Fold and Turn Sweater

You know when you get on someone's blog, and they're all like, "Sorry it's been a while . . ." and "Life's been so busy I haven't blogged in a while".  And you're like, "I just found you on Pinterest and I'm only here because of the (insert adorable thing found on Pinterest) and I don't really care how long you haven't blogged."  Yeah, that's how I feel when I see people blogging about the reason for their 'extended absence' from blogging.  So, I'm not going to go into the fact that it's been two years since I haven't written anything.  Nope.  Not going to do it.  You can't make me.

Here's a sweater I just finished.

And don't worry, I only look that crazy in pictures my 

6 year old takes of me.  Lol.

I loved this pattern, it suited me to a T.  Basic enough I didn't have to think too hard about what to do next, but cute enough to wear every day.  Just like the pajamas I have on right now.

I found this pattern on Ravelry.  If you don't belong to Ravelry go sign up right now.  Seriously.  It has thousands of patterns on it, and sign up is free.

This pattern is by Suvi Simola and is named 'Fold and Turn', because that is exactly what you do. 

It is knit in a giant rectangle, then you fold and knit the front pieces together, turn it and add the arms.

The yarn I used was actually one I had bought to do a crochet shawl, it's from Joann Fabrics

and is by Bernat.  It's a worsted yarn in Taupe Heather.  I used just over 1 skein and the skein had 426 yards in it.  I used the correct needles that the pattern suggested, a size 5 mm circular.  To knit the arms, I used double pointed needles that were a size 4.5 mm.  I knitted longer than the pattern suggested for the arm length.  It worked out to be 45 rows, then I bound off using a technique I use for garments that need to be stretchy.  You can find that here: Super Stretchy Bind Off

So, that's where I am right now in life.  

You can also follow me on Pinterest here: 

Visit Alison's profile on Pinterest.

And really, I think that's where these two years have gone, thanks Pinterest . . .

Crocheted Yoda Hat

We have a Star Wars fan in our house.  Actually, to just say a fan is an understatement.  He is OBSESSED with Star Wars.  Knows all the characters, planets, ships, who has what lightsaber, everything Star Wars.  Did I mention he's 4?  He wanted me to make him a Darth Maul hat to wear to kindergarten.  If you don't know Star Wars, you probably still know Darth Maul.  He's the one with the scary red and black face and the horns on his head.  Yup, my four year old wanted a hat to make him look like a devil.  And he wanted it for school!  I told him that was never going to happen, so he picked another favorite character, Yoda.  Much better!

Here's how I made it:

 (this is a 2t-4t size hat)
Start with a size J hook-6.00 mm
I used Vanna's Choice yarn in Olive (you can find this at Joann Fabrics or online here: http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/vannaschoice.html?categoryKey=1694587&start=30&pageLength=15 )

Chain 3
Rd 1: Work 8 hdc in first chain.  Sl st in first st to join. (8 st)
Rd 2: Ch 2, work 2 hdc in each st around. (16 st)
Rd 3: Ch 2, *work 1 hdc in first st, 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat from * all around. (24 st)
Rd 4: Ch 2, *work 1 hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st *. Repeat from * all around. (32 st)
Rd 5: Ch 2, *work 1 hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st*. Repeat from * all around. (40 st)
Rd 6: Ch 2, *work 1 hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st*.  Repeat from * all around. (48 st)
Rd 7: Ch 2, * work 1 hdc in next 5 st, 2 hdc in next st*.  Repeat from * all around. (56 st)
Rd 8: Ch 2, *work 1 hdc in next 6 st, 2 hdc in next st*.  Repeat from * all around. (64 st)
Rd 9: Ch2, *work 1 hdc in next 7 st, 2 hdc in next st*.  Repeat from * all around. (72 st)
Rd 10: Ch 2.  Work 1 hdc in each st around. (72 st)
Rd 11-19: Repeat rd 10. (72 st)
Rd 20: Work 1 sc in each st around. (72 st)

Earflaps:
Rd 21: Ch 1, work 1 sc in next 14 sts. Turn. (14 sts)
Rd 22: Ch 1, work 1 sc in next 14 sts.  Turn. (14 sts)
Rd 23: Ch 1, sc next 2 sts tog, sc in next 10 sts, sc next 2 sts tog.  Turn. (12 sts)
Rd 24: Ch 1, work 1 sc in next 12 sts. (12 sts)
Rd 25: Ch 1, sc next 2 sts tog, sc in next 8 sts, sc next 2 sts tog.  Turn. (10 sts)
Rd 26: Ch 1, work 1 sc in next 10 sts. (10 sts)
Rd 27: Ch 1, sc next 2 sts tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc next 2 sts tog.  Turn.  (8 sts)
Rd 28: Ch 1, work 1 sc in next 8 sts.  (8 sts)
Rd 29: Ch 1, sc next 2 sts tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc next 2 sts tog.  Turn.  (6 sts)
Rd 30:  Ch 1, work 1 sc in next 6 sts.  (6 sts)
Fasten off.

