B L O G

f.o. | lime socks.

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The first of these socks lingered on the needles for nearly a month. When I finally finished the first, the second came swiftly and had me thinking: I really should learn to knit two at a time using magic loop.

These were knit up using less than one skein of Three Irish Girls sock in this shocking lime green, and bits of ends of Malabrigo Sock in aguas for the toes and heels. I love the way they turned out. I love that almost every sock set I’ve knit in the last couple of years have been complete stash busters.

This is my favorite sock pattern–a standard 3×1 rib with after thought heel. And, it fits the doc like a dream.

See more of my socks here.

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misc. make | gouache beaded necklace.

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I’ve been into making jewelry of late. It’s kind of this groove I am in–peyote beading, painting wooden beads, earrings. I’ve even opened a new shop, which only features this side of my making.

This summer, I made a gradient wooden necklace that features shades of orange and turquoise. I’m in love with the end product and think I could make a whole bunch of these in different color palettes to sell. Thoughts?

These beads were painted with gouache and spray sealed with Modge Podge sealant spray for a flat, matte finish. I love that they aren’t glossy looking.

Would these make a nice addition to my shop?

wip | neon socks.

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This summer has been a kind of breather, for me. I had this moment in between employment, where I was looking to completely unplug and connect with relaxation, respite, passions.

And for some reason, that meant leaving the sticks in the field bag. I did very little, if any knitting, during this time. I often feel a creative pull toward one kind of making or another–I work in fits and starts, focus entirely on fiber, or ink, or the stove, for instance. But this summer, for some reason, I was lost in books and left little room for anything else. I didn’t make much. I never touched the computer or the blogs. And it felt good.

But, as I find summer winding down and I’m back in my work groove, I’ve been yearning for evening creative outlets that take little energy and can be enjoyed on the back porch or on the couch; things like knitting, that I can do with my eyes closed.

Of course, it could just be that it will soon, again, be time for scarves, hats, sweaters, and cozy socks, here in Boston, and maybe that’s why I’m back to knitting.

Anyways, these will be a pair of neon green socks for the doc. I haven’t made him a pair since his birthday last April, and had some pretty luxurious yarn just waiting for feet. These are a simple 3×1 rib with a pop of color on the toe and afterthought heel–my favorite kind of socks to crank out.

Finished snaps in the coming days, as I’m winding down on the second sock.

Here’s to more creative making this fall. What are you creating?

cook | avocado toast.

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Brunching in my house just got a major upgrade. I’m not always a big fan of going out with the masses on Sunday, waiting in line for brunch, and feeling too full and coma like after to have enjoyed any of it. I prefer Sundays on my back porch (weather permitting), early morning even rather than midday, with the Sunday Times, and some homemade eats. I often make quiches. I’ve tried waffles. Eggs of all sorts. Chilaquiles.

But this past weekend, I finally tried avocado toasts, which I’ve had out a bunch of times. And they were a hit.

These avocado toasts were pretty simple. Here’s it:

Mash 1-2 ripe avocados with a fork, salt, and pepper, a squeeze of lime juice. Set aside while you toast some hearty wheat bread (make sure its properly toasted, not soggy– it needs to hold up to the toppings).

Now, the toppings.

I quick pickled some thinly sliced red onion and fresh jalapeno in lime juice and kosher salt. I sliced some heirloom grape tomatoes. And I cooked some eggs sunny side up. While the eggs were cooking, I topped each toast with some avocado, a sprinkle of red chili flakes, the limed onions and jalapenos, the sliced tomatoes, and then the sunny side egg. All of this was garnished with some micro greens.

Eat, down a Topo Chico, coffee, and relax. I imagine this is best served in summer and early fall, when the produce shines and every ingredient is appropriately ripe and in season. Bear in mind and avocado it up.

inspiration | murakami.

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I recently went to see Takashi Murakami’s major exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and it was jaw dropping in its inspiration. The Octopus Eats its Own Leg is staggering and his attention to ancient Japanese practice to inform contemporary work really impressed upon me.

The pattern above now serves as a major inspiration to my work and craft moving forward.

What have you see lately that inspires you?

eat | guac and chips.

