Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What’s November 31st? It’s a holiday for knitters. How do you celebrate? Stay up late to complete the project you had all month to knit.  Around 11:45 pm, pour yourself a Scotch to celebrate while you bind off!

---

The Back Porch 

Midnight libations! I still have  a lot of finishing to do on my tunic-length version of Doocot by Kate Davies, so I’ll post photos to my project page later. For now, here’s the designer modeling her cropped sweater.  I think that I do want to knit this version. I think the piece would pair well with sleeveless dresses and extend my warmer weather wardrobe into the colder months. Look how good this is with a bold necklace!

---

Off the Shelf

This week I share a passage from Kate Davies’ memoir, Handywoman. I purchased my copy from The Woolly Thistle and I’m really enjoying it.

---

Ever-Expanding Skill Set

I didn’t take any photos, but I’ve made Eric Kim’s recipe for Sheet Pan Chicken several times.  I use a package of six boneless, skinless chicken thighs and find that the spice blend is enough for two dinners, so I reserve half in a small container to make the next preparation EVEN EASIER! On another sheet pan, I spread a mixture of vegetables (potatoes and carrots or broccoli and Brussels sprouts) that have been tossed in olive oil and sprinkled with salt. The chicken is great the first night and even better in the dishes I dream up over the course of the week: quesadillas, rice bowls, grain salads  . . . the list goes on.

This is my favorite recipe for pumpkin gnocchi.  I’ve used canned pumpkin, but I may try sweet potatoes in my next batch.  I say that this recipe is from Food52, but I found it on Recipe Tin Eats.  The ricotta makes these gnocchi pillowy soft and the dough is easy to handle.  One batch is enough for two dinners. I reserve half the gnocchi and put the remainder on a sheet pan to flash freeze and then bag for an easy meal.  I like these gnocchi with a creamy sauce., but the sage butter is also very good. There were some chicken-apple sausages in my freezer, which were perfect in the dish.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I’ve been infatuated with hand embroidery and dimensional appliqué on knitted fabric over the past week.  Now it’s time to get back to my knitting if I want to complete the Doocot during the month of November.

---

And Sew Forth

The series of photos below shows the details of my latest sewing project, the Haremere jacket, from Merchant & Mills’ Workbook. To date, this is the most complex pattern I have attempted.  I’m pleased with the results, and you can see by the photos that I’ve been wearing this jacket — a lot! For the most part, I found the directions clear and easy to follow.  The sleeve directions had me scratching my head though, and I’m not sure that I made them as directed; my sleeve does not look like those pictured in the book.  I made the size small, and it’s a very good fit through the body.  The length is perfect.  The sleeves are a bit short.  When I make this again I will extend the sleeves to the medium length.  I love the lined and roomy pockets, as well as the softened shaping throughout, plus little details like the loop to hang the jacket.

Here’s a shot of my Alabama Chanin style knit scarf in progress.

---

Off the Shelf

“The Problem” by Jane Hirschfield

I was introduced to a new word — quipu, which has been described as a textile version of an abacus, used by ancient Incas to record information and calculations, as they did not have a system of written language.  You can find out more here.

 

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The gift of a pattern and inspiration from a new book are just what I needed to revitalize my making this week.

---

The Back Porch

For the second time, I’ve completed the Lotta dress.  I’m much happier with the result after making a repair to correct color and extend the length of the dress.  First, is the “before” photo, taken in August.  Note the pink band at the hip and the tunic length.

After snipping into the dress below the part I wanted to remove, and unraveling, I knit 5″ of stockinette fabric, alternating skeins.  Then, I grafted the pieces together.

---

The Front Porch

I’ve begun knitting Kate Davies’ Doocot design, and hope to complete a dress  or perhaps tunic-length garment by the end of November. The yarn is dreamy Blacker Yarns Brushstroke in a plush purple color and the pattern was a surprise gift from thejasperpatch.

---

And Sew Forth

Progress on Haremere, a jacket design from Merchant & Mills.  I hope to complete the project this weekend.  I just love some of the details of this quarter-lined blazer: lined pockets, finishing details, and a loop to hang it up.

After collecting the materials for visible mending this summer, I did nothing on the project until paging through Katrina Rodabough’s Mending Matters. Since then, I’ve been making repairs and refining my technique. Though I had been familiar with the work via Rodabough’s IG feed and her interview on the Love to Sew podcast, I was missing the “how to” steps I needed to get going.  For those who are confident stitchers, this is a pretty book of quotes and pictures, but for the true beginner, it can be a useful guide.

