There's a snake in my stocking

This weekend I managed to finish two projects.

The first was the snake I was making for a friends baby. Oh my goodness, she had this baby ages ago, what have I been doing (apart from being a sock machine!).

This was knitted on four dpn with lots of colours to make the stripes. I wanted to keep it girly looking because she is a girl. No buttons for the eyes as I didn't want her biting them off and swallowing them. I hope it is cuddly enough and easy to get hold of. Now I have to wrap it up and send it to Scotland.

Goodby stripy snake, enjoy your flight.

The next project I finished was my Christmas Stocking.

I really enjoyed knitting the fair isle parts but I got very bored knitting the rest.

The heel is too big, the leg too short and the toe went wrong. It doesn't really hang well but as long as the big man (Santa) can get some goodies in for us all, it doesnt really matter. Maybe I will have another go when I have less things to knit.

This was knit on two circular needles with three colours. The fair isle part was knit a bit tight as I pulled the red and white over each other at the back. Then when it came to the leg bit I knitted looser so you could see the samll white bits, hence the strange shape.

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christms...............

 

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Grandad Socks

I don't think Grandad reads this blog so I think I might be safe in posting a picture of the finished socks for him for Christmas.

Beautifully modelled by Huffle. I am a bit worried that Grandad's feet aren't as big as Huffle's and yet these seem quite roomy. Oh well, I'll tell him they are to go in his wellies!

This is the work sock with a slight twist in colours (the red and cream are the wrong way round as per his request to have them the same as Smallest's socks). They are knitted on 4dpns from the rib down to the toe. This is the easiest sock I have knitted and in fact is the fourth one in this style. I still haven't made myself a pair and yet it is by far the comfiest one.

Right, time to finish another project.

 

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Woyww - a collar and two feet

Today I am joining in with "What's on your workdesk Wednesday" which is the brainchild of Julia at Stamping Ground. For all the information, please go here.

I photographed my desk on Tuesday afternoon after I finished clearing it after a mad 11pm sewing job was needed on our shower curtain (that Grandma grabbed before falling over in the bath! It was ages ago and she is fine). I really should have taken the photo before but I needed to orgainise my knitting so I could see what I was doing.

On the front left is half a collar for my cardigan but I ran out of wool so had to stop. Middle front is my Christmas Stocking, coming along well though I haven't done too much more, just the foot needed now. Front right is Grandad's sock. No1 done, no2 just the foot needed again. In the background is the poor snake and my dishcloth which hasnt really moved since last week.

I think I got round to most who visited me last week but there were still some I coukdn't leave comments on which is annoying but I did visit you I promise.

Right, I have two soups simmering ready for tonight's dinner. Toodlepip x

 

 

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WOYWW - a whole lotta woolliness

Hello. It is snowing here and -3*. After a brisk walk in the forest I happened upon my desk, realised it was nearly Wednesday and took a snap. Surely you know what all this is about by now, but just in case you are new or just happened upon this post, click here to find out details and how to join in.

At the back of the desk, looking like a big mess of wool, is my baby snake - ahhh now I feel I guilty, this should be finished and sent by now (eeeeekkkk). Next to that some wool for the sock front left (this is a Christmas present for Grandad). My tin of 'bits'. A big pile of socks, all waiting to be blocked, wrapped and given away. My Denby coffee cup with coffee in to keep me going. Some Christmassy cotton I picked up yesterday to make another dishcloth (not sure if I like it or not!). Centre Stage is my Christmas Stocking. I am so very proud of this. It is being knit on two circular needles and is fair aisle, which I have never done before and I AM LOVING IT. I started it last Friday and I can't put it down, hence everything else is just sitting there. Left is Grandad's sock, coming along nicely. I am actually on the foot part now so will hopefully get it done before the UK posting date. And that's it except if you want to see the Stocking up close or the pile of socks.

Amazing

Ridiculous - there are fourteen socks there (okay 7 pairs!).

....and my good friends, I leave you with a photo from my forest walk. The floor was amazing, like all the individual leves had been frozen and coated in a dusting of snow. Just lovely.

 

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2 hour dishcloth

On Friday when I was at my knitting group, Owner El had made a Christmas Dishcloth and said it was just a two hour project. I thought I would have a go.

It didn't take long (I didn't time it but it could have been two hours). It was a basic pattern of knit and purl and I I think if the wool had been one colour, the Tree may have stood out more.

I have just designed a Union Jack one and once I pick up some more cotton I will have a go. It makes a nice stocking filler.

I was going to write the pattern down but it was taking me forever. I think it is on Ravelry. If you can't find it and you really want it, let me know and I will scan it on. Plus, if you do make one, please let me know how you get on and maybe show me a photo. I would be very interested what it looks like in different wool.

 

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Baking Bad

Today I helped a fellow Brit out with making a cake for her husbands birthday. She has never made a cake before so armed with my beloved Mixer, cake tins, spatulas and cooling racks I drove to Whitby. We started with a long chat and a cup of tea.

Her Husband is a big 'Breaking Bad' fan and she had seen a recipe for a cake which was Blue and White marble with white icing and blue Rock candy on the top (to look like crystal meth).

