elena gold

rank & title

2011-08-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

photography by Julia Platt-Hepworth clothing by Caitlin Clark

rank & title is the gorgeous clothing line of my dear friend Caitlin Clark. Caitlin and I met a few years ago at a sewing class and we have been fast friends since. She is one of the sweetest, most stylish people I know and also one of the most caring. She also runs this charming blog, is the right hand lady of designer Sarai Mitnick, of Colette Patterns, and creates many of the amazing sewing tutorials on the coletterie blog. (This girl has skills!)

From our many sessions of crafting and tea drinking, I've witnessed Caitlin make her dream of creating her own line of clothing a reality. rank & title is such a perfect expression of what Caitlin cares about: hand-crafted clothing made with extreme care and skill, designed to be simple, modern, versatile, and special. (I think the Forbeau dress, pictured above, is soooo gorgeous.)

Do check out rank & title! Her creations are swoon-worthy!

alpaca

2011-08-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

Mmm, alpaca socks. Tucked away now in a drawer for the first golden chills of Fall. These were delicious to make, rich honeyed fiber with that downy halo like sunlight. The yarn is alpaca sox by classic elite, and it is lovely stuff. (Though it is not machine washable.) I used judy's magic eight cast on, short row heels, and jeny's surprising stretchy bind off. Next time I'd like to try short row toes to match the heels.

I dream about a collection of socks made with short row toes and short row afterthought heels in a contrasting color. I am notorious for wearing holes in my heels and wonder if afterthought heels would make it easy to unravel just the holey heel and knit a new one in its place, like a cobbler resoles shoes? I know Elizabeth Zimmerman created socks where the entire foot pad could be reknit, but I personally feel they do not look as beautiful that way. The dream: beautiful hand knit socks that last a lifetime. I think it is possible. Plus, think of all the color combinations! Cream with tomato red toes and heels. Tweedy pale grey with bright blue toes and heels. Warm grey with peachy coral toes and heels. Of course, you could knit the toes and heels in the same color for solid socks, too. What color combinations would you use?

after the bath

2011-08-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

...and still you are beautiful. Thank you rose, you were good medicine.

a ritual

2011-07-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Adam is out of town this week at the height of blueberry season, so it was a good time to head out for my annual solo berry picking adventure.

Picking berries with Adam is one of my favorite things to do. We poke around the farms to see what is growing, then settle in for a few hours of leisurely picking, giggling, talking, and enjoying the quiet time outside. At some point its usually Adam's stomach that signals the time to load up and pay, maybe snag some dahlias or lavender on the way out before the drive back to town and A's favorite burritos for lunch.

Still its never quite enough for me. I always get pulled back to those fields. A big reason is greed; I am crazy for blueberries and I'm determined to get enough to last me through the winter! The berries I pick on my solo trip end up being more than the haul I get with Adam. With no distractions, I just get in this zone of picking, being with my thoughts, enjoying the sun on my skin, and everything slows down and shines. It is blissful.

This year my ritual paid off, I was rewarded with some of the sweetest blueberries I've ever tasted. I also managed to get a few pints of raspberries and a handful of the first ripening marionberries. So good! I might have to go back.

wiksten tank + scarab shawl

2011-06-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

Another Wiksten pocket tank, this time in summery gingham. My scarab shawl is knit with Ultra Alpaca Fine, using this pattern. Easy and repetitive, I memorized it after about 6 repeats. I like that it starts at the tip, avoiding casting on 300 or so (!) stitches. The color and shape look like little scarab amulets to me. I've been wearing both tank and shawl with sunglasses and sandals. Summer uniform! x.

On Sunshine

2011-06-03T16:43:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you have to make your own:

Sometimes you have to find your own:

ps: hi!! x.

patchwork dream

2011-04-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

The patchwork duvet was made in a really free and easy way, so it was such a relaxing project. I didn't obsess over how to arrange the strips, and didn't worry about perfectly straight seams. So different from making clothes!

Its lovely to sleep under. When the patchwork brushes your skin the linen textures feel so good. The underside is just one piece, an old, white flannel sheet. Soft and comforting. And I love to sleep under those colors and textures for a change (for ages our bedding was just all white.)

White linen, gray linen, striped linen, nani iro floral, creamy japanese cotton with embossed dots, feedsack floral. My fabric stash is much smaller now.

Sweet dreams!x.

otark productions

2011-03-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

*all images are from otark productions*

I have loved following the otark productions blog ever since I heard about them from mieke willems. The are a small food collective in antwerp and post flyers of their delectable menus. Wish I could go and eat at every one of their events, the menus sound SO delicious, fun, and just the kind of homemade food I love to eat.

What I really adore are their flyers, I think they are absolute genius works of design and just so good! Playful, charming, handmade, fresh, and super creative. Just how I imagine their food to be. I final got the courage to email them and ask about their flyers, and Charlotte, member of otark and artist of the flyers sent me such a nice response explaining her technique. I did a bit of hunting on the web, and am pretty certain she is the artist behind this genius cauliflower bag, which I really really want!

My blog is mostly for me to share what I make with my hands, and a tiny bit of sharing my life and home. Very rarely do I post about the work of others on my space, it has to be super special and amazing to me to do so. Happy to share about Otark and Charlotte's work, it fits the bill perfectly!

beginning

2011-03-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

...another alpaca shawl and some patchwork.

