February is for Knitting

Is there a month more suited to knitting than any other? I love to knit all year around, usually with wool or other warm, soft fiber regardless of the weather. Still, I have to admit that the chill of winter inspires me to knit even more than usual, and to think about it more when I am not actually doing it. 

It seems like December and Christmas are always such a hustle and bustle, and in January I tend to hide out from the world, recovering from aforementioned holiday craziness, spend less time on the internet and work on other projects, leaving the deeper cold of February as inspiration for what is often my most knitterly month.This February is proving to be no exception as I've been busily stitching away on my next pattern and currently have a huge pile of knitting on my desk (I'll show a peek when I get a chance to take a few photos). 

Our cold season is not usually extreme but has already been much snowier than usual - hurray! - and I believe all that white outside has had an influence on what I've been working on, although I'm normally a much more colorful person and I've already got some beautiful color combinations in mind...

Here are photos I took about a week ago:

 

Taking loads of photos has helped me learn to use the Nikon and various new lenses, and the snow was so beautiful I couldn't help but be inspired to get out there and take a lot of shots.

The knitting photo at the top of the post is a swatch I did in garter stitch with some vintage 90's wool given to me by my mother in law. I've no idea what the brand is but I love the thick-thin, nubby texture and beautiful natural white color. This swatch is not for my next pattern, just some ideas I'm fooling around with, but I might look for wool currently on the market with a similar texture. Since this ball is only 100 gr or so, it is destined to become an accessory of some sort but I haven't decided what.

Thanks to my friends who've emailed, PM'd or otherwise inquired as to whether I've fallen off the face of the earth, I'll be in touch with everyone asap, and I hope you've all been enjoying some time to cozy up with your knitting, crochet, spinning or other creative pursuits too. I'll continue to hibernate a little, waiting for the snow to melt and the flowers to appear, inspiring more photos and different sorts of knitting projects. 

What do you think? Is there a best month for knitting? Do you knit year around or does the weather affect what you knit or yarn you choose? Drop me a comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

My Favorite Things

 

I've managed to crank out just a few ornaments for our tree this year, and that's going to have to do.  My desire was to use only things made by my family and friends, or picked up at art festivals, but I had to cheat and add a few small commercial glass things to fill in the gaps. 

Yes, we have an artificial tree.   After years of chopping down live trees (I hate to do that), and ending up with a mess of needles on the floor, we broke down and purchased one we can use over and over again for many years. 

For some reason I've had a terrible time getting a photo of this knitted SnowflakeOrnament, designed by Katie Himmelberg.  This project is knit in the round to create a star shape, then the very simple crochet lace edging is added.  

We've certainly received our share of the snow from the storm walloping the eastern part of the country.  Although modest by most standards, our two inches was pretty.  

The snowfall caused me to haul out one of my favorite things - my pair of Yaktrax Pros.  

This rubber and Velcro device stretches to fit over your shoes and is covered in wire coils that grip the snow and ice for great stability.  As a winter adventure lover, these babies give me the ability to scale hills and steep inclines even in terrible conditions. 

This snow before Christmas is such a treat for us, I'm enjoying it immensely.  

 

This week, while busy for many people, will be a crazy one for me as I finish up the Lingonberry Loop pattern and some other secret projects.  I hope you are staying warm and cozy with lots of knitting, spinning, or whatever you enjoy doing.  Peace, blessings and happy knitting!

Knitting on the Road FO: Legwarmers, and a Holiday Recipe

 

Yesterday we drove about 2 hours north to Akron to tour Stan Hywet Hall.  Contrary to popular belief, this mansion was not built by a guy named Stan.

'Stan Hywet' is Old English for stone quarry, and this grand home was built by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company founder F.A. Seiberling, beginning in 1912.

No photos may be taken indoors, but you get an idea from the outside what an interesting place this is to visit.
 

The house, outbuildings, conservatory/ butterfly house and grounds are spectacular and the snowy setting was picturesque. The Christmas decorations are looking a little worn around the edges, but the home itself is worth seeing.

As I pondered a knitting project for the above-mentioned road trip I suddenly had a mad desire to knit something cabley.

I started and finished a little pair of legwarmers during the drive up and back, thinking they'd be a great extra cozy layer on a cold winter day.

Little did I know how handy they would be today as we went out to shoot photos for my upcoming Lingonberry Loop pattern. 

