Why I knit sweaters

I don't like to shop - I would rather knit. Most of the time I know what I like and what makes me comfortable. This baby doll type knitted sweater I just finished knitting. It was knit in the round on circular needles and it is mercerized cotton. I followed a worn out factory made sweater for my pattern - which is another reason why I knit. I like my clothes to last and when something happens and a sleeve frays or I get a hole I like to be able to fix it. Is it possible to mend a garment too much?

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A knitted flower garden

I'm knitting flowers and even though I've done this before I am so enchanted. An excellent reference book on this is written by Nicky Epstein and it is called Knitted Flowers. These flowers are found on page 84, however there is an error in the book. If you want a five petalled small flower like the one in the book you will need 31 stitches and for a five petal medium sized flower you will need 46 stitches. These are very simple. All you need to know is a cast on, knit stitch, and a cast off. My five year old who knows the knit stitch and just finished her first scarf is now knitting a flower while practicing her cast off. Changing your needles will also give different effects. A smaller needle makes the petals more defined. Knitted or real - all flowers make me smile. Sent from my iPhone

A rug

I needed a rug for my sitting room and I wanted one that would last a very long time. I put on a warp and using recycled cotton I wove a rug. When I was finished it measured 48" x 72". This size I should still be able to wrestle into my laundry sink and scrub it on my washboard before hanging it up on some metal fencing - just like I do with my other smaller rugs every spring.

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The friendship of flowers

Time spent with reemerging flowers is like spending time with old friends. A long friendship outlasts the changes that time bring's to one another's lives. It is a joy to be in each other's presence. Primroses have graced the fringes of the shaded pathways in my yard for years. The blooms come early and they last a long time. Now that they are finally gone I know that early spring is past yet memories of the beauty of their friendship continue to warm my heart. The time spent amongst them is well spent. They remind me that so much of the richness of this life comes in the process of connection. The forget-me-nots are blooming now along the pathway amongst the fading primroses and I linger with these carefree flowers whose little faces remind me of the coming summer skies of blue.

The beauty of oatmeal

Oatmeal flour is easy to make and much more nutritious for you than either white or whole wheat flour. I make mine in an ordinary blender. I put in a cup or two of rolled oats and grind for approx. 30 seconds. I have been experimenting using it in cookie recipes as a flour substitute but the day I tried it in pancakes - I knew I had found something simply glorious. Here it is: 1 1/2 cups oatmeal; 1 Tablespoon whole flax seeds; 2 Tablespoons cashews ( I make mine slightly rounded) 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 cup of water; 2 Tablespoons honey; Put the oatmeal, cashews and flax seeds in the blender and grind until it is a coarse flour. Pour it into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Allow it to sit and thicken while your frying pan or griddle gets hot. Enjoy!

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