They are both bigger on the inside!

Much thanks to AmericanWitch for the pattern, and to Whysp80 for the brilliant idea to use printable fabric for the signage.  I never even knew such a thing existed!

I’ll probably pull off the white sign and sew it back on with white thread, when I remember to buy some.  It’s my third finished project of the year, and y’all know it’s good to be three.

The yarn I bought for my test run of Equation came today, but it’s significantly finer than the Anzula Cricket, so there might be a slight delay.  I have forty bucks left from the sale of my iPod, so I’ll try to make it to The Yarnery tomorrow to see what I can find there.  Will keep you posted.

Writing that last entry, I realized that I don’t have any specific knitting goals for this year.  The twelve-socks-in-one-year thing kind of sucked the joy out of every sock after the fourth pair, and I don’t want anything like that to happen again.  Knitting is a huge source of joy for me, so I’m against anything that interferes with that.  I would like to write some patterns, though.

I designed this cowl:

I’m calling it Equation, because the stitch pattern reminds me of equals signs and parentheses.  I made it all up on my lonesome (though I’m sure the stitch pattern is in some stitch dictionary somewhere; figuring it out it only took me an hour or so with the graph paper).  Michael has appropriated the one in the picture, but that’s okay; I need to knit a second one before I “publish” the pattern, anyway.  If anyone is interested in testing the pattern for me, let me know; I should have it written up before the end of the week.  I’d be happy to credit you on the final document.

I used a skein of Anzula Cricket, a sportweight 80/10/10 merino/cashmere/nylon blend that I can’t seem to find for purchase anywhere else; I found several analouges on Ravelry, though, and bought a destash skein of Sanguine Gryphon Bugga! for my second knit-through.

I have an uncertain relationship with the concept of creativity as it relates to knitting.  On the one hand, following someone else’s pattern could be likened to paint-by-numbers; each iteration of that project will have its own differences, but it’s hard to claim that you’re contributing something unique to the world when there are eighteen thousand other things made from the same pattern out there. (Not exaggerating.  Clapotis: 18,840 projects)  On the other hand, each piece that comes off of someone’s needles has added to the sum total of beauty in the world (or just to the silliness, which is important, too).  Uniqueness shouldn’t be the ultimate measure of an objects worth.  It’s complicated.

Have I ever mentioned to you that I love Ravelry?  It connected me with virtually all of my friends, it hooks me up with all kinds of advice and information, and it gives me a place to keep track of every detail of each project I work on.  I’m sure I’d forget to photograph half of what I make if I didn’t have putting-it-in-my-Rav-notebook to look forward to.

I knit twenty-six things last year!  I’m pretty impressed with myself, considering that amongst a collection of smaller things, I finished a coat, a sweater, two lace shawls, and twelve pairs of socks.  Five months had only one FO each, nothing at all was finished in August, then nine things in December alone.  We aren’t including hexipuffs here – I’ve knit 43 of those so far, and gave away four to small, deserving humans.

Let’s just tackle this in sequence, shall we?

My first piece of the year was Graphic by Melissa Morgan-Oakes with Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids in an unnamed acid green.

They went to my friend Rain in return for her overdyeing dying a huge batch of yarn for me.

I love the color, and they’re comfy and warm, though I’ve still not figured out how to get socks to stay up on my Epic Calves.

3. Evenstar Swatch with Neighborhood Fiber Co. Penthouse Silk Lace in an unnamed bubblegum pink.

Knit to check size and material of the needles for my Evenstar.

4. Windowpane Coat by Deborah Newton with Malabrigo Yarn Chunky in “Olive.”

Still love this hard, though I have yet to get the crochet chain across the back of the neck tight enough.

5. Temperance by Liz Abinante with Colinette Jitterbug in “Bilberry.”

I knit these for Rachel, and they were easily my favorite pair of the year.

