Tuesday, February 12, 2013

What's New on the Needles? And Paczki Day!

Ok, let me pause for a moment to say I think that could be a fun series title...especially as much as I am knitting/crocheting nowadays. With that said...


I finished the baby cardigan a couple days ago and is going to head to the little recipient hopefully today! Just in time too...her mom just delivered the baby this morning and I can't wait to see a picture! She texted me about 30 minutes ago to say that little Wren has arrived safely after only 3 pushes (so jealous - my deliveres were no where near as easy as that! lol), a head full of hair and weighs 8.5 lbs. 

I learned a lot along the way and can't wait to show you pictures of the finished project! I will post photos soon! Maybe she will even send a picture of the baby wearing it so I can share that too!

The night I finished the cardigan, I grabbed this beautiful Debbie Bliss yarn that I bought in my first trip to a real yarn shop. Oh my, it's sooooo pretty! It's a lovely turquoise with silver hints and has been teasing me since I bought it, but I held strong and made myself finish the cardigan before I started with this. I bought it without a pattern in hand, and immediately went to Ravelry to find the perfect one. I wanted something light, so I decided that a lace scarf was in order. I landed on the Florence scarf and decided to add a little extra sparkle with some silver lined glass beads.

I have finished my first lace pattern repeat and have realized that adding beads is making this a very slow process. I love the look, and I know it will be beautiful once its done, but as with anything new it takes a little getting used to. I am using a crochet hook to add the beads, and I think it's much easier than putting beads on the yarn before knitting. I would naturally panic that there werent enough, and once you get going, how can you easily add more? This way I can just add as I go, and I also like that it causes the bead to be on 2 threads of the yarn, which is so fine that any extra strength will be most welcome. Eventually I will thin out the beads and then pick them back up towards the end of the scarf.

I'll be sure to post pictures as I go, but feel free to follow along on Instagram for the most up-to-date pics. :)

And for all of my friends in the Detroit area, or expatriates...Happy Paczki Day! And since most of you will have no idea what I am talking about, you can learn more about the Fat Tuesday tradition in Detroit here or here.

These were waiting for us as work this morning! Mmmm.....!

I indulged in a raspberry-filled Paczki today, and yes, the guilt is high, but it's sooooo good and impossible to resist. And it's only once a year, right? Its one of those things that bond a community, as cheesy as that sounds. A bit like how everyone is a little Irish on St. Patty's Day, everyone is a little Polish on Fat Tuesday. And we all know how food bonds people together, no matter what the reason or celebration. That's my story and I'm sticking to it (like a paczki to my waistline! lol)

Oh, and if you are trying to figure out how to pronounce "paczki", there are some variances, but in my area, we generally say "POONSH-kee", though some say it closer to "PUNCH-kee". And I believe that's technically the plural, but no one really calls it a "paczek".

2 comments:

  1. Oh my YUMMY!! I could sure use a cup of coffee and one of those treats! How mean of you to post the photo! haha

    Your knitting looks fabulous! Gorgeous color, and yes...the beads will be worth the extra work when it's finished!...Nancy :o)

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  2. I grew up in Dearborn, and in college my roommates father called her, Paczki. They were from Chicago. They look yummy!
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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