Bláithín Sweater

My Bláithín sweater is coming right along.  I was able to get the provisional crochet cast-on easily mastered and on my needles.  I used a sock yarn for this as it would shed the least amount.  I did wonder if this crochet cast-on yarn should be the same gauge as my sweater yarn.  I went with the sock yarn as  it wouldn't shed, is very durable, as the only yarn in the same weight I was afraid might shed.

Provisional Crochet Cast-on in Opal Cotton Sock Yarn

Once I got the twisting out of the cast-on *****warning here you need to be patient with this step!   I am sailing along in circles for 17 inches.

I placed coil-less safety pins every 50 sts. so I only have to count this amount twice.   I casted on 214 sts. 6 sts are for the steek and 208 sts are for the body.

I am off to a good start.  I do place sts. markers for the front steek  and the side seam if there was to be a side seam.

My favorite yarn shoppe in Montana  Knit 'N Needle used one of my photos to show off some wonderful fall yarns.  I love the combination.  Today it is 43F here and I wish our snow was back pronto!

Cinnamon Rolls

I can not think of anything bad, or wrong about  cinnamon rolls !  I mean what is there not to love!  They smell wonderful, they taste great and the variety of cinnamon rolls out there in the world is endless. Sweden has a National Cinnamon Roll Day!

How can anyone not love a country that has a National Cinnamon Roll/Bun Day-----another reason to love Sweden in my books.  We even spent a whole summer bike touring around Sweden and Norway.  We were lucky to go back to Norway and ski one winter.  The Scandinavian part of the world is one of my favorite in the world.  No only is the land stunning, the people pleasant, but lets face it this culture can BAKE and let me add KNIT!  Back on topic . . .

Christian is our in house cinnamon roll baker and he makes my favorite rolls.  I am not a frosting fan but rather love the chewy brown sugar and nut topping, raisins, and abundance of cinnamon these rolls have----YUMMY! Below you will find Christian's Cinnamon Roll recipe that many people have asked for----pull out the floor, rollup your sleeves and bake away!

Brazil Nut/Walnut/Pecan Cinnamon Rolls clp2013
Enough for 12+ or so medium sized rolls on single med-large baking sheet. 
tsp = teaspoon; T = Tablespoon
MAKING DOUGH

2 pkg. (1⁄4 oz.) rapid rise yeast (~ 1 rounded T of yeast)

1T honey

1 T Brown or White Sugar 

2 tsp. salt

  2 cups lukewarm water

(warm to inside of wrist)
(Use extra 1⁄4 cup if high elevation, 4000+m)

 
Mix yeast/honey/salt/sugar/water stock
& let all stand for 5-10 min. until foamy in a large bowl/pot. Stir a bit to break/mix yeast clumps. (Important to read ahead)
Add 5+ cups of sifted flour in portions.
Mix flour by wooden spoon, then by hand till not sticky, scrape bowl sides. Knead in same bowl or surface till firm & elastic with a bit sticky & satiny texture &bit of a moisture feeling on surface. (~5 min)
Transfer to new bowl, sprinkle 1 T of olive oil over the dough and spin/flip/roll in bowl to coat evenly. Let rest/rise till ~ double in size in warm place with damp cloth covering for 20+ min, then punch down, then let re-rise 10+ min or longer & use.
You can use the dough immediately if you can’t wait, for it will rise ok as you prep & bake.
MAKING TWO TOPPINGS
1) Cinnamon/Sugar Mix to sprinkle on rolled dough
Mix in small bowl, 1⁄2 cup white sugar + 1-2 T Cinnamon as you like. Set aside.
2) Cinnamon/Brown Sugar/Nut Topping to place beneath each roll (prepare as rising)
In med. pan, heat 1⁄2 cup butter, 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, 1⁄2 cup white sugar, 1-2 T cinnamon to taste, handful of Brasil nuts, walnuts, or pecans chopped. Stir until well mixed. DO NOT caramelize! Use low heat.
ROLL THE DOUGH
Roll out until 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch thick rectangle (~2–3x as long as wide) on a clean surface.
Coat rolled dough lightly with olive oil.
Sprinkle Cinnamon/Sugar Mix evenly over rolled surface. Spread by hand & leave far edge clear. Drop bits of 4–6 T of Cinnamon/Brown Sugar/Nut Topping about the surface (keep rest for topping). ALTERNATIVE Additions: Add sprinkle of raisins, craisins, or etc. if desired.
Now roll up on long side and seal when done on far edge with light pressure & “patch” if needed. Cut roll in half, then half again, & finally each into 3rds. Place 2-3 inch thick slices on oiled cookie sheet to give 12 rolls equally spaced.
BAKING
Coat baking sheet with generous layer of olive oil. Lay 1/12th of cinnamon/brown sugar/nut topping under equally spaced location of each roll (3x4 spacing). Place rolls on topping & lightly pat.
Dribble olive oil on top & lightly pat oil even.
Bake @ 375o F (~190oC) for 20-25 minutes (depends upon stove! Watch! Check @20 min.)
Swap ends at midpoint in time for equalized baking if needed.
Remove, cool for a minute, flip sheet onto another larger baking sheet to invert rolls before sticking. Scrape residual topping with wooden spoon and quickly place evenly on needy rolls
Share the cinnamon wealth, & Enjoy a few!
You can freeze cooked rolls paired, wrapped in foil & saran wrap in zip-lock bags. Just thaw in fridge and reheat 15 min. @350oF for “fresh” cinnamon effused morning.

