For a 1960's themed potluck lunch, I made a pineapple cheese ball. The most work went into taking apart a fresh pineapple (so that I could make a fake pineapple - so meta!); this could be made with canned pineapple and topped with green onions/scallions or bay leaves instead of a fresh pineapple crown.

The fresh pineapple version tastes better but the canned pineapple is more period accurate, for what it's worth. The 1960's recipes I used for research tend to use whole pecan halves to decorate the cheese ball; I chose to use more economical pecan bits.

Pineapple Cheese Ball
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1 cup (8 oz) shredded cheese (cheddar or colby jack are good)
1/2 cup - 1 cup (4 - 8 oz) finely chopped fresh pineapple or canned crushed pineapple
1 teaspoon seasoning salt (such as Lawry's)
2 Tbs thinly sliced green onion (both top and bottom)
1 cup (8 oz) pecan bits

Mix cream cheese, shredded cheese, pineapple, seasoning salt together in a bowl. Stir in green onion. Mound onto a plate and shape into an oval (I used the back of a spoon). Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight, or at least for a few hours to firm up. Before serving, gently press pecan bits into the surface. If you have the fresh pineapple top, trim so part of it will lay flat on the plate and scrub the base well to remove any soil.

Matilda & Tillie

Peace Fleece

heavy worsted weight/aran knitting yarn (70% wool, 30% mohair), 4 oz/200 yds, color of your choice

XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (18", 20", 22", 24", 26", 27"/46, 51, 56, 61, 66, 68.5 cm)

US 6/4.0mm dpns, 1 set of 5

US 6/4.0mm circular needle (16")

US G/4.25 mm crochet hook

Hats for chilly seasons, these close-fitting wool cloche hats are designed to keep out cold and blustery winds. The heather mohair blend yarn enhances the vintage style; the crown and brim colors look subtly different depending on the angle and the light. Tiny flecks of many colors make these wearable with just about any color in your wardrobe. These hats will also travel well, easily stuffed into a coat pocket or a bag, and can be dressed up easily with pins, brooches, and other decorations.

The crown is knit from the top down, ending right above the ears. The brim is worked separately as a long bias strip with increases and decreases to shape it as you go and is sewn to the crown. A simple knit i-cord or crocheted cord trims the hat and covers the seam. Matilda has a plain brim; Tillie has a shaped brim with a knit-in hem, which can be worn with the narrow edge at the back (allowing for jacket and coat collars) or at the side for retro flair.

Peace Fleece

can be purchased online directly from

peacefleece.com

, or from

Kpixie.com

Matilda & Tillie is now available for sale as a USD $5.50 .pdf download (you will need a PayPal account or a credit card).

Printed-on-paper patterns are not available at this time.

Substitute yarns: You may substitute a heavy worsted/aran weight yarn on the sturdy end of the yarn spectrum such as Vermont Organic Fiber Co. "

Legacy Bulky

Beaverslide

Mule-spun "

Heavy Fisherman Weight

", or

Imperial Stock Ranch

Columbia 2-Ply

A note on gauge: Peace Fleece comes in solid, flecked, and heathered versions, which may be slightly different thicknesses, so do check your gauge and change needle sizes if necessary. The pattern is worked at a tighter than usual gauge to get a fairly dense, slightly stiffer fabric. If this is hard on your hands, be sure to take time out to rest and stretch your hands and arms!

Knitalong?

There's one on Ravelry

! If you'd like to start one, please feel free to!

Errata:

Corrections to the Tillie brim instructions:

begin decreases Row 4 should begin: sl1, p2, sl marker, inc 1 begin increases: Row 2 should begin: sl 1, p2, sl marker Rows 26-33 (30-39, 34-45) should read: repeat rows 24 and 25 (28 and 29, 32 and 33) [note that the chart is correct; the written instructions were incorrect] For size X-SMALL (SMALL), row 34 should read: repeat row 24

Corrections to the Matilda and Tillie brim instructions:

row count for both brims should be Total brim rows: 132 (156, 168, 180, 192, 204) Not an error, but but an omission:

Closing the gap at the top of the crown:

The cast-on will leave a small hole at the top. After knitting the crown, thread the tail of the cast-on through the cast-on stitches and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the end.

If you purchased the pattern as a download, you were sent an email with the corrected pages as a link or as an attachment. If you did not get an email/purchased a printed pattern through a shop, please email me so that I may send you the corrected pages.