Today I want to hug the universe right in it’s stupid face.

A friend of mine has cancer. Cancer fucking sucks. Yeah, I know that’s not news to anyone. But it’s worth restating. Cancer. Fucking. Sucks. My friend is going to be OK, which is why I want to hug the universe in it’s stupid face instead of wanting to punch it. (For the moment.) But it reminds me that I have it really, really good. The worse thing that happened to me today was that I got bad cream in my coffee at the diner and I wasted 90 minutes watching a really crappy movie on Netflix streaming. If those are the worst things to happen today, I’ve got NOTHING to complain about.

There’s lots of stuff that the movies and TV doesn’t tell you about cancer and treatment because it’s not dramatically glamorous. Like your eyelashes fall out, your fingers and toes swell up until your nails fall off, that chemo damages your senses until all food tastes like dirt, or that your skin turns blue and green and you have to have ports and tubes surgically implanted and you can’t hug your kid until they get taken out. Like I said. Cancer. Fucking. Sucks.

People respond to stress and bad news in different ways, and of course friends want to help. And my friends is lucky to have lots of friends and family who love her into a million pieces and want to do everything they can. Unfortunately, when it comes to heavy stuff like cancer there’s not a lot you can do for someone else. Seriously, if I could be all like, “Hey, I’ll take this round of chemo for you. Go relax for a while. I got this,” I totally would do it. But it’s not like picking up the check at the diner. You gotta leave the tough stuff to the medical professionals and the even more tough stuff to the patient. But pretty much most of us just have to sit around and wait. And worry. And wait. And worry. And wait. And worry. And wait more even when time seems to have slowed down to 1/8th normal speed. And repeat.

So what can you do on the sidelines? While you’re doing all that waiting and fingers-crossing and positive-thoughts-sending? There’s always something to do. Better to keep busy than to sit around do all that idle worrying.

So, I knit a few chemo caps.

And baked cookies to eat in the waiting room at the hospital.

I knit this pair of Official Slipper-Socks For Kicking Cancer In The Face.

And sewed up a few headscarves for when the weather was too warm for a thick hat.

But when that’s done, then you go back to the worrying. And the waiting. Because all the worrying and waiting you’re doing? Your friend is waiting and worrying a whole hell of a lot more, times like a bajillion. So that’s important to remember.

That’s pretty much all I can do. It doesn’t make me feel any more in control of a universe that I’m pissed at for messing around with my friend. But if it makes an almost intolerably horrid situation slightly more tolerable to deal with for her, then I’m glad to do it.

What I did learn is that while Ravelry will hook up you with a ton of good, free chemo cap patterns to knit or crochet, there aren’t a lot of DIY options for sewn head scarves out there. Well, I mean there aren’t a lot of GOOD options out there. Googling “chemo scarf pattern” or any variation will bring up a lot of duds on websites last updated in 1997. Here are few of the ones that I used as baseline guides, with good results, though a plain hemmed 36” square seemed to work the best.

This turban was quick and simple, and the instructions are fairly clear.

The layout on this site makes the pattern a little hard to understand, but if you read through it a few times, you’ll glean how to make this doo-rag style cap.

This isn’t a pattern, per say, but if you’re an intermediate or above seamster, you can figure it out from the pictures.

So there you go; maybe those links will come in handy one day. All of them are easy enough and I ended up making 5 or 6 scarves in a few different styles in one afternoon. I  really, really hope not, but reality is stupid sometimes. Yeah, this went to a more depressing place than I intended, so let me just end by saying friend is awesome and totally kicked Cancer in it’s stupid, ugly face and I’m so happy about it that I’m considering hiring a skywriter.

The Evolution of the French Market (Bag)

I have a new favorite little bag. And I’ve got another one underway for my mom. Allow me to guide you through my process.

3/23: Cast on. Think, “This is going to be a super-quick and easy knit! It’s all stockinette! That means I can knit AND watch TV without having to worry about following a chart.  LET’S WATCH 21 JUMP STREET ON NETFLIX STREAMING.”

3/24: Determine that Johnny Depp is actually Harry Potter. Start to feel ashamed about how many episodes of 21 Jump St. I’ve watched in one day.

