Lucette

. . . has arrived!

This is a hat I named after the lucet, which is a tool used to make cords, as well as after one of my favorite designers, Lucy of A Black Pepper (click the link at the right to go visit her), who does beautiful designs with cables and bobbles.

This hat is begun with the Estonian cast on, which is really easy to do, but nearly impossible to describe in words.   You can find Nancy Bush’s video of it on YouTube, or on the August 8, 2010, entry here.  This cast on is incredibly stretchy, as well as neat and tidy.  If you look at the bottom two pictures, you can see how much the hat will stretch out to accommodate a head!

What to do on a sunny day?

This morning was bright and warm from the moment I got up – at 6:30.

I really don’t want to be indoors.  My thoughts are in a lot of different directions.  I could transplant some roses.  I can set up the ink and paper outdoors, and wander into when I want.  I could download an audiobook (the newest da Silva is calling) and finish up my little knitting projects.  This last sounds really good!  I’ve been a bit too focused on one thing . . . do like to break up patterns . . .

Especially nice to see this morning is the plumeria finally bloomed!

Knitting Projects, a Video, and a Read

Admittedly, most of this past week I have not picked up my knitting.  It’s been rather a busy week with both of us on vacation.  There are also relatives in town, friends to visit, and calligraphy to do and novels to read.  And exercise, and planning meals, and trying to have a life for a bit!  However, I barricaded myself in what was / is my studio (my brother is sleeping in it for now), and closed the door.  No one in the same room, but I do hear the clatter of dishes or whatever.  It’s so nice to just be alone!  Or, a lawn, in the words of Ms. Garbo.

The major projects at present are sweaters for a friend’s twin grandsons, born about 2 weeks ago.  These sweaters are for 6-12 month olds in size, so a bit of a wait won’t harm them any.

Kimono Sweater

This sweater is a kimono sweater.  The design is not original.  I’m not too sure I like it – I think the ribbing is a bit funky, but the yarn is a nice color combo, and it is wash-n-wear.  (In other words, acrylic!)

Hooded Cardigan

Now this sweater is one of my own design, the pattern which I hope to publish once done.  I liked doing this one much more than the kimono, but will admit I am getting tired of it.  That long blue blob under the needles is a hood, which, if my neat side plays out, will be grafted – something I really, really hate!

Finally, the SO has another hat.  This is the Xenocryst hat, by Linda Shelhamer, in the Fall 2010 issue of Knitscene.

Hat - Unstretched

I misread the pattern and put only one purl stitch between the patterns, but it worked out just fine.  The cast on was perfect, too, as it really is stretchy.  You can find out how to do it by watching this video with Nancy Bush.

In fact, I liked this cast on so much, I started a hat using it and cables and bobbles.

Finally, I am reading another book about Chinese calligraphy.  This one is a bit different from many as it goes into some interesting details and makes interesting comparisons to Western art.  I’m up to page 70 with a lot more to read.

The Chinese Art of Writing, by Jean Francois Billeter

Nadja van Ghelue has it on her recommended list of books about calligraphy.  Just by happenstance I found it at our local library, before knowing of her recommendation.  It is quite fascinating because of the way in which Chinese calligraphy is presented, and admittedly, it is holding my interest even though I often find books like this to be more than I can handle – I just look at the pictures! – as I am not especially scholarly in my preferred reading!  (I like spy novels, to tell the truth.)

The August Project: Bone Strokes

Kaishu / Kaisho – standard or regular script, with some variations over time, is what most of us are familiar with as Chinese characters or Japanese kanji.  It fits nicely into squares, but it goes far, far beyond that.  There are a lot of dynamics at work in this script!  Dots and lines, hooks, and so on.  It is amazingly complicated in some ways, but not in others.  But doing it right is another story.

This is an example of regular script, from a long, long time ago.

If you look closely, you will find some long, horizontal lines, which are wider at either end and narrow toward the middle.  These are called “bone strokes.”  Here is one below – and the path the brush should follow as you create it.

The work of the day. 4 hours. Horizontal accomplished, but initial brush stroke and ending brush strokes are far from attractive.




Saturday Morning Cinnamon Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping

While the rest of the country is sweltering, here along the south central coast of California it is dripping, damp and foggy. Perfect morning for warm, fresh berry muffins!

Muffin Recipe
Preheat oven to 400 F. Line or grease muffin cups – this recipe yielded 9 cups filled to top before addition of streusel topping.

Muffin Batter
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 c. milk or yogurt (thinned with water) or kefir
1 c. picked over fresh blueberries

Mix together all dry indredients and walnuts. Beat together oil, egg, and milk. Pour liquid into dry ingredients, stir until lightly mixed. Fold in blueberries. Batter is a bit thick.  Spoon batter into muffin cups, patting down to make flat.

Streusel Topping
1/3 c. flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter
1 1/2 t. cinnamon

Work together all streusel ingredients until they resemble coarse meal – use your fingers, pastry blender, or two knives. Sprinkle over tops of muffins, gathering topping into tidy mound over muffins – if you don’t do this, the topping will melt onto the metal of the muffin tin.

Bake 25 minutes; check with toothpick to make sure center muffins are done.

Cool. Devour.