SpiderWomanKnits

ice cream for breakfast

2013-03-18T20:11:34-04:00

If you're on Pinterest, I'm sure you've seen the frozen banana "ice cream" pin by now. If you're not on Pinterest or have never made this frozen confection before I highly recommend that you promptly fix both of those things. Pinterest will make your life better, it will. And you can eat this dessert for breakfast. Case closed.

I was delightfully surprised by how satisfying this simple dessert is. The original pin shows frozen bananas being placed in a blender and then whipped into a fluffy cloud. Well, my blender is broken and I didn't want to bother with freezing the bananas anyway. So, I simply sliced ripe bananas and whipped them with my handheld immersion blender until they were a fluffy cloud. It worked very nicely. So, if you don't feel like freezing the bananas or don't want to add stress to your machine by blending frozen bananas I say skip that step.

A few things about this "ice cream". First, it's not ice cream. Don't even try to pretend it is or sell it to your kids that way. That being said it is delicious! It's in a category of it's own. If it's late at night and you need something sweet you can indulge in this treat and be just as satisfied as you would be eating ice cream but actually still feel good after eating it. Really, it's that good. But that brings me to my second point, you have to like bananas. It's made with bananas so it's going to taste like bananas. I love bananas. I've seen pinners comment that you can "mask" the banana taste with the other ingredients but I don't see how that's possible or why you'd even want to. Just eat something else. See, lots of bananas in there.

Okay. Want to make some? Here's what you do.

Gather

Four ripened bananas, sliced into 1/2" pieces

1-2 tspns of high quality dutch process cocoa or to taste. If you're gluten free just be sure your cocoa powder is too. You can omit this.

2-3 tbspns peanut butter or to taste, I used an all natural, unsweetened peanut butter because i felt like it would offer a creamier texture. If you've ever tried to melt regular peanut butter and pour it on ice cream you know how it freezes solid? I was trying to avoid that. It worked. Of course, you can omit the peanut butter too.

Blend all of your ingredients together in a blender, food processor or in a bowl with an immersion blender until light and fluffy like a cloud. Place in a freezer proof container large enough to hold a pint. Freeze for several hours. Done!

You'll have to allow it to thaw for a little bit before you can scoop it but the texture of mine was like gelato! So perfect. I can't wait to make this again. I'm going to be adding cinnamon and more peanut butter for sure next time but the add in possibilities are endless! Rum and raisins (not blended, obvs.)? Shredded coconut? If you're looking at bananas on your counter right now that are about to turn, you know what to do. Enjoy!

Spidey

Free Pattern and New to the Shop: Textured Cowl

2013-02-12T22:13:21-05:00

First, many, many heart felt thanks for your support of my farm and fibery endeavours. I shipped out the first batch of yarn today and have more going out tomorrow. I love knowing that Indy and Hayden are "out there" now, along with my daily chores and labor, love, laughs, time, good energy and everything else that goes into small scale fiber production. If you happen to be on the receiving end of a skein I'm really looking forward to your feedback. You can find indy hayden twenty twelve as part of the Rav database too. If you're in the market for some sweet alpaca yarn you can find some here. Yahoo!

Ok, so, here we go again folks! I wrote up another addictive (warned) and fun cowl project for you that is sure to warm your needles and your necks. I'm calling it the Textured Cowl, because I am much more creative with my knits than my naming, and you can find it for FREE as a Ravelry Download.

I really love this cowl. I think it's suitable for a man or woman depending on the color you use and I also think that depending on color it takes on very different feelings. I can't wait to knit one in a sweatshirty gray. I am staring at an absurd amount of super bulky in my stash but, of course, not that color.

I feel like such a bore being redundant but it must be said that I love offering patterns for free, in turn, I humbly ask that you direct people who are interested in purchasing a cowl to my Etsy shop, please do not sell any yourself. I'm going to try something new here. I want my patterns to be available to everyone (read free) but if you've knit (and enjoyed) my patterns before and feel that they are worth something to you or feel inclined to contribute to my design work I've added a PayPal donation button to the sidebar. I'll be sure to keep the patterns coming. Thank you so much!

Whew. Now that I got that out of the way. I can't wait to hear what you think about this knit and look forward to seeing your creations on Ravelry. If you don't happen to be a knitter, this cowl is currently available in my Esty shop and ready to ship or you can choose your own color and let me knit for you, which I love to do.

Enjoy! And many heartfelt blessings and thanks,

xo Spidey

yarn! in the shop!

2013-02-10T21:50:45-05:00

Indy and Hayden gave up this particular fleece almost two years ago. I had to live with their fleeces for a while, touching them, smelling them and just generally loving them before I was able to drop them off at the local mill. Months went by as I patiently waited for them to return, spun from raw fiber into delicious, delicious yarn. Then I had to live with the yarn for a few more months, touching it, smelling it, loving it and knitting it into a variety of different works before I was able to finally decide to share some in The Shop tonight.

I had this yarn spun for knitters, blending Indy and Hayden's fleece with a wee bit of local wool so that you would get all the luxury, softness and warmth of alpaca but with just enough wool to give the yarn definition and structure. It's a 4ply worsted to heavy worsted yarn because that is the yarn that I personally turn to most often,(when I am not knitting hundreds of super bulky cowls!)the work horse of any stash I think. I've maintained Indy and Hayden's fawn/caramel coloring but the yarn has flecks of natural wool in it for a subtle tweed effect.

Look at these guys! They are mighty proud and they should be. Both the shearer and the mill owner said that their fleece was among the nicest they've seen. My plan is to have different weights spun from year to year so for now there will be a very limited amount available in the shop of what I am calling the indy hayden twenty twelve worsted blend. One skein is plenty to make a hat or a pair of mitts or, dare I say, a cowl. If you happen to end up with a skein or two, I hope that you love it as much as me. I can say that it is a true pleasure to knit up.

