I am no longer…

…posting to this blog, but you are welcome to go through the old posts and grab whatever you find helpful!

Happy knitting!

Blue Plate Special

I am alone, and got up and dressed for our Easter Service online, then Zoomed in to fellowship with other people from my church. so.

As you may have gathered, I like to cook, but there is no point in making a large dinner, much as I would like. I was supposed to make a lemon meringue pie for one of my grandsons and his fiancee family dinner today, but that’s not happening. Sadly, he and his fiancee are isolated from each other, so sad for the young.

But I have three Lindt truffles and the remains of a keto pound cake (with the best cream cheese icing I have ever tasted) so from my half-pound of ground beef I am going to make myself a Blue Plate Special. This was a favourite entree at diners and drugstore restaurant counters back in the day, and it was a favourite with two of my grandsons. I will have to make it without the mushrooms as I am out of them, and no more groceries coming for two weeks, but I have Magic Mushroom Seasoning from Viet Nam for umami (did you know you can make your own?) and I can substitute the mushrooms with an onion – it will still provide me with some comfort-food deliciousness on this festive day, especially with some nice potatoes!

Blue Plate Special

1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 egg
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 c. bread crumbs
1 T. Dijon mustard

Mix this all up and fry in a skillet deep enough for the gravy:

1-1/2 c. beef gravy*
1 T. horseradish
1 c. fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced

Pour over the patties when the second side is browned, turn down the heat and cover just until the mushrooms are cooked.

Serve with potatoes, carrots and peas, of course.

*Homemade Gravy

Melt 2 T. fat or bacon grease in a sauce pan, whisk in 2 T. flour, then gradually add 2 c. beef broth, whisking until bubbly and smooth.
OR
Melt 2 T. fat or bacon grease in a sauce pan, whisk in 2 c. cold beef broth into which 2 T. of cornstarch has been added and mixed in. Whisk until bubbly and smooth.

And if you need to get a break from the kids, here’s a sheet on how to make Sidewalk Puffy Paint. Just whip some up and set them loose to practice safe distancing on the driveway!

Sidwalk Puffy Paint.pdf

Sweaters for Elephants

This a touching story, but I wish this country treated their girls and women with the same care and consideration as they do their animals. -Rachel People Are Knitting Giant Sweaters For Rescued Elephants To Protect Them From Cold Winters get chilly in Northern India, so volunteers at the the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center decided to knit giant sweaters for its rescued elephants. It takes around 4 weeks to make one sweater, and it does not come as a surprise knowing that elephants are the largest land mammals on the planet. Still, the volunteers make sure that the knits are not only warm and cozy, they are also colorful , and even fashionable. “It is important to keep our elephants protected from the bitter cold during this extreme winter, as they are weak and vulnerable having suffered so much abuse making them susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia,” cofounder Kartick Satyanarayan said in a release. “The cold also aggravates their arthritis which is a common issue that our rescued elephants have to deal with.” Thank goodness the abuse those sweet babies had to face is in the past, with bright – and stylish – future ahead of them. More info: Wildlife SOS India | Facebook (h/t: thedodo ) Winters get chilly in Northern India, so an animal shelter decided to knit giant sweaters for its rescued elephants It takes around 4 weeks to make one sweater – the elephants are the largest land mammals on the planet Still, the volunteers make sure that the knits are not only warm and cozy, they are also colorful and even fashionable “It is important to keep our elephants protected from the bitter cold during this extreme winter, as they are weak and vulnerable…” “Having suffered so much abuse [makes] them susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia… The cold also aggravates their arthritis” Thank goodness the terrible things those sweet babies had to face are in the past, with bright – and stylish – future ahead of them

Filet Crochet & Graphic Knitting!

From: Free Patterns Date: 2016-10-23 3:43:58 PM Subject: Filet Crochet & Graphic Knitting! Thinking of getting rid of your stash of vintage pattern books? Don’t throw them out! We’ll take them so we can share them with everyone! Send them to us and get a free gift! Spool Cotton Company Doreen Knitting Books American Thread Company Fashions in Wool Filet Crochet New category for vintage mail order filet crochet pamphlets. These pampflets were available by mail order and through various newspapers. The names Laura Wheeler and Alice Brooks were given to the lines to give them a personal feel, but these are not the actual designer names. Patterns were distributed by Needlecraft Services beginning in the 1930s. Fun and pretty filet crochet patterns that were received in the mail: Graphic Knitting Jump into knitting with this category for Grace Ennis graphic knitting patterns. Grace Ennis was on all accounts a pretty Bel Air blonde – as well as a passionate woman who embraced life to the fullest. When she was five years old, she showed a knack for knitting. But it wasn’t until 1939 when she was 29 years old that the full expression of her art began to take shape. Grace began working out her colorful designs on graph paper. Get ready for Christmas with these stocking patterns: Miss a Newsletter? Check out recent newsletters that I’ve sent… September 25, 2016: Boucle Fashions, Book #71, originally published by The Clark Thread Company in 1936. August 29, 2016: Doilies, Book #163, originally published by The Spool Cotton Company in 1941. August 14, 2016: Woolies for Infants, Book #153, originally published by The Spool Cotton Company in 1940. July 11, 2016: New Table Settings, Book #95, originally published by The Spool Cotton Company in 1937. June 17, 2016: Handmade Sports Wear, Book #35, originally published by The Spool Cotton Company in 1934. More Newsletters Crochet & Knitting Themed Book Series Crochet Mysteries Knitting Mysteriies Pages of Interest Barn to Yarn Blog Crochet Abbreviations Crochet Hook Conversions Steel Hook Conversions Knitting Abbreviations Knit Needle Conversions Discontinued Yarn Chart Vintage Size Chart Is a once a week update just not enough for you? Follow us on social media to keep up with our day-to-day activities, too! This message was sent from Free Patterns to Sylvia.Genders@gmail.com. It was sent from: , 172 Ellen St , Oswego, NY 13126. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below. Manage Your Subscription

