Turkey on homemade Pumpernickel Bread, anyone?

The color of this pumpernickel is just right … deep and chocolately brown. The texture is moist and firm. It doesn’t have enough of that pumpernickel/rye flavor, though … but it’s a start. Maybe some extra rye flavor would help?

And you’ll be pleased (I’m sure) to know that Dad and Chappy are thoroughly enjoying their Stollen. Chappy has NOT been interesting in lounging in bed with me the last few mornings–he’s been far too anxious to get downstairs and help clean Grandpa’s dish!

Oh yeah, and I did this today. Cut all my steeks in my Harvest Cardigan. In fact, it feels like this is the only thing I really accomplished today!

I had machine-stitched my steeks yesterday. Yes, I know it’s not always necessary, and a more elastic edge is better for knitwear, but this is Silky Wool, and the steek was only 3 stitches wide … I didn’t want to take any chances.

I not only used the machine-stitching, but I actually went along and reinforced all three steeks even further by running a line of crochet down both sides of each steek. THIS is what took me all day. (Seriously!)

Here’s a look at the inside of the sweater, just because. Some of the floats are neater than others, but, no complaints.

Next? Sew in the sleeves and sew the shoulder seams, and then knit the collar and knit the button band, and it will be done.

Which means, of course, that it’s about time to start thinking about what to do NEXT. I’d really like to do something with that Briar Rose Charity I got at Rhinebeck. That’s 900 yards of Aran-weight Corriedale. Or maybe something with the Cascade 220 I bought last month.

Suggestions?

This is what Autumn Rose’s injured shoulder looks like right now. I ran a line of stitches above and below the cut to prevent further damage, and then kind of messily did some duplicate stitch over the top to tack things down a bit. I had asked for help in the “Stranded” group in Ravelry and got this reply back:

“Since the yarn is feltable, it should not unravel too easily (if at all) after it has been knitted / worn. If all else fails miserably, you could try getting some indistinct shade of felt, needle felting tool and place the felt patch on the wrong side of the sweater. Back it up with something semi-solid (cork or whatnot) and punch through the knitting and the felt patch – hopefully you will end up with with a still wearable vest!”

I thought that was pretty interesting … especially when you consider that I’ve got the sleeve tops with the exact, charted portion of the sweater that I accidentally cut … If I had a felting needle, I could just FELT the cut ends together. I rather like that idea. (Well, you know, if I had a needle-felting needle.)

If this were in a more obvious place, I’d be freaking out more, but since it’s right at the shoulder, in the back, it’s mostly going to be hidden by my hair. As long as it doesn’t actually *unravel*, I almost don’t care what it looks like. (Almost!)

And, really … my darning skills on Fair Isle color work? There’s just no way (grin). I’ve tried the knitted patch thing, remember? I WISH I were better at mending, but it never seems to come out right, no matter how hard I try. Sewing a hem, replacing a button … those I can do … but patching and darning? Not even a little.

My grandmother would be so ashamed of me….

Oh, and … after a day that was mostly gray clouds (though unseasonably warm at almost 60 degrees), we had a smashing sunset. So pretty!

Tags: Baking, General, Knitting/Spinning // 7 Comments »