This is the outcome

We started by making a lot of cake batter and split it in half and coloured one half blue.

We had lots of help from Little Batch, in between feeding, cradling and loving Baby Batch.

 

We filled six tins with blobs of alternate white and blue mix and then swirled them with a fork.

Once baked and cooled, we made cream cheese frosting. (Icing sugar, cream cheese, vanilla essence and butter).

The cakes were piled, frosted, piled, frosted. We had a problem with one layer and had to take it off and eat it - WHOOPS.

Batch, her boobs and some serious frosting

Once they were all layered up and frosted we cooled it in the fridge before placing the rock candy on top. Batch actually made this using cornflour, water, peppermint essence, blue food gel and sugar - very clever and quite tasty.

This is Batch's daughter before she put her finger in it!

Job done. Now I have to go and watch Breaking Bad to find out why we made the cake the way we did. I brought some home (from the layer that didn't work) and it tastes good. Batch promised me she would take a photo when she cuts it so I know it worked out okay.

The recipe came from http://17andbaking.com/2013/08/11/17-and-baking-bad/

 

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Socks, Cookies and Bread

Last night I finished Smallest's socks. Wow they were quick though they are not quite the same. One seems a little longer (even though I counted the rows) and one is a bit wider on the foot. Nevertheless, Smallest tried them on and asked if he could keep them. NO they are for Christmas!

Yesterday Smallest and I made Oatmeal Cookies. They are yummy. Here is the recipe.

1 cup butter, 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup of soft brown sugar mixed together. Add two eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence. Mix in 2 cups of all purpose flour and 1 teaspoon on baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix in 3 cups of porridge oats and 1 cup of chocolate chips.

Make walnut sized balls of dough and place on baking paper on a tray. Take a fork and squash slightly and bake for 10 minutes at 375*F.

Leave to cool before moving them and EAT. Mine made approx 30. This cookies freeze really well and you can almost eat them straight from the freezer. Perfect for putting in lunch boxes.

This recipe was originally from AllRecipes.com

I also made a bread. A light wholemeal with seeds - Sunflower, Pumpkin, Sesame and Poppy. It is for my lunch today. YUM.

The recipe was taken from my bread machine book, let me know if you want it.

 

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WOYWW - two and a half pairs

Yes it's that time again (apologies, I missed last week - visitors from UK again). You can find all about WOYWW here and how to play along.

So, does the title make you think of socks? No? Well it does me, but maybe that's because that's all I have been doing. I'll show my desk first because that is why you are here and if you can be bothered to read to the bottom you will see some finished socks and the start of some new ones.

Well what a mess! To be fair (as I share this space with visitors) I haven't really been here at my desk for over ten days.

Tea cosy (no further crocheted) and in front of that a finished cosy sock for Smallest (a slight twist on the original ones as the red and cream is switched - his request). Many circular needles and balls of wool. A pattern, a snake still being knitted but not much further on. My knitting bag, sewing box, scissors, tape measure, cellotape, remote, IPad (mid blogging) and lamp. I think that's it. Now I have to tidy it up because it is bugging me!

Now for the things I finished.

Finally, I finished my Temperance Sock. Lattice pattern with right and left twists and knitted in a Regina Angora Merino - very soft. This was a toe-up sock using the magic cast on and a short row heel (wrap and turn stitches) using two circular needles.

I made a Cosy sock for Smallest for Christmas. Originally he didn't one which is why I made him Leftover Leo. When he tried this one he said "ooooh it's lovely can I keep it on?". Then he said "I would like another one exactly the same". Bless. Easily pleased.

Now Grandad has asked for a pair exactly the same but bigger obviously. Next job. Plus the next sock in my Sockalicious group is for a Christmas Stocking - should be interesting as it's using a Fair Isle pattern!!!

Hope to get round lots of you as I am all by myself with just a pile of washing for company.

 

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Crackle Cookies MkII

Now I don't normally make the same thing straight after learning a new recipe, but the kids love these and I have a couple of people wanting to try it for themselves. So I decided to make it better. Up to you which one you try but I have it on good authority (the boys) that these are "way better".

The recipe:-

1 cup all purpose flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt - mix together in a bowl. Add 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter (I rubbed this in like breadcrumbs but it may be better to use melted butter!?). Mix in 3 large eggs until a stodgy dough (quite hard work) and add a cup of chocolate chips (I used milk and white)

Put oven on 375*F and chill mixture for 15 minutes.

Cover your hands in icing Sugar and put some in a bowl

Use a teaspoon and make a ball (walnut sized) and drop into the icing sugar and roll around till completely covered (this reminded me of truffles). I made about six, dropped them in and whirled the bowl till covered. Put the balls on a baking tray greased or with baking parchment about 2" apart.

I made 30.

Bake for 10 mins.

Leave to cool before touching as they are quite delicate. Once you can move them put them on a cooling rack and try not to eat them till cool.

I have to say the mixture is lovely to eat (possibly if you don't eat the mixture you may get more cookies than I I did ha!). The cookies straight out of the oven are lovely to eat too.