I'm making a cover for one of our duvets that has been coverless for too long. I've never really done much piecework so I'm making it really simple, following these instructions. Nice linens and cottons I've had forever, plus some amazing grey linen my mom brought back from Vietnam! I don't think I'll quilt it, just sew on a backing to hide the seams, then add an underside and some ties to close in the duvet.

I must be on a mission to add more color and coziness to our bedroom? Mobile + patchwork + ??

mobile

2011-03-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

folded pattern
slowly spinning,
peaceful, bedroom, window.

texture + pattern

2011-03-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

The beautiful, beautiful paper is a gift from my brother. He also taught me how to fold paper into cranes. (thanks, e!) Will show you what the result is soon.

The hat is made with very special yarn, a gift from my mother. Organic hand dyed wool bought on a farm in upstate New York. From animal fleece to skein of yarn all by family hands. Its the sproingy-est yarn I'd ever worked with! Nice texture comes from the pattern: dimple hat. Someday I'd love to try the cashmere yarn the pattern was created for: wow.

Still more hats in the works: an ear flap hat for my brother, a tweedy cap for my fisherman uncle. Everybody, stay warm. x.

honey hat

2011-02-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

The color reminds me of buckwheat honey. I love it. Exactly the same as the deep blue hat I made my pretty mom. Pattern, details and modifications here. This malabrigo yarn is so delicious on my fingers. I normally favor rustic hard wearing wools, but this yarn is nice for hats.

We got a little snow today! I went for a long walk and wore lots of woolens. Bundled. x.

practice tova

2011-02-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here's my practice Tova made with some windowpane shirting I've had for a long time. What a flawless pattern, it answers every question before you even think to ask it. Its expertly drafted too, because I only had to set in the sleeves once (pauses to unboggle mind.) How is that even possible? It certainly is not because of me. Expert drafting, my friends.

I didn't hesitate when Jenny offered this pattern for sale in her web shop and I'm so glad I got it. I really love wearing woven shirts that hang well, it feels so airy and light and comfortable. I definitely plan to make more, I'm dreaming of a stack of freshly washed fabric ready to cut into: more plaid, a lightweight white linen, floral cotton voile... and I already have some lovely tweedy hemp/linen to make a tova dress!

Below are my personal 'notes to self' for next time:

* when topstitching around collar ends shorten stitch length.
* when reinforcing corners for inset shorten stitch length.
* when sewing in corners of inset shorten stitch length.
* don't forget to topstitch inset before attaching front to back!
* mind that raw edges of sleeve and cuff are perfectly flush when sewing cuff to sleeve.
* do not cross stitching lines at collar ends, must pivot.
* i shortened hem 2.5" for my frame, try just 2" next time. (just the top, not sure of dress yet)
* adjust side, shoulder and sleeve hems for french seams, leave the rest for serging.
* slipstitch collar first.

a grey day hat

2011-02-11T18:48:00.000-08:00

Another hat, photographed on a very grey day before giving it to M. It was this pattern and this yarn; I think the fish bone pattern is really lovely and was quite simple to do. I'd like to try this pattern again in a soft, tweedy, cream colored yarn. Wouldn't that be nice?

scrap yarn is beautiful (2)

2011-02-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

Scarp yarn is beautiful for mending. These were my favorite, and now they are whole again. I say thumbs up to any tiny success! To any chance to heal.

Other evidence that scrap yarn is beautiful here, and here. x.

process

2011-02-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

What i am knitting and sewing.

The knitted swatch is for my newest design, called Seraphine. The finished cardigan will be in a lighter brown; if the yarn you see is black coffee, the sweater will be coffee with a little milk. If all goes well, I am planning to offer the pattern for sale.

The sewing is a tova top, moving along slowly. I think they will be a nice pair, Tova and Seraphine.

I feel I am moving along slowly, wrestling with some painful things. Stitch by stitch, no? I know you understand. x.

aestlight

2011-01-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

I've played with making lace before, but always on thick wool (like this scarf) so I feel like aestlight is my first real lace shawl. Made with fingering weight alpaca on size six needles it feels delicate, pretty, cozy and squishy all at the same time. Another really lovely thing about knitting lace shawls is that gauge (and therefore swatching) is not really important, so you can just dive in and start.

Gudrun Johnston designs some wonderful patterns, and aestlight is no exception. It was really logical and easy to follow. Did you see her new book of designs?

So now I love knitting shawls, I've rediscovered sock knitting, I'm on a hat kick and obsessively swatching for my next sweater design. Its love.

+The shirt in the photos is one I drafted and sewed last summer.
+I love this sweater by Gudrun Johnston too.
+This photo.

wiksten pocket tank #2

2011-01-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

Dreaming in January of a summer uniform: Wiksten pocket tank, cotton/linen drawstring shorts, simple leather sandals.

Until summer then, I'll just have to keep sewing. I loved working with this fabric, its a Japanese floral cotton I picked up at Bolt a long while back. It was dreamy to sew with.

the essentials

2011-01-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hats are nice to make. They are small things to keep busy during small moments, when my mind is not fresh enough to tackle designing. Plus they are essential to wear. It feels good to make things that are essential.

Top one is for me, this pattern, this nice yarn. Still not sure if I should add a pompom?

