Sunday, February 2, 2014

Hm. February. Must be time for my annual blog post. I would firstly like to announce that since my baking disaster last year, I have successfully mastered both sultana bread and banana gingerbread. I can bake both like a boss now, so at least I've made some sort of progress in my life in the last 12 months. Baby steps...

Anyway, the youngfella in the knitting pattern photo is Eoin. He was about 3 or 4, I think,  in that photo. But now he's 9-and-a-half and he wants his own blog. I told him I'd set one up for him. Then I forgot about it and went to bed. So now I've remembered and I'm here at 3am, supposed to be setting it up, but posting in my own seldom-used blog instead... I don't know how to even set up a new one. I can't remember how I did this one else, it was so long ago...

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Burnt or Undercooked? Or both...?

Today was rainy and uneventful. So I decided that I might do some baking. I fancied something with apples and sultanas in it, thinking I might even take it into work in the morning, and share it with my colleagues at tea-break. I thought I would be very clever, and tweak a basic banana-bread recipe, omitting the bananas and replacing them with sultanas, grated apples and a smidge of cinnamon. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for  a start, I underestimated just how wet and sloppy a banana bread recipe is, and how long something that wet and sloppy takes to bake. Somehow, it works perfectly when mashed bananas comprise some of the sloppiness, but not so much when said bananas are absent. I don't know why; perhaps bananas have some sort of binding quality, that makes cakes bake properly, but all I know is that when I checked my loaf after the 35 minutes stated in the recipe, it was far, far, far from being anywhere even nearly close to thinking about being cooked. So I left it for another little while. And another little while. And another... Then I turned up the heat on the oven a little bit... The top of the cake had by now turned from golden-brown to dark brown, and was on the point of turning black, so I had to put some tin foil around the sides, to try and prevent it from burning, but the inside was still sloppy and uncooked, as evidenced by the skewer I poked into it at frequent intervals, which stubbornly kept emerging with goopy cake-mix clinging to it. So annoyed with it was I that I decided to mention it on my Facebook profile. Somebody helpfully suggested that I try putting it in the microwave for a few minutes. Hm. So I did, for 5 minutes. Then another 5, and another 5, and another, and another... *sigh* here we go again... Still, at least in the microwave, it wasn't burning on top anymore. After many short blasts in the microwave, I eventually decided it was 'done', and have left it to cool. In all, it has taken over 3 hours to bake this cake, which was supposed to take 35 minutes. It's 1:50AM. I'm going to bed. But before I do, I'll issue this piece of important advice: Don't try to use a banana bread recipe for making anything other than banana bread.


Saturday, February 9, 2013

Fifi Goes Protestin'

Today, Fiona (nearly-7-year-old Daughter) and I went into town, on the bus, to march, along with some 50,000 others, against the Debt Burden, in a protest organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. We were probably all pissing in the wind, as the Powers that Be will take no notice, but still, we have to do something to register our discontent and show that we're not just taking it lying down.  But this blog is not about political things.  There was a great turnout and we marched from Christchurch to the Dáil, and Fiona thought it was great craic altogether.  Afterwards, when it was all dispersing, she spied the National Museum of Natural History and reeeeallly wanted to go in, so, to thank her for being so good and well-behaved on the march, we did. Fiona was very pleased to see her favourite animal, a giraffe, (albeit a stuffed one) and posed for a photograph with it. After that, we headed towards Grafton Street, where we stopped to watch a street performer escape from a straight jacket and chains, which he did very impressively.  His name is Gary Michaels, and I've seen him perform before, about two years ago. He was good then, but even better now; he has obviously been working very hard on his act. I hope he will be "discovered" soon; he deserves to be famous.  After all that, we were starving, so we mosied down to Temple Bar for a bit of dinner, and didn't get home until after 8PM. Fiona said she had a great day, and wants to go on more protest marches in the future.




Friday, February 8, 2013

The Resurrection of The Blog Begins:
This poor, neglected blog is already 5 years old. It has somehow managed to survive, against all the odds, without any love, nurturing or attention of any kind whatsoever. I have been a Bad Blogger. I am now going to attempt to right this terrible wrong, by becoming a Good Blogger. Or at least a regular one; I can't guarantee I'll be any good.

Watch this space.......

Sunday, December 14, 2008


Knitting Pattern for Kids' Sweater:


This pattern is very versatile; I like it because it works well with any DK yarn and you can vary it a lot by using any stitch or combination of stitches. It is nice worked simply in garter stitch with 1x1 or 2x2 ribbing on the cuffs, neckband and waistband.


