I don't get in a cooking mood very often… I love food (who doesn't?) but cooking is usually associated with precise and meticulous measurements (I like to "wing" it) and of course, when it is already pushing 100 degrees outside, I don't like to crank up the oven for energy-efficiency and comfort reasons…

But then I saw this recipe in the new Real Simple magazine (August 2006), for some reason, I became quite obsessed. Perhaps it is the diet I am on – I am limiting carbs, but not cutting them out completely (don't look at the calorie count…), and I needed a carb fix. This bread just looked SO good… so I made it. And I also made accompanying goulash with some fresh veggies and herbs from our garden.

1. Basil, 2. Okra, 3. "Real Simple" recipe, 4. Boddington's Pub Ale, 5. Kris eating bread, 6. Vegetarian Goulash – In the Pot

Needless to say, I was pretty darn proud of myself. It turned out so well! If you want to recreate this yummy meal, you can use the Basil Beer Bread recipe and the "basic" recipe I used for the goulash (I added okra and dill).

And with the end of the month, I tallied all of the yarn stashbusted for the Summer of Stash this month. Both purple projects this month were small – the Rasta hat was approximately 200 yds. of wool, and the Ballet Cami was about 600 yards. However, I gave away some yarn this month – specifically 3 balls to get my best friend Becca started on sock knitting – and that was 890 yds (sock yarn packs a punch!) and I sent 3 skeins of yarn to my Swap Pal, and that about 515 yds, so I estimate my total stashbusting this month at 2205 yds.

76144 – 2205 = 73939 yds. 

This is down over 3000 yards and 1.7 miles from where I started at the end of May. Pretty cool!  I feel pretty good about this whole stashbusting thing, and honestly, I think I could easily continue it past Labor Day (the official last day of Summer of Stash) and possibly through November, when I will be going to Stitches East in Baltimore, and to California for vacation (everyone needs to find a yarn shop on vacation – yarn is the best souvenir!) 

And finally, the last traces of violet, before we welcome the neutrals tomorrow…

See ya on the 'flip' side!

On the cusp of Project Spectrum August… and I really just could not wait to start on my brown lace socks!

That is four repeats of the mock cable cuff, and through Row 10 of the lace pattern.  It is nearly impossible to make out in the photograph, but there are some embossed leaves there!  I have a confession:  this is my first charted pattern.  While I have knit a few cabled things, I have knit virtually no lace.  Sure, I think it is absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous, but I just could not get the hang of it before.  However, this chart is going well… at least up to this point! Maybe more lace charts are in my future.

I don't know how I missed it before, but it appears that Jody is working on the same socks (in a suggested tweedy wool too – she is such a good girl!) – and it looks like we are around the same point in the chart… so see hers for the detail   Also, Strikker Kris made them last year in a great purple tweed.  I am using the Three Waters Farm Merino Fingering Weight, purchased at Maryland Sheep and Wool this year. 

Although I started knitting on the browns, I still had some purple projects in mind before July finished – I completed my postcard pal's card (I know, I am late – thank goodness Suzanne lives so close!) and will show it after she receives it.  And in the spirit of stashbusting, I used the leftovers from my March beading project for a late July project – it seems that the line between pink and purple is pretty thin in this shade.

Resting atop the Post Arts section …

And I sported this purple handcrafted necklace (not crafted by me, unfortunately!) out this weekend – My sister Sarah brought this purple shell necklace back from Oahu after her trip in March. 

M and Auntie Lolly

PS-Do you want another round of Project Spectrum?  What do you want different next time?  When do you want it to start?  I started a discussion thread on the Flickr Project Spectrum page, but all comments and suggestions about how to make Project Spectrum better are also welcome here.  Please let me know because I am making plans now!

I don't know why it did not occur to me sooner… but the reason socks take me so long to complete? Simply said, I have a very long foot.

TrekkingXXL 108 Sock 1 complete .. it only took me a month!
Alternate View

I started this lovely sock at the beach last month – remember the whole "dropping the needle in the water" incident? I think that the pattern – the Sleeping Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks - is a good fit for this unique yarn. The original pattern does not have a heel, however, so I improvised and added a classic Dutch heel (described in the same book).

Now I just need to outfit that other foot!

These socks were hold overs from June's Project Spectrum blue theme – I started them late in the month, and it took me this long to complete one. Can I hope for a faster second sock? I had a lovely purple sock yarn for this month, but never got to it… so my mind has already shifted to my sock plans for next month – the ones I have been waiting for throughout the whole of Project Spectrum!

Sure, there are four days left in July, and I am still relishing in the purples and violets around my world, but I have to say that I am excited to start on these… the Lace Knee-Highs from Interweave Knits Winter 2004.

So, I didn't waste any time…

Umbrella Swift Action!

Winding Away

All balled up and ready to go!

After many months of beautiful colorful creations, it is hard to believe that we only have one more month left in Project Spectrum! The months have flown by, and I have seen so many beautiful projects (on the blogs, and on the Flickr Project Spectrum group!) I had some response to a Project Spectrum Clean Sweep, and I think it will be a great way to "shift gears" and finish up those lingering color projects from all of the previous months. So, please join us in September with all of your leftover color projects, and we can have an FO Parade!