Page 1 of 1 Cinnamon Rolls.docx Last printed 10/7/13 8:58 PM 

Casting On: Bláithín by Kate Davies

Kate Davies is one of my favorite designers in the knitting world today.  (I also love Kate's blog, writing/research and photos!)  Over a year ago she designed and published this pattern: Bláithín.  I instantly fell in love with the design and the techniques she used in this sweater.  Typical of me, I was quick to purchase the pattern, then I bought my yarn at my favorite local Montana Yarn shoppe: Knit n' Needle.  The yarn I picked for this sweater is New England Highland from Harrisville Design.  I love 100% wool, I love real traditional yarn, and I love supporting long standing wool companies. (Oh don't get me wrong I will purchase wool from more recent start up companies as well but I am a traditionalist when it comes to my yarn.)

New England Highland Yarn from Harrisville Design.

Typical of me I have not started this project yet.  I have of coursed knitted several pairs of socks, mittens, hats, finished a few sweaters, some smaller fletted projects, and bought more yarn for a Fair Isle vest as well . . . I just can not knit one project at a time, just like I can not read one book at a time.

I did knit up a swatch and I am spot on for the gauge--yahoo!  4.5 sts per inch.  I tend to like a nice dense knit but this swatch gives a lighter fabric.  I am happy with the feel of the swatch and I will be casting on today.  I first need to figure out the amount of sts. as I don't ever follow a pattern exactly as written.  I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Zimmermann and Elizabeth Percentage System (EPS) to find out more please visit Schoolhouse Press. This design also has a bit of a flare at the bottom and some shaping.  I will not follow this part of the sweater, nor will I add any pockets, other than that I will be following the techniques Kate has incorporated in her design.

Bláithín swatch which is actually a true navy blue.

Mystery Series by Ann Cleeves

I recently discovered author Ann Cleeves and just devoured her Shetland Quartet series.  I enjoyed the first and second book.  By her third book there was a great leap forward in Ms. Cleeves writing.  I found it difficult to figure out who the murderer was in each book.  Ms. Cleeves kept me guessing right up to the end of each book.  By the fourth book in the series Ms. Cleeves has become a sophisticated mystery writer and I highly recommend her books.

If you are a knitter you will find bits and pieces of fiber related content knitted into the fabric of her writing.  I enjoyed these bits of Shetland knitting history.

I enjoyed all four books in the Shetland Quartet.  My favorites were the last two: Red Bones and Blue Lighting.  I highly recommend reading them all in order.

Shopping and Shipping Food for Rural Alaska

I can actually write a lot about this topic but I won't!  Let me just say that once a year we buy much of the food (dry goods) we will need for the school year while we are in Anchorage.  We head to Costco and drop between $1,500 to $1,800 every August.  Then we come back to the hotel and pack all of this food into totes, zip tie the totes, haul totes to the post office, and mail them to ourselves.  This is a very normal thing to do here in Alaska.  It is exhausting, and challenging.  I am not a shopper and one needs to be ready to mount the yearly Costco shopping assault.  We do order meat that is shipped out to us, and organic produce which is shipped to us weekly from Full Circle Farms.

The joys of shipping food.

COFFEE as in Expresso!

I am on a bit of a roll here this a.m. with the blog.  One thing I love about blogging is it is jut fun to write and to share a bit of my world which is not always in order! (Bear with me.)  I know I have a lot of people checking in to read this blog which is great.  So let me just say that many of the post I am posting today is cleaning up the "To Do List" I have for the blog.

