Bits and Pieces

What a month!  I have had every intention of posting, but work has gotten in the way.  New (relatively temporary) duties have required even earlier hours and have sucked up my knitting time during the offspring's afternoon activities.  In a fit of "I must accomplish something fiber-related or I might pop" on a Saturday, out came the following bits and pieces busters.

I am sure I'm not the only one who hangs on to bits and pieces of skeins of yarn.  You never know when you might need to make Silly Socks for school or an anemone for a diorama or mend a hole in a sock (I'm still ticked at some bug) or anything else that might pop up.

As my hair has gotten wider longer, I have been in search of an effective, yet comfortable headband.  This particular Saturday, as I was sipping my cappuccino, I decided to check Ravelry for patterns.  Low and behold, I came across the perfect match!  All you knit is a simple I-cord.  Rachel Bishop takes the time to pictorially show how to knit an I-cord.  Easy as can be!  I-cords are a good way to get use to double points or magic-loop.

It took me about an hour to knit each of these.  All were knitted from my "leftovers stash".

Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend

Handspun

Forest Has a Long Memory

Merino/Tussah Silk

2-ply

Spinning Awesome Good

I knitted three I-cords, braided and attached to the hairband.

I-cord for 3 inches.  Increase to 8 stitches.  Slip stitch beginning of row, 2x2 cable for 8 inches.  Decrease to four stitches, I-cord for 3 inches.  Attached to hairband.

Handspun

Navajo ply

Northern Lights

Blue Faced Lecester

Spinning Awesome Good

For my pseudo-offsprings:

Cherry Tree Hill

Supersock Select Azalea

Single chain crochet flower in Northern Lights (see above)

Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend

Flower in discontinued color of Knit Picks Stroll

Koigu PPPM in a long-lost color

Flowers in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select Azalea and Knit Picks Stroll

It was a fabulous, fiber-productive-feeling weekend.  Plus, there are several girls enjoying their one-of-a-kind headbands that don't pinch or hurt!  Fabulous!

Holiday gift ideas:

Teachers - I received a Penzey's Spice catalog this week.  They have  a teacher's gift FOR FREE with a purchase.  Code: 83018C (one per household)  It is an AWESOME deal.  You can purchase additional kits for $8.78 each.  Kits include:  1/2 c jar Penzeys Forward seasoning, 1/4 c jar Penzey's cinnamon, Teachers Care bumper sticker, Teach! pin, and Teach! book of stories and recipes. (You can also get a free 1/2 cup jar of Penzey Forward for yourself with coupon code: 15958C)

If you have a potential sock knitter (i.e. they have been discussing it, but haven't taken the plunge), enable them for life by shopping at Knit Picks.  Knit Picks double points are great and affordable.  You can purchase individual sets (select sizes 0-2 for sock newbies) or a great set for those bitten by the sock bug.  Throw in a skein or two of Stroll and you have a full sock knitting kit!  (At VERY AFFORDABLE prices.)

A great gift idea

Most of my fondest memories revolve around food or more precisely, sharing food with others.  Food does much more than nourish our bodies.  Gathering together to share food allows us to commune with family, friends, and love ones, providing us with emotional nourishment.  The act of preparing food can also provide a mental release after a long day.

Need a gift for a recent graduate/newlyweds/new home/new parents?  When these opportunities arrive, I generally turn to food.  Who wouldn't?

One of my favorite items to gift is Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything.

This book offers tons of great recipes presented in simple terms and will accessible ingredients.  Additionally, there isn't a need for lots of high end kitchen equipment.  Bittman has prepared a vast repertoire recipes which cross many regions and ethnicities.

Cooking for ourselves with fresh ingredients also provides our body with healthy, nutrient dense foods.

There are many available format options available.  If you would rather, the book is available in Kindle; Nook; and iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad formats.

Bon Appetit!

Literally.  I love Bon Appetit Magazine.  I look forward to each month's issue because it is a mini cookbook and food reference delivered right to my door!  I know some people become intimidated when they see an ingredient list with more than six or seven items.  Honestly, you are psyching yourself out and feeding your fears.  Take a chance and I can almost guarantee you will come out with more confidence and a greater sense of adventure in the kitchen.

Each issue has a theme and corresponding recipes.  Beyond that, there is always a featured ingredient for you to learn more about.  There is a focus on travel and food for at least one destination.  Not to mention the r.s.v.p. column where readers write in and Bon Appetit tracks down the recipes of the requested restaurants.  Furthermore, there is a column on an ingredient that is fresh in the market each month.  We really enjoy the wine & spirits column which has tastings and reviews.  There is also a prep school showing step-by-step instructions for a recipe in the issue.  Each issue ends with a celebrity interview focused on the role of food in their lives.  At the back of the issue is an index of all the recipes so it is quick and easy to look for desserts, starters, drinks, etc.

I try to cook something from each issue.  Rarely has the family not enjoyed a Bon Appetit recipe.

This past Sunday, we enjoyed the Pork Chile Verde which is a tomatillo-based chili made out of a Boston butt roast.  It took a bit of time to prep, but was FABULOUS.  Once the prep work was done, the chili slow cooked for 3.5 hrs.  We will most likely enjoy the Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts this weekend.

Another great thing about Bon Appetit:  it makes a great gift.

If you have a friend who is a foodie (or likes to think they are one), you can't go wrong with a $15 annual subscription for 12 issues!