4/4: Celebrate Zombie Waffle Sunday by inviting friends over for waffles and a veganized version of Joy the Baker’s Cornmeal Molasses Pancakes. Watch 3 zombie movies and finish most of the body plus one handle.

4/5-4/8: Find that my 21 lb. cat has determined that the only comfortable place to sleep is on top of this specific WIP. Weigh risk of having face ripped off vs. retrieving project. Decide to keep face.

4/9: Kitty lured away by rustle of treat bag. WIP hastened away. Last handle done.

4/10: Felt in one pass in the washer. LOVE IT. It’s like a fuzzy bowl with handles. Imagine how perfect this is going to be perfect for the farmer’s market. Consider embroidering something on the side. Contemplate how likely it is that you’ll actually follow up on that idea. Decide that my French Market Bag is perfect just like it is. Fill with apples and tomatoes.

Vegetarian Runzas FTW

So, in Nebraska, where I’m from, we have these amazing, wonderful, unicorn-magic places called Runza. Yeah, it’s fast food. But it’s awesome and it only seems to exist in the Midwest. Mention a “Runza” to anyone on the east coast and suddenly you’ve got three heads. Unless that person is a fellow expatriated Nebraskan. Then, their eyes will well up with longing. Runzas, you see, are lovely delicacies of meat, onions and cabbage baked in a sweet egg bread. (At this point, you’re probably imagining a Hot Pocket or something. Yeah, not at all. Hot Pockets are super-gross. Runzas are the total opposite of that.)

Problem #1: Runzas only exist in Nebraska. I live in Maryland.
Problem #2: Runzas aren’t that healthy. Over the years, the restaurant versions have become increasingly greasy and the dough quality is hit-and-miss. I feel like a total traitor for saying it, but it’s the sad truth.
Problem #3: Meat. They are full of meat. I prefer things to be meatless. There are lots of meaty recipes on the internet, but a woeful lack of vegetarian versions.

So, for lack of a Vegetarian Runza closer than 1200 miles away, here is my recipe for Vegetarian Runzas. I would love to be able to make this vegan, but my efforts to veganize this have ended with less-than-appetizing results.

Sophie’s Vegetarian Runza Recipe

Dough:

• 1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour   (sift the flours together)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2-1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/4 cup hot water, 110 degrees
• 1/4 non-hydrogenated shortening or margarine (I use Earth Balance)
• 1 egg

Filling:

• 3 cups Morningstar Veggie Crumbles (or your preferred meat subsitute)
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cups shredded cabbage (Use a cheese grater; it’s way easier)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground fresh black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon all spice
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Extra-virgin Olive Oil

Stage 1: Dough
Begin proofing the yeast in the hot water. Add a few pinches of the sugar. Let rest while prepping steps 2-3. When it’s ready, it will look puffy and foamy.

In a large mixing bowl, sift 2 cups of the combined AP and whole wheat flour, remaining sugar, and salt.  Heat milk and margarine over low heat until the margarine is melted. Be careful not to let it scorch. The milk should be at about 120 degrees. Pour milk mixture and yeast over the flour mixture. Beat with an electric mixer with dough hooks or paddle on low until a raggy dough forms, then add the egg. Add in the remaining flour; beat or knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. If it’s too dry (that wheat flour can sometimes suck up an unpredictable amount of moisture) add a tablespoon or two of milk.

Using a dough scraper or your hands, pull the dough into a ball.  Cover with a dampened tea towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled. (About 1 hour). It should look like this after rising.

While you’re waiting, prepare the filling.

Stage 2: Filling
Heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the onions, cabbage and Veggie crumbles. Stir in spices.

Cook until the onions are transparent and the cabbage has wilted. It’s going to look a bit unappetizing for a while. But just stick with me here. It’s worth it.
Set aside to cool while the dough finishes rising.

Stage 3: Assembly
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Or, preferably, line the sheet with parchment paper.  Punch the dough down and divide into 6 equal sized balls. Using a rolling pin or your hands, stretch the dough into rectangles, roughly 8″x10″. The dough will be very thin, but you want it that way because you’re going to be tripling up the bottom layer.