6.  Trilobite Socks by Wendy D. Johnson with alfabette zoope Superwash Merino/Nylon in “Fall For Me.”

Didn’t hate knitting them, Michael likes ‘em. Happy Birthday.

7. Saroyan by Liz Abinante with Wool Candy Meringue Merino Sock in “Moss Rock.”

Mixed feelings on this one.  Both fun and frustrating to knit, because I never could memorize the leaf pattern.  Both the garter edge and the leaf edge insist on folding over, and the yarn knit up more camo than I had in mind.  And I knit it at too tight a gauge.  Blah.  It’s good for tying around my face in cold wind, at least.

8. Kore Socks with Plymouth Yarn Worsted Merino Superwash in an unnamed purple.

I made these up with the intention of writing a pattern for them, but I didn’t like them enough to bother when I was done.  The yarn doesn’t have enough springback for socks, and the transition to the ribbing is awkward.

9. Evenstar Swatch by Susan Pandorf with Neighborhood Fiber Co. Penthouse Silk Lace in that bubblegum pink again.

Testing out 3/7 stitch options, and itching to start my Evenstar.

10. Hypnosis by Janel Laidman with Lotus Yarns Nirvana in “A Thousand Hours.”

Two unhappy pairs in a row.  Such unfortunate colors to stripe together; if the whole thing had combined like the toes – hell, never mind, this was a terrible choice of yarn for this pattern, anyway.  The yarn and I conspired in this failure, I fully admit.  I’m kind of ashamed that I gave them to Michelle for her birthday, but she seemed to like them.

11. Plain sock with Black Bunny Fibers Canadian Luxury Sock in “Tortoiseshell.”

Third unhappy sock.  The most okay of the disappointments, I suppose, but the fabric feels silky and scratchy at the same time and it’s just not a lot of fun.

12. Baudelaire by Cookie A. with Dream in Color Smooshy in “Shiny Moss.”

First finished knit in the new apartment, and pretty great.  Still can’t get socks to stay up on my calves, but that’s not their fault.  Maybe I need some sock garters…

13. Haruni by Emily Ross with Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin in “Tandoori Masala.”

The last three rows and the bind off were in the leftovers from Michael’s orange socks.  Luckily, it looks on-purpose, so I entirely deny all accusations of my running out of Wollmeise.

14. Evenstar Shawl by Susan Pandorf with The Unique Sheep Marici in a Custom Gradience.

I’m still crazy-proud of this.  It lives in a box so that it stays in good condition; Michael convinced me to enter it in the Minnesota State Fair this summer, so it needs to be pristine.

15. Kimono Slippers by niftyknitting with Plymouth Yarn Outback Wool in a variegated orange.

Probably the low point of my twelve sock challenge.  Hand-felting is not my favorite thing, and the ankle is weirdly tight on one, while the other has an extra-pointy toe…suffice it to say, I bought a pair of slippers off of Zappos the day after this picture was taken.

16. Mojo by Donyale Grant with Regia Silk 4-ply in grey.

The pattern is fun and fast, the yarn feels great.  I’m still having a terrible time getting a sock circumference I like.  Either they end up too loose after the first wearing, or they’re too tight to get over my heel, gusset be damned.  Maybe my loyalty to toe-up has been misplaced…

17. Improvised armwarmers with Cascade Yarns 220 Sport in green and white held double.

Every year, I swear I’m never knitting anything for my mother ever again.  She asked for these specifically, with a picture from a catalog.  I decided that cheap yarn + like four hours of knitting = less guilt in my life.  Best of all, I won’t be close enough to see them laying in a pile outside, or being chewed on by the dog.

18. Alias The Big Yellow with Frog Tree Pediboo in “Sunshine.”

I can’t post a shot of the finished project yet; Bex says the pattern is going to be published in the Spring edition of Knitty, and those patterns have first right to the photos.  I generally wear my clothing more fitted, but I did some fashion-sleuthing, and the silhouette of the garment seems to be very popular for the coming season.  I can’t wait until March!

