a simple yarn

Well, I guess it’s time to come out of the closet…

Right…before my mother has a complete nervous episode, let me clarify by saying ‘I guess it’s time to [show you the completed project which has] come out of the closet.’

Presenting the wonky square cushion cover…or at least the front of it.

Started this project with great enthusiasm as an attempt to overcome my disdain for intarsia. Fatigue set in and so the wonky squares were relegated to the cupboard.

Warning: British Isles Colloquialism Diversion Ahead
I cannot recall (but I have slept since then…) ever using the term wonky in regular-everyday-type-conversations in North America. But it’s quite an expressive word and fun to say! Not only can it refer to wobbly, like ‘watch out, that table leg is wonky,’ it also can also take a broader meaning, describing anything that is askew. And frankly, I like the way it feels when rolling off the tongue. Thus the intarsia squares, being slightly askew, are therefore wonky.

Not too many closeup pics, though, as my knitting on this project seemed to be wonky as well…

Project Details
Pattern Book: Great Knitted Gifts, by Andrea & Gayle Shackleton
Love the colour schemes and geometric patterns in this book!
Yarn: Stash (what a great feeling to use up the bits and pieces!)
Needles: US7/4.5mm
Time to Knit: Longer than I care to remember…

A delicious by-product of yet another bank holiday Monday is the unhurried nature of the weekend. And in our household, that means cinnamon rolls.

A recurring childhood memory is of sitting at my grandmother’s table watching her work away at cinnamon rolls. Quick as a flash her hands would fly over the living dough…rolling, spreading, buttering, sugaring; the scent of cinnamon lingering in the toasty kitchen. If I stayed long enough I knew I would be rewarded with one of the doughy end bits and if I was lucky, there’d be a dash of butter and sweet cinnamon in it.

As I anticipated marriage and setting up my own household, I remember asking my grandmother for the recipe of this family favourite. She couldn’t do it. Oh, not that she wouldn’t do it. She couldn’t. This was one of those elusive recipes of bygone days where if the cook thought about what she did to achieve such sweet bliss, the end result would be ruined. The success of the baking was that she didn’t think really think about it. It just happened. A dash here. A smidgeon there. That was how she operated.

So I’ve had to find my own way to ’sweet bliss,’ taking sage wisdom offered by Veteran-Cook-And-Mother-In-Law-Phyllis. ‘Find a bread recipe that you like,’ said she, ‘and stick with it. Use it as the foundation for the all bread baking you do. Alter it, sweeten it, add grains to it, cheese it…whatever you want, but stick with a good base.’ Good advice.

Our customary pan of rolls has the obligatory ‘baker’s dozen number 13′ squished in for good measure. And according to the family, they should never be overbaked…the doughier the better. Coupled with a good cup of coffee…a lovely way to start any day.