Bottom one is for my dear friend Charlotte. This pattern, and some gorgeous wool she picked up years ago in new mexico. I can't wait to see her soon and meet her newborn, Waylan! I made him this a few months ago, and now it is his fave sweater.

double nice

2011-01-13T19:05:00.000-08:00

Do you know why I love the invisible cast on? It allows you to knit a nice striped hat in warm alpaca, then pick up the cast on stitches and knit another hat, plain this time, in the other direction. You'll end up with a funny knit egg, with no trace of beginnings or ends. Push the plain side up into the striped side, and voila, a nice striped hat, double soft, double warm, and willing to be flipped outside in, should the wearer be feeling a plain hat would be better that day.

The wearer in this case, is my big brother. He asked for a hat to keep his ears warm* and despite the sort of squat, flared shape in these photos, the hat is actually quite form fitting, just long enough to cover the ears, and really flattering on everyone who tried it on. I'll definitely make it again, its a really good hat for men!

I used this yarn and its wonderful, with really generous yardage. I could have knit the whole thing with one skein of green, but we wanted one side to be striped. I used this lovely pattern for decreases and striping pattern, but changed the way I made it, using the invisible cast on instead. I especially love how finished and smooth the hem is.

*Oh who are we kidding, you know I'm going to knit him an ear flap hat too.

wiksten tank pattern

2011-01-10T18:27:00.000-08:00

How I love the tank top pattern by Jenny Gordy of Wiksten. Its perfectly drafted, simple to sew, pretty inside and out, easy to wear. She mailed it off in a beautiful package and the instructions are super clear with helpful photos. So happy to start the new year with nice sewing. Thank you, Jenny!

I'm already working my third (!) Wiksten tank, and a Tova top too. Love.

a fresh start

2011-01-05T08:49:00.000-08:00

Cozy socks for B. Maybe 2011 is the year I finally get into sock knitting? I'd forgotten how insanely squishy and delicious hand knitted socks feel on your feet. Sock yarn is so pretty and colorful. I tried doing these toe-up, and LOVED knitting socks from the toe-up. There are so many great sock patterns, perfect for trying a bit of lace or fair isle. So what's my problem? I just never liked finishing a sock and then having to do the same thing all over again.

It's very clear I need to buy this.

Happy new year! x.

inspiration for my next sweater

2010-11-22T13:32:00.000-08:00

1. learning cables, 2. Promise me that we'll keep on partying, 3. sally scott, 4. frost

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Making Margaret (7): Finally Done!

2010-11-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well! That last photo about sums it up. I'm very happy with the finished Margaret and so glad I did it. I learned so much from designing my own aran sweater. The process has given me confidence to design more; during the final stages of making Margaret I was struck with inspiration for another cardigan and began obsessing about it, swatching, and sketching for it. It's not grey though! Never thought I'd say it, but I need a serious break from the grey.

Looking back, I've learned a few good lessons. I think the biggest one is just to trust myself and not second guess myself as much. I'm no stranger to perfectionism, but there was a point when I just had to stop fussing and start knitting. That said, I really believe now in swatching for all the details beforehand. I spent a lot of time arranging the cables just so, but figured I would work out the button bands, neck shaping, and the finer details of the raglan shaping as I went. I did, and it worked out fine, but it would have been really helpful to have taken time in the beginning and say, add a short button band to my swatch, or make a second swatch that included the raglan decreases to see how it would really go. When I experiment like that on a swatch instead of in my head, sometimes I see design elements I would have never thought of, and the finished sweater is better for it.

All in all, making Margaret was really great, and now I can enjoy being wrapped in cable-y goodness just in time for winter. Stay warm out there! x.

Making Margaret (6): A steek in pictures.

2010-10-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

More soon! x.

Making Margaret (5): small details

2010-09-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Margaret is nearly finished! All that's left is turning her from a jumper to a cardigan (snip, snip!), then some prettying up. I'll document the steeking (cutting) process, but I wanted to show a few detail peeks first.

The photo above shows the raglan 'seam', which I designed to be a simple cable. I made purl decreases on either side of the cable, which sends it diagonally up to the neck line. I think it is a really nice detail and very strong too. I was inspired by one of Asplund's sweaters. ( Go check his sweater set for some incredible knitting!)

One detail I almost always include in hand knits is to use the tubular cast on. It makes a very pretty, finished edge to cuffs, hems, etc. (see above.) Its also really strong and stretchy so it helps the sweater edges last forever. This is the perfect tutorial for tubular cast on by Ysolda. It takes a little bit more time than regular cast on, but it is so worth it. Lovely.

Above is a peek of the collar, a bit wonky before blocking calms down the wool. Since the collar goes on last, it needs a tubular bind off. There are lots of tutorials out there, but I couldn't find one showing the way I like to do it... maybe I'll make a tutorial?

Also you can see a funny square shape notched out of the collar front. This is another detail I like to use on steeked cardigans. There is a similar notch missing on the ribbing at the bottom hem front, too. This happens because I work both the ribbed hem and the ribbed collar back and forth, so I can avoid knitting across the steeking stitches. When I do cut the steek stitches right down the middle, each long half will fold to the wrong side to be facings. I don't like the ribbed hem and collar to have facings (too bulky and visible) so I leave them out by knitting them back and forth. When I knit on the button band, I just knit up the side of the ribbing, and no one is the wiser.

