By Lisa Gutierrez on 10/08/2011 
Before cursing my needle for poking me while sewing patches on my son’s very first Cub Scout uniform, I had a very delicious slice of pie. A slice of the very first pumpkin pie of the season. It’s a day for firsts, I guess. I had a slice because I KNEW I needed some sweet fuel for this sewing task. It isn’t so much difficult as it is TEDIOUS! Holy tiny stitches. Plus, I’m sorta-kinda a perfectionist, so I may have ripped it out a time or two.
 
This isn’t my first time baking a pumpkin pie, but it IS my first time making a crust from scratch. SO EASY. Cut half a cup of butter into 1 1/4 cup of flour mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add in 1/4 cup ice-cold water a tsp at a time until a ball forms. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Roll it out to a 12″ diameter circle and then press it into your pie dish. I don’t have a rolling pin, so I used a glass. It’s perrrrfect! I think I’m going to skip dinner and just have a slice of pie again. My boys are with my mom at a party, so I don’t have to worry about what a HORRIBLE EXAMPLE I am. I might even have a can of Pepsi on the side.
By Lisa Gutierrez on 10/05/2011 
The simple statement wreath has found a home on a bedroom in my wall. I’m always changing the wall above my bed. I hope to find a semi-permanent decoration for that space one day. For now, though, the wreath looks spectacular. I made another one (green!) and it’s above my green couch. They’re different shades of green, so they complement each other well.
I realized a while ago that you can spot the wreaths in some of my photos. The one above was taken yesterday. My Andrew is looking grown up! He sorta-kinda needs a haircut, as he’s constantly pushing it out of his eyes, but I’m waiting for him to lead us. We were close a few weeks ago (grandma got her scissors out!), but he changed his mind at the last minute. I’m letting him decide because the last thing I want is a squirmy screaming child close to sharp scissors. We’ll probably head to a professional and while I’m sure they’re used to scared kids, I don’t want to be a burden on them. So, we wait.
 
Taking photos of a blanket I was working on and I ended up with a wreath in the background of both!
Have you made a wreath using my tutorial? You should add it to the Ravelry page (click below)!
By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/23/2011 
As soon as Christmas is over, pumpkin leaves my life until Autumn. On this first weekend of said season, you can bet I’ll be roasting a pumpkin or two. I LOVE baking with pumpkin, so I am way familiar with roasting my own to get that amazing puree.
If you’ve never done it, you’re missing out! It’s so easy and so delicious. This is my method–
1. Chop off the top, then cut pumpkin in half from top to bottom & scoop out innards (save the seeds!)
2. Put face down in a baking dish with a bit of water to steam up & place in 350F oven for 45 minutes to an hour OR until you can pierce the skin easily with a fork.
3. Let it cool a bit, then peel off the outside skin and place in food processor or blender to puree.
4. Place in a strainer lined with cheesecloth over a bowl. This dries it up a bit–it can be super watery!
5. Use immediately, or place in storage bags to put in your freezer for later use. I suggest storing in 1 cup increments, as that’s usually how much you need in recipes.
Here are a few of my favorite pumpkin recipes and some that I plan on trying this Fall.
—The BEST Pumpkin Cupcake, posted here last year.
—Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
—Gluten Free Pumpkin Whoppie Pies
—Pumpkin Pie
Do you have any favorite pumpkin recipes? Sweet or savory, I’m interested!
By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/08/2011 
This morning, the big boy was at school, the little boy was still asleep, the husband had just rode off to work, and I was drafting up some knitting patterns. I got the sudden urge to sew. For some reason, I really wanted a Texas to squeeze.
So.
I made one.
I just drew it on the back of some fabric (folded over), pinned it and sewed on the line. It took forever to stuff, but in the end it’s a sweet huggy shape and I can’t wait for my kiddo to get home from school. He kind of loves the shape of Texas. Who doesn’t?! No matter what you think of the actual state, it’s a bad ass shape.
And oh so squeezeable.
By Lisa Gutierrez on 08/31/2011 
This is the end of the August Break! I can hardly believe tomorrow is September. September! Already! My kiddo is in FIRST grade and my baby is bored out of his mind throughout the day.
September will bring nifty things for Goodknits. I plan on re-designing/organizing the blog, making a Fall shop update, releasing a few patterns, whipping up some fall tutorials, and just generally getting into the new season. I hope we’ve had a glorious break and I hope you will stick around in September. May these last few weeks of Summer be magical for you!
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