I’m looking for test knitters for this new chocolate-inspired pattern. If you are interested in helping me fine tune and proof-read the pattern and charts, I will send you the final version of the pattern (free), a coupon code for another free pattern (from my self-published patterns), and chocolate truffles (if you want them). My …
Author Archives: Mindy Baur
German Short Rows
My preferred method for short rows in stockinette stitch, is known as the German-style short row. I like to refer to it as the up-and-over method, because you pull the working yarn of the turned stitch up and over the needle before you begin working the next row. Like wrap-and-turn short rows, there are two …
Chocolate Covered Caramel Apples
Caramel apples are delicious. Chocolate covered caramel apples are divine. The first time I tried to make caramel apples I got frustrated. And burned. Nothing burns like sticky, hot caramel. I now have an aversion to and a healthy fear of working with hot caramel, so I figured out how to make caramel apples without …
Hollow Molding
Most of the truffles I make are enrobed in solid chocolate. Enrobing the ganache helps to keep the ganache fresh (because it is sealed within the solid chocolate and not exposed to the air), and allows me to distinguish the different flavors, as they are all either in different shaped molds or the molds are …
Flavored Ganache
The soft ganache centers are simply mixtures of cream, butter, fine chocolate, and a flavoring. I’m making three flavors: triple chocolate vanilla bean, peanut butter, and cheesecake. These three flavors each use a different method of adding the flavoring. The vanilla flavor uses an opened vanilla bean heated in the cream and butter mixture (in …
It’s Chocolate Season!
I usually begin thinking about making chocolate in mid-September, once the evenings begin to cool down and the early semester activities evolve into routine semester activities. Sometimes I find myself in October – the time for caramel apples – and I have to hustle to get the chocolate ordered and my equipment set up. But …
Short Rows, Part 2: Wrap and Turn in Garter Stitch
The wrap and turn technique for short rows is similar in garter stitch. There are two parts: 1) working the turn, and 2) working through the turn. Both right side and wrong side are worked the same way, and it is nearly identical to working a wrap and turn in stockinette stitch with the right …
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Short Rows, Part 1: Wrap And Turn in Stockinette Stitch
Short rows are commonly used to incorporate a slope or extra fabric in an object. For example, you can use short rows at the shoulder slope for easier shoulder seaming and on sleeve caps for nice, even shaping at the top of the sleeve cap. Short rows can also be used for incorporating extra fabric …
Continue reading “Short Rows, Part 1: Wrap And Turn in Stockinette Stitch”
A Gift For You…
I sometimes get frustrated when I knit gifts for people, and I don’t think this frustration is unusual. I want the gift receiver to love and cherish their gift, but I also want to be acknowledged for the gift. Because I created this object, the object itself now has significance to me; in fact it …
The United Colors of Alpaca
I never expected that this would be the first pattern about which I would write, but here we are… Even though it was an afterthought and last minute addition to the display pieces in our Stitches Midwest booth this past weekend, the United Colors scarf was the best-selling pattern and kit at our booth. As …
Yarn and Chocolate 