Abbreviations:
Alt
= Alternate
Beg = Beginning
Cont = Continue
Dec = Decrease(ing)
Foll = Following
Inc = Increase(ing)
K = Knit
0 = No stitches or rows
P = Purl
P2tog = Purl 2 stitches together
Patt = Pattern
Rem = Remain(ing)
Rep = Repeat
RS = Right side
St(s) = Stitch(es)
Tog = Together
WS = Wrong side

Ages: 0-6m : [6-12m : 1-2yr : 2-3yr : 4-5yr : 6-7yr]

Back :
Using 3.25mm needles, cast on 51 (57 : 61 : 67 : 73 : 79) sts.
Work 9 (11 : 11 :11 : 13 : 13) rows rib.
Change to 4mm needles and work in chosen stitch/pattern until back measures 13 (16 : 19 : 24 : 27 : 32) cm, [5¼ (6¼ : 7½ : 9½ : 10¾ : 12½) in], ending with a ws row. **
Shape Armholes :
Work 3 (5 : 6 : 8 : 10 : 11) rows dec 1 st at each end of every row. 45 (47 : 49 : 51 : 53 : 57) sts.
Cont without shaping until armholes measure 11 (12 : 13 : 14 : 15 : 16) cm, [4½ (4¾ : 5¼ : 5½ : 6 : 6¼) in], ending with a ws row.
Shape Shoulders :
Cast off 7 (7 : 7 : 8 : 7 : 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 31 (33 : 35 : 35 : 39 : 41) sts.
Cast off 8 (8 : 8 : 8 : 8 : 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 15 (17 : 19 : 19 : 23 : 23) sts.
Cast of rem 15 (17 : 19 : 19 : 23 : 23) sts.
Front :
Work as given for Back to **.
Shape Armholes and Divide for Neck
Next row: Work 2 tog, work 21, (24 : 26 : 29 : 32 : 35), work 2 tog, turn, leave rem 26 (29 : 31 : 34 : 37 : 40) sts on a st holder.
Working on these 23 (26 : 28 : 31 : 34 : 37) sts only proceed as follows:
Next row: Work to last 2 sts., work 2 tog. 22 (25 : 27 : 30 : 33 : 36) sts.
Work 1 (3 : 4 : 6 : 2 : 9) rows dec 1 st at armhole edge in every row at same time dec 1 st at neck edge in 0 ( 3rd : 3rd : 3rd : 1st : 1st) and every foll 0 (0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 4th) row. 21 ( 21 : 22 : 23 : 30 : 24) sts.
Size 4-5 yrs only:
Work 6 rows dec 1 st at armhole edge in every row at same time dec 1 st at neck edge in next and foll 4th row (22 sts)
All sizes:
Work 17 (24 : 27 : 25 : 27 : 28) rows dec 1 st at neck edge only in 2nd (4th : 3rd : 1st : 3rd : 4th) and every foll 4th row. 17 ( 15 : 15 : 16 : 15 : 17) sts.
Size 0-6m only:
Work 7 rows dec 1 st at neck edge only in next and foll 6th row. (15 sts)
All sizes:
Cont without shaping until armhole measures 11 (12 : 13 : 14 : 15 : 16) cm, [4½ (4¾ : 5¼ : 6 : 6¼) in], ending with a ws row.
Shape Shoulder
Next row: Cast off 7 (7 : 7 : 8 : 7 : 8) sts., work to end. 8 (8 : 8 : 8 : 8 : 9) sts.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 8 (8 : 8 : 8 : 8 : 9) sts in patt.
With rs facing, working on rem 26 (29 : 31 : 34 : 37 : 40) sts, slip first st onto a safety pin, rejoin yarn to rem 25 (28 : 30 : 33 : 36 :39) sts and work 2 tog, work to last 2 sts, work 2 tog. 23 (26 : 28 :31 : 34 : 37) sts.
Next row: Work 2 tog, work to end. 22 (25 : 27 : 30 : 33 : 36) sts.
Work 1 (3 : 4 : 6 : 2 :9) rows dec 1 st at neck edge in 0 (3rd : 3rd : 3rd : 1st : 1st) and every foll 0 (0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 4th) row at same time dec 1 st at armhole edge in every row. 21 (21 : 22 : 23 : 30 : 24) sts.
Size 4-5 yrs only:
Work 6 rows dec 1 st at neck edge in next and foll 4th row at same time dec 1 st at armhole edge in every row. (22 sts).
All sizes:
Work 17 (24 : 27 : 25 : 27 : 28) rows dec 1 st at neck edge only in 2nd (4th : 3rd : 1st : 3rd : 4th) and every foll 4th row. 17 (15 : 15 : 16 : 15 : 17) sts.
Size 0-6m only:
Work 7 rows dec 1 st at neck edge only in next and foll 6th row. 15 sts.
All sizes:
Cont without shaping until armhole measures 11 (12 : 13 : 14 : 15 : 16) cm, [4¼ (4¾ : 5¼ : 5½ : 6 : 6¼) in], ending with a rs row.
Shape Shoulder :
Next row : Cast off 7 (7 : 7 : 8 : 7 : 8) sts in patt, work to end. 8 (8 : 8 : 8 : 8 : 9) sts.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 8 (8 : 8 : 8 :8 : 9) sts in pattern
Sleeves (both alike) :
Using 3.25mm needles cast on 33 (35 : 37 : 39 : 43 : 47) sts and rib 9 (11 : 11 : 11 : 13 : 13 ) rows.
Change to 4mm needles and proceed as follows:
Work 2 rows.
Row 3: Work 1, pick up loop between last and next st and work into the back of this loop (this will now be referred to as m1), work to last 2 sts, m1, work 1. 35 (37 : 39 : 41 : 45 : 49) sts.
Cont in patt, inc 1 st at each end of 9th (3rd : 3rd : 3rd : 5th : 7th) and every foll 14th (8th : 8th : 8th : 10th : 12th) row to 39 (45 : 47 : 47 : 53 : 57) sts.

