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In this episode, I talk about past, present and future makes, including the Seabright Swimmer from Friday Pattern Co.  I also share the cake recipe I’ve been baking nonstop, and a poem from Cornelius Eady.

Thank you for your purchase of my recent sock design — Taking Back the River.  I appreciate your purchase, which supports this podcast.  This pattern has tiered pricing so you can purchase the pattern at the price that is right for you.

• RAVELRY LINK: Taking Back the River
• If you would like to purchase the pattern via PayPal, you can also take advantage of tiered pricing.  Send me an email: design@yarnsatyinhoo.com

Matt of Birch Hollow Fibers has worked to design a stitch marker set to reflect the themes and motifs of my pattern collection.  I just received my set in the mail and they are so cool.  You can see which motif coordinates with the socks.  I wonder what motif will be featured in the next design — coming September 20!

WWRWTW stitch marker set

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PAST, CURRENT & FUTURE KNITTING

I finished the knitting of some perfectly-matching socks and sent them off to my sister.  RAVELRY LINK: matchy socks

This Rift Tee is knitting up so nicely in my 3-ply handspun.  I’m just loving the knitting.  Since I only have 550 yards, I knit the twisted rib split hem with some commercially-spun black sport yarn to stretch my yardage. I’m also using the helical knitting technique as explained by Grace O’Neill.  RAVELRY LINK: handspun rift

In my queue:

• Marklee designed by Elizabeth Doherty RAVELRY LINK: marklee
• Tokonatsu Pullover designed by Beatrice Lim RAVELRY LINK: tokonatsu

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#powerpantry

The one-bowl vanilla cake I can’t stop making is Jami Curl’s recipe, featured on Food52’s Genius Recipes.  It’s moist, dense, and soooo easy to stir together and bake. LOVE!

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Off the Shelf

This week, I read “What Do You Call” by Cornelius Eady.  You can follow this link to hear Eady read his poem.  I also recommend his collection Brutal Imagination.

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And Sew Forth

Aren’t these Sheep Lovies adorable?  The sleepy one has some lavender mixed in with the wool stuffing.  I enjoyed doing the hand-embroidery.  I did not enjoy sewing this plush fabric, but after making a few, I developed some techniques to make things easier: 1) After cutting the plush pieces, I took them outside and shook like mad to release all the loose fluff. 2) I used quilting clips instead of pins to hold pieces together 3) The zigzag stitch on my machine helped to grab more of the fabric and create a secure seam.  If the fluff factor did not make these things so DARNED cute, I would not have come this far. From the REVIVE issue of Taproot magazine.

Here are a few of the pages for the moon phase cloth book from the GRAIN issue of Taproot magazine.  I did not feel confident about the free motion machine sewing techniques recommended in the directions, so I’m turning this into a hand stitching project.

The Seabright Swimmer by Friday Pattern Co is a great first swimsuit pattern because it is straightforward and the Creativebug tutorial walks you through every step.  I’m very pleased with mine, and would make it again, adding another inch of length to the torso. I’m very proud of my decision to mix the directions of the stripes.  I love the plunging neckline, and find it very secure when I move around so I did not add any ties.

 

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In this episode I share the inspiration and creation of my most recent knitting design — the first in a collection inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves — that will be released over the course of this year.

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Take advantage of tiered pricing on Ravelry when you purchase the Taking Back the River sock pattern.

The prototype pair is knit in Carole Foster’s Foster Sheep Farm Northumberland yarn — one of my absolute favorite sock yarns.  Shop for FSF yarns online.

My second pair of socks is knit in Sojourner Sock, spun at Battenkill Fiber Mill and dyed by Robin of Birch Hollow Fibers.  Check out all of Robin’s bases, inspiring colors, and clubs by visiting her shop.

I collaborated with Matt Guy, who worked to incorporate design motifs into a stitch marker set that corresponds to the patterns in this collection.  You can order your stitch markers on the Birch Hollow Fibers website.

 

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ANAPHORA & MUHAMMARA

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The Back Porch

• Rift by Jaqueline Cieslak in Green Mountain Spinnery Cotton Comfort

• sock darning (woven patch technique) by Bristol Ivy from Making Magazine No. 5  COLOR

#powerpantry

Muhammara  from Arabic meaning “something red” 

Special thanks to Selma for introducing me to this dish and sharing her recipe.