Left Earflap:
Lay your hat on a flat surface, with the right side facing you.  You want the right earflap to overlap itself, like it's folded in half.
Counting from the edge of the left side, count 7 sts to the right.  This is where you start the left earflap.
Repeat rounds 21-30.
I then go around the whole hat and earflaps with 1 sc in each stitch.  It gives the whole hat a nice finished look.

Yoda ears!:
Make 2:
Use size H hook-5.00 mm.

These are worked in rounds, so please use a stitch marker!
Ch 2, 6 sc into magic ring.
Rd 1: 6 sc. (6 sts)
Rd 2: 2 sc into each st around. (12 sts)
Rd 3-7: 12 sc. (12 sts)
Rd 8: *work 2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st*.  Repeat from * all around. (18 sts)
Rd 9-11: 18 sc.  (18 sts)
Rd 12: *work 2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next*.  Repeat from * all around.  (27 sts)
Rd 14-16: 27 sc.  (27 sts)
Rd 17: *2 sc in first st, 1 sc, 1 sc*.  Repeat from * all around.  (36 sts)
Rd 18-22: work 36 sc.  (36 sts)
Rd 23: *sc2tog, 1sc, 1 sc*.  Repeat from * all around.  (27 sts)
Rd 24: work 27 sc.  (27 sts)
Rd 25: *sc2tog, 1 sc, 1 sc*.  Repeat from * all around.  (18 sts)
Rd 26-27: Sc around.  (18 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the ear on!

The Absolutely Most Delicious Blueberry Scones Ever!!

It's blueberry season here in Michigan.  My little family goes through A LOT of blueberries.  My boys love to eat them frozen.  We go blueberry picking about 4 times every fall.  I usually just put them in freezer bags and then we can eat them on whatever we want.  But here is a DELICIOUS recipe for blueberry scones! I doubled the recipe and froze the unbaked scones for later use.  I put those directions after the original recipe!

Printable Recipe found HERE!

Start with 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon.  I wisk them all together until it's mixed.

Then cut in 6 Tbsp of cold butter that's been cut up.  You want to either use a pasty cutter or a fork and the finished product should have pea sized pieces of butter mixed through it.

Then add in 1 egg that's been whisked around, 1/2 cup of milk, and 1 tsp vanilla extract.

After the dough is mixed, you add in 1 cup of fresh blueberries. (or more if you want, the more the merrier!)

This next one is a picure of the dough after you get it out of the bowl, and the bottom one is after you smush (technical term . . .) the dough down into a circle shape.  Mine are usually about the size of a dinner plate, and about 1 inch thick.

Then you want to cut the dough into triangles, like a pizza.  I usually get 6 slices out of the circle.

After the dough is cut into pieces, separate the slices because when they cook, they spread out.  And make the topping from 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 2 tsp cinnamon, and 2 Tbsp cold butter.  Like before, cut the butter into the flour and sugar until its pea sized and then sprinkle all over the tops of the unbaked scones.

Put them into the 400 degree oven for 18 minutes.  Then I move the cookie sheet up to the top rack of my oven and let them bake for 2 more minutes.  To give the topping a little brownness.  They are delicious served warm, or cool, or cold, or with ice cream, or with coffee, or for breakfast, or on Sunday brunch.  Seriously, delicious!!

To make them and freeze them, you cut them into slices and separate.  I put down plastic wrap with butter on it to help with sticking.  The pop them into the freezer on the cookie sheet.  Let it freeze for about an hour, then take out and put it into a plastic bag with the air squeezed out and put them back into the freezer.  When you're ready to make them, take them out of the freezer right before you're ready to use them.  I add the crumble topping then and bake.  You'll probably have to add a few minutes to the baking time since they're not thawed beforehand.  YUMMY!!

Printable recipe

RECIPE:
The Absolutely Most Delicious Blueberry Scones Ever!!

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

6 Tbsp cold butter- cut into pieces

1 egg- whisked slightly
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup blueberries

Topping:
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp cold butter

Preheat oven to 400.
 Mix dry ingredients together and cut in the cold butter.  The butter should end up being the size of peas in the mix.  Add the egg, milk and vanilla extract.  Stir dough until just combined.  Then add in fresh blueberries.  Mix until combined.  The dough will be sticky.  Grab the dough and place on your buttered (or oiled) cookie sheet.  Pat it into a plate sized round about 1 inch thick.  Cut into triangle slices and separate them slightly.  Make the Topping by cutting the butter into the flour, sugar and cinnamon.  Then sprinkle over the scones.  Bake for 18 minutes, then put the cookie sheet on the top rack of the oven for 2 minutes.  Enjoy warm, or cooled!