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february makes: from sweaters to crème brûlée (mishaps included!)

Published by fairfaxhill

Here’s a quick update on what I’ve been up to lately!

As some of you saw on my Instagram feed, I finished making the sweater I started last February. I was modifying the Malaury pattern, replacing the texture created by knit and purl stitches with mock cables for my version. The result was a happy surprise. (I’m feeling pretty confident trusting my math when adapting patterns now–it fits!) I also learned a new technique for attaching a collar that I might start using more often.

The pattern called for a back-stitched collar, which was new to me. I normally pick up stitches around the neckline, but the pattern said to knit the collar separately, leaving one of the edges on scrap yarn.

I was having a difficult time wrapping my head around the process, and even after finding this helpful tutorial, the whole thing looked way too complicated.

Then, I remembered watching a video showing a similar technique that looked much simpler. The difference: no stitches that could potentially unravel! You simply take the finished collar and back-stitch it in place over the neckline edge. So I tried that, and I love the result. I might add a photo tutorial to the blog for quick reference because I think more people should know about this technique. By attaching the collar this way, you don’t have to worry about picking up stitches evenly on each side, you can play with the positioning of the collar and match each side perfectly before you sew it in place.

In the kitchen, I tried a crème brûlée recipe by Mark Bittman, hoping it would be the one. (I tried a different recipe a while back, but it used too many eggs.) This looked so simple, I even bought a fancy torch to get that perfect caramelized sugar top (thanks Santa!), but after reading the user manual (too complicated), I opted for the broiler instead. The result? Caramelized to perfection, ha-ha, but still delicious! It seems getting crème brûlée right will take a little more practice, but hey, at least everyone ate it! Next time, hopefully I will have figured out how to use the torch too.

We’ve had some beautiful days mixed in with the rainy ones this spring. I went on a walk in Tiburon (Blackie’s Pasture) some weeks ago to break in the hiking boots I got for Christmas. I got a bunch of steps that day—10,000+! Patrick and I have both started counting our steps and he’s been tracking what he eats with the Fitbit app. He’s found that keeping a journal has been super helpful for getting in better shape. Inspired by Patrick, I’m giving it a try. But I realized that ever since I stopped keeping a paper journal with all my ideas and weekly to-dos, I’ve been a total mess. So, no app for me, I’m back to using a notebook to keep track of things.

For those of you who love chocolate and orange, here’s a delicious discovery inspired by @rovinhaggis: orange marmalade and Nutella on brioche (buttermilk in a pinch!). Yummy!

Easter Brunch Ideas:

I’ve been thinking about what I should bring to the brunch on Sunday: tarte au citron, scones, quiche, something from my Tartine book, sweet bread in the shape of bunnies, sticky buns? The kids and Patrick already voted for sticky buns, and I’m kind of leaning towards sticky buns too. I’d like to test Joanne Chang’s recipe, especially after reading this article by Adam Roberts from the Amateur Gourmet, one of my favorite food bloggers.

What would you bring? Let me know in the comments.

And don’t forget to follow my Instagram to stay in touch!

💛 Gabi

geogradient shawl

geogradient mkal: how it’s going

Published by fairfaxhill

This month I’ve been working on the Geogradient Mystery Knit Along by Stephen West and I haven’t had time for much else. Books I want to read, and recipes I want to try are piling up! But I’m close to done, and I predict the shawl will be finished within a week.

Photos: a pinhole cast on; the start of clue one; clue two in the works; clue 2 finished; clue 3 first side.

Reflecting on the colors I chose.

I signed up and purchased a kit online because I thought that would be easier than trying to pick out yarn at the local yarn store and putting together my own gradient.

Looking back, I wish I had taken a bit more time to think about my colors. I knew I wanted to use Holst yarn because that’s what I used for my last shawl and I really liked the result. (This yarn is also quite affordable, and considering you have no idea what your final project will look like when you join a mystery KAL, it was a no-brainer for me!)

But the thing is, I had recently ordered shade cards from Holst to have handy for new project ideas (for that day when I actually try to design something myself!). So, it would have been easy to create and order my own color combination. What kept me from doing that was that I worried I wouldn’t get the yarn before the first clue was released. (I didn’t want to fall behind! I’m a slow knitter, already.) So, I chose the easy route and purchased a kit.

Don’t worry, I don’t regret my color choices, and I like the way my shawl is turning out. These colors go perfectly with jeans and a white t-shirt (my go-to uniform). BUT, I know that the next time I work on one of these shawls I’ll be thinking about my colors way in advance, because I want to absolutely love the result.

One month of knitting needs an amazing ending, don’t you think?

Today is November 8, and I’m about half way through the fourth and final clue. I can’t tell you how excited I am about finally getting to block and wear my new shawl. It’s funny, because I’d never considered myself to be a shawl person, but I do like to wrap myself in big scarves and cowls when it’s cold outside – and it’s definitely getting chilly around here.

I’m picking up takeout for dinner tonight, so I can focus on completing a few more rows.

What are you working on this week?
Let me know in the comments!