Needle Update: Frog Central

Have I mentioned that I love knitting socks?

Have I mentioned that I make poor sock pattern choices?

A Day in the Kitchen

I always start out with the best of intentions: grab some sad-looking bananas and tomatoes on the way home (because I could make something from them, instead of leaving them to be thrown out!), clean out the fridge and find I'm running out of time to get that batch of stock boiled up, pick up a couple of new recipes I'd like to try. I always start out optimistic, but after three hours in the kitchen I start to wonder just what I've gotten myself into.

At least this one doesn't need a lot of supervision.

Christmas Cooking - Part Two: Sweet

When it comes to Christmas treats, my mind automatically goes to two things - gingerbread and peppermint slice. The first is a recipe I've spoken about before and the second is one my mum has been making for years at Christmas-time and that everyone I've introduced it to looks forward to. At this time of year when my friends come over it's with a hopeful "got any leftover mint slice?". I also made the most adorable "rice krispie treats" (I don't even know what those are meant to be called here!) and some fudge. Let's not beat around the bush: recipe time.

So You Want To Knit Socks, Part Two: Casting On (Toe Up)

Now that you've figured out your yarn and needle situation (or, if you haven't, check out Part One: Equipment) and settled down with your chosen pattern or guide (such as my fitted formula method for designing socks to fit your specific measurements) - what next? It's time to cast on! There are a lot of ways to do this, and until you try them it's hard to say which will work for you.

There's a divide in sock knitters between those who knit from the toe up and those who go from the cuff down. Both sides say their way gives the better fit, is easiest to try on, and gets the best result... so I'm guessing that neither is actually superior to the other. Personally I'm a toe-up gal but I'm going to include information for cuff-down knitting as well for those who prefer to try it that way. Both directions have their pros and cons so, if you aren't sure what will work for you, I recommend you give both styles a try before settling on a favourite. In this post I'm going to talk about types of toe-up cast on - if you'd like to try from the cuff down, jump ahead to the next post.

(Warning - this post will be very image heavy!)

Christmas Cooking - Part One: Savoury

I live a very privileged life. Christmas to me has always been, on some level, about abundance - about the pile of gifts waiting tantalisingly beneath the tree, about an extra effort to spend time with family, and about eating too much for at least two days straight. There are other aspects of course, like the joy of giving, of community outreach, goodwill to men and so on (though, ironically, it's also the season that can make it most difficult to feel goodwill towards anyone!), but it's the abundance that comes with recipe reviews so that's the one I'm writing about.

How to Knit: Wrap-and-Turn Short Rows

When it comes to putting curves into knitting, nothing beats the noble short row - and it's not as complicated as it looks, I promise. Short rows can help add a bend into an otherwise straight rectangular shawl, and let you turn corners with ease when knitting sock toes and heels.

Short rows make this piece into a trapezoid - long bottom, short top and inward-sloping sides.

Want to knit "wrap-and-turn" short rows? Of course you do. Let's learn how!

O Christmas Tree

NOW it feels like Christmas is on its way - it didn't when we put the lights up in the yard or draped the house with tinsel or made snowflake-shaped gingerbread. But now that the tree is up I can feel it. Christmas is close!