Shifting Stitches

Ashokan Shawl published by Knit Picks IDP Program

impeccableknits — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:23:33 +0000

Ashokan Shawl knitting pattern

The Knit Picks IDP program just added the Ashokan Shawl pattern to their pattern catalog -very exciting!

This sample is knit in Wool of the Andes Sport in the Mai Tai colorway.

The Ravelry pattern page for this shawl also shows a sample knit in Cascade 220 Sport in a luscious Granny Smith green.

Another Free Pattern – Happy New Year 2012! – Northmoor Watchcaps

impeccableknits — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:21:14 +0000

Happy New Year 2012, Everyone!

Complimentary Pattern from Impeccable Knits - Northmoor Watchcaps

To celebrate, here’s a brand new complimentary pattern from Impeccable Knits, just for you!

Northmoor Watchcaps

Both designs are included in this free knitting pattern. The link will open the Ravelry pattern page. You can download the free pdf from there.

Enjoy!

Yarn Note: Sadly, the luscious Mission Falls 1824 wool used for this design is no longer being manufactured but remaining stock (which seems plentiful) is available through many discount outlets like Elann.com. I love this yarn because it is soooo soft – I don’t like scratchy wool for my hats!!

Woven Cable Mini Tote – Free Pattern

impeccableknits — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:39:54 +0000

Ok, the transition has begun and here’s the first of my free patterns republished under the new Impeccable Knits label – the Woven Cable Mini Tote (it was originally published in 2008 as the Aran Braid Mini Tote). New charts, new yarn, expanded instructions and all still free!

All of my free patterns will eventually be given a new face and will now be only available through Ravelry where the patterns will each have their own pattern information page and the pattern pdf can be downloaded — easier keep everything in one gloriously wonderful place!

Enjoy!!!

Woven Cable Mini Tote pattern information page on Ravelry

Estonian Cast On

impeccableknits — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:04:23 +0000

Estonian Cast On

Slowly the scattered info of my former blog-web life is coming together in its new home

A picture tutorial of the Estonian Cast On can now be found under the Techniques, Tips and Tutorials tab. I love this cast on for socks, hats, mitts and legwarmers – it’s stretchy yet bounces back!

http://impeccableknits.wordpress.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/estonian-cast-on/

Traveling Loop (Single Loop) Tutorial just received its own page

impeccableknits — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:42:19 +0000

As part of the ‘new’ face of Impeccable Knits — and because this is such a popular technique — I’ve given this technique its own page here on the blog. I really love this technique for hats!!

http://impeccableknits.wordpress.com/traveling-loop/

Welcome – so glad you followed our move :)

impeccableknits — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:24:40 +0000

The only major change you’ll see at the moment is that the address has been changed to impeccableknits.wordpress.com from purplesagedesigns.wordpress.com — so please do be sure to update your bookmarks if you’ve found us through the old site.

Lots of goodies in store in the new year as all of our patterns — even the free ones — will be given a new face

Thanks for following along!

Changes, changes

Impeccable Knits — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:38:02 +0000

Impeccable Knits

So much has been going on in the background — where to start!

First, and most importantly, a rejuvenation of all of the pattern lines that I design — all are coming together under the new Impeccable Knits label. The transition will take a few months, but the new website is up www.impeccableknits.ca and in time all of the patterns will be converted to the new look. All patterns will still be available through Ravelry.com through the transition phase but you’ll slowly see more and more of them with the new logo and look. We hope you’ll love it as much as we do!

The new year will see quite a few new patterns out — I have been hard at work!!!! Lots and lots of cables!

Happy Holidays, everyone! And in the spirit I thought I’d share my no-bake chocolate macaroon recipe for a quick last minute cookie idea. Since we have people with food allergies, I have adapted the original recipe to also be gluten and dairy free (see below).

Fiddle-Diddles (family name for chocolate macaroons)
Makes 5 – 6 dozen (depending on size)

Mix and set aside:
3 c oatmeal (quick cooking)
1 c shredded coconut
3 T cocoa
couple of pinches of salt

In a heavy bottom saucepan (to prevent burning) over medium heat:
melt 1/2 c butter

Add to the melted butter:
1/2 c milk
2 c granulated sugar

Stirring constantly, bring mixture to a boil and boil for 3 minutes.

Take mixture off heat stir in:
1 t vanilla

Stir oatmeal mixture; mix well.

Using a teaspoon, spoon cookie mounds onto wax paper lined cookie sheets (I sometimes just put wax paper on the counter). Allow to cool.

Chocolate Macaroons – Gluten free, dairy free version

Replace the butter with lactose free, gluten free margarine (I use Becel Vegan)

Replace the milk with fruit juice (I’ve tried orange, cranberry, as well as pomegranate - all were delicious!)

Photo Shoot

Impeccable Knits — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:08:41 +0000

The On the Moor Shawl knitting pattern was also picked up by Knit Pick’s IDP program and here’s a little behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot that Knit Picks did for the shawl.

I find the attention to little details, like the wild flowers for the second example, just fascinating.

The Rabbit wins!

Impeccable Knits — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:20:18 +0000

What could be cuter?

Except when he/she’s munching on our beans??

Red Currant Jelly Recipe = happiness

Impeccable Knits — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:02:35 +0000

Red Currant Jelly

Happiness is fresh currant jelly — especially since this is the first year we beat the birds to the currants! We built a netted framework – it’s the only way to win!

Thought I might also share the recipe. Now, this makes a 1/2 batch (2 cups jelly) because I only have 1 red currant bush at the moment.

Red Currant Jelly Recipe
Yield: 2 cups jelly

4 cups red currants (you can leave the stems on)
1 cup water

Later
2 cups sugar

Jelly thermometer

Rinse currants. Add currants and water to heavy-bottomed, stainless steel pan. Crush currants lightly with potato masher (I actually crushed them a lot). Cook over low-moderate heat until currants are soft and become colourless — about 10 minutes.

Pour cooked currant mixture into a cheesecloth lined colander set over a bowl (use 4 layers of cheesecloth; wet and wring out the cheesecloth before lining the colander to keep the cheesecloth from absorbing the juice as it is strained) and allow to drip for about 4 hours. You can squeeze the mixture in the cheesecloth to extract more juice but it may cloud the jelly.

Yield 1 3/4 – 2 cups juice (mine yielded about 1 3/4 c so I topped it up with water to make 2 cups).

Wash pan used to boil currants. Place 2 cups of juice into pan and bring to a boil; boil 3 minutes. Add 2 cups of sugar and continue to boil until mixture reaches jelly stage. I boil mine until the thermometer registers 220 deg. F. For my currants this took 30 minutes.

Remove mixture from heat. Stir and skim off foam. Pour jelly into sterilized jelly jars. Seal. Process in hot water bath according to directions that came with your canner.

Enjoy!!