you can

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Wow. You guys are the absolute best.   Thank you so much for all the plisse love.
Here is the thing though.  If you can make a knit stitch.  And you can make a purl stitch.  And okay, maybe fix a dropped stitch.  Then YOU can make anything.  Honestly.  YOU can.  
The hardest thing about knitting is reading the pattern.  And I guess actually knowing what it means.  However, if you have someone that can help you decipher a pattern, then you can make anything.  
The first thing I ever knit was a sweater.  I learned how to cast on, knit and purl, all within that first project.  My mother helped me and I actually had her sitting next to me every step of the way. (Blessed and lucky, I know.) I was in college on my three week winter break.  Cold weather in Florida meant movie time and okay maybe I should learn to knit time.  I did.  And actually headed back to college wearing my new sweater. 

So, I say, don't let a project intimidate you.  If you have someone that can help, then go for it.
Last weeks cookie:  Lemon-poppy seed wafers.  Powdered sugar optional.  But playing with powdered sugar and wearing white lips is fun.  (Crazies.)
1 cup unsalted butter, softened :: 3/4 c sugar :: 2 egg yolks :: 2 Tbls lemon peel :: 1 tsp vanilla extract :: 1 1/2 c flour :: 1/4 cup poppy seeds 
Cream butter, sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, lemon peel, vanilla.  Gradually beat in flour and seeds.   Place dough on wax-paper.  Fold paper over and form log.  Refrigerate for 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes.  Cut dough into 1/4 inch thick slices.  Place on cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.  Bake at 350˚ for about 15 minutes.  

You Might Also Like

63 comments

  1. This post was EXACTLY what I needed to read this morning. I'm knitting my first sweater and I tell you this silly wrap stitch thing catching me every time. Not the wrapping, but the picking it up to make it invisible. So off to work I go with my knitting bag to beg a coworker to sit with me for ten minutes (payment in coffee!) to figure it out. If you have any suggestions I'd love them, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have the best cookies and sweaters. Knit and purl and Mom. For anyone without mom nearby there is the internet with videos, it can help too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the encouragement :)
    Cookies look yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. i love your new blog header! very pretty.
    i love this post, very encouraging... and the pictures look delicious.
    thank you!!
    kendall
    now about those socks in my bag....

    ReplyDelete
  5. So true, Leslie. The woman who patiently taught me to knit five years ago told me the same thing; I need to be reminded of this truth and often repeat this to myself under my breath when I'm knitting something difficult.

    I can just imagine the crazies with the powdered lips! The cookies look delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  6. good morning leslie,

    I have knitted scarves for just about everyone in my family and made a poncho for my mom. I have embarked on my first sweater, a baby sweater. I have only had to rip out the right front side twice due to dropping stitches!!
    Those cookies look wonderfull and remind me of my mom. I'll need to make some for her.
    Have fun today and thanks for your words of encouragement.
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6/02/2009

    ooh, those cookies sounds fantastic...

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are absolutely right about the knitting. Some, people however really do have a problem reading the patterns. I am an abbreviation type of person, so it came easy for me. Cookies look delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You're so right Leslie (about knitting...and about icing sugar). What a great post!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great pep talk! It is all so true...

    If there is a choice, always choose to sprinkle with powdered sugar. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. As a wise woman recently sahred with me...TUT in the for real this AM here visiting you.

    Inspiration. Promise. Accomplishment.

    Time shared and we'll all know our dreams and creative desires. Most especially, we'll know a world at peace for the individual fulfilled.

    Sweet happenings to you and yours...today.

    ReplyDelete
  12. one of the things i love about knitting is the feeling of accomplishment you feel when you learn a new technique or figure out what the abbreviation in the pattern is.

    ReplyDelete
  13. those cookies are going on my "to do" list.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just cast on my first sweater for me (the famous central park hoodie) and am pretty much scared out of my mind. So, thank you for the encouragement! It was just what I needed.

    ReplyDelete
  15. So true - my sister often tells me "oh, I can only knit hats and scarves" and I always tell her that if you can do those things, you can knit anything!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dude! My complimentary comment for your lovely Plisse is much delayed! Oh, it's so gorgeous. I am glad you listened to Jeeves.