I do like adding all these little special details, but mostly I'm excited to wear it! With a pretty dress, black tights, a side braid, picking apples in an apple orchard. Oh, Fall. Oh, knitting.

a sweet interruption

2010-09-07T17:33:00.001-07:00

This wee thing was a sweet interruption to finishing Margaret. Its meant for the baby of one of my best friends, due any day now. She wanted soft colors, all yellows and browns, and I found all of the yarns in my stash. Some of the yarns were a bit thicker than others, which made the sweater a bit roly-poly and plump. Perfect for a baby, then. Made with a lot of love.

The pattern is of course, the Baby Surprise Jacket, by my knitting hero, Elizabeth Zimmermann. Lots and lots of people love this pattern. Its a good one, and much easier than it looks.

Making Margaret (4)

2010-07-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Margaret is coming along, slowly but surely. I realize now that over half the cables I chose for Margaret cross every other row. (Crossing is what you do to make a cable twist and turn. When you aren't on a 'crossing row' you are knitting a plain row- a blissful, mindless, relaxing plain row.) There exist many simpler cables that only cross every 6th or 8th row, and beautiful ones too. I didn't pick those cables for Margaret. I love crossing, and its amazing to watch the knitted fabric grow before your eyes with all that lovely texture, but its slow going.

That's ok, I'm in no hurry, and I passed the point long ago that I have to think about how to cross, by now my fingers just do what they need to. It gives me time to think. Often I've been thinking about what my next cabled sweater will look like! Carmel brown, with big diamond cables, and pockets, and cables that don't cross so much.

enjoy the things you love

2010-07-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

forest park (big park in my city)
making margaret
berries
my boyfriend
cheese+crackers+vegetables

feeling quiet lately, but wanted to say hello. we grew the strawberries and the lettuces! enjoy the things you love. x.

The Knitting of Judith Harvest

2010-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

all knitting done by Judith Harvest. Photos by her daughter Bodil and granddaughters Sivert and Freckle.

I stumbled across Judith Harvest's handknitting one day and knew immediately I had come across something special I wanted to share with you. Both her Ravelry page her Flickr photostream were created and are maintained by her daughter Bodil and her granddaughters (Ravelry names freckle and sivert.)

Judith was born in Denmark in 1908, and throughout her life lived in many countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Norway until settling again back in Denmark where she passed away in 1982. Throughout her life Judith created all kinds of handcrafts. All the work I've seen is evidence of her wonderful sense of color, technical skill, inventiveness and care. I've included a few photos of my favorite pieces, but check out her Ravelry page and her Flickr photostream for more examples of her work. (She made a baby blanket that is so amazing.)

These little cardigans made by Judith get me really excited about working with color. Her color combinations are so perfect! But mostly I love how obviously well loved and used her creations are. It's because they are so well made and made with such love that they have lasted so long. How lucky we are that Bodil and her daughters have preserved and shared Judith's work with us. Thank you Bodil for letting me share these photos! I am so inspired.

love me two times

2010-06-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

Remember back in October when I won my local yarn store's monthly drawing for a $100 gift certificate? That golden ticket made me feel so so lucky. Well...

I won the drawing again last week. Here's my lucky little blue ticket. Do you think it helped that I drew that little heart on it? ;)

Seriously, this is crazy! I'm just feeling really grateful right now.

I'm going to hold onto this blue ticket for a little while and think about all the lovely, yummy possibilities. Some rich camel colored wool for a 2nd cabled cardigan is definitely an idea...because I have a weird dream of eventually designing and making 3 cabled cardis: one grey, one camel and one cream. I'd like to try knitting (and maybe designing) a lace shawl... Its been a long time since I've knit some socks...Or I could start early on holiday gifts...

I'll let you know what I come up with, of course. Have a sweet weekend, hope you find a bit of luck of your own! x.

marley

2010-06-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

I finished Marley a few weeks ago now and it has become my go-to cardi. It might be my favorite thing I've made, ever.

During all the math and fussing with Margaret, Marley became an easy, cozy project to work on when I needed a break. Marley is my own design, knit completely seamlessly from the bottom up, with set in sleeves. I rather uncharacteristically took copious, exact notes while knitting Marley, so I can make more! I really need more classic basic cardigans, and I want them well made so they last forever.

I tried one little detail that I really like (see above): On the hem and sleeve cuffs is a little horizontal line of stitches that separates the ribbing from the body. I used a regular long-tail cast on to start the sweater and started right away with plain stockinette, leaving the ribbing until the end. Then with a crochet hook I picked up one stitch from each cast on stitch, making a horizontal line of crochet slip stitches. From there I picked up the bump at the back of each crochet stitch with my ribbing needles, and ribbed down as long as I liked. I think it's pretty! I think Mette did something similar on one of her sweaters at the neckline and I thought I would try it too.

Marley is really light with lovely texture but really warm too. The crazy thing is that I barely made a dent in the cone of black tweed I used (scored at an estate sale.) Since the cream alpaca got used up, I picked up some lovely grey merino to pair with more of the black tweed. Yup! I'm making another Marley. Maybe this one will be a V-neck... or a nice long pullover... what do you think? Also, how would you style a sweater like Marley??? I'd love to hear your ideas. x.

Making Margaret (3)

2010-06-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hi! I've missed this space a lot. I've got something to show you:
This is Margaret's front....

She's made up of 4 different cables that I've named Pomegranate, Honeycomb, Swinging, and Simple. The boring bit of plain knitting at dead center is for the steek.

Here is the back... my favorite bit is the center panel, made up of 5 repeats of Honeycomb.