This would be the time to add on any extras you might want. I like swiss cheese and sauted mushrooms. For a pizza runza, add 1/4 cup marinara and a handful of shredded mozzarella before putting in the veggie mixture.  Other Native Nebraskans veggie variations include blue cheese, BBQ or Buffalo sauce, olives, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers. (Umm, not all of those at the same time.) Really, you can pop in whatever you’d like.

Scoop a generous 1/3 cup of the cabbage/veggie crumble mixture onto the center third of the rectangle, leaving a 3/4” border at the top and bottom. Fold the the two remaining thirds over the veggies, one at a time. Gently press the seam closed. Pinch the top and bottom edges closed.

Note: some of the meaty recipes on the internet have this craaaaaazy idea that Runzas should be triangular or cresent shaped. Maybe in Germany, where Runzas originated, that’s okay. But in Nebraska, we make ours the right way. That being rectangular. Seriously, they taste better this way. It gives you the best filling:dough ratio.

Carefully transfer the runza to the baking sheet with the seam side down (where the dough is thicker). Tuck the top and bottom edges under.  Bake for 20-23 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot.

Runzas freeze VERY well, so stash extras in freezer bags and take them to lunch. Defrost in a microwave for 1-2 minutes and then crisp in a toaster over for a few minutes.

Congratulations! You’re now an honorary Nebraskan. See you at River City Round-up.

Bordeaux Dress

DIY Summer Dress

Basic summer dress with a shirred bodice and a cotton skirt. Skirt is lined with muslin. This took about two hours to make because I shaped the skirt a little more to accommodate the lining, so it’s a little fancier and more fitted than just your standard shirred-bodice tube dress. 

I tried to take a model shot, but Kitty wanted to cuddle. And you can’t say no to a 22 lb. cat when she wants to cuddle. 

Buttons! BUTTONS!

So as I’m doing this wardrobe refashion pledge, I’m realizing I’m not so awesome at sewing. But I continue to try. My most recent effort is to convert this thrift store shirt. I loooooved the button fabric, which is 100% silk, but everything else about it pretty much sucked. But it was $1.29, so there wasn’t much to lose here.  

Also, I know these pictures suck but I was running out of time and energy. 

Before  

As you can see, the shirt is three sizes too big, and cut for a great-grandmother. I am just thrilled to be wearing it. 

After!  

I trimmed the sleeves to a summer length, cut the collar and neckline out to more of a boatneck shape, pulled in the side seams, and inserted some bust darts to make it a bit more fitted. Also added some bias tape edging to the neckline since the silk tends to roll once hemmed. 

It’s not the most flattering item I have made but it’s definitely wearable, and the fabric is totally worth it. 

The Pledge

I, Sophie Begonia, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing, for the period of (4) months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thriftiness brings!

XO – Sophie Begonia

Pickled Grapes? What?! Oh yeah.

A few days ago I saw this recipe for Pickled Grapes with Cinnamon and Black Pepper posted on Smitten Kitchen and HAD to try it immediately. I love pickles. I love grapes. I’d never even considered that grapes could be pickled.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t work on my whims and I had to wait two days to get around to making them.

The whole shebang took less than half and hour from start to finish. They’ve been in the fridge for about 36 hours now. Verdict: Delicious. Best part: eating the little grape butts that you have to cut off before they go in the jar.
The only change I will make for the next time is increasing the cinnamon. Perhaps a full stick instead of a half. And I’d like to try pink peppercorns in place of the black.

DIY for the New Economy

I’m knitting. I swear. Really. But it’s nothing I can post about because all of my current projects are gifts and I need them to be surprises. Tonight I plan to cast on a pair of socks for a craft swap, and the pattern is one that I’ve written myself. So there will be updates on that in the near future.

And Miyagi is glad to make herself comfortable, too. Though she’s not supposed to be on the couch…

Anywho…a few hours later and we have these: six total-2 striped, 2 checkerboard back pillows, and 2 oversized, all in shades of teal and grass. All the fabric was in my stash except for the stripes, which I bought on clearance. I also had to buy coordinating thread. Total project cost: $13.36 with tax.

The striped ones are meant to go with the other couch.

Suck it, $100 worth of throw pillows.

I kept all the fabric from the denuded pillows and plan to make them into a throw quilt.