tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66314045750665769972026-02-10T20:09:47.651-06:00Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-88069614451952260512013-12-31T09:20:00.001-06:002013-12-31T09:20:44.140-06:00

Life at Abel Hill Farm: What are you doing New Year's Eve?: The girls are laying 3-4 eggs a day now.  While the chicks are coming along nicely! Well, three out of five ain't bad.  Three of ...

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-89659322458170910162013-12-13T12:47:00.000-06:002013-12-13T14:24:30.389-06:00

Quite literally.  We've bought the farm.   Forty-six beautiful acres of Kansas prairie, complete with cross fenced pastures and barns.  (Can anyone say sheep?) The adventures of our farm life are found at NIK's companion site, Life at Abel Hill Farm.  With a new baby (who is almost a year old), kids growing up, and now chickens and soon to be sheep, I've found

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-57394687195932886262012-11-08T11:04:00.000-06:002012-11-08T11:17:31.392-06:00

Camp Out Fingerless Mitts, [ jenleigh's ] version. Camp Out Fingerless Mitts by Tante Ehm Knit using both Noro Kureyon (colorway 217) and Silk Garden (colorway 337). Knit on size US 7s. Modifications below. Baby Girl is due December 25th.  I. Kid. You. Not.  And I'm starting to panic a bit (a lot...) about having everything ready in time.  Furniture is due to arrive

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-66061158585135370162012-08-22T11:20:00.003-05:002012-11-08T11:16:36.398-06:00

Beachy Cowl [ jenleigh ] version Striped Cotton Cowl by Purl Soho Knit using Classic Elite Mountain Top Vail (Parchment) and Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in pale pink, mild green, black, yellow, Bahama blue, tomato red, and eggshell. Knit on size US 10.5 circular needles with parchment held throughout cowl with contrasting Silky Wool colorways.    I've got to stop giving away the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-67475053331586608992012-08-20T10:14:00.001-05:002012-08-20T10:17:46.308-05:00

Peach and Cherry Crumble This time of year means one thing, peaches.  I've been stewing them (served over ice cream) and baking them every chance I get.  And while at the grocers the other day I saw a sign for "Fresh, Local Peaches."  So I went to work and picked out a few choice ones.  Unfortunately, "fresh and local" might not mean the same thing to a large scale grocery

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-90709635577311328712012-08-07T10:08:00.000-05:002012-08-07T14:48:49.361-05:00

The basic... i.e. Kid Approved.   While living in New Orleans my husband and I became addicted to bread pudding.  There are so many versions, (my favorite only has a handful of ingredients...) both savory and sweet.  And when you look at the traditional Breakfast Casserole, it's really just a savory bread pudding.  Which makes me very happy... Like most folks we

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-61001118334745608292012-08-03T16:08:00.002-05:002012-08-08T11:15:35.743-05:00

Aunt Di's Adobo Pulled Pork Being from the South (specifically within an hour of the Barbeque Capital Memphis), I am always on the lookout for a new pulled pork recipe.  There are few things that can light my family up like its glorious smell rising from the cooker... I mean, six hours worth of heaven wafting through the house and out the door.  My husband swears he can smell it in

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-18009045334929727772012-07-28T12:47:00.001-05:002012-08-07T15:01:07.017-05:00

World's Best Chocolate Chip Cookie. Period. To quote Minny Jackson:  "The only thing you need to know about cookin' is right here; Crisco."  And when it comes to baking (and the occasional frying) I have to agree.   It is indeed the greatest thing since they put mayonnaise in a jar. I am a huge fan of butter, don't get me wrong.  I swear by butter when making scones.&

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-16522206491510577242012-07-27T13:36:00.000-05:002012-07-27T13:55:12.460-05:00

Pop blanket by Tin Can Knits Pop by Tin Can Knits (in progress) Knit using Lang Mille Colori in #s 5566 and 5741, and Imperial Columbia in Pearl Gray Knit on size US 9 and 10 needles. Hello again!  It's been pretty crazy around here the last few months.  We were knee deep in "end of the school year" activities for the kiddos when we found out we had a visitor on the way! 

