December 2008 Archives

Where did this year go? While I've actually finished four more things only one is going to make it up here under 2008. Mostly because, well I forgot to take photos of my gift knitting. I know, for shame! Especially considering I got my new favorite-est toy for Xmas!



Hello my sweet Nikon D80! Oh how I coveted thee. I have tons and tons to learn but have at least started in on the practical with getting it out of the box and snapping away. And what does one do with a new fancy camera? Take pictures of their pets of course!
Ha, so here's Aejaz in his favorite sun spot.



This beanie is Mr. PieKnits knitted gift this year. Several months ago when he patiently accompanied my to the LYS he spotted this yarn and really liked it. Well I've always said my boy has taste- it's 100% cashmere, composed of several different colored strands spun together into a bulky weight. I snuck back later and got it. This is definitely the most extravagant yarn I've ever purchased, but I think Mr. PieKnits is worth it. :)



In typical guy fashion, he prefers most knits to be simple/plain but seeing as he already had a basic ribbed hat (and they're boring! especially for such a fancy yarn), I wanted to add a little something. I decided to work most of it in a 3x2x2x2 rib until the top. Here I threw in some subtle cables twisting into the decreases for interest.



I like to think it strikes a balance.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

I'm a little behind but thought I'd share one of my Thanksgiving deserts- Pumpkin Spice cake with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting via Martha Stewart. I'll transcribe the recipe here even though I did end up following it to the letter.



The cake was moist but still lighter than the traditional "pumpkin bars". In an ode to the little candy corn-like pumpkins my Mom always but on top of said pumpkin bars I made little pumpkins out of marzipan and dusted them with some gold edible Pearl/Luster Dust.



Pumpkin Spice Cake With Honey Frosting
For the cake:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
  
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice (or 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon each allspice and cloves)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin puree

For the Honey Frosting:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, very soft
  
• 1 bar (8 ounces) regular (or reduced-fat) cream cheese, very soft
• 1/4 cup honey

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch square pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin-pie spice. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, butter, and pumpkin puree until combined. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture, and mix gently until smooth.

Turn batter into prepared pan, and smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool cake 10 minutes in pan, then turn out of pan, and cool completely, right side up, on a rack.

Make Honey Frosting: In a medium bowl, whisk butter, cream cheese, and honey until smooth.

Spread top of cooled cake with honey frosting. Cut cake into squares to serve.

Oh hi there, I am still alive! Sorry for the unplanned blog absence -life and all, you know that tune. So if you all haven't wandered off in boredom I Do have a new pattern! Or er, a pattern upgrade, a new variation, an expansion perhaps? Well whatever you'd call it, Devra now has a new slouch version including new charts. Both versions are available in one pattern.

I just love the silhouette of this style. I can't seem to stay away from it. This version has a wider repeat, is longer obviously and the crown decreases are worked differently than the original to account for the extra stitches.

NOTE: If you are one of the lovely people who have purchased the original Devra pattern before 12/11/08 and would like to get the upgrade please email at jen AT pieknits DOT com for a discount code. I'll be offering the new version for $0.75 for pervious purchasers.



As with the previous version, this hat was an exercise in seamless cables from bottom to top. The bottom ribbing is made fitted with smaller needles and subtle increases for the main section. The cables continue to the very top with the decreases worked into the pattern. I'm kind of obsessive when it comes to continuing patterns for as long as possible. My other goal I really wanted to accomplish with this design was a clean, neat-fitting brim that was easy to do. I've worked ones with lots of short rows, multiple picking up stitches sequences or fiddly separate pieces that are just short of a nightmare to sew together. (I really dislike guesswork on finishing.) This brim requires no special techniques and is simply picked up and cast on all in one go then worked in the round. It's my favorite brim to date!



The pattern contains both written and fully charted instructions for both versions as well as a template for the plastic insert in the brim.

The instant download rundown -after payment via Paypal you will be given a link to download the pattern. This link will also be emailed to you and will expire in 120 hours. For any questions about the pattern or whole download process please shoot me an email me at- jen@pieknits.com!

Pattern: Devra 2 Cabled Brimmed Hat
Gauge: 15 sts and 20 rows = 4" in St st on larger needles.
Size: Womens (20"-22" circumference)
Needle sizes: Size 8 (5 mm): 16" circular (cir). Size 10 (6 mm): 16" cir and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn)
Yarn: Bernat Alpaca Natural Blends (70% acrylic, 30% alpaca; 120 yds [110 meters] per 100g):
Fitted Version: 93011 Wheat, 1 ball
Slouchy Version: 93040 Ebony, 2 balls
Skill level: Intermediate (cables, working in the round, picking up sts, kitchener stitch or three needle bind-off used)
Price: $5.00
Format: PDF instant download pattern