great for the banking account, but not so good for the problem of time and having any of it! Just letting you know in case I disappear for a few days here and there, just working more.

I do have something to share with you on this lovely Thanksgiving . . . Qannick Sweater (ravelry link).

Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby
Color: Lemon
Content: 100% Acrylic
Care: Machine Wash and Dry
Size: 2T
Needles: US 3 / 3.25mm
Pattern: Qannick (ravelry link)
Modifications: No modification since it was a test knit.

I knit a 2T so I could gift it to my niece Ellie, however, she is an expert grower and this may not fit her by the time it arrives. I hope it does, but if it doesn't it will then be given to Vera, another niece.



I enjoyed knitting this, there were a few corrections needed during test knitting, but the designer was quick at fixing them.  I wasn't able to finish it while I was out in Washington State, but I'll hopefully be mailing it off on Sunday.


I'm not sure if I like the pointed hood though.  I will have to wait until I see pictures of it on a child.


I spent too long looking for perfect buttons . . . even as is, these are a little fiddly.









On a positive side note, the husband is getting me a net-book for Christmas so I should be a little more active on here since I will have a portable and convenient way of keeping in touch.

Sunday Inspirations

I love this quote from Buddha.

These Organizational Boxes are so cute and could be used for so many things.

I love the simplicity of this Shag/Rya Rug! It would make a wonderful little bathroom rug.

Recipes I'd like to try:

Oh how I miss Oatmeal Cookies. I will definitely need to try these.

Don't these Custard filled Pastries look yummy! Honestly, just the outside of the pastry even looks yummy! I cannot even put into words how I would love to have one of these right now!

Yet again, my love for Indian food. This slow-cooker version of Tikka Masala looks delicious!

I have only recently, as in the past year or so, learned that I love basil! Any recipe I see with it, I am automatically drawn to it. I also like spice, so these Chili and Basil Scallops sound delicious. I wouldn't take the time to serve them in shell, but over some noodles . . . yummy!

There are many things that as a child you may try and dislike and assume that you dislike that item period. When in reality, your tastes may change, it may have been cooked or prepared poorly when you tried it before, etc. When I was out in Washington State back in May, my sister Rhoni convinced me to try fried sweet potatoes . . . cooked just like regular fried potatoes. To say I was a little worried, is not even close . . . I never cared for sweet potatoes as a child . . . however my sister's fried sweet potatoes were delicious! So I am tempted to try something like this Sweet Potato & Cranberry Salad.

I always love the thought of making my own broth, especially now that I am gluten free. This recipe for Bone Broth sounds not only nutritious, but full of flavor.

I love Mexican food and this version of Choriqueso sounds delicious!

I love the crocheted wreath that Lindamade posted, the tutorial she linked to looks super easy!

Doesn't this Gingerbread Cake look awesome! I think it looks delicious and I will hopefully have some time to make it in the near future.

This Gluten Free Pastry Crust looks great. It appears both light and crispy, will definitely have to try this!

I love Thanksgiving leftovers almost more than I love eating them that day. It is one of the reasons I make so much food even though it is just my husband and I. We have leftovers for the whole next week, it is great! So these Turkey with Cranberry Barbeque Sauce Sandwiches sound super interesting.

This Brazilian Feijoada looks and sounds yummy!

I have to admit, one of the reasons I like Thanksgiving is also because of all of the cranberry recipes, another thing I didn't realize that I actually love as an adult. When I saw these Cornmeal Cranberry Cookies I knew I would have to try them!

Me, Unrealistic?

So I do realize that some of my crafting ideas are a little out there sometimes.  Especially when you do a Google search and like only one other person can you find that was crazy enough to think of actually attempting to do the same thing.  I tend to think I can accomplish anything craftual so long as I take a good approach.  So I ask this question to you all, my lovely knowledgeable readers . . . who can give me a good smack upside the head if this idea is just too ridiculous.

To start, let me explain that went from 70 degrees on Wednesday to only 30 today, there were even snow flurries!  Yes, that dreaded four letter word.  (True it was an unseasonable warm week before this temperature drop, but still.)  Any who, I had to break out the gloves, because it was just too cold and I am already a person that gets cold easily.  Now I have to admit though . . . yes, I have been knitting for years, no I have never knitted myself real gloves.  Yes, I wear the cheap acrylic $2 ones.  Now you can see how my fingers still stay cold, just not quite as cold.

This wasn't as big of a deal in the past, because I could always stick my hands in my pockets also.  However, the Wook goes on 40 minutes walks and I have to hold the giant retractable leash thing. Since that thing is way to big for my pockets, my hands are not so warm.

My concern is, I am harsh on my gloves, which is why it benefits me to buy the $2 ones.  I am not interested in knitting myself gloves when I will undoubtedly snag, tear, etc them within the first week.  So I have a theory of felted gloves.  Know I know you see many felted mittens, but mittens really aren't my thing.  There is only one pattern on Ravelry for felted gloves and I'm not sure I trust it, plus it is a pay and I will ship you a copy of the pattern type thing.  Not so interested in that either.

I realize that to make such a thing would be a huge venture.  Knitting a swatch, felting it, lots of math with the hands, knitting ginormous gloves, and felting them.  So the question I pose, does anyone think it would be worth it??

Here are my very real concerns:

Is it possible to felt that accurately?

Would the felted wool make the material too thick for comfortable gloves, meaning will there be too much material between each finger due to the condensing of the fibers?

I wouldn't want the ribbing felted as then it seems it would defeat the purpose of being ribbing.  Would it be possible to use a superwash wool for the cuffs?  Or maybe attach cuffs after the felting process?

Here are my justifications:

Felted gloves would so be worth it!

I would definitely make sure to do a few swatches and felting of the swatches to insure accuracy.  Plus, if I didn't think it was going to work by this stage I could just bail out here, not too much time lost.

 Please weigh in and give me your thoughts, do you agree, disagree, have different concerns, or even have different justifications . . . trust me any thoughts would help!  :)

Being back

So yeah, we are back!

The time away was good, but lets face it, I missed you guys and so did Wookie.

In the mean time our car is leaking coolant and a bunch of things are wrong with the whole coolant system.  Minimum of $2,000 to fix it they say.  We called and looked around and pretty much everyone else says the same things.  So whats a girl to do but look for our next used car.  So we are on the hunt.  In the mean time I am riding the bus again, not really a problem, but at my new position it takes an hour to get to work and an hour to get home.  Instead of the 20 minutes each way by car.  So it is making my day longer.

The upside of all of this, I am getting a little more knitting done while I wait for buses.  :)

However, not wanting to disappoint, I do have some pictures to show you from Halloween:

From left to right: Justice, Me, Ellie (on my lap), Echo, and Vera (on Echo's lap).  You cannot see in the picture, but technically there is another little one inside Echo waiting to come out in 2012.




Here is me and Ellie.  Rhoni had gotten her a duck costume for Halloween, but she outgrew it.  So she was only stuck in it long enough for pictures.




And one of Ellie's desire to learn to crochet, boy does she love some yarn and needles/hooks:








I didn't get any pictures of it, but she also helped me unravel the skein so I could wind it into a ball. :)

Knitty Deep Fall 2011 Review

I'm not exactly sure when the Knitty Deep Fall 2011 came out, but here is my review.

Patterns:

~Takoma - - A little more oversized in the shoulder area than I care for, but I do like the look of this sweater otherwise. I would probably not do the full 4" of ease, maybe 2. I would definitely like to knit this, different colors though, maybe some fall colors. I love the collar.

~When Sampson met Lila - - I actually like this. The close fit of the body with the loose, cowl like collar is nice. LOVE the texture on the cowl! I love even more that the cowl is part of the sweater and not some separate piece.

~The Candles - - This is an okay long cardigan. I'm not so sure I like the use of the colorwork as shaping, it just doesn't look right to me somehow, plus it's unreliable as different people will have different tension doing colorwork. I don't much care for the arrows, maybe if it was a different color design. I like the yoke, plain, but well knit/designed.

~Tenney Park - - I like the entrelac in this sweater, however, I am not so sure how I feel about it being attached to the sweater afterwards and not somehow being more of an extension from the sweater. I don't so much enjoy sewing pieces together, nor do I think they are as durable.

~Friendly Grey - - I am all for texture, but this is just too much. Plus there is no shaping and just doesn't seem to fit very well.

~Flugel - - This might be nice if it was a fitted sweater, but it is super baggy and the super wide arms are just not flattering. The model is slender and it isn't flattering, a plus size person is definitely not going to look good in this.

