Yarn Swift Victory!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by atangledyarn84

In an effort to cull my stash and destash in 2013 I have been going through my finished projects as well. I had a few baby snuggle/kick sacks that weren’t selling on etsy. (My shop is here)

I frogged three whole items because I felt the three skeins of Knit Picks Biggo were destined for more worthy projects. Stay tuned later this week to see what I decided to use this yarn for!

I got to use my new hand crafted yarn swift I received at Christmas! It’s butter soft and smooth = no yarn snags. But it is heavy enough that my yarn wonder can pull it itself. So you have to work (in my case) the yarn winder with right hand and the swift with my left. Takes a few tries to get coordinated but I managed to get the hang of it! Kind of like patting your head and rubbing your tummy, lol

I think my swift will be getting A LOT of use!! Now….just where to store it?

Happy Knitting

Family Photos

Posted on January 5, 2013 by atangledyarn84

The Mathews household was short on funds this year for the holiday season so we decided to take an alternative approach. A dear friend of mine is an amazing photographer and he agreed to help us out. So on a very cold October day we tromped around a local park to take a few photos. There was a wedding in the same park and at least two photography clubs running around. The dogs were so wound up by all this activity that they were spectacularly uncooperative. We managed to at least get two good family shots, which were then turned into Christmas cards and framed photos for Christmas gifts.

Not so bad right? The family really loved them as gifts and it was nice to give gifts from the heart (and save a little money)!

We had few minutes of good light left and so I had the photographer snap a few new head shots for my work/linkedin profile/facebook/etc. I haven’t had a head shot taken since I was 18 years old, lol.

Now I’m off to some knitting and cleaning. I am attending my first meeting of a local crochet/knitting guild and I want to choose some items to donate to their knitting for charity baskets! I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow afternoon!

Happy Knitting!!!

Stashbustin’ Post #3

Posted on January 4, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I love portable small projects!

The cold weather has put my knitting into overdrive. I have a lot of Loops and Threads Charisma and Premier Yarn Serenity Chunky Weight in my stash and I’m chewing through it!

I have blogged about this before, but I purchased a fun pattern Trinity Stitch Headband from Angela Juergens. About half a skein of either of the above yarns makes one headband. (I alter and take out a few pattern repeats in the pattern for a shorter headband.) I have been packing one of these in my purse every where I go and I’m knocking out some bulky FOs at a pretty good clip.

Still need to select and sew on buttons but I’m delighted to see my pile growing. So far my destashing is going full steam ahead….fingers crossed that it continues!

Happy Knitting!!

Stashbustin’ Post #2

Posted on January 3, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I have WIP-itis……and it’s bad.

I cast on another WIP just because I felt like it. I have at least five baby showers to knit for (that at least partially substantiates my WIP-itis right?)

I have a LOT of Caron Simply Soft Solidsbin my stash. I picked up most of it from a destashing friend years ago when first learning to knit. It’s soft and washable and I used to love it. But my admiration has flagged a bit and its been relegated to mostly baby knits.

I found the Waffle Blanket (free pattern) through a Pinterest pin linked to a Ravelry pattern. I was smitten immediately and cast on! Not sure who this blanket is destined for yet but I have a few months left to decide. I’m very optimistic and can’t wait to see the finished product.

I knocked out the border and one repeat of the pattern while watching a TV DVR-ed episode. It’s very pretty and I’m sure after a couple repeats very memorizable.

I must have baby blanket fever!! (Or baby fever if you ask my mother.) Stay tuned for updates on this and my Waves and Ripples Blanket!

Happy Knitting!!

Stashbustin’ Post #1

Posted on January 2, 2013 by atangledyarn84

A few years ago I made a couple electronic device covers from the Premier Yarn pattern.. It was a nice knit that was easy to memorize and visually pleasing. That stitch pattern has been bouncing around in my brain for awhile. I thought an adaptation of it would make a lovely crib blanket…

I pulled some Brava Bulky from Knit Picks from my stash in cream and white. I modified the pattern to 134 stitches and alternating color stripes but otherwise using the same two row repeat pattern.

