Spin Soft

I took a look through the summer issue of Spin Off yesterday, and I was pretty impressed with it!  Two articles stood out - the first was an excellent article about making boucle yarns by Jacey Boggs.  If you're familiar with Jacey Boggs, you might expect felted eyeballs in every yarn she makes.  But all that talent makes gorgeous boucle, too!  Sadly, at my skill level, her yarns are just eye candy. (sorry)

The other, "Light and Smooth Yarns from Worsted Preparations," was a goldmine for me!  Reading that worsted spinning (the inchworm technique, my favorite) is supposed to create dense and heavy yarn has always saddened me.  Isn't there a happy medium where I can get smoothness and durability but keep it light?  This article has the answer and it led to this:

BFL in Petroglyph by Lisa Souza

Well, the difference is mainly in the feel.  You have to trust me on this.

The yarn is for this project, a design-on-the-fly shawl I will eventually finish.  (It helps that I've finished all the spinning for it!)

All the same colorway, honest!  The top section and two balls are merino, the rest is BFL.

And the new skein compared to the others?  Much lighter, with a very pleasant squish.
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I "attended" a webinar on how to build the perfect Yelp business listing.  If you're not familiar with Yelp, it's review site that I use to find new restaurants, stores, doctors, everything.  I actually didn't change anything on our profile, though - what do you think?

Llama Llama Knit on Yelp

We're always striving to improve. :)

Be Sweet yarn has arrived!

There are a lot of reasons to love Be Sweet.  Who wouldn't go for soft yarn in candy colors?

Bambino Taffy

But this "company with a conscience" has been helping people since 2003!  Let's have them explain:

"Be Sweet works with several job creation programs in South Africa by giving artisans the confidence and the means to support themselves and their families in an otherwise economically depressed region. The empowerment groups have grown to include over 200 villagers, mostly female members of the Xhosa tribe, who live in Cape Town, the Eastern Cape region and Johannesburg. Participants are responsible for making mohair, bamboo and organic cotton yarns, accessories and home goods. Many of the women depend on their work for their survival. With the help of experienced program directors, the women are able to work in stable environments where they can earn a fair wage, learn a new skill and enjoy their jobs."

 And I love that the ball band includes a cute pattern:

Sweetie Pie Hat from Be Sweet's site

Here's mine (my photography isn't as good):

Needs some blocking!

We also have a very cool and different yarn called T-shirt.  I love that they tell the story of how T-Shirt is made and by whom:

"Our super cool T-Shirt yarn is made in South Africa, by two gentlemen by the name of Richard and George. Richard is 29 years old and married with two children aged 6 and 8. He and his large family have lived in a handmade bungalow in Capricorn, an informal settlement on the Atlantic ocean side of Cape Town close to the beach for the past 4 years. George is 23 years old, single and has lived with his cousin Richard for 7 months. George spends a great deal of his time at the home affairs office trying to attain permits to continue to stay in South Africa."

Check out the whole story on their blog.

Oh, and they included a pattern for this one, too:

Hexagon Bag - I added the strap.

We look forward to continuing to support Be Sweet's efforts!

**UPDATE**
They've added a free Bambino Taffy pattern to their blog:
http://waggledancing.wordpress.com/2010/07/26/irina-lawrence/
Too cute!

New Book Love!

(photo from STC/Melanie Falick Gallery)

So Knitting 24/7 (gallery link) is my new favorite book:

-30 patterns, all of which look interesting to knit, and most of which I would actually wear

-5 lace scarf/wrap pieces and and 5 sock patterns (you know, the only two things I knit anymore)

-I love the detail on each pattern.  The cover socks, for example, are a nice but not exceptional lace pattern, BUT they also have a garter heel and toe. Sweeeeet.

-These are supposed to be on-the-go patterns, so most, while having the detail I mentioned above, have some degree of simplicity built in.  The lace patterns are short repeats, the fitted garments are one piece types, and the colorwork is only two... colors.  Well.  Some didn't seem to hit the "portable" mark for me, but everyone's different!

-The photos!  Everybody appreciates nice photos in a pattern book, but these seem to be especially stylish (I mean, the knee socks are worn with those trendy gladiator booties) with a hint of vintage (which you know I love.)  Also, there's a touch of reality in the photos that gives me an impression of actual wearability.  The lace stole isn't hanging out somewhere casual; it's dressed up for a night out.  The slippers are worn with cut-offs and the prop is a vacuum.  Because that's how you'd wear them.

In short, I love it.  Come get one.  :)

Recipes from Crockpot Tuesday: Lentil Soup

Those of you who are following my Facebook know that Alec and I have begun using the crockpot every Tuesday so we can have an inexpensive hot meal before Knit Night.  It works beautifully except when I am lost for inspiration, but that's what friends are for!

I bet you've all heard of Yarnagogo Rachael and her fabulous new book (it's waiting on my Kindle for me.  I am a monogamous reader if not a monogamous knitter.)  Some time ago, she posted a recipe on her blog for lentils.  I am a total sucker for lentils - lentil soup in a can, beluga lentil soup with turkey sausage, daal... I love all of it.  I had to make it.  My first attempt was a failure.  I was missing about half the ingredients listed in her recipe, so  I improvised with black beans and onion powder, I think.  I also failed at reading comprehension, adding white rice to the crockpot without realizing that it would probably cook differently in a slow cooker than the brown jasmine rice she used.  Let's just say following the idea of a recipe didn't work out.

A few weeks later, I had picked up some lentils and beets on sale.  Tuesday began with little inspiration, but when I realized that I could substitute the spinach Rachael used with the beet tops, an idea was formed!  At 6:30 PM, Alec called it "best lentil soup ever."  (He likes lentils a lot, too.)

Here's how it goes:

Ingredients:

1 cup lentils  (remember to wash them!)

5 cloves garlic, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 carrot, grated

cumin seeds to taste

6 cups water or stock

1 bunch beet greens, thoroughly washed and chopped into 1-inch strips

1/2 bag frozen corn

All spices to taste, with heavy emphasis on the curry powder:

fresh parsley (not essential, but nutritious and tasty)

curry powder

ginger

cayenne (tsp or less, unless you like it really hot!)

salt

turmeric (pinch)

Sautee onions, garlic, bell pepper and carrot until they begin to sweat.  I like to add a little salt at this time to accelerate the process.  Add cumin seeds and toast until the whole thing smells and looks yummy.  (3 min)

My pictures are all low-light, sorry.

  While that toasts, you can add your lentils, beet greens, corn, and spices to the crockpot.

Add your sauteed veggies and the water or stock to the crockpot, stir well, cover, and cook on low for 4-8 hours.

You can add rice to temper the heat (make it separately is my advice) but it works well without.  Also, this dish should be very nutritious.  That's not something I can say about all the things I cook, believe me.

Beet greens:

good source of Protein, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

Lentils:

good source of Protein, Iron, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Folate and Manganese

Carrots:

good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6 and Manganese.

Up next, chicken pot pie and spinning.  (I told you that not everything I make is healthy!)