Yarn Spotlight: M&K ECO Ull Color (by Marks & Kattens)

Website screenshot image for M and K ECO Ull yarn

"Nordic Yarn Imports" website screenshot image for M&K's "ECO Ull" yarn


Introduction

Welcome to the second “yarn spotlight” blog post on M&K yarn!

If you’ll recall, I’ve been doing a lot of yarn shopping recently (once again, please excuse me while I drool for a bit… mmmmm… yarn).

Just like with the last time, the main reason I’m investing in so much yarn is because I’m in the middle of mass-designing/knitting new custom designed knitting projects in order to get my soon-to-be-live Etsy shop underway (again, stay tuned for details!).

So like I had said in the beginning of this blog post, this is the second “yarn Spotlight” on yarns by the Marks & Kattens brand. The first spotlight showcased Mark & Kattens’ M&K ECO Baby Ull Color yarn, which I was especially drawn to due to the wide array of rainbow colors that the baby weight, 100% wool yarn came in… from reds to oranges to greens to blues to purples.

This second spotlight will be focusing on the heavier & thicker version of the M&K ECO Baby Ull Color. Introducing the M&K ECO Ull Color yarn!

M&K’s “ECO Ull Color” Yarn Stats

Summary:

  • Brand: Marks & Kattens
  • Distributor: Nordic Yarn (in Canada) & Swedish Yarn (in USA)
  • Made in: Germany
  • Yarn length: 80m / 87yd
  • Yarn weight: 50g
  • Yarn fiber: 100% wool (“ull”), with minimum 20% merino wool content (“merinoull”)
  • Standard yarn weight classification: #4 Medium
  • Gauge size: 16.5 stitches x 23 rows = 4″ x 4″ (10cm x 10cm)
  • Needle size: US #9 (5.5mm)
  • Laundry care:
    • Hand wash
    • Dry flat
    • Do not iron/press
    • Do not bleach
    • Dry-clean, normal cycle (any solvent except trichloroethylene)
    • Do not tumble dry

Same with the M&K ECO Baby Ull Color yarn, this medium weight version is also made out of 100% pure wool (with a guaranteed minimum 20% consisting of merino wool). It’s also similarly affordable (currently listed at $7 CAD/ball in my local Canadian yarn store). And like the baby weight version, it comes in a wide array of colors. But instead of the eye-popping rainbow shades of the M&K ECO Baby Ull Color, this non-baby weight version comes in more subtle, less vibrant shades. Also like its super fine yarn weight cousin, there are 7 different natural raw shades of the regular, non-color M&K ECO Ull yarn.

Yarn Spotlight - M and K ECO Ull yarn (color shade card)

Sample color shades of M&K's "ECO Ull Color" & "ECO Ull" yarns

As I had just mentioned, the M&K ECO Ull Color yarn comes in wide range of colors that rival the baby weight version… but the shades are definitely much more muted. I had purchased the following color shades (check out the photos below for details):

  • Color shade #300Red
  • Color shade #301Orange
  • Color shade #302Green
  • Color shade #304Teal
  • Color shade #309Blue
  • Color shade #308Purple

I also purchased the following natural shades of the non-color M&K ECO Ull yarn:

  • Color shade #1977Gray
  • Color shade #1979Cream
  • Color shade #1981Brown

So if you’re looking for an affordable, 100% wool medium weight yarn that comes in a wide array of rainbow colors in muted shades… then I strongly recommend M&K ECO Ull Color by Marks & Kattens.

M&K ECO Ull Color Yarn Photographs

Here are some personal photos of my M&K ECO Ull Color yarn stash…

Yarn Spotlight - M and K ECO Ull Color yarn (circle of colors)

Introducing my M&K "ECO Ull Color" yarn collection... laid out in a circle

Yarn Spotlight - M and K ECO Ull Color yarn (rainbow of colors)

M&K "ECO Ull Color" yarn comes in a wide range of muted rainbow colors

Yarn Spotlight - M and K ECO Ull Color yarn (caterpillar view)

Balls of M&K "ECO Ull Color" yarn laid out in a row like a muted colored caterpillar!

