Reading*Crafting*Baking: August 2014

It has been a while since I've updated, but I have been busy. I started a new job at a local library which has lead to even more reading and a new blog (more on that later). Due to some major changes in my life, I haven't been getting as many things sewn or knitted as I'd like, but I have done a few fun things.

Noodlehead's 241 Tote Pattern

I repinned this picture to my Sewing board on Pinterest.

My sister-in-law saw it and made a not-so-subtle suggestion that I make it for her. My SIL is an incredibly generous person and she has done so much for this ridiculous family she has married in to, including planning and hosting a family reunion this past June. So, I was more than happy to make this bag for her.

The pattern was designed by Noodlehead and can be found here. There are two options in the pattern, to make the bag as seen in the picture above with two external pockets or with two internal pockets closed with zippers on the outside.

I made the bag with the external pockets since that was the picture my SIL had seen and because I thought they looked really cute. Her favorite color is orange and I used that as the basis for my fabric selection.

All fabric was purchased at Joann Fabric

I found the pattern easy to follow but I did have some issues with my personal impatience. There are a lot of curved seams. A LOT of curved seams. It is definitely worth the time and attention to detail, but I hate curved seams.

The only adjustment I made was to make the strap a few inches longer because my SIL likes to wear her bags with the strap across her chest rather than just over her shoulder.

I love the mid-century feel of the main body fabric and the whimsical character of the creamsicle swirl fabric that lines the bag. This is an incredibly useful bag that I can see making again in the future...for me.

Some Nerdy Knitting

A friend of mine recently became an uncle for the first time. I, and many of my friends, are big fans of Doctor Who. I knew little William was going to get a lot of Doctor Who themed gifts and I wanted to do something no one else would do, so I made him a blanket based on the 4th Doctor's scarf. You know which one I'm talking about. Even if you've never seen an episode of Doctor Who, you know who and what I'm talking about.

Last year I made a version of the scarf for the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special.

Here it is modeled by my bow tie wearing assistant.

I found the pattern on Pinterest where some awesome person put together a pattern with a list of currently available colors in Vanna White brand yarn.

Using this pattern and colors, I widened the scarf into a baby blanket.

Fairy Tale Knitting

Have you checked out Knit Picks yet? I love Knit Picks! They have a great selection and amazing prices. I have a set of their Rainbow interchangable needles and they are just incredible, not to mention beautiful! And a couple of times a year they have a 40% off sale in their book department. This year it just so happened to coincide with my birthday, which gave me the perfect excuse to treat myself to a couple of books.

I had to get Green Gables Knits because I have been a fan of Anne of Green Gables since I was 12 years old and I had to add this to my collection. Once Upon A Knit is just so full of beautiful patterns, I couldn't resist.

The first thing I made are the Bookish Belle Mitts. My cousin (the same one I made the Gone With the Wind Christmas tree skirt for) is a huge Disney fan and her favorite princess is Belle. While we were hanging out at the family reunion in June she asked me to make her a pair of fingerless gloves. The patterns she kept showing me were long, they went up almost to her elbow, but I figured her love of Belle would have her accepting these smaller gloves. And it did. They turned out beautifully and she loves them.

Made with Knit Picks Palette Yarn

Baking

I haven't been baking as much lately, due to many reasons, but after going to the Wilton Tent Sale, I had to put my new toys to use.

My favorite new toys are my Linzer cookie cutters and I decided to use them to make cookies for an evening with friends.

Since it was summer, I wanted to play off that theme and came up with blueberry shortbread cookies with lemon curd filling and s'mores cookies with homemade graham crackers.

For the blueberry lemon cookies, I made a basic shortbread cookie batter (2 sticks unsalted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 cups flour) and I added ground up freeze dried blueberries. I started with 2 tablespoons but felt it didn't seem blueberry-y enough, so I sprinkled in more and eyeballed it until I was happy. Then I used my round Linzer cutter and made the cookies.

For the s'mores cookies, I used Smitten Kitchen's recipe for homemade graham crackers and used a semi-sweet chocolate ganache and marshmallow fluff to complete this summer staple.