KnitBeat

2012-02-12T13:29:00.001-08:00

Untitled, a photo by ms_optik on Flickr.

I want something sweet!

2012-02-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

So.. I had a sheet of puff pastry in the freezer, and bananas, and some morsels for cookies and thought I'd freestyle a little snack:

In case you have a sweet tooth too give my "Monkey Puffs" a try...

Thaw a sheet of puff pastry

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Lightly grease the bottom of a cookie sheet w/butter or use parchment paper to avoid sticking.

Most of these are aprox.

Ingredients:

1 sheet Puff Pastry

1/4 c Reese's peanut butter morsels

1/4 c Hershey Special Dark chocolate morsels

1 Large banana

1 tsp. Cinnamon

6 tbsp. Powdered sugar ... divided

butter for greasing pan

Directions:

Slice banana thinly, sprinkle with cinnamon and half the powdered sugar ( you could probably skip the sugar if your bananas are really ripe).

Lay out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into 12 even sections (you can get creative here... do 6 sections and make triangles etc).

Mix morsels and bananas in a bowl then evenly distribute mixture into the middle of 6 sections of dough.. leaving enough room around the edges of the mound to seal. Dab some water evenly around the edges of the mounded sections then lay free section of dough on top... seal with a fork.

Transfer the sealed pouches to the cookie sheet, poke a fork into the tops once to vent, then dust the tops w/the remainder of the powdered sugar

Pop them into the oven and bake for about 15 mins or until golden brown... Watch-it if you are using butter, the bottoms with burn FAST if you over cook.

Whats new?!

2012-02-06T15:12:00.000-08:00

Such a sad blogger I am!

Since my last post 2 years and 3ish months ago ::gasp::
I've managed to:

ditch my abusive fiancee

find a new place to live w/a cool roomate

loose 95lbs total

reunite with the "one that got away"

almost finish Knitty's Beatnik sweater (sleeve/seaming/collar tbd)

get knocked up (due 7/29)

finally quit smoking

And that about brings us current.
In the works... I have to move in April, so me and Baby Daddy (BD) can start our own home together for the Bean (baby on the way). That should be an interesting adventure at 6 months preggers. But I'm really looking forward to it.

In knitting news, I'll try to finish Beatnik but it's really on the back burner since I knit it tight as incentive to keep loosing weight. Weight loss is completely out of my field of concentration right now. My BFF is 4 months ahead of me on this whole baby thing.. so I'll be knitting for her little one till we find out the sex of Bean.

Thats all I got for now..

NaKniSweMo udate..

2009-11-22T11:23:00.000-08:00

Not that there is much to tell.. but I've started my Oblique.. and after all that concern over the yarn, JoAnne's had a deal on Fishman's wool Buy1 get1 halfoff.. So I brought 4 for about 30$. I should also have enough left over for a bonus project.. who could pass that up?!? So far I'm into about 1inch of ribbing. I don't think its getting done in November. I have way to many WIP's.

In other news...
Ive lost 45lbs since Feb. 20th 2009 & we have a new pit bull/bull terrier mix puppy - Hannibal as I write this he is 7 weeks old.

My Review of Injinji Tetratsok Nuwool Outdoor Quarter Socks

2009-11-06T13:08:00.001-08:00

Originally submitted at REI

Comfortable over a wide temperature range, these quarter-height "toe socks" help prevent blisters with a seamless design that protects each toe.

Blister Stopper

By WalkItOut from Greater Philadelphia, PA on 11/6/2009

Gift: No

Fit: Feels true to size

Pros: Blister stop, Wicks Away Moisture, Good Design, Comfortable, Regulates Temperature Well

Cons: Wears Quickly, Pills easily

Best Uses: Walking, Working Out, Hiking

Describe Yourself: Frequent Exerciser

Totally fixed my issue with blisters on my pinky toe. These are really comfy, and while I haven't worn any holes in them I am a little concerned about the pilling in high friction areas that started with the first use.

(legalese)

A walk in the Park...

2009-11-02T10:21:00.000-08:00

11/02/2009 Route
Find more Hikes in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Out in the open! 3.5ish miles woot!

NaKniSweMo Yarn Stress-Test

2009-10-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, I want to knit a sweater in November for "NaKniSweMo"
Pattern found = Oblique

The yarn however is a different story!!
Should be a heavy worsted and I need about *gawww* 1200 yards. 46" Chest
Considering I've been shedding lbs, I don't want to invest a whole lot of loot, but if its not enjoyable/soft/squishy yarn, it won't get knit!

My Options
11 skeins Valley Yarns Florence @ webs = 33$ (fuzzy)
11 skeins Swish Worsted @ knitpicks = 44$ (superwash & soft!)
3 skeins Ecowool @ yarncountry = 55$
(4) Eco+ @ webs = 55$ w/shipping (bonus skein for another project?)
14 skeins Peruvian Sierra Aran @ elann.com =55$ (really soft?)
13 skeins Andean Silk Yarn @ knitpicks = 58$
8 skeins City Tweed HW Yarn @ knitpicks = 64$ (purty!)
15 skeins Mirasol Miski @ webs = 67$ (dreamy soft!)
9 skeins Aslan Trends Guanaco @ webs = 98$ if a were a rich girl.. nana nana nana na....

decisions...decisions :(

DPN Project Success!

2009-08-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

Yea me! I've been getting sooo frustrated lately with my stitches falling off the DPN's in my knitting bag, that I decided to take matters into my own hands. A trip to Lowe's an about a 1/2hr of concentration brings me to this very functional DIY DPN Project holder. I had the stretchy clear beading cord, and the beads on hand. I've seen these on Etsy and around the web but they use these safety screw cover thingies which my Lowe's didn't have in the right diameters as to be practical. But the helpful guy that man's the little hardware kiosk came up with a most excellent substitution. Mine are the caps that go on the bottom of chairs! Works like a charm, and its pretty!

