Sunday, September 3rd, 2006...11:19 am

Mason-Dixoning
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Mason-Dixon Knitting contains some really addictive little patterns. There’s lots I want to knit that I haven’t tried yet, such as the Log Cabin Blanket, the Moss Grid Hand Towel, the Baby Bib O’Love and the Mitred Square Blanket. So far I have only tried the Ballband Dischcloth and the Baby Genius Burp Cloths. If you haven’t added the book to your knitting libraries yet, I’d definitely recommend it. It doesn’t contain any particularly challenging patterns, but the patterns are flexible and inspiring.

Here’s my latest Ballband Dishcloths:

In action…

Orange green ballband washcloth

Blue and white

Blue white ballband washcloth

These are actually Ballband Facecloths, as they are knitted with Patricia Roberts’ cotton which is softer on the skin

Ballband washcloth stack

This is my first Burp Cloth. It’s knitted in hot pink and lime green Sugar ‘n Cream yarn which Parikha sent me, along with a bunch of other colours (thanks, Parikha!).

Green pink burp cloth

I love the idea of knitting practical things for the home which can be used and enjoyed every day. I don’t think I’m ever going to be a great garment knitter (I’m rapidly forming the conclusion that 2006 is not going to be the Year of the Garment, after all). I don’t get bored by knitting very easily. I can knit the same pattern over, and I quite like repetitive patterns, perhaps with colour changes or texture for some stimulation. If I get stuck on more challenging patterns, they tend to get put to one side, either indefinitely or until I’m overcome with horror at my WIP accumulation.

In other Suzy Homemaker news, I’ve been wanting to bake a chocolate cake with chestnuts in place of flour for ages, and this weekend I finally got around to it. Here’s the result…

Chocolate chestnut cake

It’s a gorgeous, moussey, extremely rich and chocolately cake made from this recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (or Huge Furry-Whippingtool, as we like to call him in this house). It definitely needs raspberries (or possibly some creme fraiche to cut throught the richness), but it’s truly lovely.

1 Comment

  • [...] Since having baked the chocolate chestnut cake, I have developed a taste for all things marron. I picked up these minature tubs of vanilla-scented, chestnut goo, but I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with it. Apparently you can have it with yoghurt and ice cream, but I opted to slather it on toast, and it is lovely. Go buy some. If you like sweet chestnutty things. [...]