Earlier this year (what seems like 527 months ago), I took a pottery class at our local studio, Third Branch Pottery. The 6-week course focused on hand-building and slab construction. Of course, my efforts look like what they are: the work of a dedicated beginner, and that’s OK with...
Blog
Updates and new directions: May 2020
Welcome back! After an intentional and much-needed hiatus we are finally ready to share what we’ve been up to for the past few months, most of which has overlapped with the pandemic outbreak of coronavirus in 2020. Highlights include Rick’s latest beer recipe, Melon Collie Berry, a thank-you to...
L’odeur du Printemps: The Smell of Spring in a fruity French Saison style
L’odeur du Printemps is our first saison in a very long time, and we were overdue brewing one. This recipe uses French yeast and (mostly) German malts and hops, coupled with some honey malt for a little added sweetness to accentuate the fruit notes found in the Mandarina Bavaria...
Sheep to Sweater – Part 4: Suint vat cleaning method
With the holidays behind us and a break in the bad weather I was finally able to get back to the Sheep to Sweater project and the fermented suint vat that I discussed in the last fleece-washing video. Talk about a smelly experience! This method is not recommended unless...
Repeat Knits: Characteristics that take a pattern from interesting to inspirational.
A few weeks ago I mentioned in a post on Instagram that I sometimes find myself motivated re-knit the same patterns, and was musing on why that’s the case for some patterns, but not others. Join me for a closer look at why certain patterns lend themselves to repeating,...
The Hairy Porter – A Rich Winter Warmer
The Hairy Porter is a full-bodied, slightly sweet, chocolatey beer without the astringency some dark ales have. We forwent the usual black patent malt and swapped it with a dark wheat malt, leaving the familiar brownish-red color and highlighting the Belgian Special B and chocolate malts. The flaked oats...
Six Stripe Poncho – A simple and colorful stash-buster
Once again, my mother has gifted me with some Harrisville Designs Highland yarn, and once again…I decided to make a poncho. While the piece shares some similarities of shape and construction with the Prospect Street poncho, this striped accessory is knit side to side rather than edge to edge,...
2019 into 2020: celebrating successes, building community, and embracing inspiration
We hope you’ve had a satisfying and rewarding year of making. We certainly have, primarily on the brewing and knitting fronts, with a lot of natural dyeing as well. In each of these spheres, we’ve tried new types of projects, mastered skills, and published our own recipes and patterns....
Fancy Mac & Cheese: a favorite crowdpleaser that’s quick to prepare
Need a quick, tasty, and filling dish for your next family gathering or potluck meal? This upscale version of Macaroni & Cheese is scratch-made with top quality ingredients and complex flavor, without being too fussy or complicated. This recipe was adapted (and greatly simplified) from The Savory Way by...
Refinishing a Sewing Machine Cabinet: Observations and tips from a first-time furniture restorer
What do you do when your partner picks up a beautiful, top-condition sewing machine in a cabinet for you at the local transfer station? Of course you get the machine a tune-up from the local expert. But what about the cabinet and all that flaking varnish? After giving serious...