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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Two Down...UFOs, That Is

Hey, Y'all. It's a rainy day in the foothills today, but we're busy inside so... let it rain, I say. :)
I've finished a few knitting projects that I had put aside in the UFO (unfinished object) bin.
This is a pair of black, Brown Sheep wool (camera makes them look gray) Fetching fingerless mitts.Toasty mitts from a free pattern. I know I really shouldn't complain about a free pattern, and they are cute now, but... See (below) how the thumb looked before I sewed the holes together using a tapestry needle and the yarn end. I think this is called an after-thought thumb. It's not a true gusset and a bit difficult to hide the holes after the thumb is added. Just my opinion, but I don't really care for this method of making the thumb for mitts. The thumb for Fetching is similar, but with that pattern there are more stitches in the thumb which kept the stitches from straining at the join and made it easier to finish. I do love this soft yarn though. I used a Noro silk/lamb's wool/cashmere yarn, and I'm glad I did. I love them now that the thumbs are under control.
We finally had a frost or two so I harvested my stevia plants.
I pulled off the leaves ready to be cleaned.
Most bugs don't bother stevia, but some li'l gnats do, and then there's the dirt factor so three good washin's after the leaves were stripped from the branches was a must.
I let the leaves dry for about three weeks then pulverized some of the leaves in a blender jar that I use for chopping herbs. I kept most of the leaves back to crush and steep as you would a tea. I'll make a liquid sweetener with those.
Lo, it's green! It's sweet, but really green. My first thought was..I sure hope Goodman will be okay with that. (I did grow the stuff for his sake, afterall.) The commercial stevia he's been using is white, and probably over processed so I thought..we'll see tomorrow mornin' when his coffee is set before him, but nah, he won't go for this. Little green thing-ys in his coffee. Nuh, uh. I better get to brewin' some liquid sweetener from the other leaves for his coffee. I bet I could hide this in something else, though... green cookies?..we'll see.Here's a link if you want to read more about growing, harvesting and using stevia to lower your sugar intake. Hope y'all have the sweetest week ever. :)

15 comments:

  1. My brother, a diabetic, clued me in on stevia a few years ago. I had no idea one could grow one's own, thank you!

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  2. I have to take a look at that because my dictionary doesn't include 'stevia' and I have no clue just looking at your pictures. Too bad I can't grow them at home (small flat).

    Sweet week for you too! :-)

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  3. The fingerless gloves are really cute! (And I don't think it's wrong to critique a pattern - even if its free).

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  4. you have inspired me to face my U.F.O. pile which has taken over like
    that old horror movie "the Blob" with Steve Mcqueen !

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  5. I like your fingerless gloves, never had a pair but might try them. Thank you for the link on growing stevia, I am a diabetic and can use all the help I can get. Thanks for coming by, hope your Veterans Day was nice.

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  6. I like your gloves! That's one thing I have not tried.

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  7. The pictures don't do your mitts justice, Mum. That Noro yarn is soo
    nice, I am once again pea green with envy.
    I wonder if it wouldn't work to make
    "tea" bags of stevia, for steeping with coffee and tea....
    Love,
    Me:D

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  8. Love your Fetching and Toast mitts. I quite enjoyed your tutorial on stevia - so much I didn't know.

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  9. I too love your Fetching mitts, so pretty and the colorway very nice. I too plan to pick up my needles again and finish a scraf/shawl I have been trying to finish for a while.:o)

    Stevia is indeed a good thing, and to be able to grow and harvest it yourself wow how wonderful:o) I would love to visit your garden in the foothills.:o)

    If time permits drop by see me again, I added a link to my previous post on that pretty laced sofa:o) You and your family enjoy a most beautiful week.

    Smiles...

    Beverly

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  10. Those fingerless mitts are so cute! You have a wonderful talent. :)

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  11. I must tell my Mom about this, she uses stevia (I can't handle the bitter so I go without sugar), and loves gardening....thanks so much!

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  12. Hello Ms Tea

    Ah fingerless mittens. They are excellent for knitting in, if one is knitting in a draft that is.

    Beautiful.

    And thank you for visiting GPB.

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  13. I had no idea about the stevia plant. I'm unaware a lot. :) I always see something amazing or learn something new when I check out your blog!

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  14. Wishing you and your family a beautiful Thanksgiving day. Enjoy a lovely day my friend.

    Smiles...

    Beverly

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  15. You've been busy with your fingerless mitts. Both pairs turned out awesome. I bet they'll be very warm!

    Processing our stevia leaves looks so interesting! As long as it does the trick of sweetening things who cares what color it is!! You are so ambitious ...good for you :)

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Thank you for your comments!