Mersydotes

The key to stitching a circle is all about paying attention to the stitch count of each round.  Increasing the stitch count in a specific pattern keeps the circle flat, while no increases will create a bowl or basket shape.  For this little basket, I stopped increasing after three rounds:   On the other hand, if you increase too often, it will create a ruffly texture: This is reminiscent of beautiful corals, and has helped to create a gorgeous art installation at the Crochet Coral Reef project.  There are some beautiful images in their gallery, found here .  Check it out for some artistic and natural inspiration! For a flat circle, however, let's begin with a Magic Circle: I'll make 12 double crochet stitches in the circle.  You can make as many as you like, but it's easiest to work with an even number.  Here's the pattern of stitch increases: Round 1: 12 double crochet Round 2: Increase in every stitch (24) Round 3: Increase in every second st

Warming spices...cinnamon, cumin, coriander, cardamom.  Isn't it funny how they all start with a "C"?  Anyway, the other day I saw a post from Bon Appetit on Instagram about how to make caramelized cinnamon toast, and it reminded me of the piping hot cinnamon sugar donuts my mom made in the eternal autumn that was my childhood.   On cold, gray days, she would take cake donuts, split them in half, add butter, and then sprinkle each half with cinnamon and sugar.  It was always my job to mix the cinnamon and the sugar, and I loved stirring the mixture in a little bowl, watching the two colors swirling together with every turn of the spoon.  They would come out of the broiler piping hot, with the sugar caramelized and crisp.  The very best, warming treat! The video from Bon Appetit combined everything together with the butter and prepared toast this way on a hot griddle, which is perfect for Mr. Mersy, since it means we can make the toast gluten free.  I think I&

Happy Monday, one and all! It's getting to be that time of the winter when everything is steel gray, and it's hard to remember what it's like to go outside and have the air greet you gently.  And added to that, it can also be hard to get out and about in a new town filled with strangers.  How do you know where to go to make friends and find your niche?  Spaces outside of ordinary life with good folks to talk to? Luckily, two of my friends are much braver than I am, and they encouraged me to be brave last week and join them on an excursion to the local knitting group.  And guess what?!  It was great!  The folks there were friendly and nice and talkative- knitters and crocheters and sewers.  One of the group has even begun dying wool in his kitchen, with beautiful results.  The colors made me think of spring. Everyone was working on something beautiful- scarves and blankets and hats and sweaters.  If someone got stuck or confused about a pattern, the othe

There are several ways to begin crocheting a circle.  For instance, you could make two or more chains and then make your first round stitches in the very first chain, slip stitching them together at the end to close the circle.  Or, you could make several chains and slip stitch them into a ring and begin stitching your  first round over the original ring.  The one that I prefer, however, is the Magic Loop.  It's easy-peasy, and it avoids dealing with crocheting over a slip knot as well as running out of space around the circle and/or not being able to close the center of the circle at the end.   Here's how to make a Magic Loop: Step 1: Arrange the yarn with the loose end on the left, ball on the right. Step 2: Bring the working yarn (ball end) over the loose end to form a circle. Step 3: Bring the working yarn under the circle to make a pretzel. Step 4: Insert your hook underneath the working yarn.  The hook will go over the circle, under the working yarn

What exactly is a mandala, and why are they sooooo delicious to crochet?  According to Wikipedia , "a   mandala... is a spiritual and ritual s ymbol  in H induism  and B uddhism , representing the u niverse .  In common use, 'mandala' has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos  metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm  of the universe ."   Apparently, many mandalas are circles represented symmetrically within a square, which makes me think of granny squares.  Are granny squares so relaxing to stitch because they are " a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space , and as an aid to meditation  and trance  induction?" (Wikipedia)  Imagine yourself as a little ant crawling along the stitches from the outer edge inwards, each stitch linked to the next, everything formed from a  single thread that could be unwound with a tug.  I think that little ant would definitely find itself fee

