Gobble Gobble

It's Thanksgiving here in the US tomorrow. This year we're staying in Portland, cooking a meal with friends, hopefully getting lots of rest and oh, we're definitely seeing the Muppets!.

If you're celebrating, I hope you have a safe and savory one! Seeded soda bread recipe here (I added raisins, too). Great for a lazy weekend breakfast.

Jung Jung

This crochet has blown my mind. Thanks to Peg and Sarah for showing me!

Bean Paste Pancakes

As previously mentioned, I made the bean paste pancake.

Lovely, for a once in a while treat.

Sheldon Conch

You remember Marcel? I know you know, but...he's back! And just as good as the first time around.

Sets of Small Things

Some sets of things, for the baby. I know so many pregnant ladies now, that I may give away a set or two before my own pregnancy is over.

Norwegian Baby Cap (free pattern here) and Baby Mocs (free pattern here).

Norwegian Baby Cap (same pattern as above) this time with strings added, and Baby Moc-a-Socs. Ravelry notes are here. I'm slowly making my way through my scrap stash!

Before I found out the gender of this baby, I was so hoping it was a girl so that the clothes I knit would be suitable. Now I'm realizing that so much of what I knit could go to either a boy or a girl! Girly garments await, I'm sure.

Special Kneads: Bean Bun, Trial 1

Bean buns are one of my favorite foods. When I was in college, there was a place called "VP2" (still there?) around the corner from my dorm on Washington Square West, that served amazing baked and steamed buns with beans and fake meat. A few years ago, I found a great place in London's Chinatown that sold fresh steamed bean buns for £2. Here in Portland, I can only buy frozen ones at Uwajimaya. Though still a good choice, I've decided to try crafting my own, in a few different varieties.

For this baked bean bun, I used my usual weekly bread dough, filled the rolls bean paste from this recipe, and baked them off.

They were great! We had them with soup, and I froze the rest for quick breakfasts to take to work. They tasted like a bialy, and the paste was the perfect taste, if just a touch dry. Next time I'll add 2 tsp of oil to the mix after mashing.

Next up: I'm going to use my Krumkake maker to craft pancake-style bean treats, like Angela's store-bought variety, maybe with sesame seeds on top? I'm working my way up to the coveted steamed kind. Any tips, anyone?

The Story of Jean

In preparation for childbirth, I am studying a 1950 edition of "Understanding Natural Childbirth: A Book for the Expectant Mother" by Herbert Thoms, MD, photos by David Linton. I bought it at the Goodwill for $3.99. It was previously owned by Joan Paglin of Berkley, CA, and previous to Joan, M.C. Bennett, M.D. I will be adding my name to the inside front cover.

The book follows the story of Jean, as she prepares for childbirth in some of her everyday activities. Here are some of her exercises. I am trying to follow suit.




I think all moms-to-be could learn a thing or two from these great tips. More from Jean soon...her birth story is one of the most exciting I have read!

Homemade Maternity in Seersucker

This isn't really a maternity pattern. Instead, it's a normal pattern with generous inset perfect for maternity time (and that would be now). It came out looking very vintage maternity though, like something Rosemary might wear, don'cha think?

I didn't make any changes to the pattern. I used gray/white seersucker I got at the Fabric Depot Outdoor Sale for $3 a yard, along with some red Kona cotton. I had the buttons in my stash, and used a lot of sweet vintage bias tape, to add more stripes and spots on the inside. It makes me smile to look at it.

I wore the dress on a warm fall Sunday, to kick up my heels at the playground. I am the Portland Beyonce (don't you know), and when my dress crinkles a certain way you even doubt I'm really pregnant, right?

I might make another one of these. Who doesn't love a swingy dress with no fitted waist, even when your tummy isn't getting larger by the week?

I carry on with this homemade maternity journey even though, day by day, my tights get ever tighter...

Cascade, for future days

After I saw how sweet Elizabeth's daughter looked in Cascade (free pattern here), I knew I wanted to knit this cardigan myself. So many of my knitting projects lately have been top-down raglans. I'm used to their construction, and they almost always yield a great result.

This pattern (Ravelry details here) was just enough of what I knew, and just enough experimentation to be fast and satisfying. The yarn, Tosh Vintage, was so luxurious I imagine I'll knit with it again.

It's for you-know-who, but since I made the 12 month size, it'll be over a year before she can wear it. Nevermind, something (else) to look forward to!