19. Michael’s Masterplan sock with Dome Hill Yarns Supersock in “Tequila Sunrise.”

Made up a mostly-plain sock for Michael, with a 3×3 “moss stitch.” And I just realized that a full third of the year’s socks were orange.  Hmm.

20. Womb by MK Carroll with Berroco Vintage™ Chunky in “Lilacs.”

Made and modified to request for Jen.  So much faster than the first one I made back in ’06 – though that one was my first project knit in the round.

21. Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf with the leftover Berroco Vintage™ Chunky in “Lilacs.”

Also for Jen.  Finished this with less than six inches left of the skein.  Knitter’s high!

22.  Leaves Long Beanie by Melissa LaBarre with madelinetosh tosh dk in “Posy.”

I bought the Weekend Hats book for Becky for Xmas, and decided I needed a copy for myself, too.  I made this for Michelle to try and take the edge off, but it didn’t work.  You need this book, too.

Also, I must obtain more Madelinetosh.  Unf.

23. Ergonomic Earwarmer by Carol G. McFadden with with Malabrigo Yarn Sock in “Arbol.”

An interesting angled pattern, but it wouldn’t stay over Michael’s ears, so it had to be frogged.

24. Earwarmer head thing with Malabrigo Yarn Sock in “Arbol.”

Just a ribbed cylinder, big enough for his giant, lovely head.

25. Chilly Podsters by Glenna C. with Malabrigo Yarn Sock in “Arbol.”

Michael’s getting a whole matched set of winter stuff.  That never happens for the partner of a knitter!

26. Improvised socks with a club yarn I overdyed with Bex’s indigo at one of the Blue Parties.

Those socks are truly blessed.

Additions to my button collection.  Buttons hold things together.  I’m trying to hold it together, so maybe meditating on buttons will help.

I lost my wrestling match with the Universe.

Michael has been in the lengthy process of interviewing for a great job since November, and they told him last Thursday that they’d be sending him an offer this week.  He was led to expect something in the $85k range, great benefits, in a good-for-his-karma field.  Today he got an email saying they’re “not going ahead with the hiring process.”  We don’t know if one of his references stabbed him in the back, or if the company ran into a budget shortfall or what.

Michael is so sad, and I can’t help him.  At the same time, I’m really disappointed, and trying to keep my cool so he doesn’t feel even worse than he already does.  We spent the whole weekend (and to some extent the last two and a half months) planning and talking about how great it was going to be to get out of debt, to start paying back my student loans, to get some longstanding things seen to by doctors.  Maybe get a car, stop being the poorest of our emerging group of friends.  Health insurance and some fiscal breathing room so we could finally really have the baby discussion.

I just thought 2011 was finally going to mean something.  This even-better job would finally make up for this last year that has been shitty in so many ways.  Losing the job that brought us up to Minnesota.   Michael’s twenty+ hours a week playing video games to cope with the dissatisfaction with his job situation.  Trading in our magical treehouse for a 450 square foot basement apartment. Another year and a half without health insurance.  Losing my tribe, leaving my friends behind, Michael fearing he’ll never find meaningful work, my fear keeping me frozen from deciding where I need to go from here.  It was all going to be in service to the  realization of a more-full life.

I’m usually really good at hope, at faith in a big picture that we just can’t see from here.  In the grand scheme of things of course, of course I know that we’re richer than 98% of the world.  I’m indescribably grateful for my marriage, what measure of health we each have, and our kitchen full of food.  This apartment has a lot going for it, especially compared to the one we had last Spring. We have a great yarn/video game stash, two pudgy cats, and a comfy bed in which we can all snuggle together at night.  I’ll get back to gratitude tomorrow.  Tonight, I’m lamenting the future we allowed ourselves to plan for a little while. I’m mourning for the excitement in Michael’s voice when he talked about a job he’d be excited to go to.  I’m regretting getting my hopes up again.