Lest you think I have suddenly become a size 0, remember that before blocking, a cabled sweater pulls in A LOT. Between each cable I've made a purl row that you can't see until blocked. These little purls will create nice quiet vertical lines between all the cables (and add the necessary width to fit me!)

So how did I get from a little test swatch to this? It was a funny process, and honestly I've put off writing to you about it because I was nervous it would be confusing or boring or both. But I committed to documenting the whole process, and who knows, maybe one of you will find it helpful when you make your own cabled cardi!

After I settled on what cables to use, I had to figure out 2 main things: how many cables to use, and how to arrange them in a beautiful way. By measuring my blocked swatch, I figured the final blocked sweater would get 5.77 stitches/inch. I knew I wanted about a 37 inch circumference, for a nice roomy sweater for my 34 inch bust. That meant I had 212 stitches to work with. It helped me to think of my stitches as currency: I only had 212 stitches to 'spend' on as many cables I could get. Pomegranate has (or 'costs') 12 stitches, Simple costs 4 stitches, and so on. I just kept spending and spending, arranging the cables in my sketchbook in a pleasing way, until I was out of my 212 stitches.

It sounds simple enough, but it was tricky in a few ways: I knew I wanted Pomegranate cables to fall roughly down the center of my shoulders, I knew I wanted only one purl stitch between each cable, I knew I wanted things to feel balanced and look nice. Sometimes I would end up with a few extra stitches and would have to rearrange again. I love to think with my hands, but this was a very theoretical part of the process. I couldn't knit up samples of what I was thinking because that would have taken forever. I probably came up with way more variations than I needed to, I think I was trying too hard to get it as good as it could be. I realized at some point that I just had to let go and start knitting, and have a little faith.

Here is a little map I made up of how I arranged the cables. I used this map as my starting off point: After a tubular bind on, and a few inches of ribbing, I used the map and my pattern book to know what to knit when. After a few rows, the cables distinguished themselves and I've just been knitting what I see, though Swinging cable is a bit of a pain in my bum, so sometimes I sneak a look in my pattern book to check that all is well.

More soon. I've even got a finished sweater to show you! Hope you all are fully enjoying whatever season you are in, and taking good care. x.

mom and malabrigo

2010-05-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

She's the best mom in the world! And she loves her present. It's this pattern, knitted in malabrigo worsted. Really easy pattern, might have to make myself one!

My beautiful mom

2010-05-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

The brownies are baked and the present is wrapped. Ready to celebrate my beautiful mom today! Happy Mother's Day!

morel report

2010-05-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

On the first night...

we sliced a few of them in thick rounds, let a good knob of butter slur and fizz in the big black pan, and tossed them in. They sputtered and steamed in protest, then gave up and collapsed in a glorious golden heap. Adam stirred in a teaspoon of sour cream as we bent over the stove inhaling the rich, nutty steam. Tossed with fusilli, we ate them wide-eyed and slowly, amazed.

The next day...

I made sourdough toast, creamy scrambled eggs, and sauteed more morels, this time adding a squashed clove of garlic. Big scoops piled high on the toast. A feast.

Day three...

we made steaming pasta e broccoli and ate the morels beside it, even slower now, aware the paper bag holding the rest of the morels is nearly empty.

I came home from work a few days later...

to the most warming, homey scent. Adam used the rest of the morels in a big pot of mushroom barley soup, which we ate with baguette, blowing on each spoonful of rich salty broth. I have a quart glass jar of the rest of the soup in the freezer, for some future grey day that needs comfort.

Yesterday, at the big farmers market, we saw a basket of morels, at $25/pound. We passed by, feeling very, very lucky.

a luggy bonnet

2010-04-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

ONE:

TWO:

THREE!

A wee, ridiculous luggy bonnet for an expecting coworker, made with all leftover yarn bits. The pattern is from Weekend Knitting, a book I love. I've said it before, but its a great feeling to make something nice from scrap yarn. Plus I'm making room for more yarn, no?

+ Another use for scrap yarn that I really really want to try! (Found via Fine Little Day)
++ I realize a morel report is overdue. It's coming, but in short, they were DELICIOUS. x

holy mo(re)ly

2010-04-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Our good neighbors, the same ones that gladly let us rid them of the cherries on their gorgeous cherry tree, were about to take their lawnmower to these beauties, before Adam ran out and saved them. Now dear friends, what to do? I've cooked lots of mushrooms before, but never morels. Is it bad they are so big? Do they cook down a lot? Should I dry some of them? What is a delicious way to prepare them??
ps aren't they lovely though?

scrap yarn is beautiful

2010-04-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

Over the years I've used these skeins of wool to help make: gloves for a friend, a baby hat, a toy fox, a toy bear, a toy elephant, a cowl, a hat for A., a hat for a friend, a set of crocheted coasters. Now the rest will be...can you guess? You'll have to wait and see...

Making Margaret (2)

2010-03-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

The next step to making Margaret: a cabled gauge swatch. (I'm taking the advice of Brooklyn Tweed, and its really good advice!) Since I'm knitting the sweater in the round, I wanted my cabled swatch to be circular as well...but I wanted to see the cables all together clearly, so I cut it open. I used the crocheted steek, the same one I'll use to cut open the front of the finished sweater to make it a cardigan.

Here the purple yarn is crocheted in two rows that bind the stitches. When you cut between the crochet, nothing unravels and you get lovely neat edges which will become facings.