Sizes 1-2, 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7 yrs only:
Inc 1 st at each end of every foll (10th : 10th : 12th : 14th ) row to (49 : 53 : 57 : 61) sts

All Sizes:
Cont without shaping until sleeve measures 15 (17 : 20 : 24 : 29 : 33) cm, [6 (6½ : 8 : 9½ : 11½ : 13) in], or length required, ending with a ws row.

Shape Sleeve Top:
Work 3 (5 : 6 : 8 : 10 : 11) rows dec 1 st at each end of every row. 33 (35 : 37 : 37 : 37 : 39) sts.
Work 1 (1 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 1) row more without shaping.
Cast off 6 (7 : 7 : 7 : 13 : 13) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 21 (21 : 23 : 23 : 11 : 13) sts.

Sizes 0-6m, 6-12m, 1-2yrs and 2-3yrs only:
Cast off 7 (7: 8: 8) sts at beg of next 2 (2 : 2 : 2) rows. 7 (7 : 7 : 7) sts.

All Sizes:
Cast off rem 7 (7 : 7 : 7 : 11 : 13) sts

Neckband :
Join right shoulder seam. With rs facing, using 3.25mm needles, pick up and knit 35 (37 : 41 : 43 : 47 : 49) sts evenly along let side of neck, knit st left on safety pin at centre of V, pick up and knit 36 (38 : 42 : 44 : 48 : 50) sts evenly along right side of neck and 15 (17 : 19 : 19 : 23 :23) sts from back of neck. 87 (93 : 103 : 107 : 119 : 123) sts.

Row 1: Rib to 3 sts at centre of V, insert needle purlways through back of 2nd st then 1st st and slip both sts off needle tog, purl next st then pass 2 slipped sts tog over purl st, rib to end. 85 (91 : 101 : 105 : 117 : 121) sts.

Row 2: Rib to 3 sts at centre of V, insert needle knitways into 2nd st then 1st st and pass both sts off needle tog, knit next st then pass 2 slipped sts tog over knit st, rib to end. 83 (89 : 99 : 103 : 115 : 119) sts.
Rep rows 1 and 2 once then row 1 once. 77 (83 : 93 : 97 : 109 :113) sts.
Cast off in rib.

Making up:
Join left shoulder and neckband seams. Fold sleeves in half lengthways, then placing folds to shoulder seams, sew sleeves in position. Join side and sleeves seams. Pin out garment to the measurements given. Cover with damp cloths and leave until dry.








Intro.




Right. Hello. This is me, over there ========>

I'm Roisin. Or Ro, as most people call me.
I'm 40, married (to Bod) and have 3 kids; Eoin, aged 8-and-a-half; Fiona, aged nearly-7; and Gavin, aged 4-and-a-half. We are all from, and live in, Dublin, Ireland.

I set up this blog in 2008, and then pretty much forgot all about it. I am going to try and resurrect it now though, and will make more of an effort to keep it updated regularly. We shall see how I get on...

08-Feb-2013.