I love coffee and tea!  I am a picky coffee drinker!  I want good coffee and prefer organic med-dark roast and some dark roast coffees.  The Unalakleet Nordic Ski Program sells coffee from Grounds For Change as a fund raiser. From each large box of coffee we sell we are able to purchase either a pair of skis and bindings or race boots and poles.  This company is wonderful to work with and has a great product!

After visiting my friend WoolnWords this summer I decided once back in Alaska I needed a small expresso maker.  I did in fact order a small one!  I mean small not thinking European Expresso it is a truly a 1 cup expresso maker. Being the American I am, I realized I needed to order a larger expresso maker, so I could have my America size cup or coffee.  WoolnWords went to Italy last year and this is why she is the expert on Italian Expresso in my books.  So off to Amazon I went!  I ordered this VEV expresso maker which is stainless steal as our house hold is funny about using stainless steal and frother.  The Aerolatte Milk Frother works like a charm! Below you can see my first cappuccino--oh so yummy!  I also use decaf coffee in the afternoon and evening or I will be up all night!  I am sure some of you think decaf is sacrilegious, but for me I enjoy the flavor and process of a nice cappuccino late in the day or after dinner.

That hot pad was knitted from Malabrigo left overs and then felted in the washer.

I also ordered a 4 cup expresso maker last night.  I hope the 4 cup works as great as my 1 cup VEV expresso make!

ChurchMouse Classics Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf: Update

I just love knitting this scarf! Koigu yarn is just a delight to work with, because of its wonderful bright colors.  To me, it is like knitting a flower box that is overflowing with blossoms. This scarf is making progress and I am just at 3 inches in width and will knit until it is about 5 inches wide.  You cast-on 450 sts. so knitting one row is a good accomplishment.   This older post will give you more detail on the scarf just scroll down a bit.  This pattern and yarn can be purchased at: http://www.churchmouseyarns.com/

Don't you just love how the linen stitch makes knitting look like a woven piece of textile!

Smoking Salmon & Tundra Walk

Fall has certainly arrived here in Unalakleet.  When you live this far north (63.8789° N, 160.7897° W) seasons are all just off a bit.  In late August, the tundra starts to change colors ever so slightly.  Then all of a sudden the final burst of colors arrive before we move onto the the browns and then the world of white. Just a few more photos of fall.

Yesterday in between smoking salmon we were able to get out for a nice walk on the tundra.

Salmon getting ready to head into the smoker.  This batch was smoked with cherry wood, and then a Fiery Chile Fusion from The Spice Hunter. 

We use a Bradley Smoker for our salmon. We have also smoked cheese which has come out wonderful.

Colors from the tundra:

The village of Unalakleet sits on Norton Sound.  It is a large village of about 725 people.  Which may seem small to the outside world, but this is a good size rural Alaska village.

Sadie enjoying her tundra run looking east into the hills.

"The Girls" and I on the tundra we love so much!

Fall on the Tundra

Winter is my favorite season with fall a very close second in the season line up.  I love the cool crisp air, the deep blue sky, and here in Alaska the changing colors on the tundra.  After living overseas for many years, all I wanted was to be back with FOUR real seasons.  I longed to see the trees change colors!  Once in Alaska, I realized fall is a completely different beast.  The trees turn color but the real colors are on the tundra.  We live pretty far north which means fall is happening now!

Blueberries!  This year the berries have been fabulous!  This photo is from a week ago while things were still green.

Looking down at Unalakleet, Norton Sound, and the Unalakleet River.  The hills are staring to turn yellowish-gold to brown.

This is fall on the tundra!  Look at these colors! Berries and plants changing colors that rival any maple in my books!

I am not sure what this red plant is called.  I really need to learn its name!  Lichen in the back ground with a bit of Ayu.

I Use Creative Juices at ETSY

I have a long time friend who is an amazing artist!  She studied years ago at New York City School of Fine Arts.  She is a photographer, painter, knitter, needle felter, seamstress, well her talents run deep and her etsy shop I Use Creative Juices really sums up her talents.  Theresa does sell her items at the local Farmers Market in Whitefish, Montana.  She also has her online Etsy shop as well.  If you are looking for some unusual gifts for some one or something different for yourself have a look and I am sure you will be impressed!

Below you will see a bag she needled felted for lucky ME!  Theresa was able to put so many aspects of what I love to do into this needle felted bag---really amazing.  Snow on pine trees, northern lights in the sky, skiers, mittens in blue my favorite color with dog paw prints for our two dogs, and the orange parts are a ski hat and tassel.

Close up of the needle felted art work---it is just like a painting!

Bag fits perfect and this is my school bag.  It is holding up great!

The well finished inside has of course paw print material!