DH's Christmas Socks

I finally broke down and decided to make DH a pair of socks. Since they are for Christmas I had to do the best I could without having him try them on.  I used the stitch pattern from  Bobby Ziegler's Thuja pattern from Knitty, Winter 2005 but did not use the pattern. I ended up going toe up with 2 circs and made the sock fit shoe size 13 feet. I am saving the directions as go what I did in case he likes them and wants more. This way I can either replicate what I did or figure where I need to make modifications to fit his feet better.

Materials: KnitPicks Stroll - 2 skeins = 461yds/100 grams (I had 25 grams left)
Size 2 circs. I used 2 circs.

Toe:
Cast on 16 sts (8/needle)
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K1, Kfb, K to 1st st before end, Kfb, K
End Row 2
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until there are a total of 68 sts (34/needle)

Foot:
Row 1: K
Row 2:
Needle 1 (top of foot): *K3, P1* to 2 sts at end of needle, K2
Needle 2 (sole) K all sts
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 7 1/2". (Note: This measurement changes depending on the size of the foot. It should be the total distance from the longest toe to where the leg meets the foot).
End Row 2

Heel
Row 1
Needle 1: Knit
Needle 2: K1, Kfb, K to 1st st before end Kfb, K
Row 2
Needle 1: *K3, P1* to 2 sts at end of needle, K2
Needle 2: K all sts
Continue until 2" shorter than total foot measurement. In the case of Size 13 foot knit until sock measures 10". The total length of a size 13 foot is 12".

Turn Heel:
Here the directions are more like a recipe.
Do not work stitches on Needle 1 (top of foot)
Needle 2 (Heel Flap): K across until you get to 2 sts past the center, K2tog, K1, turn
Sl 1, P until 2 sts past the center; SSP, P1, turn
Sl 1, K until one st before the gap, K2tog, K1; turn
S1, P until one st before the gap, SSP, P1, turn
Repeat purl and knit rows until there are 1/2 the total number of stitches for the sock. In this case 34.


Leg:
Row 1: K
Row 2:
Needle 1:  *K3, P1* to 2 sts at end of needle, K2
Needle 2:  K1, P1, *K3, P1* ending with P1 (the first time through you can also put the first 2 sts from Needle 2 onto needle 1 to allow needle 1 to hold the whole stitch pattern without being interrupted.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until the leg is the desired length,

Finish:
K1, P1 rib for 2"

Bindoff
I used slipslipkit.com miraculous elastic bind off.

The Bra Dilemma Solved - Threads

I am fascinated with the thought of making bras and other forms of lingerie. Wanted to save this link for when I have time to focus on buying the supplies.

The Bra Dilemma Solved - Threads

Paneer, Sag Paneer and Naan -

Yesterday I was in the mood for Indian food, so I decided to make sag paneer and naan. Of course, I don't have paneer in the house (or for that matter naan), so I had to make some.  I got the recipe for Indian Cheese (Homemade Paneer) from the Cooking Channel's Bal Aronson and it was a huge success.



Boiled milk with vinegar just added




Curds formed



From the pot into the cheesecloth to drain







Weighted and ready to go into the refrigerator















Finished draining and ready to use



Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

I had 1 cup of left over pumpkin from Thanksgiving and couldn't figure out what to do with it. Fortunately I kept the monthly email newsletter I get from Kripalu and one of their featured recipes for December was for vegan pumpkin muffins. They are delicious. I had to leave out the cloves since I didn't have any, but, they were great even without it.

Homemade Dryer Balls

HOMEMADE DRYER BALLS

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to try to make homemade dryer balls out of some of my leftover wool. After googling dryer balls, I found many sites extolling the virtues of these balls, such as cutting down on drying time, no longer needing to use fabric softener or dryer sheets. I was sold. I found a number of sites with instructions on how to make wool dryer balls and they were almost unanimous in how to make them.

Here's how I made them:

Remember: To have the balls felt you must use 100% wool yarn (it can't be superwash) and hot water.