    Your cookies look fabulous. If only I hadn't given up sugar. <3

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ooh, sign me up fir anything with lemon! Except that the baking needs to be a night owl thing for now, as we are still resisting turning on the air conditioning... the upside- more grilling! (much more!)
    My first actual project was an aran sweater, though it was baby size. Nothing like jumping in with both feet, I always say... well, okay, not always, some things need caution and careful consideration, things like buying cars and homes, but knitting? no way, just grab a cute pattern, some good yarn, needles, and a handy reference book, and get to it! Works for me...

    back to the garden, and maybe some afternoon knitting-
    ali

    ReplyDelete
  18. YUM! I love slice and bake cookies - I'm definitely going to veganize this recipe - thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  19. good advice! I'm all for jumping in and learning as you go! Thanks for the inspiration. those cookies look fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yeah... my thing with the powdered sugar is they end up breathing in the powder and choking and then coughing cookie bits all over the place. Very fun. Your kids don't do that?

    ReplyDelete
  21. it's so fun to read your thoughts on knitting. i agree with you...having someone help you decipher a pattern is key!!! i am finally learning how to knit socks and i'm OVER THE MOON excited about it! and i have a wonderful teacher that is demystifing lots of things for me. it's so exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anything lemon...I'm in! :)

    I can knit very well but sweaters intimidate me. So, I'm still very impressed!

    ReplyDelete
  23. You are absolutely right! Like you, my first project was a sweater. I said to my mom, "Do you think I could make a sweater?" Her response was, "Of course you can!" I'm so glad my mom was supportive and nurturing or I might have given up long ago. Cookies look yummy...

    ReplyDelete
  24. oooo, those sound and look very yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous6/02/2009

    ohhh me too... I thik if you can master the knit the purl is a sinch and the world is your knitting oyster. great post.

    ReplyDelete
  26. need to say no more on that! truly spoken wisdom.
    but i need to say your banner is adoorable! just love it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I totally agree with you on the "anyone can do it". I try to convince people of this all the time when they can't get over something I've knit.

    And you're KILLING me with all your delectable cookie shots. Don't you know I'm trying to get rid of those last 10 lbs?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous6/02/2009

    Thanks for saying this. I totally agree. I psyched myself up about socks, and after a little push, they were a cinch! Many beginners (and even the advanced) need to know that.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Blessed Jeeves, she did a good job and now there is you who can knit so well!

    ReplyDelete
  30. The cookies look so incredible. I can't wait to make some!

    As for the knitting thing, I think I'm saving this post and sending it to all the people who tell me "oh my god I could never do that".

    I can't remember if it was in a book or on her blog, but have you ever read the Yarn Harlot bit about the lady on the bus saying "So all you're doing is making a bunch of loops? Hell, I can do that!" Hell yes, you can.

    ReplyDelete
  31. so inspiring to hear that almost anyone can knit...there are some projects that just seem overwhelming! might need to get my feet wet and just try! cookies look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  32. So true,so true. You are so inspirational!

    ReplyDelete
  33. after I read your post this morning, I jumped in and started the mittens for my advent project. I had been hesitating. your encouragement put me in motion.
    thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  34. That is so true about knitting. I am lucky as I had a Mum and Aunt teaching me knitting and crochet!
    Yum to the cookies!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thank you for those encouraging words about knitting. I love knitting & have made a few projects but the last couple have gone horribly wrong & you have motivated me to get back to my needles & not give up!
    Tina x

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love this post, so encouraging. Your Plisse looks lovely. I finished knitting my first garment recently and you are right, reading the pattern was the tricky bit, but managed to asked some lovely people at my knitting group which helped a lot. It's so good to have wise knitting people around.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous6/03/2009

    Love your knitting directions interlaced with the cookie steps - very smart. Boy those cookies look good. Can you send us some?

    ReplyDelete
  38. I totally agree with you! When I picked up knitting again a few years ago, my first project was a sweater. If I came to a term in the pattern that I didn't understand, I googled it and the internet served as my teacher. Fine tuning things like fit I've found take a little more experience, but I totally agree that if you can knit and you can purl, you can make anything!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. thanks so much for this post...i get so intimidated so easily by patterns...it was so nice to read this. and the cookies look amazing too!

