Thursday, 4 March 2010

Endpaper Mitts

Jon's Visit: Endpaper Mitts

I wish I was able to get a better photo of them then just this one here.

These have been works in progress for the longest time; a classic "second sock syndrome"... although in this case, it was a second mitten syndrome!

I finally picked it up in January, knitting the second mitt took no time at all and I was left with a -gorgeous- pair of fingerless mittens.
I had originally intended these to be for myself, but it struck me as I was finishing them up how suitable they would be as a gift for a dear friend of mine, and as I was going to be crashing at her place in Sydney for a little while I thought they'd make a perfect late christmas/thank you for letting me stay at your place gift... so it goes with knitting gifts, it seems. I can always knit them again for myself (and I probably will!)

Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang
Needles: 2.00 mm ( 0 US)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss, Baby Cashmerino; Colour Navy - 1 ball
...some other cashmere/wool sport weight yarn in a green/blue/purple range.. I'm sure I kept the label somewhere... - 1 ball

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Laundry Fail

Laundry Fail

The perils of living with no dryer during the wet...
Can there be a more depressing sight?!

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Skully Sweater

Another step forward in my knitting!

Skully Sweater

Skully Sweater

Woooo!!! Finally I completed a "big" project, a jumper for myself. I've been meaning to take the plunge into making a jumper for myself.
The endless stockinette was incredibly tedious at some points, but I'm glad I stuck with it!
The skull pattern was a great way to break up the monotony as well.

Skully Sweater

Pattern: Skully from Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook
Yarn: Moda Vera, Poetic. Earth: 10 balls, Cream: 2 balls
Needles: Size 6.5mm (US 10 1/2)

It's a very simple sweater; it's big and baggy with no waist shaping at all. I have discovered the evils of having to sew massive stretches of knit fabric together. It's well worth it, just.. tiring.
It fits well, although a little bit tight around the upper arms. It's a 100% wool yarn as well, which means it's a little bit itchy; best worn with a long-sleeved t-shirt under it.
Happily (in this sense only) it's been quite chilly here, especially in the evenings, so I've had a couple of opportunities to wear it around the house.

I'm very proud of myself! Onto the next one!

Skully Sweater

Sunday, 28 February 2010

February Meal: Salmon and Salsa

Eek! Just sneaking in before the month is up.
We (mum and I) started with the intention of doing each month's "meal" on the first of each month, but that quickly has to give way to a more realistic schedule.
I cooked this up a couple of weeks ago, around mid-February, but am only now getting around to posting about it, shame on me!

February Meal: Salmon and Salsa

There's no ingredients over-view shot this year since it's so simple to put together, also most of the ingredients this year came right from my garden and so mostly I was picking and chopping as I went along ;)

The first step of this is to char-grill your capsicum! This is very easy to do. You just put your capsicums onto a tray and put them under your grill just until the skin has become charred.

February Meal: Salmon and SalsaFebruary Meal: Salmon and Salsa

Then pop those suckers into a zip-lock baggie for twenty minutes or so and the skin will peel right off without any effort.

February Meal: Salmon and SalsaFebruary Meal: Salmon and Salsa

Then you mix together the rest of the salsa.. dicing up those capsicums, tomatos... adding in herbs, lemon juice and brown sugar...

February Meal: Salmon and Salsa

February Meal: Salmon and Salsa

Then let all that sit for an hour or so for all the flavours to mellow and come together. Beautiful!

February Meal: Salmon and Salsa

When you're ready to eat, heat up a grill pan and grill your fish.

February Meal: Salmon and Salsa

I have to admit that even after living here for two years and all the fantastic fish available from the area, salmon is still one of my favourites. Every now and again I get some pretty strong cravings for wild Atlantic salmon... Down here though, the farmed Tasmanian variety will have to do.

Once they're all done plate up with a simple salad and you're ready to eat!

February Meal: Salmon and Salsa

Recipe for Grilled Salmon Cutlets with Roasted Capsicum & Coriander Salsa
Serves: 6 (I cut the recipe in half since it's just mum and I eating)

Ingredients:
* 6 Atlantic salmon cutlets
* 1 tablespoon olive oil

Salsa:
* 3 large red capsicums, quartered and seeded.
* 3 spring onions, finely chopped
* 1 large ripe tomato, seeded and diced
* 1/3 cup finely chopped chives
* 1/4 cup coriander, finely chopped
* 1 1/2-2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
* 1/2 teaspoon soft brown sugar
* sea salt and pepper to taste

Preheat grill and cook the capsicum quarters, skin side up, until well charred. Place into a plastic bag and seal tightly- after about 20 minutes, skin can be easily removed.

Cut the capsicum finely and place into a bowl to cool. Mix with all remaining ingredients. Set aside for an hour or two to let flavours mellow.

At serving time, preheat grill. Brush both sides of the cutlets with the olive oil. Cook cutlets three to four minutes each side or until cooked through.

Serve immediately with capsicum salsa spooned over the top.
ENJOY!

This dish was a particular joy for me since the tomatos, chives, coriander and lettuce in the salad all came from my garden. It was delicious.

Saturday, 27 February 2010

Colour + Colour: Red and Silver

I missed a week or two in the colour + colour group from my vacation, but pick it back up with the past weeks challenge of Red + Silver.

Colour + Colour Week 7: Red and Silver

Colour + Colour Week 7: Red and Silver

The current challenge is Silver + Green!

Christmas Gift Catch-up: Purses for Nieces!

Phew! I'm back from my whirlwind vacation. I spent the past few weeks showing off my beautiful NSW country to an American buddy of mine, and then preparing to begin a course on Horticulture(!).
In the meantime though, I'm still catching up from a huge back-log of knit things to share with you all.
I'll start with the oldest for now.

For my two nieces, this year, I made them each a little knit purse of their own.

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces



The pattern was very basic, and I just kind of made it up as I went along. I started off with a knit rectangle of fabric.

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces

And then decreased down to a triangular clasp with a contrasting colour of yarn.

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces

I sewed the sides together to make it a pouch and then knit an i-chord for the strap.
Easy Peasy!

For some extra fun and stability I decided to have a go at lining the purses with some cotton fabric.

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces

And finished them off with a large, brightly coloured button for a clasp!

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces

Done! The hardest part, honestly was figuring out which colour to give to which girl. It may have taken a day, tops, to make each purse.

Christmas 2009: Purses for the Nieces

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

My world for the past few days has been a whole lot of:

Rain

But for once I have enjoyed every minute of it; the tank is filling, my plants are happy...

Happy Plants

My froggy friend is happy and loud and even some other, surprise-friends are happy...

Garden Snail

I'm all packed up and very excited for my trip down to Sydney. The next two weeks are going to be one hell of an adventure, and that's exactly what I need right now!
I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get back.