Monday 20 October 2008

Bitten by the Knitting Bug

I was well and truly caught up in the euphoria of knitting myself a cardigan that I volunteered to knit Em a shrug / bolero to wear with her lovely dress. I managed to find the perfect colour match yarn. I have knitted the back, both fronts and one sleeve but now I have stopped as I have upset a muscle in my right shoulder blade. I am hoping that with rest it will be better by the weekend as we are on half term holiday. Ouch!
I hope you have a good week. Jane x

Tuesday 7 October 2008

A Heap of Warm Woollyness

Encouraged by my wonderful blogging friends to have a go at knitting a cardigan or jumper, I decided to frog a shawl that I had lost heart in and use the yarn to make a cardigan. I looked at Knitty and found some lovely cardigans, further exploration of the web turned up Knitting Plus with lots of patterns for the larger person. I finally decided on a Sirdar pattern I had used before. So far all is going well but there hasn't been much blogging going on. I just need to finish the sleeve and then the border/collar and I'll be back. Writers block struck and no more thoughts bubbled to the surface!
Finally Saturday evening blogging mojo crept back. Emily was making some biscuits at school on Friday morning, she did her usual substitue of dairy-free ingredients and made some delicious Apricot and Cherry Stars which fortunately I photographed before they all disappeared.














The recipe for Apricot and Cherry Stars, courtesy of school:

100g Vitalite or dairy free margarine,
50g Caster Sugar,
150g Plain Flour.
7 Apricots.
7 Cherries.

Method:
1. Oven temperature Gas no5 or 190 Celsius
2. Flour the baking tray lightly.
3. In a bowl cream the sugar and margarine until pale and fluffy
4. Add the chopped apricots and cherries.
5. Fold in the flour gently
6. Ease the mixture together into a ball using your fingers.
7. Knead the ball of dough lightly on work surface
8. Roll out the dough and cut out biscuits using a star shaped cutter.
9. Bake biscuits for 10 -15 minutes until golden brown.

I have also finished my cardigan and I love it. I used chunky wool - Magnum Chunky Acrylic / Wool mix by King Cole. I think the next one I make, I shall shorten the sleeves a little but otherwise I am very pleased with it and it only took me two weeks.