~Vignette - - I think this sweater has cute potential. I would probably either make the sleeves elbow length, wrist length, or make the taper at their 2/3rds length. The bell out look isn't so much appealing to me. I like the lace used, but I think it would be nice if the lace went around the collar on the back too. Again, not so much for all that seaming, it would be much nicer if it could be knit as one piece.

~Auguste - - I actually really like this as a man's sweater. I would not do a purple color like that. Otherwise, I would make the sleeves longer and work this in the round. I really like this though.

~Microprocessor - - I like the colorwork on these socks and that she provides different sizes. The "boomerang" heel looks interesting to try out also.

~Glomerata - - The lace designs are pretty and it is nice to have different sizes available. It's a little over girly for me, but I could see potentially knitting these for someone else.

~Paper Moon - - Simple and appealing, I definitely like them. I like the cabling, simple and not overwhelming along with the garterstitch looking area. Plus, how can I resist a good pattern in a lovely orange???

~Mortar - - Still not a fan of cowls, but I love the texture the deign creates.

~Semi-precious - - A lovely shawl, with different lace designs that work well together.

~Apis Dorsata - - Another lovely shawl. I really love the texture on this one! I will definitely end up knitting this at some time.

~Callette - - I like the flow and design of this shawl. Although it is knit more like a stole and I usually don't have the patience for knitting like that. Although I think this would look really lovely is some brighter handpainted yarn that was more a reminder of more colorful birds. This is a maybe.

~Mathematix - - I really love this! I like the way the different sections of colorwork are done and work together.

~Alda - - I personally am not a fan of this, nor would I wear it, but I can see how it might appeal to some people. . . people more girly/feminine than I am. I even thing my niece Justice might like this if it was in shades of yellow, red, and orange.

~After the Rain - - As always, not much a fan of mittens. I like the color and the way it was used. Might be a good gift project. My only concern is that the wrist band of the mittens look loose on the woman in the first picture and that would need to be rectified.

~Tambroso - - More mittens, The design is kind of interesting.

~Spatterdash - - Sideways knitted wristwarmers/gauntlets. I am not so much a fan of this look. Especially all of those buttons that are needed, there is no way in the world that it is convenient.

~Lithuanian Wristers - - I am not so much a fan of wrist warmers, because it's my fingers I am interested in keeping warm, but I do like the beaded designs and would be tempted to make a pair just to be able to try out the beading.

~Ogiku - - I really like the colorwork in this. This style of hat always worries me though as to how well it will fit my head.

~Weeping Willow - - It is an interesting design and I like the colorwork, but probably not something I would knit. Size goes completely off of how thick the yarn is and your needle size.

~Kiwi - - I think these are cute, but then I like it when they have toys. Not sure it I'd actually knit one though as they are a little odd looking!


Overall, seems like a good issue!  Please go have a look and let me know what you think.

Sunday Inspirations

Another wonderful quote!

I know Halloween has passed already, but some things are cute enough to remember for next year:

These adorable Fanged Pumpkins are just too perfect.

We do not have enough room in our small apartment for a dining room table, but when we get a house these homemade Placemats and Napkins will be something I make.

I always thought I would enjoy an Inkle Loom so why not build one myself?! We shall see, but I just may have to do it.

I will admit that I tried paper piecing with sewing and wasn't any good at it. My mind has a hard time wrapping around it, I think this is due to my not so good relationship with geometry. This Circle of Geese Block is almost enough to make me willing to try it again.

I am also loving this Retro Potholder Tutorial! I can definitely see this in some lovely color combos!

Recipes I'd like to try:

This Alfredo Sauce sounds delicious and interesting.

I love the idea of sweets in smaller serving sizes, so these Gluten Free Cake Pops sound delicious. I'll admit I tried making cake pops back in the time of gluten and failed miserably, so hopefully second time will be the charm!

I was never really too much of soup person, but since going gluten free I appreciate a good soup even more. I miss chowders, like this Corn Cheese Chowder.

The husband and I use to eat granola bars all the time. Only I was and still am quite picky about them. The only type of granola bars that I can find gluten free are ones that are a little more nutty/earthy than I care for. So I am looking forward to using this Granola recipe as a spring board for making my own. Because boy do I miss them!

A lovely Chinese take-out food that I miss is the Crab Ragoon. This will definitely be something I have to try to make.