Sunday, April 26, 2020

Super Bulky Basket Weave Hat

Hi everyone!

Some time ago, I was perusing Ravelry for a super bulky knitted hat pattern. I found this one from Yarnspirations, but I didn't like that it is worked flat and then seamed.

I adapted Yarnspirations' pattern to make a similar one that is worked in the round.


Super Bulky Basket Weave Hat


YARN: Super bulky yarn, approximately 4 oz, or approximately 90 yds, in total.
Main Color (MC): approximately 60 yds
Contrast Color (CC): approximately 30 yds

GUAGE: 1” x 1” – 4 sts x 3 rows, in rib pattern (relaxed, not stretched)

NEEDLES:
US 11 circular needles
US 13 circular needles
US 13 double-pointed needles

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS:
  • K – Knit
  • P – Purl
  • Ktbl – Knit through the back loop
  • SSP – Slip, slip, purl (decrease)
  • SSK – Slip, slip, knit (decrease)
  • P2tog – Purl two together (decrease)
  • K2tog – Knit two together (decrease)

STARTING with US 11 circular needles
Using the MC, cast on 54 stitches using a stretchy cast on. Join in circle, being careful not to twist stitches. Place marker. Move the marker as the work progresses keeping the first stitch of the round in the same position.

Stitch K1 P1 ribbing for 2 inches, or the desired length of the brim.

SWITCH to US 13 circular needles
1.     Change to CC. *(Ktbl, P1) 4 times. Ktbl. P9. Repeat from * around.
2.     *(Ktbl, P1) 4 times. Ktbl. K9. Repeat from * around.
3.     Repeat rounds 3 and 4 four more times.
4.     Change to MC. *P9. (Ktbl, P1) 4 times. Ktbl. Repeat from * around.
5.     *K9. (Ktbl, P1) 4 times. Ktbl. Repeat from * around.
6.     Repeat rounds 6 and 7 four more times.

SHAPING the crown (switch to US 13 double-pointed needles when necessary):
7.     Change to CC. *(Ktbl, P1) 4 times, Ktbl, SSP, P5, P2tog. Repeat from * around.
8.     *(Ktbl, P1) 4 times, Ktbl, SSK, K3, K2tog. Repeat from * around.
9.     *(Ktbl, P1) 4 times, Ktbl, SSP, P1, P2tog. Repeat from * around.
10.  Change to MC. *SSP, P5, P2tog, Ktbl, P1, Ktbl. Repeat from * around.
11.  *SSK, K3, K2tog, Ktbl, P1, Ktbl. Repeat from * around.
12.  *SSP, P1, P2tog, Ktbl, P1, Ktbl. Repeat from * around.

Break the yarn and run it through the remaining stitches. Pull tight to secure and weave in the ends. Attach a pompom if desired.

Cheers!

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Grandma's One Egg Cake Recipe

Hi everyone!

I want to share another one of my grandmother's dessert recipes. Like her butter cookie recipe, we don't know where she got this one from. I'm not going to lie. This is not the most spectacular vanilla cake I've ever had. But if you have limited ingredients, it works well.


One Egg Cake



½ stick of butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup flour (sifted 3 times)
2/3 cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
Sprinkles (optional)
  1. Grease or butter a 8" x 8" cake pan. Add parchment paper to the bottom of the pan if desired. (This will help with removal of the cake.)
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Sift flour 3 times with baking powder and salt.
  4. Add egg to butter/sugar mix. Beat well.
  5. Add flour alternating with milk, beat well after each addition.
  6. Add vanilla.
  7. [Optional] Fold in sprinkles for a confetti cake.
  8. Transfer to the pan and bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester (e.g. knife, toothpick, piece of uncooked spaghetti, etc) comes out clean.
  9. Once cooled, remove from the pan and add icing if desired.
For the cake I made in the picture, I used the Quick and Almost-Professional Buttercream Icing recipe from All Recipes. It was quick and easy, which was what I needed when I made the cake.

Cheers!

Friday, April 24, 2020

Pittsburgh Series 3: Oakmont Hat

This is the last hat in my three-hat Pittsburgh series. It uses the inter-cable sections of each of the previous two hats, Bridgeville and Tonidale.