First knitting of the year; gift sock pattern from Mandy, gift yarn from Michael, gift place-to-knit from Nik and Becky.

~~~

I have three year-end posts in the works (books, photos, knitting), but I’ve been using the better part of my brain to wrestle with the Universe, which makes writing difficult.  As of today it looks as if my efforts have been successful (details when official), so I’ll likely have some brain power to spare soon.  In the meantime, I think I have enough brain-room to finally post that Crock-Pot chicken tikka recipe I’ve been teasing you with.

This recipe is fully responsible for the restocking of my spice cabinet after the move.  I bought one jar every payday until I had all that I needed, and now I can make it twenty more times.  Yay, spices!

The bulk of this comes from a recipe I found on Pinterest, but you know I have to tweak things.

Crock Pot Chicken Tikka (90% of Recipe by Meal Planning 101)

Things:

big Ziplock bag or lidded bowl
foil
rimmed baking sheet
skillet
oven-with-broiler
Crock-Pot

Ingredients:

1 C plain yogurt
1 T lemon juice
2 t cumin
1/4 t chili powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t  black pepper
1 t salt
2-3 lbs. frozen boneless skinless chicken breast

2 t oil
1 onion, diced (pre-minced frozen to save my tender eyes)
2 T minced ginger (I used the jarred stuff)
2 T minced garlic (ditto)

28 oz. can diced tomatoes
5.5 oz can tomato paste
1 T garam masala (smells SO DAMN GOOD)
1 T curry paste
1 T lemon juice
1 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1 t dried coriander

1/2 t cumin
1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t garam masala
1/8 t salt
1 cup cream
2 tbsp cilantro, chopped (I buy it pre-chopped frozen, since 75% of a bunch just goes to waste, otherwise)

Also have: jasmine rice (cook it, fool); naan.

Use the first block of ingredients to marinate the chicken breast overnight – I just used a ziplock bag and sqwushed it around a few times over 12 hours; if something comes up and you can’t cook it when you planned, you can freeze the bag at this point (ask me how I know).

Heat up the broiler of your oven.  Put chicken in a foil-lined pan under the broiler for ten minutes each side until brown – stay ~10 inches away from the heating element.  (Original recipe suggested putting the chicken on a baking rack in the pan, but I don’t have one without plastic on.  Broiling right in the pan had no visible consequences.)  Don’t worry that the meat is still pretty raw at this point; that’s what the Crock-Pot is for.

Stir second block of ingredients in a skillet over med/high heat until everything is soft, but before it really starts browning.  Dump this into the Crock Pot along with the third block of ingredients.  Stir it all up, then add the chicken.  Cook on low for ~6 hours.

(At this point in my crockpotting, I always pull out the chicken, shred it, and put it back in the sauce.  For this dish, however, I’d recommend cutting it up rather than shredding it; I think the mouthfeel would be better.  Even better, I want to try and make my own paneer and use it in place of the chicken – but one experiment at a time, plz.)

Turn off the Crock Pot and stir in the last block of ingredients; allow to meld for ~ten minutes, serve over jasmine rice with a side of naan.  (Premade naan heats up very well in the toaster, oddly enough; chewy with just a little crisp on the edges.)

I plan to have this for dinner next Thursday.  You should, too!

Am in Columbia (day four of six).  I have discovered I don’t really miss the town at all, but am still desperately missing my peoples.  Several of my friends appear to be melting down at once and I can’t fix it.

Got mah hairz did last weekend.

I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions, but I do plan to have a better year than the last.  My seven-year cycle of destruction is behind me for another six year, so I’m optimistic.

Finished all of the required Xmas knitting and the twelfth pair of socks.  Can’t find a cookie scoop that won’t skip gears.  Started a “mystery sock” last night.  Can’t wait to use my new etched casserole dishes.  Can’t decide if I want to buy yarn or gadgets (kitchen or knitting) with the money I made from my iPod. The weather was beautiful beyond belief here, but it changed and I haven’t been outside Nik and Becky’s house for more than twenty-four hours.