Lastly, a great big thanks to Amy Singer for featuring Project Spectrum in the Fall issue of Interweave Knits! Although I have not personally seen the column yet (and did not know a thing about it!), I heard from some very reliable sources that Amy mentioned our little color project and the colorful reverberations in the blogosphere!

Update: here it is!  Many thanks to Kimberli for sending this picture! 

Click here to see the whole column

(If you are a subscriber, you will receive your copy soon – otherwise, the magazine will be on newsstands on August 8th!) If you are here as a result of her column, you can learn more about Project Spectrum and its 1200+ participants here – and feel free to join us for our last month! Who knows… maybe Project Spectrum v. 2.0 is right around the corner?

Ballet Camisole (Mimi's Bday Tank!)
Pattern: Magknits.com July 2006
Yarn: Phildar Reporter (4.5 balls) in Violet colorway
Designer: Alexandra @ Artisokka.com
Needles: Size US 5 circulars / Size: 36" (Medium)
Started July 2nd / Finished July 19th

Modifications: I used a smaller needle size to get gauge with this yarn. The pattern calls for a gathering in the bust, but I never got the right "look", so I left it as a scoop neck, which is an option in the pattern. I am happy with the plain front! I also picked up one row of stitches around the neck and armholes instead of using a crochet trim. I used a size 7 needle for the 1×1 rib row, and then bound off as usual. I tried the crochet edge, but prefered the look of the picked up stitches…  Perhaps if my crochet skills were a little more advanced, it would have looked better!

Modeled by my sister, Sarah – not the intended recipient sister! Unfortunately Mimi is moving and this will not get to her in time if I mail it now, so I am holding on to it until she is in her new place. Sarah and Mimi are about the same clothes size… Mimi has a little more of a… ahem… "top shelf", but the tank has some room. Sarah is also modeling my recently completed Rasta Hat… I guess I have to make her one now!

Happy (belated) birthday Mimi!

This was a great pattern! Alexandra has great insight into flattering female patterns, and the Ballet Camisole is a perfect go-to tank top pattern – knit one in every color! I love knitting in the round, and the shaping on the straps – perfect for hiding undergarments, and adds a nice little detail to make this tank unique. Now that Sarah tried it on, she wants one too… and I have to make one for myself as well! The Phildar yarn was a trade with Heather last January. When I got the yarn, I knew it would be just perfect for Mimi – her favorite color has always been purple. The Reporter yarn is a  DK weight washable wool/acrylic with a nice texture. It knit up well in the tank, and is not too hot to wear. The best part is that this tank can make a good transition into fall, and even winter with a long-sleeved tee or collared shirt underneath.

Another stashbusting project – so perfect for Summer of Stash and Project Spectrum purple!  Now I am hoping to work on my Trekking socks for the Summer of Socks (busy summer, eh?) before I cast on for my dream socks next month… can't wait! 

In unrelated (but completely riveting) news:  I got to see Coleen yesterday!  Her schedule has been so busy lately, I was glad to fit into it   We went to historic Ellicott City, which is always a treat.  In our short time together, we took a lot of pictures in order to "christen" her new camera – nearly everthing purple on Main Street was captured! – there are even more to see on Coleen's Flickr page! (and mine too!)

Coleen and I became friends with the pirate.
It was the patch that did us in!

• 07.04 :  The first ridiculous entry and my very first (hideous) sweater

• 08.04 : Starting graduate school and my first knitting group 

• 09.04 : A certain person gave me a very special gift 

• 10.04 :  Secret Pal was extremely generous

• 11.04 : Blogging my New Orleans vacation

• 12.04 : Handknitting Christmas presents for the family

• 01.05 : Got my own domain name and website

• 02.05 : Started my first knitalong and recycled my first thrift shop sweater

• 03.05 : My first felting and teaching boys to knit

• 04.05 : I dyed and went to heaven

• 05.05 : First Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and a Finished first MAN sweater

• 06.05 : My little sister got married and I went on my beach vacation

• 07.05 : My largest knit to date and My first sock ever

• 08.05 : Blogging DC museum tours and my first pair of finished socks!

• 09.05 : School was working me overtime

• 10.05 : Socktoberfest extravaganza and a tropical island vacation

• 11.05 : An ode to my favorite fruit and family knitting lessons

• 12.05 : Interview with a Knitting Celeb and a very Merry Christmas

• 01.06 : A trip down south and a colorful idea was born

• 02.06 : New diet and exercise regimen and a big ol' yarn swap

• 03.06 : Painting the town red (and pink!) and jaunting around the Big Apple

• 04.06 : Bathroom Makeover, Knitters on the National Mall, and meeting Kay and Ann

• 05.06 : Second Maryland Sheep and Wool and construction work

• 06.06 : Beach Vacation and a pretty popular knit 

• 07.06 : Two years of blogging in the greatest community ever! 

How can I say thank you enough?  How can I express the amount of joy that you bring me?   When I think of you I just break out in a huge smile! Thank you for reading my blog! my thoughts, my questions, my struggles, my crazy ideas … and thank you for your amazing support and encouragement through it all!

To many many more happy years in this wonderful place!