Knitting the Twist Cardigan has provided the opportunity to learn a new buttonhole, specifically the Tulips buttonhole by TECHknitting.  Here are my test buttonholes:

If you want to do this buttonhole, the Interweave KnitsSpring Summer 2010 issue has the directions, but I found this video was pretty darned helpful in learning about to do.  My experience was that I didn’t need to use the smaller dpn needle to do the cast-on for the stitches of the buttonhole (which uses a crochet hook with a yarnover). I think this is because I’m a loose knitter, and I was able to pull those stitches quite tightly as I cast on. Since I was doing several buttonholes in one row, this was a way better thing.  They came out looking very symmetrical:

I had a hiccup on the collar because I didn’t trust the pattern (sorry, Bonne Marie, how stupid is that!).  I cast-on fewer stitches for the collar than the pattern required because I was using my usual ratio formula.  This would have worked if I had intended to simply do a neck-band, but instead it pulled everything tighter that would be helpful for a collar turning out.  So I tinked my 3 inches or so of collar and tried again with the actual directions, and it worked (of course).  So I also followed the end cast-off directions, proving that I am teachable, and realiaed that the pattern has the collar echoing the button band cast-off.  Chic Knits patterns do this kind of thing all the time, it is so nice that someone else has thought of these things.

Tasks remaining:

1. Attach the sleeves (already knit) and pray that I don’t have any color-pooling because I didn’t alternate skeins on one of them.  If it is too noticeable, I will have to re-knit.  I’m trying to overlook that possibility.
2. Block.  I think the slight pulling in on the bands will resolve itself nicely with blocking.
3. Attach ribbon to button band and buttons for couture buttons.  I have the decorative buttons and the backing buttons.  I’m using these tutorials from Gigi of the Knitmore Girls. (look on the right side for grosgrain ribbon and button tutorials.)
4. Weave in ends.  Celebrate greatly!
5. Think about knitting a hat to match with the leftovers.

My resolve to not knit any gifts for Christmas is weakening.

Last night I looked for cute hat patterns, and found Brambles, a lovely free pattern on Knitty.  I have yarn stash in at least a couple of different fibers that would work. Then I realized that I already have a hat and scarf set done – but are they appropriate for someone on my list?  I’m not sure.  Then there’s the leftover yarn from the Poplar and Elm cardigan – it would make a lovely cowl.  Who knows where this will lead?  I fear that I will wait ’til the last week, cave in and find myself up ’til 1 a.m. knitting gifts.

I also realized that the corriedale yarn that I spun for my Candleglow scarfis slightly underspun, and this was driving me nuts.  I took out my spindle, and spun a couple of the skeins tighter, and have reset the twist – things are definitely going better now!

The lovely Kalajoki socks are coming along – I’m finishing the first heel.

The yarn is from Scout’s Swag, and is part of her sock yarn club – the colorway is Sagebrush.  This lovely (free) pattern is great with varigated and handpainted yarns. Since it has been freezing here overnight, the socks and hats are pretty important right now!.

But the bestest thing knitting-wise today is finding the right buttons for the Twist cardigan. Aren’t these going to be terrific?

Sigh. It gives this knitter heart a little pitter-patter to find a button so perfect for the garment.

Finally, in the unexpected outcomes of knitting, we have these:

These were knit with the stockinette side out – just like in the basic mitten pattern by Ann Budd that I followed. But really, with the stripes, the insides looked much more interesting, and have the advantage of being slightly larger turned that way. Fortunately, I was hiding the ends pretty well, so you can’t tell that I changed my mind at the last minute. These are destined for Afghans for Afghans.

I am truly thankful that this view is right outside on my deck…

For those who may not know that the title of this post is from a popular 19th century Christian hymn.  The first stanza goes like this:

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As another batch of the yummy Lentil Soup simmers on the stove, I’m taking an opportunity to post about the finallyfinished Youth Blanket for Afghans for Afghans. This started as leftover squares from a long ago baby blanket project, using Mauch Chunky. Then it was briefly entered into the 2010 Ravelympics, which it did not complete, and went into complete hibernation after that. Now, at last, it is done!

A few notes on the techniques I used. After single-crocheting around each square, I slip-stitched along the vertical seams, going under both loops from the front side, which created a slight, and to my eye, attractive ridge. But I didn’t want that on the horizontal seams, so I slip-stitched from the back side, and just took the back loops on each square, which is a lovely technique that is really, really solid, but very flexible.

For the border, I used a couple of black skeins and a bit of the bright bits leftover for a stripe along the top edge. To get the stitches on the borders, I did each side separately. I picked up the stitches, and then knit into the back of the loop, so the twist would make that edge firm. At each end on the first side, I increased into the front and back of the last stitch. On the second side, I would increase on the front, and knit that last stitch into the previous side’s edge on the back.

Now I’ve still got the Twist cardigan in suspended animation, but enough energy to focus on that now!

And the Candleglow scarf is coming along, bit by bit. I love the colors!

One of my favorite recipes for over 25 years is one from Diet for a Small Planet by Francis Moore Lappe called “Lentils, Monastery Style,” presumably named so because it is simple, hearty, and the kind of fair that monks and nuns might find on their table. Using canned tomatoes, it takes about an hour to make, which is why lentils are one of my favorite legumes!

Lappe has gone to doing many awesome things related to the planet and food and democracy, which you can check out by going to the website she runs with her daughter, Small Planet Institute. There’s even a new sustainable recipe feature.

Over the years, I’ve adapted the Lentil recipe by adjusting the amounts and some of the ingredients. Today I got up early and made it for a workday at my church. It’s possible that my cats were freaked out at the cooking that happened so early this morning. Every bit was gone by the end of lunch! So I thought it might be nice to share with others who are needing hearty fare at this time of year.

I like to make a lot of it when I do, so the amounts in parenthesis make a larger pot.

Lentils, Spiritual Style – from raw to finished in one hour!