Saturday 24 May 2014

Toad Super Mario baby vest

Hello everyone!

I bet that all of you recognize the characters in Super Mario video games. I decided to make a little baby vest with Toad on the chest :) Baby clothes are so small so you get it finished quite fast - a great tip for those who find it too complicated and time consuming to knit sweaters for adults.
I used this pattern for the vest model (if you need it in english you can use the list to the left under the picture and choose English :)) but I made one change - I removed the button-opening at shoulders.

I used acrylic yarn for this vest because I really like the strong colors (and in my opinion, Super Mario characters are not fairly reflected in dull pale colors). It is hard to find this kind of color intensity for cotton yarn or wool.

I made this pattern of Toad myself with knitting graph paper, a lot of calculation and sketching by hand. I am quite happy with the result and now when I have tried intarsia knitting I definately think it would be exciting to try to make my own patterns with totally my own design.

The little original Super Mario doll in one of the pictures is a prize my husband won in a claw crane game machine at a London airport some years ago. He was actually very lucky that day since he also won Luigi - Mario's green brother :)






Saturday 17 May 2014

Small American Pancakes!

For a light lunch on the balcony this lovely warm Saturday I made some small "american style" pancakes. They are so easy to make and amizingly delicious - you have to try them :)
These darlings are a bit thicker and puffier than ordinary pancakes, and the diameter is only about 10 cm.
I think the light flavor of vanilla goes very well with the acididy in the appelsauce.


Small American Pancakes

2 portions (approximately 10 small pancakes, 10 cm in diameter)

2 eggs
1 dl milk (3%)
1 dl yoghurt
1 tablespoon (tsk) cooking oil
1 teaspoon (tsk) sugar
1,5 pinch (krm) salt
1 tablespoon (tsk) baking powder
1 teaspoon (tsk) vanilla powder
2 dl flour
Butter or margarine when frying

Whisk the eggs together in a bowl, add the rest of the ingredients and stir well into the mixture until you get a lump-free batter.
Brown the butter in a frying pan, use medium heat, and when the butter is well heated just portion out the batter (a gravy-ladle is a good tool) into the frying pan. I made three pancakes at the same time.
Let the pancakes get nice color on the bottom and crisp edges before you turn them (when they are almost dry on the surface) and let them get nice color on the other side too.

Serve these goodies with applesauce, strawberry jam, whipped cream or fresh fruit. Enjoy!






Sunday 11 May 2014

Blackberry knitted scarf

About five weeks ago I gave you a little sneak peek on my new knitting project - a scarf knitted in blackberry technique! I didn't gave you the chance to see the colors back then but today I am happy to announce that the scarf is finished and it will be totally revealed today :)

I am really satisfied with the result and I recommend you to try blackberry technique because it is not only pretty - on both sides - but also very nice to work with. I used Red Heart Detroit acrylic yarn for this scarf.
I made the pattern myself.
If you would like to learn blackberry technique here is a great video.

As you can see I have a new assistant showing my handicrafts :) She is quiet, have a head of styrofoam and no arms and legs - but she is happy anyway ;)