Yarn Spotlight - M and K ECO Ull yarn (raw natural color shades)

M&K "ECO Ull" yarn also comes in raw, natural shades of color

Image sources: Website screenshot image and M&K ECO Ull yarn color palette image courtesy of NordicYarn.ca.
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Gave both Elwood’s Ham Chowder recipe & the Progressive International HGT-11 Folding Mandoline Slicer a test whirl

Elwoods Ham Chowder recipe

Introducing the famous Southern "Elwood's Ham Chowder"

A few days ago I had given Martha Stewart’s Gratinéed Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes recipe a whirl, taken from “The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics.” The pasta turned out so well that I had decided to try out another recipe from the cookbook right away… namely, the recipe for Elwood’s Ham Chowder.

I’ve always been a huge fan of making homemade soups. They’re easy (since all you’re basically doing is throwing a bunch of ingredients into a pot and letting it boil!), and can usually translate to several meals. This was definitely the case with the ham chowder… which calls for ONE POUND of ham, another pound of collared greens, plus onions, garlic cloves, tomatoes, red potatoes, and more.

A while back I had purchased the Progressive International HGT-11 Folding Mandoline Slicer because it was on sale at the Corningware Corelle & More outlet store near my work (I had a 20% off coupon!). Never had the chance to give it a spin, but I figured a soup recipe that called for 1/2 inch chunks of chopped onions and 1/2 inch chunks of chopped potatoes would be perfect for testing out the mandoline slicer.

Progressive International HGT-11 Folding Mandoline Slicer

My Progressive International HGT-11 folding mandoline slicer. I gotta say, wasn't too impressed.

I gave it a whirl, and I gotta say… I don’t know if it’s ’cause the slicer was so cheap, but I felt like it wasn’t helpful at all in chopping up veggies. It definitely didn’t make it any easier! I probably would’ve done a better job chopping with a knife on a cutting board… and probably would’ve done it faster, too!

Or maybe that’s the way it is with all mandoline slicers? I don’t know, I’ve never used one before. But definitely wasn’t impressed with the Progressive International HGT-11.

Elwood's Ham Chowder recipe (thumbnail image)

Photo of Elwood's Ham Chowder, taken from Martha Stewart's website

Anyway, here’s the recipe for Elwood’s Ham Chowder from Martha Stewart’s “The New Classics” cookbook.

Should be noted that Martha Stewart didn’t come up with this recipe, it just happens to be listed in her cookbook. I did some digging and discovered this web page on the exact same Elwood’s Ham Chowder recipe, located on the Southern Food and Beverage Museum website. Apparently, it’s a pretty historic recipe! Didn’t know that until after I made it. And I can definitely see why, because the chowder turned turned out amazingly well… probably one of the best recipes I’ve ever tried out over the years!

Just one tip: The recipe calls for 2 cups of homemade or low-sodium canned chicken stock and beef stock. If you’re purchasing the stock, I highly recommend buying only chicken and beef stock that have no salt added. Not even “less salt” is enough, you should go for no salt added. Trust me, the soup is flavorful enough without the salt. And if not, you can always add salt to taste at the end, a pinch at a time.

“Elwood’s Ham Chowder” Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 lb Virginia ham, cut into 1/2″ pieces
  • 2 onions, cut into 1/2″ pieces (about 3 cups)
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 bunches collard greens w/o stems, chopped (about 1 lb)
  • 1 28-oz can whole tomatoes w/ juice, chopped
  • 7 cups homemade/low-sodium chicken stock
  • 2 cups homemade/low-sodium beef stock
  • 8 red potatoes, cut into 1/2″ pieces (about 6 cups)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • Coarse salt & freshly ground pepper
  • Hot pepper sauce/Tabasco (optional)

Directions:

  • Turn stove-top burner to medium-low heat & heat oil in a large stockpot
  • Add ham & cook until it starts releasing juices (about 2 min)
  • Add onions & garlic
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft (about 10 min)
  • While tossing frequently with thongs and working in batches to avoid overcrowding pot, cook collard greens until thoroughly wilted
  • Add tomatoes & tomato juice, chicken & beef stocks, potatoes, thyme & parsley
  • Bring to boil, then reduce heat to gentle simmer
  • Cook until potatoes can be easily pierced w/ a knife (about 30-40 min)
  • Stir & occasionally skim any foam from the surface while simmering
  • Remove from heat
  • Season with salt, black pepper & hot pepper sauce
  • Serve hot

Makes: About 5 qt



Image Source: Elwood’s Ham Chowder image courtesy of SouthernFood.org/Okra. Progressive International HGT-11 Folding Mandoline Slice product image courtesy of NumKitchen.com

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Unboxing the Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner (Part 2 of a story about a girl’s love affair with vacuums)

Bissell 3-in-1 Multipurpose Lighweight Vacuum Cleaner

Introducing the "Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner"...


