Podcast Episode Four: Double Kalevala

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Show Notes

KNITTING:

• Cable and Lace Baby Blanket by Stephanie Ament (free pattern from Ravelry). Still working on this.
• Vortex Shawl by Kristina McCurley (free pattern from Ravelry)
• Secret Knitting.
  
• Freya Shawl by Renate Haeckler. Haven't decided if I'll frog it.
  

FINISHED:

• The Ardelle hat by Ellen Bartz.
• Toe-up Socks (my pattern).
  

BY NEXT PODCAST:

• tea cozy
  

REVIEW:

• Kalevalaneuleet by Marja Ulvo and Elise Rajamäki
  

(Library Book. All opinions in the review are those of the blog author's.)

SOMETHING ABOUT FINLAND:

• Kalevala Jewelry. My earrings are the Viipuri Pretzel Earrings in silver.

MENTIONED:

• Kalevala, Finland's national epic, can be read online in English for free at Gutenberg.org.

Friday's Foto From Finland #10

With everything being green it just looks like any other place.

SMS Giveaway Win!

Sew Mama Sew blog has a Giveaway Day twice a year. There are hundreds of bloggers who host giveaways on their blogs and are listed on the Sew Mama Sew blog. I was lucky enough to win one of the giveaways this time. This great tote came in the mail today from Crafty Tokyo Mama. All the way from Japan. Of all countries! My son is taking beginner's Japanese courses this summer at university. I thought it was such a coincidence. Isn't the fabric awesome? Inside there's an elastic loop to hang things from. Janine also has an Etsy store called Crafty Tokyo Mama.

ETA: Oops! Crafty Tokyo Mama mentioned in her comment to this post that the loop is actually for wrapping around the bag after you've folded it up when it's not in use. Also when using a bag as a gift bag she has wrapped the loop around the bottom of the handles so you can't see what's in the bag. Great idea!

Socks Done at Last!

I finally finished my first toe-up socks. I started the first one last year, took bits from different socks and didn't take very good notes so it was a bit difficult to come up with an exact pair. But I doubt anyone will be looking at my feet. I used Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off but I still don't find it very stretchy. Anyone have any tips?

Podcast Episode Three: Knitting Problems

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Show Notes (I changed the name of the episode.)

KNITTING:

• Cable and Lace Baby Blanket by Stephanie Ament (Ravelry link). Still working on this.
• Toe-up Socks (my pattern). On the second sock.
• Freya Shawl by Renate Haeckler. Hand-dyed yarn from Grannyg.
  

FINISHED

• Bunny Nugget by Rebecca Danger
  

BY NEXT PODCAST:

• Finish the Ardelle hat by Ellen Bartz.

STASH DASH

• The Knit Girllls' 5K Stash Dash is from May 27 to August 15, 2011.

CHARITY STORE FIND:

• lots of yarn

SEWING

• finished a project bag
  

REVIEW:

• Hetaleita poropeukaloille edited by Ulla Huhtala and Reija Nieminen.

(Library Book. All opinions in the review are those of the blog author's.)

SOMETHING ABOUT FINLAND:

• High School Graduation Cap
• Graduation day this year is June 4, 2011.
  

Friday's Foto From Finland #9

I know dandilions are weeds but they are so colourful against the green grass.

Chunky Black Bean and Tomato Dip

Carla at The Year of the Vegan has starting testing for a new book. Today I made the Chunky Black Bean and Tomato Dip (though I used it as a spread). I almost never put fresh tomatoes in anything else but salads. So having them in this dip was an enjoyable change. The texture was good and I think I might try this in a wrap.

I tried our local stores but couldn't find any hot sauce any and it was needed for the recipe. So I looked up some recipes and made a 1/4 tsp version of my own. Some finely chopped chili from the freezer, a dash of salt and sugar and then some vinegar and water. I didn't notice it in the dip but I've never tried it so I don't know what it adds to the recipe. But maybe I'll put more chili next time.

Flowered Drawstring Project Bag

I was Raked some material on Ravelry because I wanted to make myself a few project bags. This is the first one. The material is quite sturdy and it is for me, so I didn't bother to line it.

The selvedges were quite wide so I used them for the drawstring channel because they would match the cream colour from the material.

I sewed the top edge from the wrong side and then folded under the other raw edge and topstitched it. Error Error. Fortunately I took a break at this point and when I came back I realized that I couldn't sew the channels to the edge because they would then be closed off once I did the side seams.

So I took them both off and redid them further from the edge, zigzaging and folding the ends under.

I wanted French seams so I sewed the side seams with wrong sides together.

Then I turned the bag wrong side out and sewed the side seams again.

I wanted a bit of a flat bottom so I marked and sewed a triangle at the corners. Once that was done I folded down the top edge twice and sewed around it. All that was left to do was pull the cord through the channel.

Friday's Foto From Finland #8

The snow's gone but it's going to rain!

A Bit Early

My son usually makes the mead for May 1st but he won't be here then and you need to start about a week ahead, so I've made it this year. Only 2 litres so we can have some this weekend while he is here. Hopefully it will taste ok. I forgot that last year some of the bottles didn't fizz at all. Probably because I've been using the same bottles for years and the metal screw-on caps have loosened. If anyone would like the recipe just ask!