The hats are named after three of my favorite local yarn shops in the Pittsburgh area. The pattern is not made in conjunction with the shop. It is more in homage to the shop.
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Love Knitting Pattern Page


Oakmont Hat

By Felicia Kulp

YARN: Worsted weight, approximately 90 grams or 180 yards

GAUGE: 1” x 1” – 8 sts x 7 rows, in K2P2 (relaxed, not stretched)

NEEDLES:
  • US 5 circular needles
  • US 7 circular needles
  • US 7 double-pointed needles
  • Cable needle

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS:
  • K – knit
  • P – purl
  • C2F – move 1 stitch to the cable needle, hold in front, knit 1 from left needle, knit stitch on cable needle.
  • C2B – move 1 stitch to the cable needle, hold in back, knit 1 from left needle, knit stitch on cable needle.
  • SSK – slip slip knit
  • K2tog/K3tog – knit two/three stitches together
  • P2tog/P3tog – purl two/three stitches together

STARTING with US 5 circular needles
Cast on 120 stitches using a stretchy cast on. Join in circle, being careful not to twist stitches. Place marker. Move the marker as the work progresses keeping the first stitch of the round in the same position.

Stitch K2 P2 ribbing for 2-3 inches, or the desired length of the brim.

SWITCH to US 7 circular needles
Round 1: *K2, P5, K2, P2, K2, (P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1), K2, P2. Repeat from * around (4 more times).
Round 2: *C2F, K5, C2B, P2, C2F, (K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around (4 more times).

Repeat rounds 1 – 2 until hat measures 8 to 9 inches (or the desired length of the hat minus approximately 2 inches [shaping the crown will be about 2 inches in length]), ending with Round 2.

SHAPING the crown (switch to US 7 double-pointed needles when necessary):
Round 1: *K2, P2tog, P1, P2tog, K2, P2, K2, (P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1), K2, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 2: *C2F, K3, C2B, P2, C2F, (K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 3: *K2, P3tog, K2, P2, K2, (P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1), K2, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 4: *C2F, K1, C2B, P2, C2F, (K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 5: *SSK, P1, K2tog, P2, K2, (P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1), K2, P2.  Repeat from * around.
Round 6: *K3, P2, C2F, (K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 7: * K3tog, P2, K2, (P3tog K1 P3tog), K2, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 8: *P3, C2F, (K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 9: *P1, P2tog, K2, P3tog, K2, P2tog. Repeat from * around.
Round 10: *P2, C2F, K1, C2B, P1. Repeat from * around.
Round 11: *P2, SSK, P1, K2tog, P1. Repeat from * around.
Round 12: *P2, K3, P1. Repeat from * around.
Round 13: *P2tog, K3tog, P1. Repeat from * around.

Break the yarn and run it through the remaining stitches. Pull tight to secure and weave in the ends. Attach a pompom if desired.

Cheers! Happy knitting!

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Pittsburgh Series 2: Tonidale Hat

I wanted to try making a few cabled knit hat patterns.

They are named after three of my favorite local yarn shops in the Pittsburgh area. The pattern is not made in conjunction with the shop. It is more in homage to the shop.


Here's the second.
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A note about the yarns used in the two examples:

Red hat details:

Yarn: Cloud by Cascade Yarns (discontinued)

I had one skein of this yarn, which has less than 180 yds, so I made the ribbing and the cabled section shorter (the hat was 7" when I started shaping the crown).


Purple hat details:
Yarn: Malabrigo Rios, ~180 yards
This hat is worked to exactly how the pattern is written.

Tonidale Hat
By Felicia Kulp

YARN: Worsted weight, approximately 180 yards 

NEEDLES:
  • US 5 circular needles
  • US 7 circular needles
  • US 7 double-pointed needles
  • Cable needle

GAUGE: 1” x 1” – 8 sts x 7 rows, in K2P2 (relaxed, not stretched)

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS
  • K – knit
  • P – purl
  • C2F – move 1 stitch to the cable needle, hold in front, knit 1 from left needle, knit stitch on cable needle.
  • C2B – move 1 stitch to the cable needle, hold in back, knit 1 from left needle, knit stitch on cable needle.
  • C6F – move 3 stitches to the cable needle, hold in front, knit 3 from left needle, knit stitches on cable needle.
  • C6B – move 3 stitches to the cable needle, hold in back, knit 3 from left needle, knit stitch on cable needle.
  • SSK – slip slip knit
  • K2tog/K3tog – knit two/three stitches together
  • P2tog/P3tog – purl two/three stitches together

STARTING with US 5 circular needles
Cast on 108 stitches using a stretchy cast on. Join in circle, being careful not to twist stitches. Place marker. Move the marker as the work progresses keeping the first stitch of the round in the same position.