I see now with the cables all together I want to make a few tweaks here and there. I think I'll go to my sketchbook and calculator to get a solid vision of what cables go where...and then its on to real knitting! (I hope...)

Making Margaret (1)

2010-03-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

The grey cabled cardi I am making has a name now: Margaret. I was admiring Margaret Howell's SS10 line, (oh if I were rich, this would be my spring coat!) and I was really impressed with her philosophy of designing clothes. When I saw the photo of her, I liked her even more! Sweet sweater Margaret. So, Margaret it is.

Here is the beginning. Lots of dreaming, sketching, flipping through pages of my Japanese cable book.
1. Knitting little squares to see how a few of the cables I like look in my grey wool.

2. For a perfect fit, I really take my time with swatching. Because I am knitting Margaret in the round, I first made a circular gauge swatch to see how my plain (stockinette) knitting looks, and how many stitches per inch I make. I didn't want to end up with a useless tube of knitting, so I made a little pouch with a tassled cord to cinch it shut. Good for holding small things when packing for a trip, or using as wrapping for a special gift.

That's all I'll show for now. More soon. I can't wait till the actual sweater knitting begins! But there is more designing and testing to do...

golden ticket knit (3): a simple pleasure

2010-03-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

This is the one I reach for most. Simple to make, simple to wear, extra comfy with that thick merino wool. Simple. Adapted from this. I'm still really glad for my golden ticket!

I'm looking for a spring coat, some kind of anorak. Maybe this. Wish I could have an adult size version of this!

How I want to Eat

2010-03-15T08:52:00.000-07:00

I know I've said as much before, but I really really love Rachel's food blog, Rachel Eats. Yes, her food is always delicious, her writing beautiful and her photography lovely, but there are lots of food blogs out there that fit that description. I think what makes this blog so special is that Rachel seems to have so much affection for really good, really simple food. And the way she writes about it, you know it is a part of her, and her everyday life, in a very beautiful way. (This post illustrates what I'm talking about; its the post that made me fall in love with her blog.)

There are so many food blogs out there with magazine-spread photos and a new recipe 365 days/year with trendy ingredients--pistachio encrusted Alaskan salmon with radicchio dumplings!!-- and it's gorgeous and sometimes it inspires me, but honestly often times, reading those blogs just makes me feel tired, and I look about and my kitchen looks dingy and dull in comparison. But mostly, its not how I want to eat. I want a repertoire of cakes I can count on one hand, and to adore each cake. I want a handful of dishes I cook every week because we love them so much, a few special ones for holidays, and to slowly explore new dishes as I go. I want my food to feel a part of me. And it does, more and more. Especially since we started making Pasta and Broccoli, which I now crave weekly, which Adam now can now make by heart (!!!!!!!!!!!) and which we learned here. So thank you Rachel, and please keep writing!

Below is a visual recipe of Pasta and Broccoli, for the real recipe go here. The only thing I do different is to be sure and mash up the broccoli really well. Its just how we like it. And don't forget lots of parmesan on top!

Whew.

2010-03-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

Its been a wonderful horrible week. Wonderful: 5 year anniversary of being together with my sweet love. Horrible: 3-day migraine, bad stomach aches, a relentless computer virus. Whew! I am really really happy its Friday. I plan on having a gentle cozy weekend and wish you one too.

A beginning

2010-03-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

I've got a pile of pale grey wool in a basket that I want to make into a cabled cardigan. Something cozy, to layer over patterned dresses. Something that will last forever and is beautifully made. I picked up this nice book from Kinokuniya Bookstore to help me suss out the cable designs. The book is beautifully clear with charts galore and visual diagrams of techniques- perfect. My favorite part is the photographs; most cable books I've seen show each cable on its own, but the groupings in this book help me imagine combinations for my own sweater. Below are just a few of my favorite pages. Its hard to decide which cables to use, they are all really lovely.

I've decided to document the process of making this sweater on this little space of mine. Something different than just blasting off a photo of a finished product. First I need a name for this sweater. I don't want to keep calling it 'Grey Cabled Cardigan.' Any ideas?

marley

2010-03-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

New sweater design in progress. The yarn is one strand of cream lace weight alpaca, one strand of black wool tweed I got from an estate sale last year: a good pound of wool. The only bit on its label I could make out says "100% wool -oonsocket R.I. " Good enough for me.

Here is what I'm thinking: a marled wool cardigan (or pullover? maybe?) knit in the round from the bottom up with seamless set-in sleeves a la EZ. Hitting at hip, slight waist shaping. I'd like the neck to be wide-ish, framing the collar bones. The hem, cuffs, collar and button band will go on last, maybe using just black wool and not the cream? Clearly this is being designed as I go.

And here's someone I made up from the black tweed last year.

Spaghetti al Limone

2010-03-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite recipes from one of my favorite cookbooks. Definitely my favorite PAGE of any cookbook, ever. Solid lemon yellow design! Happiness. I regret not getting pictures of the actual food, my excuse is it must be eaten immediately, while steaming ribbons of lemony steam. (Also, v. hungry.) I also don't have an exact recipe, because I go by taste. Below are some rough instructions, but even better is to read Rachel's version. She is my favorite food blogger.

