Month: May 2016

flex | finish line.

Posted on by JRW in Dress, knitting, wips, yarn

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My Flex tshirt by Heidi Kirrmaier is nearly finished! All that’s left is a little side seaming and I can officially find out whether this is going to fit the way I want it to (fingers crossed for me, please).

What a dream pattern. The construction was different and engaging and the Quince and Co. Kestrel linen was the perfect yarn. Plus, all told, this tshirt took less than two weeks without feverish knitting every night. This is actually my first tshirt in all my years as a knitter and I think I’m presently addicted.

Finished project shots forthcoming.

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What other tshirts should I consider knitting?

salsa.

Posted on by JRW in cooking, food

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I’m a big fan of fresh salsas of all kinds–tomato, pineapple. But, I also like “restaurant style” salsas. The kind served on the table with a basket of warm chips at your local no frills Mexican restaurant.

I’ve started making it at home on occasion. Here’s how I do it: 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1/4 of red onion, a large bunch of fresh cilantro, the juice of one lime, 1 whole jalapeno (seeds and pith included for spice), a dash of cumin, some garlic powder (you could substitute raw cloves here, but I can’t eat raw garlic so I leave raw garlic out) and salt and pepper to taste.

Throw it all in a blender and whir until smooth. Stores in the refrigerator for a long time, buy you won’t keep it around.

flex | linen.

Posted on by JRW in inspiration, knitting, wips, yarn

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I decided I wanted to take another stab at a linen yarn project. A couple years back, I made the Saco Stripes tank top out of Quince and Co. Sparrow, and despite knitting the smallest size, it was way too big on me. So I gifted it off to my sister (with sadness–I really wanted it to fit).

This time around, I’m knitting with Quince and Co.’s Kestrel yarn, and absolutely loving the way it looks and feels. Talk about knitting up quick, too. This will eventually be a tshirt called Flex by Heidi Kirrmaier. I love the interesting construction and thought the long lengths of stockinette would be easy knitting when my mind is distracted.

Eventually, I want to knit the Hamlin Peak sweater by Pam Allen in a lighter colorway of kestrel, too. I will wait to see how the finishing product on this tshirt looks on me, and what happens to the yarn after blocking.

Are you into knitting with linen? What projects?

speckled.

Posted on by JRW in knitting, yarn

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These speckled yarns, they are a craze. I admit; I’m kind of on the bandwagon. I did make these mittens with Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in the Holi Festival speckled colorway for my sister in law this past Christmas. And I bought enough skeins of Tosh Vintage in Filtered Light for a sweater, though I may make it just an accent at this point.

Enter this Hedgehog Fibres skein of sock yarn. They will become socks for the doc. He’s looking for something bright and outrageous. This should fit the bill.

Are you in on the speckled yarns craze?

cheese cake.

Posted on by JRW in baking, cooking, food

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The doc’s favorite dessert is classic New York style cheese cake with sugary, sticky fresh strawberry topping. So for his birthday this past April, I decided to take a stab at making one homemade, with a fresh strawberry jam on top.

He said it came out perfect. I wouldn’t know. I don’t eat cheesecake. But this one was freshened up with a lot of lemon zest in the cheesy batter and loads of fresh strawberries.

What other desserts should I tackle?