Knitting Dragonflies

Fall in the Midwest means lots of green tomatoes. Green tomatoes are best in the fall, sweet when they have been touched by frost.  Yum!  I’m always looking for new ways to use them. The classic fried green tomatoes, relish, salsa, pickles, chutney, and yes even jam. This year I decided to try a Mincemeat Pie recipe, also known as Green Tomato Pie, and Vegan Mincemeat Pie. It is surprisingly yummy, I think this recipe falls into that sweet  category.  I did tweak my recipe below, so enjoy and let me know if you have a version of this or if you try mine. Happy Baking! Green Tomato Pie Recipe from Blueberries, Art and Life at end of post, I have not tried this one, but it is in the savory category and looks yummy! Green Tomato Pie seems to be common in the South and Ozark area of the U.S, I have also seen it in North Carolina. I had not heard of it before we moved down here. It was one of those things that I passed by on every occasion that I saw it. Really? Ugh? ...

Two years ago I started a flannel hiking shirt for my husband. I have always made his shirts. Well I had a major stall out, then a year ago I picked it up again and got it done except for the buttons. I discovered I had to “adjust it” due to weight loss. OK, so I tweak it a little, and it fits. Fast forward to a year later and the shirt is mocking me from the corner of my stash room,  I finally decide to put the buttons on and give it to him. Thankfully I decide he better try it on before I do! I look, and oh no, it is huge! So I spent longer today, ripping it out and adjusting it, then I think it would have taken me to toss it, and start over. *grin* When altering men’s shirts, one thing leads to another. I agree with Syd, “wake me when the nightmare is over”…. Back too wide + sleeves too long, this leads to eventually ripping everything out, and even making the collar shorter, due to a smaller neck. I went from tweaking it to being “all in”, The pockets are in the wrong plac...

Always take my knitting when hiking! Thankfully I have been able to get some time off of work the last month. Trying to cram in as much family, fun and knitting time as possible. This involved a hiking vacation, knitting, visiting family and some yarn and fabric shopping. Several sweaters and a quilt in the near future. Until then a few photos… Serious decisions (above)                          Looking good, top down sweater (above) More knitting on the trail…                     While Steve sketches Campfires at night…                   and road trip knitting….. Now back to reality…. Keep knitting..

Here I am doing some trail knitting!

Waking up after a long day of hiking, with some coffee and knitting.

Some time ago I learned that Fibonacci can be applied to knitting. If you are not familiar with Fibonacci, he was a mathematician from the middle ages. He figured out the relationship of proportions, now known as the golden ratio (or number), Fibonacci sequence or 1.618 or Phi. This sequence is seen in practically everything. I’ll link to several articles if you wish to learn more. From reproducing animals, to sea shells and galaxies, the human form and sunflowers. (Mona Lisa, Parthenon, and the pyramids of Egypt, just to name a few). This ratio is present in many, many more surprising things. The first time I used this was in my felted bag. I loved the random look of it. This pattern is The Big  Bag Pattern (free on Ravelry) by Maia Discoe (link ) Below are a couple of links if you wish to learn more.. Fibonacci Numbers and Nature The Wiki and Fibonacci Mona Lisa -- Da Vinci's Use of Sacred Geometry (you tube link) In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers or Fibonacci...

I’m always looking for a interesting pattern, especially free ones! Here are five free patterns I’m seriously looking to knit up….. 1- The Giant Knit Cowl , I have this super bulky yarn I bought in a sale that is an odd color, I’ve never know what to do with it. I think this would be great! Looks like it would be fast also! From johannainman .  Jane Richmond ( rav link ) 2. The Camp Out Fingerless Mitts by Tante Ehm , I love these, I like the two way knitting, I don’t have any Noro yarn, but am in serious stash busting mode, I’m hoping to find something I can use! Or I might just have to buy some Noro, these look soooo good! 3. Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson, who doesn’t like a slouchy beret!! Cables spice it up. Get Knitting!