Tars va Lars

I’ve been knitting on and off for a few years, never really getting past the stage of a scarf. I come from a family of really good knitters and recently started feeling a little guilty that I hadn’t picked it up earlier.

This year, I’ve set myself the challenge of making all of the Christmas presents I give by hand. I think that giving a present you’ve made yourself always means that bit more, plus I’ll save some money (in theory) and I’ll learn some new skills.

Knitting is quite a time-consuming activity when you first start and can be daunting when you discover the different styles and stitches you have to learn. I was looking for patterns which contained a lot of different stitches on a small scale when I found Annie Modesitt’s website. Since then, I’ve downloaded a lot of Annie’s patterns and have just finished my favourite: the Fiesta Tea Set.

Stitches I’ve learned:

I-Cord BO

I-Cord Horizontal Stripe

Knitting in the round

K1f&b

Picking up stitches

Continental (Long-Tail) Cast-On

Cable Cast-On

I-Cord

- Loraine

It was about time this issue was raised. I have always argued that the world needs to slow down in terms of our basic human functions (eating, drinking…). Where is everybody in a hurry to get to? From my experience many loathe returning to work and there a few who, when they get there, hide behind a computer screen filled with non-working activity. So I repeat, what’s the rush? Go on, induldge in your basic needs, give your body some much needed nutritional fuel the old way.

Dried apricots produce a lovely sticky consistency when soaked and blended in a processor.

Add in 1/4 cup of margarine, I like to use the vegan kind and a touch of barley malt syrup is also a nice addition.

Continue processing and as the mixture is spinning, slowly pour in some milk of your choice, I like soya, just enough to make it smooth.

Suit yourself on that one.

Once made it is lovely spread on anything: biscuits; toast, baked apples… me I made caramel shortcake.

Furthermore, if you have time heat the caramel in a pan over a low heat, continually stirring to prevent burning. This will make it sweeter and stickier. Plus sweet things warmed up on rainy mornings like today are always welcomed.

I’ve set up a calendar in Google of things that might be of interest happening in Glasgow and surrounding areas which can be accessed through the email account. We can start entering our own things once we get going.

- Loraine

I’ve been meaning to visit the LUV linthouse project for a wee while now but just never got round to it. This is the next on my list for visits.

- Loraine

‘Young and Defiant in Tehran’ - Shahram Khosravi