Stitch K2 P2 ribbing for 4-5 inches, or the desired length of this section.

SWITCH to US 7 circular needles
Round 1: *K12, P2, K2, (P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1), K2, P2. Repeat from * around (3 more times).
Round 2: *K12, P2, C2F, (K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around (3 more times).
Round 3: Repeat Round 1.
Round 4: Repeat Round 2.
Round 5: Repeat Round 1.
Round 6: *C6F, C6B, P2, C2F, (K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around (3 more times).

Repeat rounds 1 – 6 until hat measures 8 to 9 inches ending with Round 6.

SHAPING the crown (switch to US 7 double-pointed needles when necessary):
Round 1: *K12, P2, K2, (P3tog K1 P3tog), K2, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 2: *K12, P2, C2F, (K1 P1 K1), C2B, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 3: *K12, P2, K2, P3tog, K2, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 4: *K12, P2, C2F, K1, C2B, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 5: *K12, P2, SSK, P1, K2tog, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 6: *C6F, C6B, P2, K3, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 7: *K12, P2, K3tog, P2. Repeat from * around.
Round 8: *K12, P5. Repeat from * around.
Round 9: *SSK, K8, K2tog, P5. Repeat from * around.
Round 10: *K10, P5. Repeat from * around.
Round 11: *SSK, K6, K2tog, P2tog, P, P2tog. Repeat from * around. 

Round 12: *K8, P3. Repeat from * around.
Round 13: *SSK, K4, K2tog, P3tog. Repeat from * around.
Round 14: *SSK, K2, K2tog, P1. Repeat from * around.
Round 15: *SSK, K2tog, P1. Repeat from * around.

Break the yarn and run it through the remaining stitches. Pull tight to secure and weave in the ends. Attach a pompom if desired.

 Cheers! Happy knitting!

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Grandma's Butter Cookie Recipe

Hi everyone! This is my grandmother's butter cookie recipe. We don't know how she came in possession of the recipe. My grandmother was not a chef, so we don't think she made it up herself. Either way, it has been a family staple since the 1940s.

And I want to share it with the world. :)

Be sure to read to the bottom for my recommended cookie press.

A stand mixer or hand-held mixer is recommended for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 lb butter
2/3 cup white granulated sugar
1 egg
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (chef's choice)
Food coloring, optional

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 300F. 
  2. Cream the butter and sugar.
  3. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
  4. Combine the dry ingredients (flour and salt) and sift them together.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar-egg mixture. Mix after each addition.
  6. Add the extract.
  7. Divide dough and color with food coloring if desired.
  8. Fill a cookie press and form into desired shapes on an ungreased, cold cookie sheet.
  9. Bake at 300F for 6 minutes or until the cookies lose their gloss.
  10. Let cool on the baking sheet for about 1-2 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack.

Yield: approximately 48 cookies, depending on the size of your cookie press.

Helpful notes:

  • Do not use lemon extract with this recipe. Use fresh lemon juice, instead, if you want a lemon cookie. I don't know how much juice to add. I've never made it this way. This was just a note my grandmother included in the recipe card.
  • Experiment with loading two or three differently colored dough in the cookie press at the same time. This will give a marbled, streaky look like the cookies shown here. Every cookie will be unique. 😀
  • The baking time could be as long as 7 minutes. After 6 minutes, if they are still glossy, bake for another 30 seconds and check them. If they need it, bake for 30 seconds more. Then remove them.
    • Baking for this short amount of time will result in a "melt in your mouth" cookie. 
    • The cookies will NOT have a golden color around their edges. If you bake them to this point, they will be dry and crumbly.
  • Letting them sit on the baking sheet for 1-2 minutes will give them time to firm up a bit, which will help when transferring them to the cooling rack.
  • If you only have one baking sheet, or only want to use one, wipe the baking sheet with a dry paper towel before using it for a second round of baking. This will help remove some of the grease left behind from the first round of cookies.

My Recommended Cookie Press

  • Marcato 8307 Atlas Deluxe Biscuit Maker Cookie Press (link goes to Amazon)
  • The cookie press I use is the Marcato 8300 Atlas. I think it has been discontinued, but the 8307 is the replacement.
  • This is in no way a sponsored posted. I have gone through several cookie presses that don't stand up to use. They break after about 3 or 4 batches of cookies. I have had my Marcato Atlas since graduate school (2012-2014) and it is still holding strong.

If you make this, let me know how it goes. Tag me @agirlandheryarn on Instagram!

Happy baking!