Tuesday 26th March

It felt like an episode from a baking or cooking show in the kitchen today...

We may possibly have made an approximation of a si,nel cake between us. A bit like a 'technical' from 'Great British Bake-off', where the contestants are given the instruction 'make a simnel cake' without quantities or instructions or baking times...

I was the walking recipe sheet, ransacking my memory, and Himself was Action Man, doing all the active work. Between us we ended up with 4oz each of brown sugar, sr flour and butter, mixed together with 2 eggs, and a generous tablespoon each of mixed spice and whisky instead of milk.

Once this was combined, a few halved glacé cherries and a spoonful of cut mixed peel left over from Christmas went in, along with a couple of handfuls of mixed fruit.

Himself put half the mixture into the little square pan which fits in the airfryer basket, cut slices from the left over block of Christmas marzipan to cover the cake mixture, and added the rest of the mixture. 

Into the airfryer with it, at 155°c for 40 mins. It appears to be cooked...

But no. We've put it back in.... we'll have to wait until tomorrow now. I can see Paul and Mary (or Greg and John, or Chris and Benoit) sharing a knowing look and shaking their heads...

SOCKS

I've finished the toe

And done the grafting. As long as you remember what to do, it is very straightforward. To get started, thread the tail onto a needle. The first two actions are to set up; slide sewing needle knitwise into the first stitch on the front knitting needle, but leave the stitch on the  knitting needle, and purlwise into the first stitch on the back knitting needle, leaving it on the needle. Done. 

Now return your attention to the front needle and memorise the magic incantation 

'front; knit off, purl: back; purl off, knit'

Which means, starting with with the front knitting needle, slide the sewing needle knitwise into the first stitch and slide it off the knitting needle, and put the sewing needle purlwise into the second stitch but knave it there.

Next, on the back knitting needle, cast off the first stitch purlwise and slide the sewing needle through knitwise - in  other words do the opposite to the front needle!

I'm pretty pleased with this! 

I read somewhere it was called Kitchener stitch because,  during the First World War there was a problem with badly finished toes on home-knitted socks causing painful and incapacitating foot problems for soldiers, so this method of closing the toe was recommended. 

Here comes the first heel;

I've picked up 30 stitches above the waste yarn marking the heel placement 

and 30 stitches below

and teased out the waste yarn one all the stitches were on the needles. Sharp eyed folk might notice one stitch that wasn't actually securely on the needle! I spotted it and slipped an orange locking pin through to keep it safe until I can fix it.

Tomorrow should see the heel finished and maybe grafted.

CROSS STITCH

the first and second colours are completed, and I've made a good start on the third!