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-82413347611433281112012-04-24T11:11:00.001-05:002012-04-24T11:26:59.196-05:00

My family has stories.  Or more accurately, my family are great story tellers.  I grew up hearing my grandmother tell stories of her childhood.  Born in 1901, she could remember getting too close to the "wash pot" my great grandmother used to "boil clothes" and the hem of her dress caught fire.  She recalled her mother rolling her on the ground trying to smother out the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-60102009883900409332012-03-30T00:00:00.000-05:002012-03-29T23:27:11.708-05:00

BLOOM Fingerless Mitts and Cowl, NIK 2012 Earlier this year I was fortunate to receive some Orange Flower DK silk/merino blend.  It's fantastic.  So incredibly soft and the colorways are gorgeous!  And I'm thrilled to be able to feature it in two new designs for Spring 2012. BLOOM consists of two patterns:  fingerless mitts and cowl.  Both feature the Apple Leaf

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-26949181700843446932012-02-28T11:45:00.000-06:002012-02-28T11:46:13.205-06:00

Hemlock Ring Blanket, [ jenleigh ]'s version. Hemlock Ring Blanket, detailed modification by Jared Flood. Pattern Specs: Knit in Cascade Eco-Wool, 1.5 skeins in the straw colorway (4010). Knit on size US 10 needles. *My only modification was that I worked the feather and fan repeats on the 5th row rather than the 4th as denoted in the pattern.  I was then able to bind off on Round

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-13180525592184143292012-02-24T11:12:00.000-06:002012-02-27T08:20:49.133-06:00

Nola's Slippers, [ jenleigh ]'s version. Nola's Slippers by Nola Miller, published in the Seamen's Church Institute, Christmas at Sea. Project Specs: Knit using personal hand-dyed and spun Corriedale, Turquoise and Gold. Knit on size US 4 circulars.   *I modified the pattern to be knit in the round.  Nothing really to change, but when I came to the center of the sole I

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-50021316306715730042012-02-22T09:37:00.001-06:002012-02-25T07:46:43.290-06:00

Umaro, [ jenleigh ]'s version. Umaro by Jared Flood Project Specs: Knit in Cascade Eco-Wool, taupe; 5.75 skeins, held double throughout the project. Knit on [2]* size US 15 needles. *Trick for cabling found below. I remember a few years ago reading a post by Jared Flood on his [then] blog about a blanket he aptly named Big Squishy Lovefest.  Although this is not EZ's Garter Stitch

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-5657119044890172822012-02-17T14:39:00.002-06:002012-02-19T15:51:36.837-06:00

...well I'm right here, sitting on a pillow.  And not just any pillow.  A big fluffy please-cushion-my-worn-out-tush sort of pillow.  I have been working for days (and nights) updating and moving files from my old site.  And in the words of Sheryl Crow, "I'm living on coffee and nicotine*..." I had been severely neglecting things at NIK for the past couple of years

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-22825922704778136762012-02-15T13:50:00.000-06:002012-02-18T21:15:04.431-06:00

Benjamin Slouch Hat Benjamin by Jennifer Adams Project Specs:   Knit in Ultra Alpaca,6206 [light grey] and 6294 [turquoise mix]. Knitted on size US 5 needles. Meet Benjamin.  Both the kid and the hat!  I had such a fun time writing this pattern.  For such a simple [looking] hat, it was a bit more complicated to design... and then explain clearly! 