Over the past year, I've been exploring Tunisian crochet and trying to make it a skill I can call my own.  I like it- it's even more meditative than regular crochet, the rhythm very calming as you work through each stitch on the needle.  Almost like knitting sideways. This is my first finished project using a Tunisian hook, and I love the squishy fabric it created.  I know it's quite basic, but I'm kind of in love with the aqua colors- just Lily's Sugar and Cream cotton.  And the edging (done with a  regular crochet hook and stitch) really gives the cloths a nice, finished look. You can find the tutorial here , which is so clear and useful.  I had been having lots of trouble with the return passes, until I looked at the tutorial photos and learned how to make the first stitch of each row.  Maybe I'm ready now for a more challenging Tunisian project- any suggestions? Happy stitching! Lots of love, ~Mersydotes Save Save

This Christmas was a special one- it was different: not the end of the year or even the beginning of the new one, but a unique time at the end of the countdown towards something really special coming in February.  We cooked cranberry bread and pulled pork and roasted potatoes- all those warm dishes for cold weather.  But we needed something bright to make it a true celebration.  Thank goodness citrus season comes in the winter.  As Mark Bittman says (click here ), a good citrus salad "may not make you forget it's winter, but will relieve some of the pain." This is my version of his sunshine salad.  I didn't make the dressing for it- somehow salt and red onions seemed a betrayal of the citrus.  Instead of grapefruit, we included oranges and kiwis, and topped everything off with pomegranate seeds.  Is there anything cooler than preparing a pomegranate?!  It's such a cool fruit- like opening the chambers of a heart!  Back in Illinois, they didn't even exis

This was just one of those patterns that was fun and quick and bright and enjoyable.  No reason for making it, just the joy of stitching.  You can find the pattern, designed by Emma Varnam, on the Debbie Bliss site by clicking here .  Usually, when I find a pattern to try, the original colors never seem quite right, but for this one, I think my favorite part was the sunshine-colored yarn.   Usually, I use mercerized cotton for mandalas and doilies and coasters, and just about everything, but this time I tried a soft cotton size 2 thread, and it was really lovely to be stitching with something so soft.  To be honest, it doesn't really match our apartment, so I think I will have to find a more suitable home for it.  But maybe I'll make another one in a blue or a pink or a beige.  A whole rainbow of them- it was awfully enjoyable to stitch! What color would you recommend?  Any other favorite quick and bright projects? Happy stitching! Lots of love, ~Mersyd

Acorn squash reminds me of my childhood- it was always autumn, my hair was always in braided pig tails, and the house always smelled of squash and cinnamon.  Mama Mersydotes is a great cook and seems to instinctually know exactly what to do with every kind of produce you can imagine- apple crisps, potato salad, stuffed peppers, everything.  In my mind, this is exactly how acorn squash should be- just like it was when I was wee. Step 1: All that's needed is a bit of butter and brown sugar. Step 2: Trim off the stem and turn the squash upside down so that it's stable on the cutting board. Step 3: Slice through the squash until you meet the stem, then just split it the rest of the way by bending the two halves outward. Step 4: Now it's time to scrape out the seeds with a spoon, just like you would for a pumpkin.  I don't know if you can roast them like pumpkin seeds or if these aren't edible- does anyone know?  I'd love to find

Would anybody mind if we travel back a bit in time together?  Let's head back to September last and across the pond to the Yorkshire Dales.  In a little hamlet lives Lucy, the crochet genius behind the Attic 24 blog.  And every year, Lucy puts out a call for participants for the local yarn festival's charitable display.  I participated once in the past, and it was a pretty neat feeling getting to see my little mandala join in with others from around the globe at Yarndale. This year, the project was to create a flock of amigurumi sheep that would later be sold in area businesses with the profits going to a children's charity.  So I created my little sheep and made her a snazzy sweater to help her face the cold Yorkshire winters.  It took me a bit to get it right, though, and I found the embroidery very fiddly- definitely need to improve my skills!  And the head just wouldn't do the cute little sideways look that it was supposed to.  But all in all, you can tell it&#