FO : Mr. Cowl

2013-01-31T20:12:19-05:00

It was my brother Pete's birthday this Tuesday so I jaunted down to NYC to see Cat Power with him! Oh, so fun. I love when all I need is my tiny vintage Amelia Earhart suitcase and an adventurous spirit. It's not easy to leave my large brood mid week! But it was worth it, even if today felt all sorts of Monday.

Cat Power was amazing by the way.

And so was the breakfast that Pete and I had in Brooklyn which we lingered over while I knit up his birthday present and people watched. Such a perfect morning. I knit a heavily modified Mr. Cowl for him which is really a perfect man-cowl, I've knit one other, it's very flattering and masculine. My mods are raveled with other project notes here.

I think quick jaunts to Brooklyn will be my "emergency exit" more often :) Vermont has my heart for sure and always, but, oh my, it's easy to forget what a wide world it is out there while you're nestled deep in these mountains.

Free Recipe for the InSPirATion Cowl

2013-01-15T16:45:41-05:00

I designed this cowl as part of my InSPirATion Series of ooak hand knits for my Etsy shop but would love to share the simple recipe for this design here for knitters.

Grab: Two main colors and one contrast color of Super Bulky yarn, I used Lion Brand Thick and Quick. Size 15 needles, circular or straight and a size K crochet hook.

Make it: Cast on 42 stitches and knit every row, switching colors with your two chosen main colors on the right side row whenever you feel inclined and carrying your other yarn up the side. Continue doing this until your piece measures about 10" tall or however tall you'd like. Bind off leaving a long tail about 18 inches long. Using your contrast color and a size K crochet hook, single crochet along one edge. Break yarn and pull through loop. Seam your cowl using a mattress stitch and your purl ridges while taking care to line up your stripes. Weave in all ends. Wear and enjoy!

As always, with my pattern offerings, patterns are for personal use only. I ask that you kindly refer those who would like you to purchase a cowl to my Etsy shop and not sell any for your own personal profit. I hope you have fun making one! Can't wait to see all of the color combintaions!

xo Spidey

FO : Shaelyn

2013-01-08T17:31:47-05:00

Well, hello there! What a blessing the past few months have been. Red Comb Vintage has been keeping me good and busy but I managed to sneak in a very special knit for a very special woman and I am so excited to share it with you.

My Grandma turns 95 today! She is really an amazing lady. She's an Armenian Genocide survivor with a story of survival too difficult to even tell, has one of the most beautiful singing voices you've ever heard, is a licensed Funeral Director, has done commercials (quite recently) and modeled (in the past, at 95 swims nearly every day and can not be beat in a game of cards.

I knit this shawl for her, the only request she had was that it be colorful.

This was such a great knit. The lace pattern is easily memorized and you have the stockinette rows to break it up a bit. You can find all of my project details on Ravelry.

I'm not able to blog much these days but you can find me often on Instagram. I'm spiderwomanknits there as well. Have a follow if you will! Hope all is well in your world.

xo Spidey

Free Pattern: The Vermonter

2012-09-28T18:06:36-04:00

It's getting to be that time of year! Time to put our wooly thinking caps on and start thinking about gift knitting. Well, I have an early gift for you! Another free pattern to add to my collection and this one is really fun. Meet The Vermonter. It's quick, straight forward, fun and easy to wear hat that uses one ball of super bulky yarn and just a bit of your time.

In fact, if you happen to have a ball of super bulky laying around and some size 11 DP's you could whip one up this weekend and I really hope you do!

You can find the free PDF on Ravelry download now

I love offering patterns for free, in turn, I humbly ask that you direct people who are interested in purchasing a Vermonter to my Etsy shop. Thank you so much! If you are not a knitter, Vermonters are available in my Etsy Shop right now.

Enjoy!

xoxo

Spidey

whirlwind to the shore

2012-09-10T19:39:30-04:00

Jorn and I went down to New Jersey on Saturday for a family gathering. It was a wonderful whirlwind and we even managed to squeeze in a trip to the shore before we headed back on Sunday morning. It was two hours very well spent. I just love the sea. Everyone was gone, it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. We wandered the shoreline, under the docks, around the amusement park and gathered treasures, of course. When we arrived back in Vermont we still had sand between our toes. What a delight for mountain dwellers. And, what a delight for a mother of three to have that time with my first born. The best treasure of all.

FO: Quynn 2

2012-09-07T20:53:20-04:00

Quynn 2 flew off the needles this afternoon just in time for school pick up and 84 degree weather. The knitter in me is so ready for Autumn.

By modifying the garter brim on this hat you get such a different look. I'll be playing with that even more.

Besides being a super willing and adorable knitwear model, Simonne just finished her very first week of school and she lost her first tooth! I wrote a little bit about my feelings on losing baby teeth years ago when Jorn started. If you're interested here is the post. I still feel strongly that this is such an interesting developmental time that goes beyond just the physicality of it.

And, as usual, Quynn 2 project details, more pics and my mods can be found on Ravelry. I wish everyone a lovely weekend! xo Spidey

PS. find me on Instagram as spiderwomanknits

FO: Quynn

2012-09-06T20:43:45-04:00

Oh, a really fun knit! I've had this pattern in my queue for a while now and decided to buy the pattern yesterday. I've already cast on and am almost done with a #2. Such an addictive knit with really charming results.

I love that it covers those little ears without having to go and add ear flaps later. They are created while you knit. Perfecto!

There's also a fairly obvious front and back which is very kid friendly too. As usual all of my project notes and more pictures can be found on Ravelry. OK! Back to knitting. You've been warned, this knit is addictive. xo Spidey