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See? And they even fit my feet!

After the Quilt Guild’s bus trip three or so weeks ago, I found myself with several new projects to work on.  The first I tackled was knitting a pair of socks, using the technique from Melissa Morgan-Oakes’s book, 2-At-A-Time SOCKS, where you knit both socks on a long circular needle, so that you finish both socks at the same time.

The Book That I Am Using- It's Very Good

I knew that this was the only way I would ever manage to knit a pair of socks.  Why, you ask?  First, because I like knitting on circular needles, (Easier), and Second (and more importantly), I am impatient, and would likely lose interest if both socks weren’t finished very near the same time.

I learned a few things on this pair, and I’m hoping my second pair will be a little neater where I picked up stitches for the heel gussets, and now that I’ve learned better to deal with such tiny yard on tiny needles.

This pair was on a size 4 40″ circular needle, and was done with 2 balls of wool sock yarn. The color scheme was devised by Kaffe Fassett- could it have  been Rowan yarn???  The pattern is what randomly happened with each ball of yarn, as it is just straight knitting, after the garter stitch for the ribbing.

My next pair will be on a size 1 needle, with a less freaky colored yarn.  We’ll see if there is as freaky a result.

All this, and he can do Quality Assurance for AllClad?

This, amidst all the “Is he back to full fitness?” hype about a certain quarterback in New England on the sports stations, is what I pulled out of the box when I got a new saucepan this weekend.

I got a lovely little email from Michael Ruhlman this week, in response to my entry in the BLT challenge.  It was only two words:

gorgeous pancetta!

I’m grinning from ear to ear.

Just when you thought you’d seen all we did at the quilt retreat,  WAIT… there’s MORE!  You don’t think I could spend the whole weekend without something FOOD or COOKING related, do you?

But first, the clothing and accessory portion of our retreat projects.  Here is Elaine, with her first of three kimono… blocks.  Elaine was being very careful to take proper rest breaks so her neck wouldn’t bother her.  This also allowed her to catch up with each of us individually, which we don’t have time to do at regular guild meetings.

Elaine's Kimono Block

In the outerwear/accessory division, we have Connie, who made a lovely bright messenger bag, so she can look cooler than the students when she’s schlepping around her books and laptop, or hanging out at the Blue Heron on her breaks.

Connie and the Messenger Bag

I tried to get Connie to look pouty and overworked, but she laughed at me.   I mean, she’s already got the black shirt and faded jeans, right?  Note the cool rouching (gathers) on the top flap, for added cool texture.  Way cool, this bag.  I want one to disguise my box of rocks (a.k.a. laptop).

And now, for the cheffy/foodie bit…. APRONS!  Yes, we pulled out our Vanilla House Designs patterns and went at it.  Friday Night and Sunday Dinner Aprons were assembled by several of us.  Here are some photos:

Ingrid working on the Sunday Dinner Apron

Ingrid is marking the rounds on the bottom corners of her apron skirt.  Doesn’t the striped bias binding on her pocket holes look cool?

Ingrid's Apron

See how cool her Sunday Dinner Apron is?  Here’s a closeup of the pocket detail.

Pocket and Swiss Chard Detail

I really like the contrast of the fabrics on this apron.

Sheila's Friday Night Apron

Sheila also carried the food theme along, with stylized vegetables on her Friday Night apron.  Coffee, Tea, or Me, Darling?

There were other aprons made or in progress that didn’t get photographed, but here’s a great shot of Ingrid, Sheila, and Sue.

The Apron Runway

All this, and we can cook, too!  Did I mention the fabulous potluck food?   Can you tell this is one of my favorite weekends of the year?  It’s a great way to spend time with some of my best friends here in the area, and to make our normally solo activity a group one.  Thanks to all of these women for making this weekend so much fun.

This week at our Friendship Circle meeting, we got to see Jo’s fracture quilt completed.  Thanks to Mary for taking this photo for me, as I forgot my camera.  DOH!

Jo's Fracture Quilt

Jo took the original photograph for her quilt in her garden.  We didn’t really know what the background was, as she brought a black & white photo, and said  that the ground was covered with “chips” or “mulch”, or some other not very descriptive phrase, so that we wouldn’t be too literal. I like the fact that there are different backgrounds, and yet, the fractured flowers all come together as foreground anyway.

We also discussed options for a group project this year, and it looks like we’re going for something a bit simpler, partly because the group is growing, and partly because of the time commitments the fractures took  (“You panic for the first week, then you start to get some ideas, then you have to go buy fabric, and finally do what came into your head…. it can be pressure!”)  Ok. that’s a combination of many comments into one big sentence, but it COULD have been a quote.

I still think this group is GREAT.

I recently had a birthday that ended in zero.  My dear friend B says that the Scandinavians refer to this as a Round birthday, and don’t focus so much on the number as we do in the US.

My birthday was inauguration day, and I was blessed not only with the new president, but several lovely gifts from friends and family.  One of these, from my husband, is worthy of a blog photo.  It’s an All Clad skillet, which I’ve been wanting for a long time.  I’m still not in the league with the Barrie/Thompson family, but hey, I can still dream.

The Skillet of Skillets

And this would be the BIG one… it’s a 13″ diameter. Plenty of surface area for developing fond.  And yes, I have had it for more than four days, and I’ve not yet cooked with it. Still a little star-struck.  Boy, do I have a fabulous husband. Between this and the Thermapen I got for Christmas last year, I can say that he does understand my love of quality equipment.

Of course, it was also lovely to have Mum and her husband L here to celebrate with us.  Here’s Mum modeling with the Semolina/Whole Wheat loaf we made one evening for dinner.

Mum with our Artisan In Five Semolina-Whole Wheat

Yes, folks, she’s the one to thank for my love of cooking and sewing, and a lot of my skills. Thanks to her, I can barely remember not being able to cook or to sew.

And did I mention that she gave me a bag with 40 Lindor balls as part of my gift?

Yes, this was a great birthday.

Happy New Year!

I’m starting the new year off by switching ISPs, which has meant a bit of messing around, and a new URL. Please be patient with me as I re-tool, and try to get the archives back on the new location.