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10227741246622900835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-78713251099913870662012-02-14T12:01:00.001-06:002012-02-14T12:04:09.509-06:00

Hello Everyone! It's a "Brand New Day" here at NIK, and we have a new home!  If you've come over from our old site I hope you'll take a second to click on the "subscribe" button in the Navigation Bar and update your NIK subscription. I've spent the last week moving all the old files and posts, and I gotta say, I have been cracking up at so many of your comments!  Some I haven't

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-30934141482973795832012-01-02T12:17:00.000-06:002012-02-18T21:15:19.680-06:00

Benjamin Slouch Hat, [ jenleigh ]'s version. First, Happy New Year!  I hope everyone is looking forward to the new year (and new knits) with renewed energy.  I giggle a little as I say that because I have been down for a week with a sinus infection gone wild.  And then I look around the house knowing I will soon need to take down all the holiday decorations that I swear I just

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-39961290891442476082011-12-10T13:00:00.000-06:002012-02-18T21:15:40.368-06:00

Luxe Cowl, [ jenleigh ]'s version. Luxe Cowl by Jennifer Adams Pattern Specs: Knit in 1 (!) ball of Noro Silk Garden (colorway 241). Knitted on US size 8 circulars. I am on a real "don't overthink it" kick.  Simpler is often better.  My friend asked for a cowl with pretty colors.  That was it.  I love Noro and I love miters... goodness knows I've knit

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-19133957272109805302011-11-26T14:00:00.000-06:002012-08-05T13:22:18.409-05:00

Graham Hat Graham by Jennifer Adams Project Specs:  Knit in Cascade Eco-Alpaca, charcoal. Knitted on size US 6 and 8 circulars. Pattern PDF Note:  Since first publishing the pattern in November I have updated the numbers and crown decreases for Graham.  The decreases now work invisibly with the Broken Rib pattern and the hat is completely reversible. 

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-10384664042623539112011-02-10T11:30:00.000-06:002012-02-27T08:25:52.504-06:00

Shaelyn Shawl, [ jenleigh ]'s version. Shaelyn by Leila Raabe Project Specs: Knit in Kauni Effektgarn in colorway EN. Knitted on size US 8 circulars. All the snowfall has made me stir crazy, which has made me shawl crazy.  I love how quickly shawls can knit up... and wonder why it took me so long to jump on board this train.  I've knit three in the last few weeks

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-81152736010429137632011-02-08T12:30:00.000-06:002012-02-20T11:05:50.674-06:00

Everglade Tam, [ jenleigh ]'s version. Everglade by Woolly Wormhead Project Specs: Knitted in Cascade Pure Alpaca, lichen. Knit on size US 5 circulars. We can't seem to get enough snow lately here in the Mid-west.  Well, I guess I should say we've gotten plenty, but it still continues to fall.  I spent last week snowed in with two stir-crazy kiddos while their father

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-55232899037082475262011-01-31T11:30:00.000-06:002012-02-19T19:49:46.774-06:00

Swallowtail Shawl, [ jenleigh ]'s version. Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark Project Specs: Knitted in Cascade Eco-Wool, pumpkin spice. Knit on size US 8 needles. It was March of 2008 and I had four lovely skeins of Sundara Silky Merino in my possession... Pine over Gold.  Oiy... seriously yummy stuff.  Seriously good stuff.  Sometimes when you splurge and get the

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-25167211072933691272010-10-11T11:00:00.000-05:002012-02-19T12:20:02.518-06:00

Flint Hill Cowl Flint Hill by Jennifer Adams Project Specs: Knit in Magnum by Cascade Yarns, 2 skeins in #9459 Yakima Heather. Knitted on one pair straight needles or one 20"‚ circular needle in size US 15. It's here!  And just in time for Autumn.  The leaves had just begun to turn here, but after a Sunday rainstorm the landscape has changed overnight.  And

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6631404575066576997.post-60361267285501427622010-10-08T23:00:00.000-05:002012-02-20T11:30:25.658-06:00

Pigs with Wigs [ jenleigh ]'s version. Pigs with Wigs from Knitting Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec Project Specs: Knitted in Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers, 1 skein pink, less than 1 skein denim, small amounts black and white. Knit on size US 7  32" circular. It has been a crazy few months!  I've got sweater bodies littering my workroom and it seems everywhere I turn I

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05998760544257838720noreply@blogger.com0