Limeade plus whipped cream vodka is my new favorite drink.  I may or may not have had one recently.

A couple of years ago, I blogged about the Spicy Molasses Cookies on Pioneer Woman Cooks.  They’ve become a staple winter cookie for me, second only to crescent cookies in my heart. I ended up making two batches on Wednesday, partially to keep myself occupied through the long night, and partially out of the desire to avoid shortening.

When I grew up, Crisco was the unhealthy, hydrogenated stuff that sat in the back of our pantry, slowly going rancid.  My mom used it for pie crust, but so infrequently that by the time it was half used up, all that really remained was a yellowing, waxy canister of sadness.  They have non-hydrogenated varieties now, and I usually bow at the altar of Shirley O. Corriher, but I can’t shake my resistance to that stuff.

So Wednesday afternoon, when I started the (first) batch of cookies, I decided to use butter.  I knew the cookies would spread more, so I refrigerated the dough for twenty minutes before baking.  And the cookies came out delicious.  Score another one for butter, I thought.  Michael came home and scarfed a couple, but I couldn’t deny that they were…flat.

After dinner, I decided to put my prejudice aside, and asked Michael to run to Whole Foods for me.  He brought back a bucket jug container of shortening, and I went back to work.  Half an hour later, with deep concentration and a glass of milk, we had a taste test.

I’m afraid the shortening won.  Don’t get me wrong, the butter cookies are still delicious, but the texture is considerably better with the shortening.  Surprisingly, the butter didn’t even add much to the flavor, as I’d expected; if anything, the spices were more fully realized with the shortening.  Michael said it was funny, that the taste followed the shape of the cookies; rounded vs. flat.  The shortening cookies saved a step, too; you don’t have to refrigerate the dough to inhibit spread.  That puts you at least twenty minutes closer to cookies.  You’re welcome.

Because nothing is ever simple, though, I can’t endorse the shortening 100%.  Two days after baking, the butter cookies have a  better texture; the shortening cookies have gone quite hard.  So if you’re making a batch that you expect to last awhile, I’d have to recommend the butter.  Or keep in mind that a shortening cookie softens up nicely with about thirteen seconds in the microwave.

So there’s a thing of shortening in my cabinet (made of sustainably-harvested palm oil – I’m still a hippie at heart).  I’m not sure if we’ll ever be friends, but I hereby concede that it does, indeed, have its place.  In half of the ninety-three cookies I made on Wednesday.  Oof.

Clove Cookies

(mostly inspired by Pioneer Woman)

3/4 cup shortening or butter, depending on what result you want
1 cup white sugar, plus ~1/3 cup extra for rolling
1/4 cup “original” molasses (don’t use blackstrap, you will be sorry)
2 tsps frozen orange juice concentrate
1 tsp fresh crushed ginger (I use the jarred stuff)
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground cardamom (smells so good)
1/4 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Beat sugar and butter/shortening together until fluffy.  Add molasses (which I spell first with an extra “e” every time), oj, fresh ginger and egg, mix until blended.

In another bowl, stir the rest of the ingredients together (so the spices distribute evenly).  Dump into first bowl and stir until it’s all uniform.

The dough will be soft, so your best bet is to use a cookie disher (like an ice cream scoop) to form the (approx 2 Tbs) dough balls.  Drop from disher into the reserved white sugar, coat the ball, roll it between your hands for a couple of seconds, and then roll it in the sugar again before placing on parchment. (Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes of you used butter.) The dough will spread pretty good; leave 2″ between the balls if you use shortening, 3″ if you used butter.  Bake for ~10 minutes; the surface of the cookie will crack with the shortening.  Remove from oven and allow cookies to set on the cookie sheet for another minute or two, then transfer to cooling rack.

Shortening cookies best that day, butter cookies the next day.