• Joumana Accad of Taste of Beirut shares her Lebanese version of the dish in this VIDEO, which I initially watched to get a handle on the pronunciation
• Ottolenghi’s recipe, which uses breadcrumbs instead of walnuts
• Healthy Nibble’s recipe gave me the idea to use a spoon of ketchup in my version to boost the sweetness and umami

Muhammara (#powerpantry version)

Makes about 2 cups

• 2 red (orange or yellow) bell peppers (seeds and stems removed), roasted and peeled
• 1/2 c. sunflower seeds, toasted in a cast iron skillet
• 1/4 c. walnuts, toasted in a cast iron skillet
• 1 clove garlic
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tblsp. molasses / balsamic vinegar / sorghum syrup
• 1 tblsp. organic ketchup
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
• salt to taste
• olive oil

Add all ingredients to a food processor, and blend to desired consistency, adding olive oil if needed.

I coat my peppers with salt and olive oil before roasting, so I found I added very little olive oil when blending.

Soaking sunflower seeds overnight may help improve the texture, but then I think it would be difficult to toast them.

This dip keeps nicely for up to  a week in the refrigerator.

Off the Shelf

When I read Walker’s poem ,”For My People,” on the Poetry Foundation website, and saw the image of POETRY magazine’s November 1937 issue in the margin, I though it must be a mistake.  Walker’s language, and her choices concerning punctuation, the driving urgency of the stanzas as they build — all result in a poem that seems as though it has been recently composed.  I think it is a remark about the current era of protests and demands for reform that a poem written in 1937 could resonate still-relevant themes concerning brutality, incarceration, inequality, and iniquity.

• “For My People” by Margaret Walker, first published in the November 1937 issue of POETRY magazine
• Poetry Foundation biography of Margaret Walker
• I Remember by Joe Brainard

Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem

• short video featuring Lara on the foreshore
• a TEDx video featuring Lara and some of her finds
• a Google Talks video where Lara takes questions from the audience
• a cool travel article about Mudlarking

 

 

 

 

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The Back Porch

• short socks knit in It’s a Chard Sock Life from KnitSpinFarm

The Front Porch

Taking Back the River, a pattern for toe-up socks, is currently being test knit and will be published on June 20th.  It is the first of a four-pattern collection that will be released in the coming year.  All designs are inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves.  Follow #wwrwtwcollection and #takingbacktheriversocks on IG.

• Taking Back the River test knit in Sojourner Sock from Birch Hollow Fibers
• Rift Tee by Jacqueline Cieslak in Green Mountain Spinnery’s Cotton Comfort
• Bressay by Marie Wallin in MW British Breeds

#powerpantry

• Coconut Custard Macaroons

And Sew Forth

• tutorial for mask sewn with knit fabric
• #mmmay inspiration: Jennifer W (weboughtamanor on IG)
• follow #mostlyhandmadewardrobe on IG

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Test Knitters Wanted!

I have completed a draft for a toe-up sock pattern, the first in a four-pattern collection that takes its inspiration from Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves.  I need test knitters for 56, 64, and 72 stitch circumference socks in solid or tonal yarn. You will have approximately one month from issue of draft pattern to complete at least one sock.  Contact me via IG or Ravelry, indicating your preferred size.

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The Back Porch

Combo spin: 616 yds. 2-ply (singles spun on Turkish spindles; plied on Louët S10DT

The Front Porch

• It’s a Chard Sock Life on Targhee sock from Knit Spin Farm.  I love this yarn!  Working to get at least two pair of shortie socks that will be gifts for my mother and sister.
• Bressay by Marie Wallin will be on the needles this weekend.

#powerpantry

• Wild Rice Pancakes from The New Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook
• Rhubarb Gin Fizz
• Rhubarb Ginger Upside Down Oatmeal Cake 
• Creamy Asparagus, Lemon and Walnut Pasta

Off the Shelf

• “Topsy Turvey World” lyrics by William Brighty Rands (1823-82), featured on Natalie Merchant’s Leave Your Sleep

CLAP HANDS VIDEO PREMIER

Wednesday, May 6th @ 8 pm EST — receive link after making a donation to benefit Roy’s Hall in Blairstown, New Jersey

 

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It’s all about the small pleasures this episode.  A knitting project went bust, but I’m so enjoying my Moonrise pendant and some new spinning fiber.  Also in this episode: crackers, potted herbs and vegetables, what’s on my nightstand and looking forward to rhubarb!

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The Back Porch

Moonrise pendant (pattern by tiny owl knits)

There are now about 5x more beads added to the fringe!

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The Front Porch

Meditative spindling with new fiber for my Turtlemade turkish spindle: Rose Quartz rolags from Green Goat Ranch

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#powerpantry

• Za’atar spiced Chickpea Crackers
• Baked Ricotta with Spice-Poached Rhubarb

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Off the Shelf

• This Golden Fleece by Esther Rutter
• Curlew Moon by Mary Colwell
• Stefania Gomez’ poem about Swifts on Birdnote
• PoetryFoundation: How to Read a Poem by Edward Hirsch
• “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón