Hi everyone!  I’m back to life after last weeks debacle.  This is our last session on knitting as I show you how to purl and how to cast off.  I hope that for those of you needing a nudge to pick up knitting, that this took some of the scare out of it.  As you work through a project you will probably need to check back at the videos and use other resources out there.  If you google “knit stitch” or “purl stitch” you will come up with oodles of help.  Plus, most knitting books have some sort of instructional section that you may find helpful.  Hop on over to your local knitting shop and ask for a beginner pattern…or…find a pattern online.

Movie Monday–Purling and Casting Off from Ingrid Barlow on Vimeo.

–Do you like the toilet paper in the background?!  I’m too cheap to buy Kleenex when T.P. works just as good.  (My poor mother will never understand this behavior.)

I can’t believe I made you a wait a whole week to learn more about knitting!  Actually I wanted to make the knit stitch video on Wednesday last week, but Tony said there was no such thing as a “Movie Wednesday.”  Party pooper.  So here, FINALLY, is part 2 in our 3 part series on knitting.  Knit on fellow creatives!

*our video camera is currently being repaired so we had to use a subpar camera.  Sorry about the poor focus quality.

*there are a few different methods to knitting.  I use the Continental Method.

Movie Monday–Knit Stitch from Ingrid Barlow on Vimeo.

If you are really interested in knitting, you seriously have to get on Ravelry.  It’s free and all you need to do is create an account and then start goofing around until you figure it out.

I know I know.  I am supposed to be designing quilt patterns, but I just have knitting on the brain.  I’m not even willing to apologize for it!  I love knitting.  I have lots of people tell me they would love to learn to knit but haven’t taken the time to figure it out.  Here’s your chance.  In this video I show you the very first step to knitting–casting on.  I will soon teach you how to do the knit stitch and the purl stitch, but this is where you have to start.

Movie Monday–Casting On from Ingrid Barlow on Vimeo.

The pattern for Elias’ Christmas stocking is here or it is on Ravelry, “Cascade Christmas Stocking.”

So this is a bit of a wildcard Movie Monday.  In case you are ever lost in the woods and need to survive on wild animals, I thought I would show you how to skin a pheasant.  Actually, think of all the women in our past that thought nothing of skinning a chicken or other animal for the cook pot.  In fact, for many women this is still a part of daily life.  I am grateful it is not a typical duty of mine.  If you are squeamish or do not appreciate meat preparation, this is not the movie for you.  Check back next week.

Movie Monday-Pheasant from Ingrid Barlow on Vimeo.

We did enjoy this bird for supper.  You can see we added bacon on top and we added onion, apples, and potatoes around it.  Tony did find some cooked corn in his breast.  Ha!  I didn’t put that in there!  That would be corn from the bird’s crop–gross!

In the end, the bird tasted great and provided a meal for us which we are grateful for.

We took a little trip to a local orchard–one of my favorite fall traditions!  We picked up 3 different varieties of apples, some cider, and a big ol’ pumpkin.  In the second half of the video I show you how I put together one of the best pies ever–Caramel Crunch Apple Pie!  Trust me, it’s good!  The recipe is one that Tony and I put together in our first year of marriage up on the shores of Lake Superior.  Enjoy!  (Recipe below the video.)

Caramel Crunch Apple Pie from Ingrid Barlow on Vimeo.

Carmamel Crunch Apple Pie

Crust: 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp crisco, 2-3 Tbsp cold water.

-mix flour and salt.  Cut in crisco.  Add water slowly.  Refrigerate 30 minutes while you prep other ingredients.

Caramel: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1/8 cup corn syrup, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

-bring all ingredients but soda to a boil.  Boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, add soda and stir until foamy.

Apples: Mix a tart and a soft variety.  Peel and slice about 6 cups.

Crumble: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup butter, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 cup white sugar.  Mix all.

Roll crust into pie tin.  Alternate layers of apples with caramel.  Top with Crumble.  Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes.  Look for soft apples and a golden brown top.