1. I had 102 yds of leftover wool from a project. I wound it into 4 balls approximately the size of a golf ball. Secure the end by tucking it under the wound yarn with your fingers, a needle or a crochet hook.

2. Put the balls into something that will keep them separate from each other but where they'll be secure in the wash cycle. I used a lingerie bag and tied a piece of left over acrylic yarn (string will also work) between each of the balls. I have also seen suggestions to use pantyhose and socks places to put the balls.

Put the balls in the washer on the hot water cycle. In order to not waste water and energy, I put them in with a load of laundry. The additional agitation with the clothes helps the felting process.

Once the wash cycle was done, put the bag of balls into the dryer with the laundry.

3. Once the dry cycle is done, take the balls out of the bag. They will be slightly felted. Wrap the slightly felted cores with more wool yarn. I used a leftover skein (223 yds) of gray wool

4. Secure the ends, tie the balls up separately in the lingerie bag (or whatever you are using), wash them in hot water with a load of laundry, tumble dry and you have dryer balls. I put these dryer balls through the wash/dry cycle twice but once should be plenty as they will continue to felt as you use them in your dryer cycle.

5. They are ready for use.

Stitches East

Oh, my. I went to Stitches East in Hartford, CT this weekend (10/30 - 10/31). Everything I ever heard about it is true. It's overwhelming in the beginning. I met my friend around 10am on Sat. the 30th. We planned to just shop on Sat., and take classes on Sunday. We walk into the market place in the Hartford convention center and just see rows and rows of vendors. Felt like a million, but, was 200. We started in the middle since most of the crowd went to the right. We didn't even make it out of the first aisle and my friend already had a purchase of red and purple variegated yarn to make Doris Chan's Irish Mist Stole for her mother for Christmas. Good purchase though and unique enough to break the rule we had set - no purchases until at least one lap is done. Still, it's too funny that we broke the rule about 15 minutes into the shopping experience. Did 2 more aisles and then decided to take a quick break. Talked a little about what we might actually be looking for. Thank goodness I came up with a list of things I'm interested in making so I could focus at least a little bit.

Next stop and purchase Tess Designer Yarns. We both got microribbon. I got a light gray and she got a pretty variegated for a baby. My ribbon is earmarked for the wavy ribbon scarf and hers for a baby kimono.

After that things get fuzzy, but, needless to say purchases were made. I got yarn for the sweet pea shawl by Amie Hirtes, Mr. Green Jeans by Amy Swenson, in Knitty Fall 07, Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl by Doris Chan. More than enough to keep me busy as if I didn't already have plenty to keep me busy already.

Day 2 the 31st. I attended two classes. Breathtaking Buttonholes and Buttonbands. It was given by Maureen Mason-Jamieson. Her website is: http://www.kinverknits.com/. Excellent lesson on the various types of buttonholes and how to make sure the buttonband doesn't 'scoop'. I love having a chance to sit and practice. I'm definitely keeping the swatch so I can see the buttonholes again and pick the right one for the project I'm working on.

2nd class Mosaic Knitting with Melissa Leapman. Mosaic knitting is a technique that uses slipped stitches to create two (or more) colors on a piece without having to carry the yarn. Plenty of time to practice and am glad I have knowledge that technique. Don't have a plan for it yet, but, I will.

Great time. Defintely overwhelming. If you go, I suggest coming with at least a few ideas of what you want to make or buy or you easily may end up spending way too much. Also, try to go through the marketplace at least once without buying anything. Make notes on where you found things you liked, compare prices. Someone was telling me they found the same yarn at another vendor for $10.00 less than the first time they saw it.

Good classes, but, the classes are crowded.

