I finally found my 40″ circular needles, and transferred this never-ending beret to them. Â Spread out, this is an ugly item! Â Too much open space between verticals and cables. Â Too many stitches. Â Way too big even for the 40-inchers! Â Maybe I’ll felt it.
Despite that, the progress has been educational. Â I think my original pattern with a lot of cables would be far more interesting to look at, though admittedly I am rather tired of them right now.
This year our Easter brunch is out in Ventura, with various family members coming and sharing goodies. Â As always, it will be pleasant to see everyone, old and young, and to enjoy the company of family. Â And eat good food! Â Our contribution is homemade egg bread rolls with poppy seeds, made by the master brewer himself, Josh.
Easter Rolls Recipe
Proof the yeast and create a sponge by combining 1/2 c. warm water, 1 T. yeast, and 1 T. sugar in glass; stir until dissolved. Â Let stand until foamy, which is about 10-15 minutes.
In large bowl, using electric mixer (such as a Kitchen Aid with a whisk and bread dough hook), beat 5 eggs until light yellow; add melted butter, 3/4 c. sugar, and continue beating until light and thick, about 3-5 minutes.  Continue beating as you add 2/3 c. warm water, and then the yeast mixture.  Change whisk for bread hook.  Add flour 1 c. at a time until a smooth dough is formed – about 5 cups, but more or less may be necessary.  Beat well after each cup of flour.  After all the flour is added to bowl, continue to  beat on medium speed until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.  If necessary, add more flour in tablespoons (you don’t want a tough dough) if it gets sticky.  When done in the bowl, tun out onto a floured board, and knead by hand about 2 minutes.
Lightly oil large bowl; place dough in bowl, turning to coat with the oil.  Cover with saran wrap and / or a damp kitchen towel; let dough rise  until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Punch down dough; recover with plastic / towel and let rise another 30 minutes.
Grease 2 large baking sheets. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 24 equal portions. This can be done by slicing dough with sharp knife and weighing out.  If you have a kitchen scale, place a saucer on the scale, set to zero, and allocate dough for 2.5 oz.  Once weighed out, roll into ball, and place onto baking sheet, allowing room to expand.  Let rise in warm area until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.  If you do not have a scale, create rolls which are about 2-3 inches in diameter, or consistent in size for even baking.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk 2 yolks with 1 tablespoon water to blend. Brush dough with egg mixture.  Sprinkle on poppy seeds.  Drop oven heat to 350°F.  Bake about 20 minutes; rolls will be golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on bottom.  Cool on wire racks.
Yesterday was a sunny day, I had some Cascade 220 lying around, I didn’t want to think too much, and I had a delicious book to listen to, and it all worked out together.
For quite some time I have been eyeing the Sanquhar knitting patterns, which are attractive geometric designs with contrasting colors. I chose the traditional white and black (mine is really a cream and dark charcoal grey). I imagine these designs could be quite stunning in all sorts of colors. From the time I sat down with my needles, to the time I finished this hat, was about 5 hours. I was amazed at how quickly 110 stitches knit up, and how easy it was to memorize the pattern once it was set up.  The pattern used for this hat is called the “Duke” pattern, which is very pleasing to the eye.
If you are interested in learning a bit about Sanquhar knitting, you may visit the Future Museum, which has a wonderful collection of different samples of Sanquhar patterned clothing.  If you would like to read about making gloves using the pattern used in Winter’s Night, take a look at tata-tatao.
I guess I can focus again. Â Yesterday I made a hat. Â And my husband looks great in it!
These past few months I feel I have been drowning in a sea of stress, most of which has been precipitated by external events.  The main event was the springtime RIF (reduction in force), which in education is becoming an annual event.  This pushed me to take the CBEST, which is the “California Basic Educational Skills Test.”  I did this to add to my credential – but until I get a job in any one of my qualifying areas, I’ve just got a letter stating I am qualified.  I added eight adult subjects.  All this took up most of January and some of February, with my attending classes every weekend until I took the test.  The Ides of March date for RIFs (in California) passed me by, but over 200 colleagues in a district with 900 teachers received RIFs.  The final notice date will not be until May 15th; the classified will know on April 30th.  While my period of employment / no employment has passed, others are still in line.
Stress takes its toll. Â Blood pressure rises, sleep becomes overwhelmingly desired or impossible, depression and a sense of helplessness are constant companions. Â Fatigue makes functioning a challenge at times; for me, this fatigue is mental. Â The making of a decision is hard. Â To focus on one thing is elusive as restlessness causes me to pick something up, and then put it down. Â Reading, moving, thinking, doing, accomplishing are too much effort even though I know that once I start actually doing them, and determined to finish them, much of that hill of inertia begins to disappear. Â However, that hill is really a Mt. Everest in size.
Perspective, though, does make an opening through all of this. Â I am not as bad off as some, and certainly worse off than others. Â I know what I want to do, and I know how positive completing something – reaching a milestone, putting another step forward – is.
All this came together for me when I read Kate Davies’ current post on her blog Needled.  She suffered a sudden, unexpected stroke several weeks ago.  Reading her writings of her life post-stroke are painful and inspiring, a solid reminder of the fragility of our own daily existence, as well as our ability, and need, to move beyond the current limitations of life, whether physical, mental, emotional, circumstantial.  Today’s post, invisible metaphors, spoke of many things and works she was reading.  Kate requested input for reading material, and that is when I remembered this poem I read in my teens, found in an old schoolbook of my father’s, that has provided a light in the darkness for me over the years.
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
–William Ernest Henley
Human history continues, individually and collectively. Â Perspective can shift attitude. Â “Fake it ’til you make it.” Â Pandora’s box. Â 1 Corinthians 13. Â Viktor Frankl.
Forget this, and all may be lost.
For the last couple of weeks knitting has wandered in and out of my day, along with my sourpuss attitude. This latter has, I hope, been vanquished, even if temporarily.
I’ve been really frustrated by this pattern, so decided to try it from the bottom up. And, it began to make sense. The pattern has changed rather considerably, but the lacy mock cable and top down construction remain. I’m not doing as many cables – considerably less. Where I had planned a number of cables, I am now using simple a line of knit stitches on a purl background. All knit stitches are now knit through the back loop except for a couple, which will be seen in the pattern.
The most interesting element is just how much simpler the pattern is, and so much easier to knit as it grows more organically once a certain level is reached in the stitch increases.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 