Spaghetti al Limone

for 2

1. Boil enough spaghetti for 2.
2. Meanwhile, squeeze the juice of a lemon in a bowl. (Have a second lemon handy.) Add a few big glugs of olive oil.
3. TASTE. Add more lemon or olive as needed. You are going for a big bright flavor, but I think its best when you can really taste the olive oil too.
4. Grate some parmesan in a little pile.
5. Drain pasta, dump back in pot.
6. Add sauce and cheese, stir vigorously.
7. Taste, adjust, add some twists of pepper.
8. Serve and eat IMMEDIATELY. Best when piping hot.

linen wool cotton

2010-03-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

Really nice inspiration from the book Linen Wool Cotton by Akiko Mano. All of the projects are so beautiful and simple.

Faye

2010-03-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

I designed and sewed up this shirt and it only took me four months! The sad thing is I'm not even kidding. The process of designing, fitting, and sewing take me forever- I'm so slow! Seriously, I've knit two sweaters since I started this shirt, and I'm not a speedy knitter. Crazy. Still, I'm happy with it, probably because I took my sweet time. I focused a lot on fit, and with each fitting, I learn a tiny bit more. I've said it before, but making clothes makes me even more in awe of amazing designers who make such incredible clothing. I hope someday to be that good!

So, 2 books were indispensable to me while making my Faye shirt. This one, for drafting the basic pattern, and this one, (ignore cheesy cover) for understanding fit. Cal's book is SO clear and the projects are really cute! I used her guidelines for the basic button down, but changed the shape to be more a-line. Soon, though, it was clear I needed some darts (hello c-cup) and I wanted to improve the overall fit. That's where the Palmer Pletsch book came in. So helpful! I adjusted for my sloping shoulders, did a full bust alteration, adjusted the sleeves, etc.etc.

Still, there is so much I'd like to learn and improve upon regarding fit. I could list all the shirt's imperfections, but overall, this shirt is the best fitting thing I've sewn yet. So, onward! I'm sketching ideas for more shirts and some dresses...

more photos here

golden ticket knit (2): peacock mittens

2010-03-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

Hello hello! Happy to be back in this space, to show you some mittens that make me really happy. Loosely based on this pattern, but I changed so much. I wanted MORE texture, NO flare at the cuffs and NO ribbing. Now they are a nice simple shape, perfect for me. I love them. Now I'm dreaming of finding the perfect coat to wear them with...grey wool, bracelet sleeves, slight a- line shape, gold buttons rounded like small mushroom caps, or toggles... it's somewhere in a thrift store, waiting for me, right? Have a lovely week... I'll be back soon with some sewing.

Two hats for my man.

2010-01-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

He said he wanted 'a dark grey hat with a light grey stripe at the bottom,' so we went to the yarn store and he chose the yarn, some nice alpaca. Good taste! I had so much light grey yarn left over I made a second, with some stripes. He loves them both. For the darker hat, instead of ribbing, I tried something new: a knit-on facing. Used a tiny bit of hand dyed cashmere- left over from years ago. The verdict: 'I really like cashmere!' Mm-hm.

golden ticket knit (1): a kind of haven

2010-01-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

The first finished knit using some of the yarn I won with my golden ticket. Along with these, it has become a much loved winter accessory, used almost every day. And the pattern? I've loved Kim Hargreaves Haven scarf pattern since it was published but with the yarn it called for and the booklet the pattern came in, the cost was sadly way out of my budget.* Then one afternoon I was flipping through Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns that I had checked out at the library, and there it was on page 209, the exact same stitch pattern as the Haven scarf, called by Ms. Walker 'Shell Lace.' Shell Lace is apparently a variation of a very old and well loved Shetland lace pattern, Horseshoe. Maybe this was Ms. Hargreaves inspiration? Anyway, 3 pattern repeats across with a garter stitch border all round and knit-til-the-yarn-runs-out, and there was my scarf, a kind of haven, keeping me warm from the northwest winter. Happy ending.

*Though in general I do believe it worthwhile to pay for and support independent designers whenever possible!

helgi sweater

2010-01-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

Knitting a traditional icelandic yoke sweater is always something I've wanted to do; now I've done it. This has been done for about a month, but I've been late with documenting it. It's lovely and very warm, perfect for winter walks. I wish I could say it just flew off the needles, but like all of my knitting, it was an adventure. For some reason I had a difficult time with gauging the lopi; my gauge kept changing! Luckily I love to do the act of knitting, and don't mind reknitting something if it's not quite right. I must have reknit part of the body at least 3 times, the sleeves twice, and I experimented with the i cord button band at least 7 times before it was right! But I like that with knitting you always get as many chances as you need to make something with love that will last forever. And with each change I learn and get a little better. I love that I don't have to rush, at least with knitting.

This was also my first time steeking, which I LOVED. I also learned an amazing technique for shortening a too long sweater. (I stupidly neglected to block my swatches and the lopi grew up to 4 inches!) No matter, I followed this easy tutorial from Tech Knitter and within an hour I had the perfect length for body and sleeves. Think of it as a horizontal steek. Easy peasy.

One last thing, I named it the Helgi sweater because I always end up naming big projects in my mind. Easier than saying 'Icelandic Yoke Sweater'. I chose Helgi after my dear friend, and the only person I know from Iceland!

I've been knitting

2010-01-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

More photos to come.

a sunday lunch.

2010-01-10T19:44:00.000-08:00

Adapted from Nigel Slater's recipe for 'A Tart For Lunch, Supper, or a Party' from his book Appetite. One of my favorite cookbooks, one of my favorite food writers.