3/60 Walk for the Cure

It's done. I did the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure Philadelphia 10/15/10 - 10/16/10. 60 miles in 3 days. As they promote, it was definitely an experience worth doing and was very memorable and moving. I almost didn't go since my friend had to drop out due to injuries and that left me to go through this experience without a partner. I decided to suck it up and go for it. My biggest fear wasn't doing the actual walk alone, but, what it would be like in camp and with a tentmate I didn't know. I did decide that anyone doing this walk would most likely be a nice person and I was right.

Day 1 - DH dropped me off at the opening ceremony site in Willow Grove, PA. It was dark and had rained the day before, so it was cold and damp. I dropped my bag off at the truck and made my way into the site of the opening ceremony. There were people everywhere and it like everyone was with someone. I wandered around a little bit feeling a bit out of place and second guessing myself for coming. I finally stopped wandering around and moved closer to where the stage was set for the kick-off for the walk. Within minutes a woman, Christina, asked me if I was alone and when I said yes, she immediately said I should walk with them. That was so nice and made me feel more comfortable.

Opening ceremony was very moving. There was fun music, some moving stories and survivors who were doing the walk grabbing flags and beginning the walk out of the parking lot. We all followed, slowly, since there was a bit of a people-jam. There were well-wishers everywhere all wanting to give high-fives and thanks. The walk to the first pit stop was stop and go as there were a few thousand people all walking together. After the first pit stop, it became more spread out and was the stop and go was over. There were pit stops every few miles with a lunch stop at about the halfway point. The sun ended upcoming out and the day was beautiful, windy, but, beautiful. Toward the end of the walk that day there were a couple of monsterous hills which were daunting, but, I put my head down and kept going and before you knew it the hills were conquered. I will admit I was very happy to get to the bus that took us back to the camp site in the Philadelphia convention center. I was also very happy that we were camping inside instead of outside as was originally planned. I think due to how cold it was getting at night and the high winds that weekend, the organizers made the right choice moving it inside.

Once at the convention center, I got assigned a tent and a tentmate, Audrey. All I can say is thank goodness there was a volunteer there to pitch the tent because I have no idea now to do it. I've never camped in my life. I'm also so grateful that I broke down and brought an air mattress, otherwise, I would have been sleeping on a concrete floor and no way can you make that comfortable.

Shower, in the shower trucks, dinner, and a little post dinner internet, entertainment and off to the tent. I was sleeping by 9:45.

Day 2 - I ended waking up around 5am as people began to stir. Everyone was as quiet as possible, but, it's impossible to not hear the noise around you. Got up, freshened up, breakfast, covered a blister on my left 4th toe with a bandaid and off to begin the next day's walk. I was among the first groups people to get going that day and it was definitely preferable to be toward the front rather than the back as I was Day 1. Again, great pitstops, lunch and tons of people out encouraging us and thanking us for doing this.
Back at camp, kind of a repeat of Day 1, shower, food, entertainment but this time, I also took advantage of the massage chairs sponsored by Bank of America. They massaged your back, feet and legs and they had laptops with internet access for us while we were getting the massage. I went twice for that.

Day 3 - feeling a little stiff, but, good. No more blisters. We had to break down the tent which took a little while mostly because we had to pack it up, but, we managed.

Loved everything about the event. I think I could be talked into doing it again, but, this time I would want to make sure I did it with at least one other person if not more. People who did the walk were all nice, but, since most of them were with at least one other person there weren't as inclined to bring you into their 'group'. All in all though I had some good conversations and enjoyed my experience.

I hope to get some pictures of this up soon. We're having trouble getting the pictures off the camera. For some reason the PC isn't recognizing the camera.

Komen, Tea and Stitches

I just finished a 10 mile walk on Saturday and an 8 mile walk today (Sunday). These are my final long walks in preparation to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure 60 mile walk in Philadelphia, PA next weekend.  I think I'm ready, but, it's hard to be sure 60 miles is a long way. In fact, I've never camped before much less in a tent, so this should be a very interesting weekend experience for me.

I've been having the bug to cook some more lately. I think it's due to the change in weather. Fall is definitely coming on. It was 39 degrees this morning when I got up to walk and as in typical fall weather in NJ it is supposed to go up to about 70 degrees today.