Introduction

Welcome to the continuation of my 2-part story about a girl’s love affair with vacuum cleaners (part of the “A Girl’s Love Affair With…” blog series)!

Click here to brush up on part 1.

Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner Review

So in my previous blog post, I wrote all about my love of Dyson vacuum products… including my beloved Dyson DC14 Upright Cyclonic Vacuum Cleaner, and my unboxing & product review of the Dyson Total Clean Kit.

Seeing how I’m such a huge Dyson fan, why is part 2 of this story about a Bissell vac, you ask? Well, after owning my Dyson DC14 All Floors vacuum for 5+ years, it finally broke down. Not a complete breakdown, per se… but I clogged up the tube by accident after sucking up an unknown object that got lodged in the hose.

Considering how long I’ve had my Dyson, and the fact that this entire time it has never lost suction in any way… I’m not at all upset that it’s currently out of commission. I mean, just ’cause it’s the best of the best, doesn’t mean it’s perfect!

So until I get my Dyson serviced, I needed a temporary replacement vacuum… preferably one that was cheaply priced (I sure didn’t want to buy a full-blown replacement for $100+!), but could still vacuum our entire apartment. I found the perfect candidate in the Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner!

A girl's love affair with Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners

This girl? Why, she's in love with Bissell's 3-in-1 Stic Vac Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners! (And the rainbow colors that the vacs come in? HOT.)

First of all, it cost me only $15 at my neighborhood Walmart. FIFTEEN DOLLARS. I have a Swiffer SweeperVac Rechargeable Cordless Sweeper Vacuum that I’ve purchased for twice that price… and it doesn’t work nearly half as well as the Bissell 3-in-1 Vac. It most definitely didn’t offer as many features!

Swiffer SweeperVac Rechargeable Cordless Sweeper Vacuum for All Floors

My "Swiffer SweeperVac Rechargeable Cordless Sweeper Vacuum" that's now nothing more than a simple Swiffer duster (Since I've lost the AC adapter needed to charge the vac. D'oh.)

Plus, I’ve since lost the Swiffer SweeperVac AC adapter, so it’s now drained of power and I have absolutely no way of recharging it, making the SweeperVac completely useless.

The Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner, on the other hand, isn’t cordless… which is actually my preference because I’m so bad at losing things (remember my blog post on purchasing my new Sony Alpha NEX-3 interchangeable lens camera, just because I had lost the battery pack to my Canon point-and-shoot?). It’s also interchangeable and can convert from a handheld to a floor vacuum and vice versa. It’s super lightweight (weighs less than 4 lbs!), is a bagless type of vacuum cleaner (thank God for that… the one thing I hated most from my numerous previous experiences with purchasing vacuums is that bagged vacs are the absolute biggest waste of money, not to mention completely frustrating to use and operate!) with an easy empty dirt container, and according to the Bissell website it can clean “carpet, upholstery, bare floors, and stairs.”

I’m not sure about you, but to get all of that for only $15? It’s insane. Absolutely, unbelievably insane. Definitely one of my better frugal purchases that I’m most proud of finding!

Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner Unboxing Photos

In case you were interested, here are the photos I took during my unboxing of the Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner. Cheers!

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - close up view of logo on box

Close-up view of the Bissell logo on the box

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - full vacuum picture on the box

Full vacuum picture on the box

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - perks to using the vacuum

List of perks to using the Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - product features on the box

List of product features for the Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - environmentally sustainable

The Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum is designed to be environmentally sustainable!

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - finally opening up the box

Enough with looking AT the box... time to finally perform the actual unboxing and OPEN it!

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - peering into the box

Peering into the box to see what's inside...

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - items removed from the box

All of the vacuum parts, finally removed from the box...

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum unboxing - vacuum parts unwrapped

...and unwrapped!

Bissell 3-in-1 Vac unboxing - easy empty dirt container

Close up view of the Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum's "easy empty" dirt container

Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum Unboxing - Zoomed in view of the vacuum filter

Zoomed in view of the vacuum filter used in the Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum

Where to Buy the Vacuum Cleaners Mentioned in This Blog Post Online?