    ReplyDelete
  40. i love anything with lemon in it! yum.
    i know what you mean about the knitting! yes. those patterns when you first start out can be so frustrating, but once you get it, you get it!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks for the recipe. I love the log cutting bit of the recipe :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Thank you so much for this post - it is so encouraging for knitters who are less experienced. I joined a group at the local library and have met great new friends. I have really had fun teaching myself some things and getting help with others. I love the idea that I CAN do it and I feel so proud. I'm about done with my first pair of socks after many, many hats.

    ReplyDelete
  43. It really does help to have someone guiding the way. What a great mama you have! The cookies look yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  44. so, seeing that you did a sweater for your first project.... I would love to make one... I am stuck on fingerless mittens, ponchos, beanies, scarfs and wash clothes. What sort of pattern would be a good starter?

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am loving the slice and bake cookies! My latest batch were double ginger cookies (though I could easily have made them double ginger, because the ginger flavor is pretty subtle).

    ReplyDelete
  46. I've never met a yarn store employee or owner who won't take a second and help you decode the pattern also. Knitters love to help. the best part of being in the secret society of knitters.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Brilliant advice. I say it goes for just about anything.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Anonymous6/07/2009

    Yor words are true and sweet Leslie, thank you for them!

    And also for the recipe of these great biscuits ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  49. I saved this recipe and tis morning I've mixed it up. It's the Queen's birthday public holiday here. Looking at the clock, on a usual Monday morning I'd be heading off to class now, ready to teach the year 10s. Instead, the house is quiet. The pets and I are the only ones up. Your lemon poppy seed biscuits are in the fridge. I'll pull them out for afternoon tea while I'm sewing on a quilt. The kids will be rapt! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Béatrice de Lausanne en Suisse.6/09/2009

    Well, I had discoved the madness of knittin in London, many, many years ago, when working for Oméga. In the bis store * Lewis *Oxford street, I saw a beautifull bright green dress, model to knit in Annabel news paper. I baught the wool grey color. I had to do special order for the magasine, having wait to long to buy it in store.In one month the dress was done. since, I never stop knittin..Havin knit lot of yagger wool, hawin knit lot of modesl in magasines, I decide to create my one models and I enjoy it.You can see some of them on my blog : http://beatrice-De.blogspot.com
    But, you have to go on archives already.One jaquette, is mix with a piece of felt i have done in course. Very exiting plan !
    Sorry for my brocken english, fergot a lot. Salutations cordiales de Béatrice , Switzerland

    ReplyDelete
  51. Béatrice de Lausanne6/09/2009

    Do you have time to read all your messages ?

    ReplyDelete
  52. Those lemon poppyseed biscuits are GORGEOUS!!! Highly recommended.

    My parents dropped in around 4pm and the dough was still in the fridge. It was so lovely to just casually whip it out and give them fresh home made biscuits with their coffee.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  53. The cookies look so good! And yes, if you can knit you can do anything! :)

    ReplyDelete
  54. love those lemon wafers:)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Wow! I'm impressed that your first project was a sweater. That's intense!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Properly, that is my very first visit in your weblog! We're a group of volunteers and beginning a brand new initiative in a community within the same niche. Your weblog supplied us useful information to work on. You might have carried out a marvellous job! Anyway, in my language, there are not much good supply like this.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Daniel, yea I can see what you probably did there. I really appreciated that part, however hehe I am not that harsh like my dad with these things. He at all times tells me crazy stories again in the day and calls me a loser. I guess it's time I move out of my dad and mom' basement LOL. Aaanyways, what about you? what does your dad think xD" Anyway, in my language, there are usually not a lot good source like this.

    ReplyDelete
  58. I was recommended to stop by here and have a look, I am really glad I did, the information is great.

    ReplyDelete
  59. You have the best cookies and sweaters. Knit and purl and Mom. For anyone without mom nearby there is the internet with videos, it can help too.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Have you ever ever thought about including a bit of bit extra than just your ideas? I imply, what you say is essential and everything. But its bought no punch, no pop! Maybe should you added a pic or two, a video? You might have such a extra powerful weblog if you happen to let people SEE what youre speaking about as a substitute of simply reading it. Anyway, in my language, there will not be a lot good supply like this.

    ReplyDelete