I am going to make Kripula's Chai Tea later today since that sounds so good on a fall afternoon.

No work on the Kayla Shrug yet this weekend, but, maybe later today. I finished my swatches for my Stitches East Classes  - Breathtaking Buttonholes and Buttonbands and Mosaic Knitting the Colorful and Easy Way. I've heard so many great things about the Stitches conferences, including that there are so many vendors it can be overwhelming to new people. I can't wait to go. I'm planning on shopping on Sat. the 30th and taking the classes on Sun. the 31st.

OM

I took a very long hiatus between my first post and this one. I've been trying to get my thoughts together on what I wanted to blog about. I have come up with the idea of a podcast in conjunction with this blog. The blog and podcast will focus on what I am knitting and/or crocheting, a yoga principle and what I am doing as I tackle the The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) Master Level 1 program. I'm sure I will also include food and recipes from time to time.

I just finished crocheting Pearl's Cardigan. It is from Crochet So Fine by Kristin Omdahl. She and Interweave Press were so kind to post the pattern on the Lion Brand website and Kristin's is running a Crochet Along (CAL). Her book is very intriguing and it helps dispel the idea that all crochet is toilet paper covers and granny squares. My apologies to those who like granny squares. I know they are in fashion now, but, since I remember the last time they were in fashion, I can't quite bring myself to like them again.

I am currently knitting Kayla's Shrug. 

Yoga thoughts.
In yoga classes, OM is often sung or spoken/chanted. Many people are often shy about participating in this ritual. OM is a sacred syllable in Hinduism and Buddhism representing birth, life and death


It consists of 3 letters (mātrās):
A – stands for the state of wakefulness, where we experience externally through our mind and sense organs. It is represented by the lower curve
U – stands for the dream state, in which inward experiences are available. It is represented by the right side curve.
M – stands for the state of deep sleep, where there is no desire and consciousness is gathered in upon itself. It is represented by the upper curve

The fourth state which corresponds to silence. It encompasses the waking, dream and deep sleep states in continuity. It is represented by the dot and the semi-circle underneath the dot.

TKGA Masters Level 1
I have the material from TKGA and am thinking about starting. However, before I do, I am taking 2 classes at Stitches East. They are Breathtaking Buttonholes and Buttonbands with Maureen Mason-Hamieson and Mosaic Knitting: Colorful Knitting the Easy Way with Melissa Leapman. Both of these classes require swatches to be made and since the classes are on 10/31/10, I need to get those done before I start swatching for the Masters program. I am going to try to balance continuing to knit/crochet items while working on the Masters program.

Thank you Bal

For dinner tonight it's time for Indian food. I was watching Spice Godess on the Cooking Channel and decided right then and there I had to make her cauliflower roti and the no butter chicken. This was a fantastic meal.



I am trying to find a balance between becoming a vegetarian for health and yogic reasons and still satsifying my husband's desire and need for meat.

Many people believe that yogi's and yogini's are vegetarian because of the practice of ahisma (non-violence). In my opinion that is only partially true. The practice of ahisma speaks to the practice of non-violence against others as well as non-violence toward yourself. Some people do not due well on a vegetarian or vegan diet and if they try to force it, they are being violent to themselves.

In the Yoga Sutras by Pantajali, Sutra II-46 "Asana is a steady, comfortable posture" diet is spoken to as a way to be able to help the practitioner to be able to maintain comfort in their asana (asana means the posture that brings comfort and steadiness). You cannot be comfortable and steady if the body is full of toxins.

There are postures which help release toxins within the body, but, how to help keep the body free from toxins? Early yogis determined a yogic diet which is free of meat, fish, eggs stimulants and excessive use of spices would rid the body is pain, stiffness, gas, etc. would be the way to keep the body free from toxins. In modern day, this type of diet is still being advocated for staying healthy and reducing inflammation in the body.