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Sylvia.Genders Sylvia

As Promised…

Sore Joints Cream This recipe for sore joints is very simple and effective (unless you are allergic to aspirin). In a clean jar, put 2 oz. of a mild unscented moisturizer or face cream. To that add 25 drops of each: Eucalyptus Essential Oil Wintergreen Essential Oil Mix or shake very well until the oils are fully incorporated. Put a small dab on sore joints when knitting starts hurting. REMEMBER!!! Never use aluminum needles – they only exacerbate the problem! ****************** The Finished Lace Boa I like this so much I am using it in my signature! ****************** Coffee Cozies For Tim Horton’s Cups This is so simple and fast, you have time to make a bunch before Christmas! With a colourful chunky yarn and 8 mm needles, CO 31 or 33 St. Row 1: *K1, P1* to end of row. K1. Row 2: *P1, K1* to end of row. P1. Rib 1×1 for 3-1/2″ BO and sew up the side seam. These should fit a large cup, but if your tension is too tight for the cup, use your cozy for the smaller size and increase the needle size on your next one. cozies 1 cozies 2

Old Fashioned Jerk Chicken

Our 10th year anniversary luncheon at Parkdale Knifty Knitters was a hit, and I was asked for the recipe for the Jerk Chicken I brought. You can also make this with pork chops. I’ve been doing both since I got the recipe from the Don McLean Show back in 1972 or ’73 during Carabana. It is not like the hot-hot jerk so popular today, so if you want it really hot, you will have to fix that, but it is identical to the Jerk our friend Q. used to make for island-inspired events (to my utter joy! may she rest in peace!) and my family and friends still love it. Jerk Chicken & Pork 1/2 c. Water 1/4 c. Soy sauce 2 Green onion(s) 1 t. Allspice 1 t. Cinnamon 1 t. Pepper Blenderize above ingredients. Lay up to 3 lb. Of chicken or pork in a large shallow pan and pour the sauce over all. You can marinate this or bake right away at 325° for 1-1/2 hours, turning once…it don’t matter, it is still going to be great! If you have received this by mistake, I apologize.

Slouchy Beanies

This has become my most favourite project, and I’ve done some experimenting, with colours mostly, yarn weights, and am currently working on one using a beautiful sock yarn for less cold weather.

Here is what I’ve learned.

When making a plain, stocking-stitch pattern, liven it up by using alternate rows of two different variegated wools. And if your targeted loved one won’t wear it, it’s great as a teapot cozy.

If you only use one yarn alternate the stocking-stitch rows by knitting three, then purling three rows. The hat will flatten like an accordion, but drapes nicely on the head.

 

An you can mix up your yarns using one moderately heavy yarn with a moderately light yarn.

For an ‘illumination’ or glowing effect, use three yarns…one grey, one greyish blue, and one clear blue of the same hue (or red, or green). This will make the colour glow, and people will ask you where you got your hat. Almost makes the flat-hair effect worth it!

 

 

 

Santa Scarf and other patterns

From Diane…

Size 8 needles 190 yds. of Dk weight yarn for main color.
1 Skein of Aura yarn to match main color
1 skein of white yarn for beard & hat trim. (This may be fur, chenille or textured type of yarn)
If using Dk weight, hold 2 strands together, or 1 strand of worsted weight.
*scrap yarn in white to knit 20 rows.

With *scrap yarn cast on 20 sts and work in 1 x 1 rib for 20 rows.

Change to hat trim yarn and work in 1 x 1 rib for 4 to 6 rows.
Change to main color and Aura held together, work in 1 x 1 rib until desired scarf length leaving enough yarn to finish the end with (about 10 rows). Last 10 rows: K2tog, knit across to last 2 sts. K2 tog. Repeat this row until 4 or 5 sts remain. Bind off.

For Beard: With beard yarn and using crochet hook, start at bottom of scarf and fringe across in every other stitch. Fringe the next 2 rows as above alternating every other stitch.

Bamboo Trim Dishcloth

8.5 x 8.5 square.

cast on 38 stitches with a crochet cast on, or any even number +2 for edging.

(yf) yarn forward
(pyf) pass yarn forward

Knit 1st and last stitch on all rows.
Knit 1, purl to end, knit 1, on all even rows.

Row 1,3, 5, Knit 1, (yf, k2, pyf over the knit 2 stitches) to last sitich, knit 1

Row 2,4,6. Knit 1, purl across to last stitch, knit 1

Row 7. K1, (yf, k2, pyf over the knit 2 stitches) three times, knit to last 7 stitches, (yf, k2, pyf over the knit 2 stitches), K1.
Row 8. Knit 1, purl to last stitch, knit 1.

Continue to desired length and repeat row 1,2,3,4,5 and on the sixth row (wrong side) cast off. I used regular knit 1, yo. This and casting off on the wrong side seemed to mirror the crochet cast on.

Blanket with Eyelet Dog (Download)

Blanket with Eyelet Cat (Download)

Square Elephant Hat

(Download)

Snaking Scarf

Scarf that is formed using short rows – best suited to striping yarn.

(Download)

Tunisian Crochet Ten Stitch Blanket – Free Pattern

This looks like it would make a rather heavy blanket, and a good way to use up yarn ends.

Tunisian Crochet Ten Stitch Blanket – Free Pattern – Look At What I Made.