Knitting Along- 2 collars and a cardigan front.

Knitting Along- 2 collars and a cardigan front.
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta
Since my batteries are dead in my camera, and all the fresh batteries are gone, I am writing from my iPad. That would be the reason you don't see any books in the picture because I am taking the picture WITH the book I am reading ;)

Here you can see the front of the 1950s cardigan I posted about in my last post.

On top are two crocheted collars I made to liven up a dress I love the shape of but find rather bland. Neither of them took long to make, and both have free patterns online. The lavender one I added shells to the outer edge to make it prettier ;)

I changed my mind about the cardigan I was making from my Madelintosh. Instead I have a 1950s 'slipon' on the needles. It is not pictured as it is currently resting ;)

Book wise I have been reading several novels on my iPad, borrowed from the library. Nothing exciting! Maybe I'll have more exciting reading next time!

Catch other Yarn Along Posts over at Ginny's Place :)

(Sorry I have tried and tried to see the linky there, but I cannot :()

Recent Finds

I told you a couple of posts ago, that I had some recent finds which I thought were particularly nice and that I would share them with you.
This is not all of them, mind you.  I left some of them tucked away, maybe to share another day ;)

First up, this booklet I discovered for sale on Ebay.

It is from the 1950's and has the most gorgeous fashions in it.  I really love this set on the front- there looks to be three different ones, but they are the same!  It is a cardigan and 'slipover' set.  I fell in love with the white, and my husband the green.  So he bought it for me as an anniversary present!

Look at these two!  Aren't they gorgeous?

Next up this booklet.  It is from the 1930's and I found it hidden in a corner in an antique mall.

It has a huge array of crochet (and some knit) projects- including doilies.  *I* bought it because I loved the accessories.

Please excuse the weird shapes on this picture.
For whatever reason they come out this way
when I scan it.

Look at the pretty crochet lace blouse.  And her hair!  But the picture below is really what I bought it for- crocheted mesh gloves!

I have been wanting some of these forever- and this pattern has them with a hat!
And look at this really cute belt.

Then there is this pattern for a 1905-1907 ladies blouse.  I am not sure how old the pattern is itself, but it is old.  And I love the idea of a REAL Downton piece of clothing!

This dress was another Ebay find.  I love this one- it was whole- even down to the transfer for the embroidered border around the neck and skirt.  I shall definitely try to make this one- maybe in white- or maybe in a pale blue or pink.

 

Anyway, that's my pattern roundup for today.  I hope you enjoyed seeing a little of my stash ;)

CRÊPES GEORGETTE

 We enjoyed our pancake day yesterday- and I thought you might enjoy me sharing the recipe :)

CRÊPES GEORGETTE

Crepes Georgette
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

Pastry Crème
2 egg yolks
1 egg white
2 oz sugar (finely ground sugar is best)
1 oz plain flour
½ pint milk
½ t Vanilla extract

Crêpes
2 large eggs
¾ cup milk
½ cup water
1 cup flour
3 tablespoons melted butter
Butter, for coating the pan

Crêpes Georgette
2oz Butter
6 Pineapple Rings, drained and finely chopped
4 T Rum, divided
Pastry Crème,
Crêpe style pancakes
Icing sugar for Dressing

Crêpes
In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and pulse for 10 seconds. Place the crepe batter in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This allows the bubbles to subside so the crepes will be less likely to tear during cooking. The batter will keep for up to 48 hours.
Heat a small non-stick pan. Add butter to coat. Pour 1 ounce of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Cook for 30 seconds and flip. Cook for another 10 seconds and remove to the cutting board. Lay them out flat so they can cool. Continue until all batter is gone.

Pastry Crème
Whisk the eggs with the sugar in a mixing bowl until pale and creamy. Sift in flour, whisking. Gradually add milk. Pour into a small saucepan and bring to the boil whisking continuously.
Simmer over a very low heat for 2-3 minutes to ensure the flour is cooked.
Add the vanilla. Set aside.
This can also be use to make custard or fruit pastries as a flan filling.

Crêpes Georgette
Melt butter, using a small amount to grease a flameproof dish.
Add 1 T rum to pastry crème and mix in well until smooth.
Add pineapple and mix well.
Fill pancakes ½ full and roll into a tube.
Brush with butter.
Dredge with icing sugar and brand with a hot skewer.
Grill until icing sugar is glazed.
Before serving, cover with the rest of the rum and set ablaze!

Cheese Scones

The first thing I ever made (by myself) was scones.  In fact it was this recipe, (my mother's)  It can be used for all sorts of variations of scones, and is as English as Mum and I are.  Which is to say very ;)

We never make a round and cut it into triangles for scones.  In fact I first saw that over here, and it was something I found quite perplexing until a food blogger mentioned it was all about less waste.  

Now, I am no Pioneer Woman, so you wont get amusing text or gorgeous pictures, you'll just have to make do with what I give you!

It truly is a very easy recipe!