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When I first visited Sean in Phoenix more than five years ago, he took me to this barrio cafe that served the best table side guacamole. Despite the fact that the avocados are the best avocados you’ll ever eat (unlike, often times, the ones that make it to us here in Boston), it had a really unique spin that I couldn’t get off my mind: pomegranate seeds.

The idea of it at first seemed odd, but these little sour bursts are the perfect pairing for any good quality guac, and now I make it this way at home to remind us of that time–not only how delicious the food was, but how it started this thing for us that we keep going.

Here’s how I make it: two ripe avocados, cubed. A bunch of cilantro, chopped. The juice of two limes, salt and pepper, the seeds of one pomegranate, one whole jalapeno chopped with pith and seeds (I like it spicy), and a dash of red onion.

Serve with chips, an iced cold beer, and swoon.

f.o. | elwood baby.

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Pattern Details: Elwood by Jenny Wiebe Yarn: Malabrigo Rios (main color: Azul Profundo ; contrasting color: Glazed Carrot. approx. 630 yards total)

This is the second Elwood I have knit this spring. The first time around, it was for a colleague having her first kid. This time, it’s for my third nephew, who was born last week, and I finished the cardigan about a week before the (early) due date.

It is such a quick knit with endless rewards. If you are looking for a grandpa style cardigan for a small person in your life–this is the sweater. And, you can make a matching one for yourself, if that’s your jam–adult sizes are included in the pattern.

I settled on a blue and orange striped one, after seeing another in a similar color on ravelry and being smitten with the pops of color. I used two skeins of Malabrigo Rios (super wash merino wool is the best way to go for babies and busy moms) in the azul profundo and glazed carrot colorways. The six month size called for two skeins of the main color, but I didn’t use the second skein. While normally I’d be annoyed by this, it’s a great, and versatile worsted weight yarn. It will become a winter hat, or matching accessories for baby, soon.

See my pattern notes here. Check out more of my baby knits here.

f.o. | camilla babe.

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I have been wanting to knit a Camilla Babe by Carrie Bostick Hoge for awhile now–but everyone I would knit for with child had boys or live in deserts, and while I’m very much anti gender specific colors or clothes, this feather and fan lace detail on the front, no matter in what yarn, felt too feminine for me to pull off for any babe but girl.

And then a colleague with child told me she was having a girl. But, I’d already knit her some booties, a hat, and a little striped t shirt sweater since its a July baby. While sitting around avoiding a project that’s languished, I looked at the skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in the Filtered Light colorway I had laying around, and boom, I started knitting the Camilla Babe, a Madder Root pattern.

It took two evenings to finish this sweater–the 3 months size–and it lives up to every idea I had about how it would look. The pattern is so easy to memorize; I’m thinking of making one for myself.

And so, that colleague, will get an extra special bonus hand knit. Maybe she will think I’m crazy?

process |shop.

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shop_logo_bigI had an etsy shop years back–almost ten years back! I wasn’t at a time or space to really grow that shop or make it work. So, it closed.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about certain aspects of my making–some of which I’d like to share with the world.  I’ve also got nearly a month and a half this summer, between jobs–a perfect time to explore some of this.

And so, I’m in the process of reopening my shop. To start, it will simply feature some of the jewelry I make; there will be ready to wear pieces, as well as some optional custom beading options.

Eventually, I’d like to feature a few other items, like screen printed t-shirts.

Will you buy? Stay tuned.

f.o. | purl soho baby sweater.

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34478319170_356d65be03_cFor a colleague’s impending girl. I loved knitting this one. The details were so interesting and the construction was impeccable.

The Little Baby Sweater by Purl Soho is knit from the bottom up, you create a squared set it sleeve later using pick ups and cable cast ons–so fun! I’ve never knit a sweater this way, and I can imagine it’d be pretty cool for an adult t shirt as well.

I wanted to create another stash buster; and even though I’m partial to superwash wools for babies, I had two skeins of Knit Picks Palette in the cream and charcoal colorways, which was just perfect for the pattern. I also used tiny, pale yellow buttons from my button bag as well.

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You can see more snaps here. And visit my ravelry project page here.