BATTLING THE BERNAT

Having found the first Bernat dog coat pattern too taxing (couldn't fathom out the leg holes!)  I looked on You Tube for assistance and found a tutorial for another Bernat dog coat pattern, whoopee!  I would happily have paid for a pattern if I could have found one that floated my boat, but nothing took my fancy.  The only ones I liked were being sold as the finished item, but I really want to make my own.

Anyhoo, here is the new one, although I'm not doing stripes as I feel it just looks too blankety.

The tutorial totally helped me to get to grips with the project and I'm almost finished! 

I took pictures in order to make it easier if I decide to make another one (my memory for these things is pretty bad).

Those little squares are the leg holes.  I know, they look a bit odd, but there are bands to put around them that will hopefully round them out.

I'm feeling miffed that I frogged back the first coat I attempted, as the You Tube tutorial explained elements of both patterns that I couldn't grasp initially.  The first attempt had a lovely 'crocodile skin' effect, which looked more knitted than crocheted.


While I was in the garden, I spied something red in the greenhouse and found that our chilli plant was still bearing fruit.

We had a few butternut squashes in storage that needed using, so I peeled and chopped them, along with a handful of carrots, some banana shallots, a wrinkly parsnip, a couple of those Dragon chillies and a sprinkle of fresh thyme. I covered the pan with foil and roasted for 30 mins (with a dollop of coconut oil).

I had some frozen chicken stock, which I popped in the Aga to defrost, which it had by the time the veggies were ready. They then went into the stock with a handful of red lentils then back in the oven for another 30 minutes, before being whazzed with a stick blender until smooth.

We ate it with toasted sourdough, which I'd rubbed with a garlic clove before buttering. 

I think it needed the fire of a couple more chillies, but was very tasty and satisfying.

I will now settle onto the sofa by the fire, to hopefully finish the dog coat before bedtime!