I shall call it my waves and ripples blanket. It’s a little curly right on the needles but I think a little blocking in the end will go a long way. I’m not sure which of the five spring baby showers this will be for but it’s destined for a new bundle of joy! Follow my Rav notes here.

Happy Knitting!!!

Scandinavian Rice Pudding and The New Year

Posted on January 1, 2013 by atangledyarn84

One of my favorite holiday dishes is something my family simply calls “rice”. It’s simple rice pudding with four ingredients:
– white rice
– milk
– sugar
– cinnamon
(Raisins if you are so bold, I am not!)

Scandinavian tradition holds that families make this rice on the new year and if the rice is thick the new year will be blessed. If the rice turns thin then gird your loins for a rough year. I didn’t get to spend New Years with my family so I made a batch of rice to make myself feel better.

Step one: steamed white rice in my rice cooker.

Step two: add milk and sugar (I don’t measure, just use my best judgment and taste until its delicious!)

Step three: simmer until thick and wonderful

Step four: serve warm with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top and a cup of cold milk for dipping (not pictured)

There are a thousand ways to make this dish, just google it and you’ll see what I mean! And it varies from country to country and family to family. I just wanted to give you a peak into mine. It’s a simple dish and not terribly fancy but on a cold snowy winter day…..it makes me feel closer to my family and heritage. Plus, my rice was thick and creamy so I’m looking forward to a good year!

I’m off to enjoy the snow! Happy New Year to all!!!!

Good News!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by atangledyarn84

The husband has a new job!!!!!!

Sorry for the delay in the rest of my Scandinavian Christmas posts, but my hubby got the best Christmas present ever! I still vow to get them out 🙂

We found out the day after Christmas and have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off since, rounding up paperwork, negotiating benefits, changing class schedules, etc. This new job is in IT AND will let him continue to work on his Computer Information Systems degree.

After 8 1/2 months of looking in this terrible economy we both are very excited. I will be sad to lose my housekeeper, crock pot stirrer, and doggy day care that would do wonderful things while I was at work. But the paycheck will be worth catching up on bills!

May your New Year be wonderful! (I’ll be working a 12+ hour day at my big kid accounting job to close out the year…..)

Christmas Morning

Posted on December 25, 2012 by atangledyarn84

Before we got to peek at what Santa brought we had tea and monkey bread!

Then SANTA!!!

Santa brought me me lined yarn bags with grommet holes! Lined with knitting sheep fabric and nice wide zipper openings. The photos above are the small cake/skein bag. The photos below are the large skein bag!

How did Santa know!? Lol, looks like I have some knitting to do!

Merry Christmas to all! Stay tuned for more Swedish Christmas traditions 🙂

Happy Knitting!

Christmas Eve Shinglebread

Posted on December 25, 2012 by atangledyarn84

Growing up Swedish/Norwegian means shinglebread at christmas! It’s a lovely Scandinavian potato tortilla of sorts. For as long as I remember this has been a sugary Christmas treat.

Start with a flat piece and drizzle with Caro syrup….

Then you roll it up and eat up!

This dish means family and Christmas and memories of childhood! I am a happy Swede tonight. Now for a little cuddle time in front of the fire before 11pm services out the local Lutheran church!

Merry Christmas to all!!

Handmade Beauty

Posted on December 21, 2012 by atangledyarn84

Hello from the land of my in laws! It’s finally snowed in Kansas and we have started our Christmas travels. Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Feels good to have a couple days off of work and I packed a LARGE bag of knitting!

I have scarves:

Toasty fire:

What else do you need? Oh ya….my own handmade yarn swift!!!!!

My father in law is a gifted wood worker (see this amazing motorcycle rocking horse)!

Well he and my husband put their heads together and devised a version of a yarn swift any knitter would drool over! It spins easily and sanded to soft perfection so no nasty yarn snags.

The pegs are adjustable to conform to any hank size. The “legs” have holes so I could mount to a stand or clamp to a table. I’m in love! It’s beautiful, thoughtful, and most assuredly to get a lot of use in my house. I’m a lucky lucky girl to have such talented and loving people in my life!!

T-minus 4 days to Christmas!