It's been a long time since I've posted to my blog. There's been a lot going on and I finally have the time again to put up some projects.

In honor of Kirby, I made these armwarmers. I think he(she?) is probably one of the cutest characters made even if he was originally just for testing. And really, who doesn't go on a rampage when their cake gets stolen?!

When I decided to make Kirby inspired armwarmers I knew that I wanted them to be long. New England has a tendency to be cold. I also knew I wanted to make them a little thick. Worsted weight yarn would be best for that. To be honest though, I would use a lighter weight next time. I think it would make the process much easier.

Making the design was easy enough. Actually making the armwarmers, maybe not so much. There was a lot of unraveling and re-knitting involved. I originally was using the stranding method, then, realizing it wasn't working, settled on intarsia. Thinking on it afterwards though, double knitting might have been best for some elements.

These armwarmers are knitted flat. A seam is stitched on the side to make a tube with a hole for the thumb. The finishing is fairly simple.

This design makes an armwarmers that has an eight inch forearm circumference and is about 12 inches long. The pattern itself is worked over 25 stitches. A stitch marker can be used to make knitting easier.

Materials

• Tapestry needle
• Stitch marker
• US #4 straight needles
• 1 ball each of Bernat Satin worsted weight in light blue, antique rose, snow, ebony, and sea shell
• 1 ball each of Impeccable worsted weight in rouge and royal

Instructions

Gauge 23 st x 27 r = 4in please take the time to check your gauge.

Remember that the first stitch in every row is slipped.

• CO 48 sts
• 2 x 2 rib for 1” (K2,P2)
• St st for 8” on last row place marker for 25 st pattern and end with a wrong side row.
• Work Kirby chart for either the right or left hand (intarsia). For left hand chart, Kirby is first 25 sts. For right hand chart, Kirby is last 25 sts.
• 2 x 2 rib for 1/2”
• BO and weave in all ends
• Sew side together with mattress stitch leaving a hole for the thumb.

Now, what to do with all of that left over yarn! If you have any questions about the pattern, please let me know.

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Our hosts this month, Barbara of Barbara Bakes and Bunnee of Anna+Food have chosen a delicious stacked green chile and grilled chicken enchilada recipe in celebration on Cinco de Mayo! The recipe, featuring a homemade enchilada sauce, was found on FineCooking and written by Robb Walsh.

Being vegetarian, I obviously didn't use grilled chicken. Actually, the challenge allowed us to make almost any enchilada we wanted. Having made black bean and corn enchiladas a bazillion times before, I thought it was time for a change.

I adapted a recipe from Barbara Hansen's Mexican Cookery. This is a cookbook unlike any other I've seen. It resembles a novel more than a recipe book.

The sauce recipe was surprisingly well seasoned. It had a small kick and smoky undertones. The enchiladas were a basic cheese filled variety. Overall, a very good dish even it looks gross!

Salso para Enchiladas

• 5 dried California chiles
• water to cover
• 1 1/2T vegetable oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 T flour
• 1 t vinegar
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 t oregano
• 1/4 t cumin
• 1 C vegetable stock

Method

1. Wash chiles and place in a saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let stand 45 min. Drain the chiles, reserving the liquid. Rinse the seeds out of the chiles.
2. Place chiles and 1 C reserved liquid in a blender. Blend until smooth. Turn into a sieve and rub through. Blend chile liquid with vegetable stock.
3. Heat oil and garlic in saucepan until fragrant. Remove garlic. Mix in flour until smooth. Add chile broth and spices. Heat the sauce until thickened. Makes 2 1/3 C

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In 2003 or there abouts, I began working in a quilt shop. I'd never really worked in retail before and I had never quilted. Actually, I was surprised and happy they offered me a job.

On my first day of work, I had the task of cutting fabric. I remember being worried about ruining everything even while the owner assured me it would be fine.

The fabric I was cutting was absolutely gorgeous. It was a reproduction 30's print. I loved looking at and touching the fabric. That's when my love of quilting began. In fact, my first quilt has those reproduction 30's I still love.

From time to time, the owner, noticing I was really getting into quilting and being a quilter herself, would give me older magazines for project inspiration. Australian Patchwork and Quilting was one such magazine.

On page 84 of volume 10 number 8 is a quilt I knew I had to make. It's called Snow Crystal and it's by Susan Lacuone. It's been a few years but I've finally gotten a chance to make it.

I've got all of my fabric strips cut and the paper foundations marked. I'm using flannel fabrics in white, blue, and dark blue. I cut my fabric with scissors instead of a rotary cutter but you should use one if you can.

My sewing machine and I have had our share of differences. I am hoping to put those aside when I make this. I may have to sew by hand again like in my can quilt, but that's another story!

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