---

Off the Shelf

“The Joins” by Chana Block mentions the Japanese art of kintsugi — repairing precious pottery with gold

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Success mending one garment gives me the courage to snip into another on this week’s episode.  I talk about new patterns in my queue, yarns I’m itching to knit with, and my adventures at NYS&W with Samuel. Mending is a theme, but I forgot to mention that I purchased Katrina Rodabaugh’s new book.

---

The Front Porch

• KnitSpinFarm‘s Targhee fingering in RAD-ish
• Hog Island poncho

Mending

• Humulus: add shaping and fabric to the neckline to bring it closer to the neck
• Lotta: snip into dress, unravel pink haze (2″), pick up all stitches, continue knitting (alternating skeins) for 5-6″ inches, graft sections of dress together

Upcoming Projects

• for Blacker Yarns Tor: Wood Hollow Hat & Mitts by Kirsten Kapur
• for Blacker Yarns Brushwork: Doocot by Kate Davies

Rhinebeck Haul

The World’s Cutest Sheep

• Martin & Joy Dally — Pacific Northwest Fibershed
• Capital Press article from March 2018
• Fiber from Shepherds Lane of Oregon, Joy Dally’s Etsy shop (soon to include Valais Blacknose fiber)

Off the Shelf

“Mending Time” by David Mason

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Lovage is complete and I absolutely adore it.  I’m so pleased with the fit and the clarity of the colorwork.  Hopefully Rhinebeck Weekend will be suitably chilly so I can wear this sweater all day long!

---

Humblebee Mitts Pattern Available! 

I hope this design for a quick and versatile pair of mitts inspires you to make an impulse purchase of farm yarn at a fiber festival.  I use the funds from pattern sales to cover the costs of this podcast, so your purchase helps to keep Yarns at Yin Hoo on the air.  This pattern has been tech edited and test knit; I’m so grateful for the work of Ellen, Marybeth, Holly, Rachel, and Amy. They are pictured here in Carole Foster’s Romney-Wensleydale X yarn, held double. You can find this yarn as well as Carole’s new Blyth yarn, in the Foster Sheep Farm booth, Building 31, at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival this weekend.  The sample mitts will be on display, and you can purchase the printed pattern.

---

Spring Session of Fleece to Finished Object scheduled at Hope’s Favorite Things in Richmond, PA

---

The Back Porch

Lovage, designed by Marie Wallin — knit with Jamieson & Smith Shetland Supreme and Shetland Jumper Weight yarns.  I made a variety of modifications to get the fit I wanted.

---

The Front Porch

Knitting an improvised texture pattern using Carole Foster’s Northumberland Sock yarn.  I just love the way this yarn knits up.  It’s plump and substantial, and Carole’s colors are a dream.

---

Ever-expanding Skill Set

Impossible Coconut Pie

Preheat oven 350.  Butter a 9″ pie dish.

In a blender, combine:

• 1 c. half and half
• 1 c. whole milk
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 6 tblsp. melted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 c. unsweetened coconut flakes

Blend on high speed for one minute to mix ingredients.  Pour into prepared pie dish. Sprinkle an additional 1/2 c. coconut into dish and add a liberal amount of freshly-grated nutmeg.

Bake for 55 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  This pie is best if cooled completely before serving.

The Pumpkin Bread I Can’t Stop Eating — that’s how to find the recipe on Food52’s website.  The genius ingredient is a grated apple in the batter! I cut the sugar to 1/2 cup, and added another few tablespoons cinnamon-sugar to the top of the loaf, along with a liberal sprinkling of pumpkin seeds.  The recipe calls for walnuts, but I didn’t have any on hand, so I substituted coconut chips. This is a moist and delicious bread that’s sure to please on a crisp fall day.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How yellow is too yellow when it comes to the colorwork in Marie Wallin’s Lovage sweater?  That’s what I’m trying to decide this week as I work my way up the yoke after attaching the sleeves to the body.

---

On the Porch

• Lovage by Marie Wallin

---

The Front Porch

• Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
• Arika Cowl by Jane Richmond

---

Off the Shelf

• No Makeup by Sharon Olds — this link includes an audio file of the poem read by the author

---

And Sew Forth

Here you see the completed Forager Vest, designed by SewLiberated.  Complete except for the little loop we added to hang it.  I’m also wearing my first Curlew Dress.  Mom and I made several modifications as we sewed this vest, including doubling up on the fabric for the yoke, and adding some fusible interfacing to the tops of the pockets. It’s a very utilitarian garment, but I found the pattern directions (text only) to be confusing for the beginning sewist.  I think some diagrams or photo tutorial, either in the magazine itself or online, would have been helpful.