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Thank you, and happy reading! :-)

Quick Knits for Holiday Gifting

This year I decided to make some knit gifts for friends and family that were a little different from the usual pair of mittens, hat, or cowl that are commonly thought of. Below are some of the unique gifts I made this year. I found these patterns for free at Knitpicks.com.

A Very Danger Christmas Collection by Rebecca Danger

Penguin Ornament by Emily Kintigh

Daisy Lace Dishcloth by Jenny Williams

Spaghetti with Fresh Herbs

This year I planted my first herb garden. It has been wonderful to just walk outside and grab whatever herbs I'd like to use in the dish I'm preparing. In the past, I have tried to purchase fresh herbs from the grocery store (when I have planned meals far enough in advance to do this), but it's not the same as using fresh herbs from your own garden.

Recently I made a batch of spaghetti sauce. I used all of the Italian herbs I'm growing - parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano. It was the best spaghetti sauce I have ever made!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of ground beef
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1 lb of cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 - 28 oz cans of Hunts Pasta Sauce: Traditional
• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Fresh rosemary, chopped
• Fresh thyme, chopped
• Fresh basil, chopped
• Fresh oregano, chopped
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parmesan cheese
• 1 lb of spaghetti, cooked al dente

Directions:

Brown the ground beef in a dutch oven over medium. Add chopped onion, and cook until translucent. Add sliced mushrooms, pasta sauce, herbs, salt and pepper, and parmesan cheese to taste. Simmer for 15 minutes. While the sauce is simmering, prepare the spaghetti noodles according to the directions on the box. Drain the noodles and plate them. Spoon spaghetti sauce over the noodles. Garnish with more parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

© Kaylan Dykema. All rights reserved.

Bobbled Knit Hat

By: Kaylan Dykema

Buy a pdf download of this pattern.

Finished Measurements

15” finished circumference, and 5.5” high. Fits an infant 12-18 months.

Yarn

Red Heart (100% Acrylic; 364 yards/198g), 1 ball. 

Needles

US 6 (4mm) 16” circular needles plus DPNs, or size to obtain gauge. 

Notions

Yarn Needle
Stitch Marker

Gauge

17 sts and 30 rounds = 4” in stranded St st, blocked.

Notes

This hat is worked in the round from the bottom up. 

Bobble Stitch: Purl stitch, knit same stitch, repeat one more, then purl into the same stitch. Increased by 5 stitches. Slip first 4 increased stitches back over 5th stitch to create a bobble.

Pattern instructions

CO 72 stitches and join in the round. *K1, P1. Repeat from * for 5 rounds. Round 6, work in St stitch for 3 rounds. Round 9, bobble round. K5, *make bobble, K5. Repeat from * until end of round. Rounds 10-14, work in St stitch. Repeat rounds 9-14, 4 times, then work rounds 10-14 one more time. Switch to DPNs as needed. Decrease round, *K4, k2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. Next round, work in St stitch. Decrease round, *K3, k2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. Next round, work in St stitch. Decrease round, *K2, k2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. Next round, work in St stitch. Decrease round, *K1, k2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. Next round, work in St stitch. Decrease round, *K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. Break yarn, and thread tail onto a yarn needle. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tight. Secure on WS. Weave in ends.   

Abbreviations

CO: Cast on

DPNs: Double pointed needles

K: Knit

K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together, decreased by 1

P: Purl

WS: Wrong side

Copyright Kaylan Dykema. All rights reserved. For personal and non-commercial use only.

Knitting Project - Grand Army Plaza Shawl

The Grand Army Plaza Shawl was such a fun, and sad knitting project. About halfway through knitting this pattern, I discovered I had dropped several stitches! 😥 This was the first time I used lace-weight yarn to knit a lace pattern, and I just didn't know how to fix my mistakes. So, I unraveled all the work I did. I sat and looked at my ball of yarn contemplating wether I would start the project again, and I decided I would. It was such a pretty shawl - I really wanted to use the yarn I had for that project. So, I casted stitches back onto my needle.

I am so happy that I decided to try again! I completed my shawl, and it turned out beautifully. I wear my new accessory with pride. 💞

Grand Army Plaza Shawl by Melissa Wehrle, published in Interweave Knits Presents - Classic Knit Shawls

Misty Autumn Mountain

Mount Pilchuck, Wash. Sept. 10, 2019

Lemon Chile Kale Chips

Ingredients

• 1 bag of cut kale
• Olive oil spray such as Pam
• Freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 lemon, zested
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt
• Pepper

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange kale onto a baking sheet with edges in a single layer. Remove any thick pieces of stem between the leaves. This ensures that you will end up with nice, crisp kale chips. Lightly spray the kale with olive oil. Sprinkle with lemon zest, parmesan cheese, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to taste. Bake kale until crispy - about 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!

© Kaylan Dykema. All rights reserved.