Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Makin' Jam
















Doesn't this look delicious?  It's blackberry jam.

I'm feeling quite accomplished lately.  A few weeks ago, Mother and I made strawberry jam and it my first attempt at jam making.  Mother taught me how to make it and I was surprised at how easy it was.  On Saturday, we made blackberry jam.  Mother sat at the kitchen table crocheting and supervising while I measured, smashed, and stirred.  But she helped when it came time to fill the jars.  I filled and she put the lids on.

I couldn't help but think about my grandmother as I stood at the stove, in what used to be my grandmother's kitchen, stirring blackberries and sugar in that big white enamel pan with the red rim.  It is the same pan that my grandmother used when she canned and made jams and jellies.  To fill the jars, I used their dipper they used when they had a well.

Since we had three cookers as my Mother calls them, I had plenty of time to think and meditate while I stirred.  As I waited for the blackberries to boil, I thought how deep, rich, and beautiful the blackberries were and how I wished that I could have a wrap that color.  If anyone knows of a blackberry colorway, PLEASE let me know! 

We're planning on making pear preserves, blueberry jam, and muscadine jelly next.  So stay tuned.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Row Counting and Pattern Squinting


So.  After a stretch of many miles of garter stitch, including the body of my Multnomah, I'm back to row counting and pattern squinting  I started the Feather and Fan border this morning.  I've done three rows of the 4 row pattern repeat and now I'm finishing up taking them out.  I sure hope things go better this evening.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Sunday, June 5, 2011

An Update and Birthday Knitting

An Update
As of today, the North Jefferson/Blount County division has crocheted and knitted 65 squares!  I made this square over Memorial Day and everyone who's seen it just loves it.  And it was fun to do which makes it just that much better in my opinion.















The pattern is the Mitered Crosses Blanket by Kay Gardiner.  I had to modify it a bit to meet the 8x8 dimensions for Blankets for Birmingham.  And I ran out of yarn and had to use a different dyelot.  Can you see the difference?

Birthday Knitting
Walker and Tristan will be celebrating their birthdays together on June 18.  Walker will be 3 and Tristan will be 1.  Their mom called yesterday and asked if I'd make bibs for them to wear on their birthdays.  She wanted the bibs I had made when Tristan was born.  Of course I said yes!  I love to knit for "my" boys! .So, I'm making the Baby Bib 'O Love from Mason Dixon Knitting.















I just need to add the straps and button.  Then I'll start on a red bib. 

Back to bib knitting!