Here are a few sample online stores that currently sell the Swiffer SweeperVac Starter Kits and Bissell 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuums mentioned above…

#1) Swiffer SweeperVac Cordless Vacuum Starter Kit

#2) Bissell Featherweight Lightweight Stick Vacuum

Image sources: Bissell 3-in-1 Vac product image courtesy of Bissell.com. Images used in rainbow colored Bissell 3-in-1 Stic Vacs collage image courtesy of Walmart.com. Swiffer Sweeper Vac product image courtesy of Swiffer.com. All unboxing photographs ©2011 Karina of KnittingandPurling.com.
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Uprights, handhelds, bagless… oh my! (A story about a girl’s love affair with vacuums. Part 1: Never go for anything short of a Dyson)

So, I’ve already written a blog post once about the story of a girl’s love affair with a fabric pattern, and a couple weeks ago I wrote another blog post on a story about a girl’s love affair with coats. Well, get ready for my 2-part story about the same girl’s love affair with vacuum cleaners… part of the “A Girl’s Love Affair With…” blog series!

A girl's love affair with Dyson vacuums and vacuum accessories

This girl? Why, she's in love with Dyson vacuums & vacuum accessories!

First off, I’m going to start by saying I’m extremely picky when it comes to vacuums. I’ve purchased my fair share of garbage vacuum cleaners in the past just ’cause they were cheap, but they would all end up in the trash… literally. I ended up chucking each and every one of them after a few months ’cause they would all inevitably stop sucking at full power.

Dyson DC14 Upright Cyclonic Vacuum Cleaner

My own personal Dyson DC14 Upright Cyclonic Vacuum Cleaner!

And that’s why I decided to invest in a Dyson vacuum… a Dyson DC14 Upright Cyclonic Vacuum Cleaner, to be exact (back when I bought it, that was the most top-of-the-line model… nowadays, there are numerous choices of Dyson vacs available, from uprights like mine to canister vacuums to handhelds & cordless vacs).

Sure, it cost several hundred dollars… way more expensive than the usual $100 vacuums I was used to purchasing. But if you think about it, an investment in a Dyson really is worth the money.

Why? Because Dyson founder, James Dyson, wasn’t lying in those Dyson commercials… the Patented Root Cyclone technology of Dyson vacuums really do make them never lose suction!

In fact, I love Dyson products so much I even wrote a product review for the Dyson Total Clean Kit on the FabulousSavings.ca blog, where I gave the kit an A rating!

Dyson Total Clean Kit vacuum accessories

Introducing the Dyson Total Clean Kit, which contains 3 vacuum accessories that fit any full-size Dyson vacuum cleaner, and are made out of "genuine Dyson components"

The Dyson Total Clean Kit is made out of genuine Dyson components (that’s trusted quality from a true Dyson product!), and is compatible with all full-size Dyson vacuum cleaners. It comes complete with 3 practical vacuum accessories: the Flat Out Tool, the Multi-Angle Brush, and the Soft Dusting Brush. The kit also includes an adapter for use by select Dyson models (namely the Dyson DC07, DC14, DC17 & DC18).

Want to know more? Check out my Dyson Total Clean Kit unboxing & product review article that I had written for the FabulousSavings.ca blog below!

Note: Click here to continue reading part 2 of my story about a girl’s love affair with vacuum cleaners

Last week, we unboxed the Dyson Total Clean Kit, which was pretty exciting for the Dyson lovers here. This week, I’ve got a review of the kit for you! It adds even more performance value to your Dyson machine… if that’s even possible.

What’s Included?
  • Soft Dusting Brush
  • Flat Out Head Tool
  • Multi-Angle Brush
  • …plus an adapter for select Dyson models (DC07, DC14, DC17 & DC18)

All right, let the Dyson Total Clean Kit review begin!

Appearances

One word: Slick. Each of the three tools is made of this gunmetal grey-colored plastic that complements any Dyson vacuum color, whether purple or yellow. The Soft Dusting Brush and Multi-Angle Brush also come attached to a clear plastic tube that adds to the “slick” aesthetic.

Added Cleaning Benefits

I tested all three accessories on my Dyson Upright Multi Floor vacuum cleaner, and found quite a few “add-on” cleaning benefits from using the Dyson Total Clean Kit. There aren’t any duds, either! Each of the three offers something unique.

