Stitch Dictionary Treasure

The lovely, helpful knitters at Blind Stitchers Google Group have helped me find a wonderful, accessible resource : Walker's Treasury of Knitting. It is available as a download from Bookshare.org, and with a membership, you are given the software to read the book aloud. I have started in right away, and tried the Harris Tweed Stitch Pattern. It adjusted well to the loom.

Harris Tweed Flat Panel:

6 stitch repeat; 12 row repeat

Row 1: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 2: purl 3 knit 3 repeat

Row 3: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row4: knit

Row 5: knit

Row 6: knit

Rows 7: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 8: purl 3 knit 3 repeat

Row 9: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 10: purl

Row 11: purl

Row 12: purl

Harris Tweed Stitch Round Loom:

6 stitch repeat; 12 row repeat

Row 1: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 2: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 3: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 4: knit

Row 5: knit

Row 6: knit

Row 7: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 8: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 9: knit 3 purl 3 repeat

Row 10: purl

Row 11: purl

Row 12: purl

This is a stitch pattern that will curl, so you may want to consider yarn that can be blocked, and a garter stitch border on your project.

Icing on the Cake

Tomorrow Tween Girl has a teacher appreciation luncheon. We were asked to make a dessert that is vegan friendly. We made little chocolate cupcakes, and in adjusting an icing recipe, we may have found a perfect little icing for making anytime! Here it is:

Icing for 3 dozen mini-cupcakes

1 cup powdered (icing) sugar

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1 - 2 tablespoons water, with 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder dissolved in it. (or 1 tablespoon coffee and 1 tablespoon water)

Mix together to make a thick, glossy icing. Yum.

Tea on Tuesday

A dear friend has given me a tin of "Paris" tea from Harney & Sons. It is a heavenly tea, and such a treat on a dreary Winter's day. Here is a little something to go with your cup of tea.

Chocolate Chunk Sour Cream Muffins

From "Maxwell House Coffee Drinks and Desserts"

Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp. instant coffee
1 and 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 ounces sweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degree.Butter a 12 cup muffin pan, or line with paper muffin cups. Stir together the milk and coffee in a small bowl until well blended. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Beat eggs and combine with milk and coffee, sour cream, butter and vanilla. Add to the flour mixture and stir until moistened. Stir in the chocolate. Fill muffin cups two-thirds full and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool on rack. Makes 12 muffins.

Copyright 2001- 2010 Invisible Loom & Craft, Renee's Tea Party, all rights reserved. For personal use only.

On and Off the Loom

My looms are almost empty, and need new projects. I have just completed a wonderful, warm sweater shawl, and I am nearly done with a short row scarf. Both are nice winter projects. Last weekend, I finished a wool purse and felted it. It does need a liner, but I must admit, sewing seams is a weak spot for me. In the mean time, there are nice loom-a-long classes this month: Ravelry loom-a-long group has darling patterns for snowmen; Loom class at yahoo groups is working on basics. This week is cast-ons. Markman Loom group at yahoo groups is working on stitch samplers as wash clothes. This week is a double rib. So, for now I am going back to practice and improve my basics, and wait for inspiration and a new pattern to pop into my head.

Cowl with 2 Ribs

Cowl with 2 Ribs

This is the 3rd of the three cowl patterns for the loom. It is simple and warm, and very cozy. The “ribs” on each side of the cowl create a gentle narrowing around the neck of the wearer.

Supplies:
60 peg round loom in ½ gauge
2 skeins WW yarn about 100 yards (sample was made from 100 yards Rowan Alpaca Soft, half alpaca, half cotton)
Loom hook
Crochet hook
Peg markers or scrap yarn to mark pegs
Cowl with 2 Ribs Pattern

Copyright 2010-2011 Invisible Loom and Craft, all rights reserved. For personal use only

Simple Loomed and Felted Purse

A simple pattern for these pretty purses, made from 3 skeins of striped yarn. The bright colors are fun to work with, although my color perception is not the colors my family tells me they are. I have made 3 with this pattern, and each yarn creates a different size and shape, so I am not giving a final size. The fun is in the felting, and enjoying the process.

Simple Loomed and Felted Purse

Supplies:
A round or flat loom with 36 or more pegs. The sample is made on the 48 peg Knifty Knitter round purple hat loom
Loom hook
Crochet hook
3 skeins of wool yarn in WW (4) or bulky (5) , about 100 yards each***
Lining fabric for the inside of the bag
Ribbon for reinforcing the bag handle

***make sure the wool will felt

Pattern notes: this is my version of a simple felted handbag. It is a good pattern for using a bright, self striping or hand dyed yarn. The bag is made all in one piece, including the handle, then the sides are stitched together. If desired, a crochet edge can be added as well. The bag is felted in a washing machine 3 times, to remove the stitch definition and make it sturdy. Finally, a fabric liner is added, and ribbons glued or stitched to the underside of the handle to reinforce it.

Stitches:
E-wrap knit
Purl
Single crochet - optional

Handle Options:
You can choose to have your handle centered or at an angle, messenger bag style.
Simple Loomed and Felted Purse Pattern

Copyright 2010- 2011 Invisible Loom & Craft, all rights reserved. Personal use only.

Tea on Tuesday

This is a delicious recipe that is nice to serve at a party. Most of the preparation is done a day ahead.

Baked Rum Pineapple

Recipe From "Enchanted Evenings" by John Hadamuscin

List of Ingredients

2 ripe medium pineapples (with the tops on)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 TBSP. butter, softened
1/3 cup dark rum

Instructions

1 day ahead: Combine the molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and rum to form a paste. Chill. Remove from refrigerator 1/2 hour before using.

2 hours before your party: Cut the pineapples, including the leafy
tops, into quarters. Cut the core off. Cut the pinapple off of the
skin, and cut it into bit size slices. Return it to the shell.
Place the pineapples onto foil lined baking sheets and cover the
leafy tops with foil. Brush the pineapple pieces with the rum mixture. Cover with plastic until baking.

To bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the pineapple until glazed and brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Arrange on a platter with toothpicks, and serve warm.

TIP: Bake one pineapple at a time, because this is always eaten up quickly, and you will want to have more to serve later in the party.