Mystery pattern

The more I knit, the more I tend to notice patterns around me. There’ll be a woman’s scarf on the metro, or a pair of mitts, a child’s hat. There is so much inspiration out there, and at the same time so much to learn.

I did not have to look too far though, for the subject of this post. My adorable little niece received this stunning hand-knit dress, as a gift. I would love to be able to replicate this pattern, but I have had no luck identifying the type of stitch. For once, the internet has failed me!

So I am asking all of you knitters out there to help me figure out what this stitch is called.  Someone must know….

An early start to spring cleaning

I’ve been seriously knitting for a few years now, and I’ve of course accumulated a lot of yarn scraps. My knitting gear is stashed all over the house ( I dream of my own little corner one day), and it’s getting harder and harder to find what I need, or keep track of what I have. What better solution than a knitted one?

In Joelle Hoverson’s “More last-minute knitted gifts” I saw this super-simple pattern for a basket that is perfect for my needs. It took almost no time to whip it up, and I was impatient to finish it. So impatient that even though I did not have the correct size circular needles to finish the edge, I used a pair that was slightly too long, resulting in an edge that is not as tight as I’d like it to be. The finished basket, though not perfect, is very practical, so I immediately started working on one twice the size.

I’m going to have to make a few more of these baskets because there are numerous uses for them.

Happy Valentine's Day

I had this idea of knitting adorable little hearts in preparation for Valentine’s Day. I even thought it would be cute for A. to take them to daycare for his little girlfriends (yes, plural, not girlfriend, but girlfriends). But after about an hour of trying to knit 6 stitches with 4 needles and dropping them, retrying, twisting the whole thing, retrying, dropping the needles again, having a glass of wine, starting from scratch only to lose a needle again, I decided that baking is the way to go!

Maybe next year I will give it another try knitting hearts. I ended up finding some patterns that look promising. After all, it is important to know when to quit, right?

Since I am a food network addict, and a compulsive list-maker, I have a collection of recipes I am planning to try. It was not at all hard to narrow it down to a red-velvet cupcake recipe by Chuck Hughes, star of the show “Chuck’s Day off”.

Armed with new confidence and with the support of my 3-year old assistant baker I got to work.

The recipe is very simple, and it took us no time to make the batter. We watched with anticipation as the cupcakes began to rise.  Because I had naively ignored the instruction of only filling the cupcake mold half-way, my first batch, I must confess, looks more like a muffin than a cupcake, but thank heavens the taste did not suffer. I ended up redeeming myself with the second batch.

One cupcake had to cool off immediately in front of the open window so that my impatient son could sample it right away, and the verdict was in…..delicious!!!!

With some high-calorie frosting and red-colored sugar, here is the end-result.

In the end I think that A.’s girlfriends will probably prefer these Valentine’s Day gifts anyway.

The big inauguration

This is it! The moment has arrived when I officially “unveil” the shop. I’ve been postponing this moment, wanting everything to be perfect, but I have to admit, that I will never reach an instant when I consider things to be perfect enough.

I chose to begin with the items that have been most popular with my friends. I would have also liked to have more items “in stock” to begin with, but I have had no time to knit more (the downfall of having a full time job). So I will wait no longer, I will make no other excuses, I have opened the shop! It can be accessed through the link to the right of the page, or by going to

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Schatziknits

It’s very exciting and nerve-racking at the same time, so wish me luck. May this be the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Surprise

I had a wonderful surprise this week! Christine from Denmark has been following my blog and awarded me the below distinction!!

Words cannot describe how honored and thrilled I am to be acknowledged this way!  To know that other people, across the world, read my posts and enjoy them is very exciting. Of course I knew my friends all love my blog (how could they say otherwise ;-)?), but to know that other people, people I do not personally know, read my posts and appreciate them is awesome!

I was giddy and annoyingly happy all day.

So now it’s my turn to pay it forward and mention 3 inspiring blogs. I have to say it’s hard to narrow it down, so I decided to go with 3 knitting blogs I enjoy following immensely, they are FPK, a friend to knit with and Tricotaria.

Now here are 3 random facts about me:

#1. I just got a Kindle and loaded it with over 100 classics (when will I ever find the time to read all this?)

#2. I have registered for a kitting course @ Espace Tricot (I know, shocking, I am not all knowing.... at least not when it comes to knitting….)

#3. I am addicted to the Food Network.

Once again, Thank You Christine, you made my day!