Scones

Ingredients

2oz Butter, softened (4 Tbsp) I used salted

8oz Self Raising/Rising Flour (2 Cups, minus about 1 Tbsp)

3oz Extra Strong Cheddar Cheese, grated (that's about 1 cup, packed)

1/4 pint Milk (1/2 Cup)

Directions

Mix butter into flour, until you get coarse crumbs.  If you don't have a mixer, you can use a food processor, and if you don't have one of those either, you can use a hand mixer or mix by hand :)  At this point, I would just rub the butter into the flour to distribute it evenly.

Add cheese and mix well.  You can do this with a wooden spoon if you have to!

Add milk in a stream while you mix.  If you are mixing by hand, you can add a bit, then stir, then add a bit more if necessary.

Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick.  You can pat it out if you don't have a rolling pin.

Cut out with cookie cutters.  If you don't have cookie cutters, use a glass, or pinch off some dough and shape it yourself.

I did it that way for a long time- the shaped ones don't look too bad :)

Place on parchment paper (or a greased pan)...

Brush with a little milk and bake in a 350F (gas mark 4, 176C) oven for about 115 minute or until lightly golden.

They are best if not very dark!  Serve warm... with butter.

This was how I served mine up- I like them best with butter melting all over them!

Yum!

There are several variations you can make.  Leave out the cheese.  Add 1oz Sugar and 2oz Dried Fruit for yummy fruit scones.  Or Add just 1oz Sugar for plain scones that taste wonderful with jam and clotted cream...

Cheese Scones

Ingredients

2oz Butter, softened (4 Tbsp)

8oz Self Raising/Rising Flour (2 Cups, minus about 1 Tbsp)

3oz Extra Strong Cheddar Cheese, grated (that's about 1 cup, packed)

Directions

Mix butter into flour.

Add cheese and mix well.

Add milk in a stream while you mix.

Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick.

Cut out with cookie cutters.

Place on parchment paper (or a greased pan) and brush with a little milk.

Bake in a 350F (gas mark 4, 176C) oven for about 115 minute or until golden.

Variations

Instead of cheese, add:

For Fruit Scones:

1oz Sugar 

2oz Dried Fruit

These are also wonderful served with butter or jams.

For Plain Scones:

1oz sugar

Serve these with clotted cream and jam.

Anniversary New Clothes

So I haven't been knitting much lately (there has been some homeschooling research going on instead!), I HAVE sewn something.  And I have added patterns.  I shall probably do some posts on those later this week, but for now, I shall just show you my sewing ;)

The pattern was Du Barry 5416, a 1940's era pair of trousers and waistcoat.  I never did get the waistcoat made :)

Not that I was trying to, mind you.  I just really wanted a pair of vintage, high waisted, trousers.  I found some suiting in Joann's that I liked, and upsized my pattern a bit.

And this is how they came out- not bad huh?

 

I had a bit of an issue with the fly.  My fabric, pretty as it is, frays TERRIBLY.  Which meant my seams needed a little bit of extra protection.  Not confident enough to do French seams in a pair of trousers (this is my first pair) I opted to zigzag the edges.  But the fly... that wasn't going to work.  I ended up doing that double fabric thickness so I could hide that seam inside and give the buttonholes extra strength.  It looks kind of funny in this photo, but I assure you that is my pose rather than the trousers.  It was REALLY cold and I only tolerated a few quick pics!

A slow turn...

allows you to see this not so good rear view.  I am wearing a tank top under my lacy jumper because I didn't want to get too cold.  It shows under my trousers- that is what the weird line in back is.  They are actually very flattering in back given a better (not moving and weird hip positions)...

and the side.  I love them.  They are far from perfect, but the fabric is pretty, they are very comfy, and yes, I even put on a belt.  I think I would make them with belt loops next time though ;)

I wore them out Saturday, as we celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary!

Cue the gratuitous food pics...

Every gal dressed in Vintage style needs an old diner to go to :)  This one has been around since 1929- oh originally it was in an old railway carriage, not in this building, but the Silhouette was the same ;)  This is the Virginia Diner, in Wakefield VA.

The food is old style Southern, and generous :)  Chicken fried chicken tenderloins with Spoonbread, Carrot Souffle and candied yams.  That's my dinner.  And breakfast, because we skipped that to eat here ;)

My husband chose an open faced turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and blackeyed peas.  He shared my spoonbread ;)

My 12 year old son gobbled through the two biscuits missing from this photo, ham, baked potato and green beans.  Yes, he is in a growth spurt.  My 8 year old daughter had grilled cheese and potato chips/crisps.  We took home a peanut pie for later.

The trip back was rather eventful.  A storm system blew through rapidly- this is on the Varina-Enon suspension bridge at Dutch Gap, Virginia.  It was strong SCARY wind gusts on this- with snow gusting every which way.  You can't even see much over the side of the bridge can you?  It is not like that normally!
Once we got home though, it was sunny- and there was not a whole lot of snow.  Thank goodness!

But the day ended rather prettily- with an amazing, blazing sunset.  Yes, the whole sky glowed like this :)