What I'm upto...

2009-07-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

Again.. its been awhile. Miss me?!

Notice the background update? I even tweaked the code a little. Go me..

I've been sucked into the world of Twitter.. heaven help me, my girl uses it instead of texting me these days.. don't know if I like this idea. I've encourged her to use "d beatknit" to PM me.. we shall see. On the plus side, I get to "cyber-stalk" some of my knitter friends (just kidding!!) and being the parsimonious chick that I am, my fav. yarn retailer's sale notices come directly to me via Twitter txt messages.. if only I could figure out how to make my the phone stop announcing them...my boss has bionic ears I SWARE!!

I'm working on a few knitting projects at the moment.. this weekend might be a WIP finisher, most of them are lil' projects that are near completion.

BeeFooted Footies - Acrylic supersaver yarn - meh! my poor hands feel like they have been knitting w/sand paper.

Leap of Faith Scarf - go to project when footies get to be too much, mmm cashmere/baby alpaca!

Pink and Green!

2009-01-02T08:05:00.001-08:00

Its a boy in a girl's hat.. quit giggling!

Pretty Things...

2009-01-02T08:02:00.001-08:00

ms_optik

So.. I finally got batteries.. an learned how to blog from Flickr.. so here you go.. Stitch markers made by yours truely!

Knitting Jewelry

2008-12-16T07:06:00.000-08:00

So, I was making a stranded Skull skullie, and needless to say, I screwed up and had to frog the whole thing, and I was half-way done the stinkin' pattern. I couldn't immediately cast back on w/out suitable stitch markers. Now I have the Lion Brand ones, and of course scrappies of yarn, but I needed some time and something pretty to soothe the ache from my knitterly mistake. I had this bead assortment, from a failed project a loooong time ago, an decided a trip to Michales might be in order. Long story short, a few headpins, some jump rings, 5.00 tool set(gotta luv those 50% coupons), and I'm now the proud owner of 10 self made stich markers.. and ready to try again!!!

2008-11-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Ohhh.. my. I've been a bad bad blogger. So, besides our historic election, and our disintergrating economy.. not to much is going on!

WIP - A fair-isle vest (just a swath across the bottom)

Idea IP - Niece's pink and green hat(hannah) and convertible mitts?

Brea Bag - Done..

2008-05-20T06:27:00.000-07:00

sooo, this lil' guy was sleeping for a looong time, as I got into my school work and too busy for all things crafty except collecting the needed accents. Was supposed to be Mom's B-day present, then I just couldn't make any more excuses. Next time, I'll save the lining for last, that way I can really hide all threads the way I want, now I just need pics, and its buh-byes to this very cute bag!

2 sides down

2007-12-28T19:29:00.000-08:00

... now, the gusset? Im such a newbie, again the directions have me confuzzled. How exactly do I keep the pattern as I "M1"? Arggghhhh.. If I knew better, this bag would have been done last night. But I shall triumph!

Got the "potential" lining, and some plastic canvas for stability, and the D-rings from Michaels today.. No luck on a good handle yet.. doh!

one side down..

2007-12-26T17:16:00.000-08:00

Because of the 8 st decrease every row... once you get to the 15th row is super fast and over in just a few. The beginning is the hardest, I'm on caston #3.. hopefully, this one will do the trick. Its a bit smaller then what I thought it would be, but it still needs blocking!

pics up soon

so far, so good

2007-12-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

I got it! Im all knitting cables and what not! At the beginning this is a little scary, cause I couldn't tell if what I was doing was going to be as cute as all the pictures... welp..4th caston was the charm, and now im on the 2nd cable, and I must say its soo magical to see the pattern reveal itself.. yea me!

pics soon

Knit the Knits, Purl the Purls??

2007-12-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Alrighty.. I figured out how the stiches decrease, and where the pattern repeats. But this whole... "knit the knits and purl the purls" as they appear instructions have me confuzzled. I could call a fellow knitter whom Ive just met online, but I have supreme faith in the internet to answer my knitterly woes.. as of yet I have not learned this commonplace instruction(i assume). Plus, its I kinda feel some type of way about calling someone Ive never met for help. Im sooo not going near a shopping center, even armed w/a 30% off coupon to purchase some book of answers... If you happen to land on this blog and know what I'm talking about.. share!

mighty Yahoo! answers to the rescue...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061223103650AAhkmer

in short, kniting knits and purling purls = stockinette stich..derrr

This is just a test....

2007-12-15T17:56:00.001-08:00

This is just a test. I'd like to see if Jott actually will blog over the phone for me. listen

Powered by Jott

Brea Bag

2007-12-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

Yarn bought? - Ultra Alpca in some dark grey colorway (18$)
yarn wound? - wishing I had a winder

2ndary yarn purchase cause im addicted

caston on...and off...and on.. and off
soooo.. the whole "st st" first and last stich got me off track... I wrote out the math below so it would make sense.. and the pattern is illuminated now that I have knitted up the first row twice!

caston 126 stiches
7 x 18

126-2(stockin st 1st and lst st) 124 of pattern in 4 sections = 31 stiches = where decreases show
right leaning decreses k2tog (knit 2 together)
left leaning decreses ssk (slip slip knit)
4 stich markers for pattern center
4 stich markers for pattern ends

k knits/p purls
118 -2(st st 1s & lst) 116 in pattern in 4 sections = 29
k knits/p purls
110 - 2, 108 in 4 sections = 27
k knits/p purls
102 - 2, 100 in 4 sections = 25