This is by way of a follow on from the previous post on No Knead Bread. Basically it’s the same recipe, just adapted for a sourdough starter rather than yeast. Sourdough is ideally suited to long, slow proving method. You don’t need a banneton or any other fancy equipment. If you don’t already have a…
After quite a few years of bread making, (and not buying a single loaf) sometimes there’s a danger of it becoming a chore. So it’s time to shake things up a little. And no knead bread might be the way to go. Basically it seems that the process is the same, except for the kneading…
The biscuit tins were empty – time to make treats. First off, something for people: Devon Flats A little known traditional recipe. These are delicious crunchy biscuits with a creamy test. Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients. This recipe makes about 36. Ingredients: 250g/8oz plain flour 125g/4oz caster sugar 1/4 pint…
Zokin are traditional Japanese dust rags which are hand stitched from leftover or re-purposed cotton cloth. They stem from a time in Japan when textiles were expensive, precious and scarce. Garments and bed coverings were patched and patched and patched again – becoming Boro textiles – antique examples of which are highly sort after today. …
In Norway and Sweden Saffron Buns – or Lussekatter are traditionally baked to celebrate the St Lucia’s or St Lucy’s Day on 13th December. The Scandinavians have appropriated this Italian saint for a festival of lights at this darkest (especially up in Scandinavia) time of year. Processions of girls dress in white with a red…
Last weekend there was a little Fibre Fest at All Saint’s Church in Castle Cary. It was a chance to take along the sock knitting machine and some socks to sell, plus the spindle wheel to demonstrate. And it was a really sweet and lovely event. There was a real mixed bag of textile…
Make do & mend is a way of life around here. This jumper, a particular winter favourite, was a classic case. It was hand knitted several years ago and has been through a quite a few winters. It had already been repaired more than once – some darning on the elbows and the cuffs re-worked.…
Turning flax fibre into linen cloth was this summer’s project. The last post dealt with the spinning – now comes the weaving. Unlike wool, linen has no elasticity or stretch. This makes it unforgiving when it comes to warping on the loom (even without somewhat haphazard and impatient warping methods). Creating and maintaining a firm…
Turning flax into linen is this summer’s spinning and weaving project. Flax is the fibre that comes from the plant Linum usitatissimum. Once it has been processed and spun (and then woven) it becomes linen. The aim of this project – which could be subtitled ‘Yet more adventures in spinning and weaving.’ is to take…
Beeswax Wraps are the way to go – it’s time to banish cling film and other single use plastics from your kitchen. There was a bundle of vintage cotton scraps lurking around – just waiting for their time. The prints are lovely, fine cotton lawn, not enough for a large project and the pieces too…