Once again, let me know if you try them and especially which recipe you chose. ENJOY xxx

 

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Chocolate Crackle Cookies

I am fortunate enough to work with a lady who bakes the most amazing things for us to eat each week. This week she presented us with a plate of Crackle Cookies. oh my goodness, they were amazing. In fact so amazing that I had to find a recipe and make them that very night. So I am sharing this wonderful recipe.

Mine were a bit flat, possibly because I wasn't patient enough to chill the mixture and I didn't time them. They should be more cookie shaped and more icing sugary. Also I let my two boys get stuck in!!

1&1/2 cups of all purpose flour (6.25oz)

1&1/2 cups sugar (10.5oz)

1&1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3oz) melted and cooled

3/4 cup cocoa powder (2.25oz)

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cups of chocolate chips (I used semi sweet and white)

3/4 cup icing sugar

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl and mix. Mix the butter and cocoa powder together making sure there are no lumps. Mix the vanilla essence and eggs together and whisk together with the cocoa mixture. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Oven 350*F. Line two baking trays with parchment. Scoop dough with teaspoon and roll into a ball which you then dip into the icing sugar and roll around until completely covered. Place on tray about 1&1/2" apart. As they bake, the cookies will spread and the icing sugar will crack. They need about 12-15 minutes. The longer they are in the crispier they are.

I like them crispy on top and soft in the middle. Please do let me know if you make them and send me a photo. I guarantee you will like these.

 

 

I used the recipe from About.com.

 

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WOYWW #229 - not quite a pair!

Hi woyww'ers. How are we all today? As usual please go here to find out what this is about. In the meantime I guess you want to see my desk.

A slightly different angle to normal. My bag, which was given to me by my lovely friends in England before I left, and it's contents looking very 'pink' with the snake not too far from being finished. Next to that is my sock. One is completely done (thanks to the wonderful Donna at my knitting class who put me right) and the other is progressing well. I managed the fiddly wrap and turn stitches and am now working up the leg. You can see the finished one posing next to my ever increasing pile of socks for Christmas. Apart from my Union Jack bunting glass of water I think that's it for me this week.

We have visitors about to turn up from England and their 'space' is the other half of the loft I work in, so I may not be here next week, or I may be on a different table.

Can't wait to see what everyone is up to this week, there were some truly amazing desks last week and I struggled to get round all the people that visited me, some I wasn't able to leave comments which is a shame.

 

 

 

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WOYWW #228 - not a Willy warmer!

It is nearly Wednesday again here which means it's time to show our workdesks for What's on your Workdesk Wednesday. Once again Brenda jogged my memory by posting her WOYWW. (what would I do without her.)

So my desk is the coffee table in front of The Great British Bake Off.

This week I have abandoned all socks in favour of a snake. Yes a snake, not a willy warmer. This is for a friends baby. I am hoping it will be nice to cuddle. I am knitting it on four double pointed needles with no pattern.

I am off to eat my banana bread now. (You can just make out the bake off team analysing my bread).

See you x

 

 

 

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Cosy Christmas Socks

I finished Small's Christmas socks at last and got him to try them on.

I really like making these and I have already made a pair for Huffle.  Now I need to make a pair for Smallest and I would like some too.

They were knitted on four double pointed needles with Cascade Cream, Red and Grey Merle.  No fancy pattern just knit, purl, decrease, increase.

They are based on the original Work Sock and are the sock that is used to make the sock monkey which is why I think they look so cute.  I can imagine the sock monkey winking at me.  Hopefully these don't get holes in too quickly else that is what they will end up being.  These will be put on the sock pile now for finishing, ie tying up any loose ends, blocking and wrapping for Christmas.

WOYWW #227 - olè sock

Hello here I am sitting at my desk on a Tuesday evening because it is really Wednesday in the UK. Julia of What's on your worksdesk fame started this craziness so click on her name and all will be explained.

My desk.......

At the front left is Huffle's IPad (he lent it to me to post this as Small had mine). Next to it is a colourful thing that looks like a sombrero but is in fact a tea cosy. I am crocheting it and trying to get it wide enough to fit my Brown Betty. Next to that is the 2nd of Small's Christmas sock, the first one is next to this one. I love this, it is so cosy and warm and really easy to knit though I have gone back to the four needles instead of two circular but there no fiddly patterns.

At the front of my table was the surprise of the day. I came home to find a parcel from Marks & Spencers with the words 'scissors' on the front. Who would send me scissors? My lovely friend from England sent them for my birthday (last Friday). M&S, Kirsty Allsop in a floral case - HOW HAPPY AM I?

Right corner is my remote control for my new speakers (also birthday) from Huffle. Now I can sit and blast my music (Adele is on there at the moment - fabulous).

Two balls of cream wool are covering two cream lattice patterned socks that I was working on last time I was here. They are both at the same stage - needing wrapping and turning and I am not getting on so well so I am having a break from them. That's me for this week.

P.s. I was asked to show Leftover Leo now that he is finished. Smallest decided he didn't want him to have a scarf after all and I found a crocheted heart I made ages ago and sewed it on.

He is showing off and trying to take over the picture so that raggy doll doesn't get a look in (I am still waiting to deliver her to her new owner).

 

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