Scratching the Knitting Itch

Because they’re pretty. My endpaper mitts don’t match – one is in Silver lining and Chelsea, the other in Silver Lining and Kowhai. They’re a tad small for me so will probably just be used as samples. I love how Silver Lining complements each colour, and the single colour stitches bring out the slight changes in tone.


For those who think fair isle is tricky – it really isn’t. It’s all about finding how to hold two colours that is comfortable for you. I started out with a colour in each hand, but couldn’t quite get the rhythm down. Holding both in one hand, with silver lining held normally, and the second colour sitting just below it to be picked up when needed, worked for me. The good thing with the Endpaper Mitts pattern is that you don’t need to worry too much about twisting at the back to carry a colour across, so it’s a good project to learn on. 


And it’s pretty. 


Did I mention it’s pretty?

As Cafe Chick asked in the previous Cinque Terre post, ‘What does it look like?’


Well, here is my Jekyll and Hyde in Cinque Terre:

It’s a pretty full-on colour, which is why Jekyll and Hyde was kind of the perfect pattern – i’m in two minds about this colour way. Somedays I love it, the way the pinks, blues, yellows, greens mingle with each other. Somedays, I find it much less appealing. Check out the heel and how the colours match up, compared with in the pattern stitch how it gets all mushed together. 


If I were to knit with it again, I’d probably go for a less ‘busy’ stitch. But hey, i’m still pretty pleased with how it turned out. For today, anyway.

A few days ago there was a shop update (yes, i’m a little tardy in blogging it).


There are some scrumptious new colours, my faves being Beauregarde (as in, ‘You’re turning violet, Violet!’), and Harvey Wallbanger.

Dyeing new colours has got to be one of my favourite things about this wool business. I’m already plotting more – it simply never ends. But I’m curious – do you prefer more, or less choice when it comes to colours? Are there any colours you are lusting after in sock weight but I haven’t dyed it yet? Let me know!

After many attempts to both be free on one evening, Genny and I finally managed to have a bit of a chin-wag about all things knit graffiti, hand dyed and fibre arty.

I was determined that I would not listen to it, as I was certain i’d said the same thing over and over again.

Seeing as I had a lazy Sunday afternoon ahead of me, armed with laptop, knitting and a dash of apprehension, listened to my interview. It wasn’t so bad as expected, and the interview itself was more like a chat with a new friend about shared passions.

Crafternoon Tea with Granny G can be downloaded (for free!) through iTunes or through her website. It really is worth tuning in each week, each interviewee is so fascinating and Genny is rather inspiring herself. There is something rather mesmerising about Genny’s voice, so it’s not hard to get lost in her podcast and suddenly realise several hours have disappeared.

 So grab a cuppa, your knitting and a quiet corner, and enjoy.

Last night a friend hosted a bit of a get together for dinner, and I was put in charge of pudding.

As a result of the dinner, and the following escapades, today has been a rather slow and lazy Sunday.

So, here is the recipe for the most fantastically rich brownies ever (and they can be gluten free – just switch for GF flour)

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups sugar (I only used 1 3/4, but i’ve heard they’re fine with only 1 cup too)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
4 eggs
225g butter, softened

Sift together all the dry ingredients in one bowl, and mix together all the wet ingredients in another. Make a well in the centre of the dry, add the wet, and mix until combined.

Bake at 180 degrees celsius for about 25 minutes. Yum!