Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Chocolate Covered Prezels


So... I've been crocheting a secret project for a friend that I can't post about yet. In the interim, I made these scrumdiddlyumptious treats for a friend's birthday... and then made them again for coworkers for Halloween.

It's quick, easy... and doesn't even use your oven.

you'll need:
a bag or two of pretzel rods
a bag of milk chocolate chips
chopped peanuts/hazelnuts/toffee bits/ cookie crumbs (you can put oreos in the blender/food processor or chop finely).
shortening (you can get one with no trans fat... you might be able to go without the shortening, but I find it helps it all stick better).
what you do:
1. Pour 1/2 a bag of milk chocolate chips and add 2 T of shortening into a microwave safe bowl.
2. Melt microwave for 1 min... then take it out and stir until well mixed. Depending on your microwave, you may have to nuke it again for an additional 30 seconds. Don't over nuke. (alternatively, you can melt the chocolate in double boiler)
3. Wait until the melted chocolate cools a little and thickens. I got the best results when I waited for it to get really thick - being impatient, I put it in the fridge for about 5 mins.
4. Spoon mixture over 3/4 of a prezel rod (or, if thick, take a big spoonful and roll the pretzel in the chocolate on the spoon.

5. Then roll pretzel rod in chopped peanuts, toffee bits, cookie crumbs, whatever.
6. Refrigerate for 30 mins.

Yumtastic!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Weekend Dress Design

So after a few weeks of doing way too much, I decided last weekend that I needed a veg weekend. Just me, my kitties, some yarn, and the Gilmore Girls.

I had some caron simply soft on hand in autumn red and started stitching a tank top. I decided to do an empress waist with a lace skirt.

I took my measurements and did the lace skirt first, using the Strawberry lace stitch from my
fav crochet stitch source: Donna Kooler's Encylopedia of Crochet.

Then, at my waist, I did a few rows of single crochet alternating with 2 rows of shells. For the bodice, I made it in single crochet to my measurements.
The results, weren't great. The top was too stiff and it was like wearing cardboard.

So, I ripped out the top and remade it in a net stitch. Though, I'm not 100% convinced that I like the results.

Regardless, I went on to do the back in the same way...

and then I tried it on again.

I decided to make the strawberry skirt longer... and then I got carried away. Eventually, I ended up making a dress instead.


The quality of these pictures is not great... but I will finish weaving in the ends and add the final touches and have a friend take some pics. The dress is a little more fitted than it looks in the pictures. but, I took the pictures myself in front in my kitchen... so... the quality leaves a lot to be desired. I think I'm going to add a few rows of single crochet to the bottom to make it lay flat... and I might be adding some sleeves.


If I figure out how to write patterns for wearables (ie, make adjustments for size), I will write this baby up.