I've had cables on the brain lately as I ponder knitting several cable projects, some for publication next year. I think all this snow may have had something to do with my sudden desire for some cable knitting too!

And what fun the snow has (mostly) been. My little fur girl loves to play in the snow.

Well, she just loves to play, period.  But watching her enjoy snow is such fun.

Pomeranians were bred down from sled dogs, and a love of winter weather obviously runs in her blood.

The rest of today was a good one to stay indoors with a cup of hot tea, knitting and cooking.  My friend Cheryl is a big fan of Oreos, so I whipped up some of the easiest 'truffles' ever, using - don't laugh! - Oreo cookies.

These cookie bonbons are creamy with that distinctive Oreo flavor American readers might remember from childhood.

Food processor-crushed cookies are blended with cream cheese to form a dough for rolling into balls and dipping in melted chocolate.  So simple, so nostalgic, so tasty.  

Oreo Truffles Recipe

Recipe Notes

• Don't be tempted to use store-brand cookies unless you've compared them to Oreos.  The only store-brand cookies I've found that taste remotely as good in this recipe as the real thing is Trader Joe's brand. 
• Be sure to use at least 20 oz. of cookies or your dough will be too soft.
• If garnishing with crushed peppermint, crush the candies very finely to avoid cracking a tooth!

Makes approximately 3 dozen truffles, depending on size.

Ingredients:
20 oz. package Oreo cookies (not "Double Stuff")
For peppermint variation: 20 oz. peppermint-filled Oreos (if you cannot find peppermint cookies, use regular cookies and add 1/2 tsp. pure peppermint extract)
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
16 oz. dark chocolate, chopped, or use chips
Optional garnishes as desired, such as pure cocoa powder, crushed peppermint candies, shaved chocolate, colored sanding sugar or melted white chocolate drizzle.

Directions:
In the bowl of a food processor, crush cookies to fine crumbs.  Add cream cheese and process until completely blended with no white showing.  The dough should be slightly sticky but firm.  If it's very wet, the truffles will be too soft so add pure cocoa powder in tablespoons until it is firm enough to hold shape when rolled into walnut-sized balls in the palm of your hand.

Roll small chunks of dough into balls and place on a pan that will fit in your refrigerator.  Refrigerate at least one hour or until firm.

Spread parchment or waxed paper on counter surface.

Heat chocolate in a completely dry glass bowl in microwave, stirring every 45 seconds, until melted.  Even a small amount of moisture from your hands, a spoon, etc. can ruin your chocolate.  Do not overheat.

Remove truffle balls from refrigerator.  Using two forks or small tongs, dip balls into melted chocolate until completely covered, allow to drip over container for a moment, then place on paper. Every 10 balls or so, sprinkle with garnishes.

When the coating is completely solid, layer the candies with parchment or waxed paper in a storage container.  Store different flavors separately or they will all end up tasting like peppermint.  Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve, best if used within one week. 

Enjoy!

Let it Snow!

We don't normally get much snow in this part of the state until January or February, but this year we've already had a sugary dusting, just enough to be pretty. The snow seems to have caused a hush to settle over the woods I love to visit whenever I can.

In the quiet of the early morning it was not surprising to come across a small doe foraging among the leaves and snow for her breakfast.

 

We stood and stared at each other for a few minutes and then she bounded off into the safety of the forest.

I love to collect old buttons cut from clothes purchased at thrift stores, or found on the sewing materials tables at church rummage sales.  Some I use on sewing or knitting projects, others are made into jewelry.  

These vintage Jadeite-green glass rounds, trimmed with a hint of gilt edging, are pretty on their original card. 

The brown, carved squares below were labeled Bakelite (although I've not tested them).  Regardless of their material, I love their simple graphic quality.  They look like chocolate, mmmm.....

 

Each of these antique, molded black glass, shank rounds has a poinsettia picked out in red and gold paint, making them perfect for a special Christmas project.

Although I'm not planning to knit anything new at the moment - I have plenty of projects going to keep me busy for weeks - I've enjoyed following the Christmas Calendar patterns from Drops Design/ Garnstudio this month for a daily dose of festive knitting (and crochet!) fun (Drops photo).  

This sock design reminds me of what my Swedish grandmother used to call "Tomte."  It makes me miss her, especially at Christmas.  

It's never a bad idea to let loved ones know you care about them, you might not get another chance!

Peace, blessings and happy knitting to you.