  1. Cleaning “Gentle Dusting-Only” Areas: The Soft Dusting Brush’s bristles are truly soft, ideal for cleaning in areas requiring gentle dusting (e.g. vertical blinds, computer keyboards, removing pet hair from furniture)
  2. Cleaning in Narrow Gaps & Flat Surfaces: The Soft Dusting Brush’s straight-but-slim design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spots (e.g. between the fridge and cabinet) or dust flat surfaces (e.g. computer monitor)
  3. Cleaning Under Low-Lying Furniture & Kitchen Appliances (on Both Hard Floors & Carpet): Full-size Dyson vacuums are great for all-around vacuuming, but not-so-great at reaching under low-lying furniture and appliances (e.g. under couches, beds, ovens)… that’s where the Flat Out Head Tool comes in handy!
  4. Cleaning Awkwardly-Angled Surfaces: The Multi-Angle Brush features a curved tube, sandwiched between two “neck joints” that you can rotate in-the-round for 360 degrees in both directions, making it ideal for cleaning any angled-surface (e.g. ceiling fans, top of lamps, range hoods)
Trusted Dyson Quality

As with all Dyson products, the Dyson Total Clean Kit accessories are made of genuine Dyson components only, engineered to last and tested for reliability. You can expect the same level of quality as you would from any Dyson vacuum cleaner.

My Verdict: A

I have to admit, I’m a Dyson fanatic. I can always expect a certain level of quality from Dyson products, and I was not disappointed with the Dyson Total Clean Kit.

Image sources: Dyson vacuums and vacuum accessories collage image courtesy of TheLifeofJWo.WordPress.com, tweaked by Karina of KnittingandPurling.com. Dyson DC14 product image courtesy of Bizrate.com. Dyson Total Clean Kit product image courtesy of FutureShop.ca.
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Tried out Martha Stewart’s Gratinéed Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes recipe using Scoobi Do pasta (no relation to the cartoon dog!)

The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook - The New Classics cookbook

Just dug up "The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics"

I’ve been the proud owner of “The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics” for a couple years now, but still I’ve barely scratched the surface in terms of trying out all of the recipes! And don’t even get me started on The Original Classics, the first volume that corresponds with the New Classics… I haven’t even gotten around to purchasing that one!

Anyway, I decided to start cracking into the book again a couple days ago, and kicked it off by trying out Martha Stewart’s “Gratinéed Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes” recipe.

I was drawn to the recipe because it asked for 4 cups of grated sharp white Cheddar cheese… which I took as an excuse to load up the pasta with 4 cups of freshly grated aged white Cheddar, and I looooooove aged Cheddar cheese!

Martha Stewarts Gratineed Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes recipe

Martha Stewart's "Gratineed Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes"

Although the dish is essentially just Mac & Cheese, I liked the fact that it was a fancy, glorified Mac & Cheese… I mean, just look at the name. “Gratinéed?” I’m pretty sure that’s just French for cooking “with a browned crust of bread crumbs and grated cheese!”

One last thing… when shopping for macaroni pasta at the grocery store, I stumbled upon “Scoobi Do” pasta.

I got a kick out of that one, I couldn’t believe there was a type of pasta that practically shared the same name as the cartoon dog! But did some digging, and apparently there’s no relation between the pasta and the dog (according to Yahoo! Answers, anyway).

Scoobi Do pasta - no relation to the cartoon dog

Look, there's a type of macaroni pasta called "Scoobi Do!" No relation to the cartoon dog, though.

Martha Stewart’s “Gratineed Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes” Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 7 tbsp unsalted butter, plus more for dish
  • 1 1/4 cups small pieces torn baguette
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
  • Coarse salt & freshly ground pepper
  • 1 lb elbow macaroni or other short, tubular pasta
  • 1 qt milk
  • 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • 4 cups grated sharp white Cheddar cheese
  • 1 lb red & yellow tomatoes, cut into 1″ pieces

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F
  • Butter a 9″ x 13″ baking dish or 3 qt casserole dish; set aside
  • Melt 2 tbspn butter; pour over bread in medium bowl
  • Add 1 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper to bread topping mixture and toss to mix
  • Bring large pot of water to a boil; add salt
  • Cook pasta until just softening (about 2-3 min); drain & rinse
  • Warm milk ina saucepan over medium heat
  • Cook, whisking, until bubbling & thickened (about 8-10 min)
  • Remove from heat
  • Add tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, remaining 2 tsp thyme, nutmeg & cheese
  • Stir until cheese is melted
  • Stir pasta & tomatoes into cheese sauce
  • Pour into buttered dish & sprinkle with bread topping
  • Bake until bubbling & golden (about 30 min)
  • Let cool slightly before serving

Makes: 6 to 8 servings



Image Sources: Picture of “The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics” courtesy of TheBookCo.com. Image of mac & cheese courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

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