1. (first photo) Carmelize 3-4 medium onions in a bit of butter. Take your time, medium low heat.

2. Open up your storebought puff pastry from the freezer, and make little bird tracks with a fork. Score a light line round the edge for a nice crust.

3. Pile on your finished onions and and tuck in little bits of a gooey cheese, like taleggio.

4. Prune your little thyme plant. Nigel says 'enough leaves to make a little pile in your palm.'

5. Run your fingers down the woody stalks to let the leaves sprinkle down on the tart. Be sure to smell the fresh thyme on your fingers.

6. Bake at 425, around 15 minutes until golden and bubbly.

7. Claim a corner piece and share the rest with people you love.

in process

2009-11-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

A few projects in process... and I'm feeling winter in my bones.

annikki

2009-11-03T15:51:00.000-08:00

This little knit has been quite the adventure. It was originally intended to be a shorter version of Norah Gaughan's annikki sweater coat. While knitting up the swatch, however, I read this blog post and was so inspired I tossed out the pattern for annikki, checked as many Elizabeth Zimmerman books and Barbara Walker books I could out of my library, and got to work. It was SO liberating to be free of a pattern, and to make so many design choices. I feel as though I've been knitting with my head and my heart, instead of someone else's directions. Of course, it was a lot trickier than just following a pattern! I knit and ripped and calculated and sketched and knit and ripped some more. It's not perfect, but I gained a lot of confidence to continue designing. Here are a few of the things I learned from this sweater:

knitting from the top down
provisional cast on
knitting a set-in sleeve sweater in the round
short row shoulder shaping
faux side seams a la Elizabeth Zimmerman
knitting a set in sleeve from the top down
knitting a stockinette buttonband with facing
using short rows along the length of the button band to keep the band from sagging
designing my own shawl collar
designing roomy, short sleeves for easy layering

Knitting seems to have much of my attention lately...sometimes I feel one of my passions grabs me by the hair and doesn't let go until I've worn out my head and hands with it...though I've been sewing and drawing and making as well... more to show you soon!

I love pie

2009-10-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

I truly do. I love the whole process of baking it, I love the smell as it cools on the counter, I love that first press of the side of the fork down on the shattering pastry. I love stopping in a cafe with a friend to share a slice that stains the plate with purple smears. I even like it more than cake.

This one is apple pie, the classic American dessert. I made it with freshly picked apples we got in Hood River this weekend at the Heirloom Apple Festival, put on by several orchards in the Hood River Valley. Yes, yes, I know fresh is better, local is better, but I was not prepared for the flavor of these apples in this pie. It sounds silly, but the first bite was a little shocking because the taste was so pure, so resoundingly apple. I used my favorite crust recipe, which I discovered last summer.

weekend treasures

2009-10-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

a few treasures from the weekend:
(l to r)

a honeycrisp apple from this farm in hood river, oregon. We got a few bags of other varieties that i plan on turning into another one of these.
a beautiful, juicy bulb of garlic grown by our dear friend Andy. He also gifted us with potatoes and delicata squash. His squash is the best I've ever eaten.
a tiny bundle of oregano from my tiny herb garden.
a piece of homemade candy made by Andy's wife, Be.

What treasures did you collect this weekend?

Rosalie

2009-10-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

A simple, cozy hat, made with this pattern. I can never resist this deep wine-y color, especially in the Fall. Made with a little over one skein of Rowan Calmer I bought ages ago, which had been languishing at the bottom of a random bag of half-forgotten knits. I like to think its much happier now, in hat form, out in the fresh air. Looking over my flickr favorites, I realize how I have been influenced by two very lovely ladies who know how to make (and wear) similar toppers: Aino, and Erica. Now if only their photography skills would rub off on me as well...

the golden ticket

2009-10-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

Last week my local yarn store called, saying my ticket had been randomly chosen from the monthly customer raffle and did I want to come by and collect my prize? The prize being a $100 gift certificate, of course. What!?! The birthday gods must having been smiling on me! Knitters will understand that a $100 gift certificate for yarn is so much better than cash, because you have to spend it on yarn! A few days later I made my way to the shop and scooped up some lovely skeins. Because a sale was going on, I was able to get enough to keep me very busy all winter. It sits in a basket like a small fortune. Here's what I plan to make:

(clockwise from lower left)
peacock blue malabrigo = this hat
deep teal cascade 220 = these mittens
pale grey cascade 220 = a cabled cardigan of my own design
grey-green jo sharp infusion mohair = this sweater
fawn ggh savanna = this scarf

trying for tova

2009-10-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my blog!

This first creation is my humble attempt to recreate Jenny Gordy's Tova Shirt from her incredible clothing line Wiksten. I had barely been dabbling with sewing when I first discovered Jenny's beautiful work a few years ago, and she has been an inspiration to me ever since. I set out to try and recreate her Tova shirt (for personal use only, of course) not only because I adore the design, but also because I hoped the experience of copying a talented artist like Jenny would help make me a better sewer and designer. Many muslins (and many thoughts like "how did she DO it??") later, I've come up with something not half as lovely as the original, but nice enough that I'll proudly wear it to my dinner date tonight with A.... because it's my birthday today!

I have to say, as much as I've always admired Jenny for her impeccable work and sweet nature, having gone through the experience of trying to make a Tova shirt makes me appreciate how hard she works even more. More pictures here.