Índex per Winter 2024 a Ideas

CONTACT ME terena@ideasfactory.co.za instagram.com/terenaleroux The foggy Cape Town streets this morning were like a fairy-tale world, with the sky misty-white and the tree branches fading away upwards. No sign of the sea, only the foghorn to remind us that there are rocks and water nearby. Proper soup weather. And curry weather! How do you choose your food for the winter when there is only one issue to keep us warm in the cold? Who says we have to choose when we can have both? So here we are with both, and a cheesecake too for a little sweetness. And so it continued with the planning for our stitchcraft section. Is it the knitted jersey or the crocheted cardigan? Do we embroider a blanket or a blouse? Do we make a…

❁ My mother often tells me how poor they were growing up, but adds that there was always an abundance of love and food in their house. That is precisely how I remember my ouma Bessie … her heart and her house were open to everyone and her biscuit tin was full of the most delicious cookies and rusks. The hertzoggies (jam tartlets) were my favourite. ❁ My grandparents lived at Lambert’s Bay, a fishing village on the West Coast. I remember how we were woken up early as Ouma raised the sash windows on their ropes to allow the sea air in. Afterwards she and my grandfather held their family worship and you could hear in the quiet of the morning how they prayed for each child and grandchild.…

HARISSA-SPICED BUTTERNUT SOUP This smooth and creamy butternut soup is made extra delicious with the addition of a little harissa paste. You will find this spicy North African red pepper paste in the spice aisle of your local supermarket. Serves: 4 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes ♥ 100g butter ♥ 2 onions, chopped ♥ 45ml harissa paste ♥ 750g butternut, peeled and cubed ♥ 250g sweet potato, peeled and cubed ♥ 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, seeded and cubed ♥ 1,250ml chicken or vegetable stock ♥ 50ml chopped fresh coriander ♥ squeeze of lime or juice ♥ dried crushed chillies, to serve (optional) 1 Heat the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onions and sauté over a low heat for about 10 minutes until softened. Add…

stitchcraft Wrap yourself up warmly or decorate your couch or any spot in your home that needs brightening up on these cold, grey South African winter days. This lovely project will make you realise that spending time making something pretty is the best medicine for the soul. DIFFICULTY: depends on your embroidery knowledge TIME: four days YOU WILL NEED ♥ template on page 92 ♥ blanket – not too thick so the embroidery is easier to do ♥ needles – variety of needle sizes for different yarns, but they must be sharp ♥ yarn and embroidery thread – great stash buster if you already have yarn ♥ sewing thread in a bright contrasting colour ♥ scissors ♥ dressmaker’s pins ♥ embroidery hoop, the bigger the better (we used a 40cm…

DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: an hour or two YOU WILL NEED ♥ white shirt ♥ dark red embroidery cotton ♥ embroidery needle ♥ small embroidery hoop ♥ water-soluble dressmaker’s pen TO MAKE 1 Mark with your pen where you want to embroider your dots. Try to space them out evenly. 2 Using French knots, embroider your dots with three strands of cotton.…

stitchcraft SIZES S - M - L - XL - XXL - XXXL YOU WILL NEED ♥ DROPS Soft Tweed from Garnstudio: 300 (350; 350; 400; 450; 500)g colour 02 Marzipan ♥ DROPS Kid-Silk from Garnstudio: 100 (100; 125; 125; 150; 150)g colour 40 Pink Pearl ♥ DROPS Kid-Silk from Garnstudio: 100 (100; 125; 125; 150; 150)g colour 41 Powder ♥ 7mm circular needles: length 40cm and 80cm ♥ 6mm circular needles: length 40cm and 80cm ♥ set of 7mm double pointed needles ♥ set of 6mm double pointed needles Yarn information: DROPS Soft Tweed is a DK yarn, a blend of 25% viscose, 50% wool and 25% alpaca, with 130m on a 50g ball. DROPS Kid-Silk is a 2 ply/lace yarn, a blend of 75% mohair and 25% silk,…

RECIPE INSPIRATION I have always looked forward to seeing Ideas on the shelves and, without fail, the contents have been inspiring. Wow, when I got to page 30 of the Autumn 2024 issue, I could not believe what I saw and now I cannot wait to make and serve your beautiful savoury sandwich cake. Thank you for Ideas and the really good ideas contained therein. Susan Westoby CROCHET CREATIVITY From a granny square to a lovely throw… The January 2024 issue had this cute pattern for a crochet ‘tile’. I immediately went and bought Elle Cotton 4-ply in Natural and Midnight, like the pattern says. But what do you do with just one square? Make another one of course, and what about making it in just one colour? So my…

Professional chef Paula Nel is far too discreet to disclose who her celebrity clients are. Suffice to say, they’re some of the world’s most prominent media, music and movie moguls. Paula spends up to three months at a stretch aboard her primary client’s luxury yacht, sailing between ports such as Miami and Monaco, preparing elaborate menus in the galley with the help of her team. And when she’s not planning innovative ways to fulfill the gourmet desires of her clients, Paula is invariably plotting her next adventure. ‘I tend to get a month or two off every few months, which gives me enough time to get in a couple of trips before heading home to chill and catch up with family and friends,’ says Paula whose list of off-thebeaten-track destinations…

YOU WILL NEED ♥ favourite photos ♥ various pieces of matching ribbon ♥ craft glue ♥ scissors ♥ photo album or frame…

BASQUE CHEESECAKE The ‘burnt’ top gives it a caramelised flavour that everyone will love. Make it a day ahead of serving so it has time to chill overnight. Makes: 20cm cheesecake Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus refrigeration time Baking time: 35-45 minutes ♥ 500g full-fat cream cheese (2 × bricks, not tubs) ♥ 150g castor sugar ♥ 7ml vanilla extract (or 10ml vanilla essence) ♥ 3 large eggs ♥ 250ml fresh cream ♥ 30ml cake flour 1 Get all your ingredients ready. Leave the chilled ingredients out for a few hours to reach room temperature before starting. This helps as cold ingredients might not mix together as well. Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven, then preheat the oven to 210 °C (no fan). 2 Prepare a…

DIFFICULTY: moderate TIME: one day YOU WILL NEED ♥ pattern on pages 94-95 ♥ 2,5m linen fabric ♥ 1,5m of 25mm contrast bias binding ♥ iron-on interfacing for collar and facings ♥ matching machine thread ♥ 1 button TO MAKE 1 Draw the pattern on paper and cut out. Cut the dress pieces from the fabric using the pattern pieces. Cut interfacing for the collar and facings and iron onto the wrong sides of the corresponding fabric pieces. 2 Place the collar pieces together with wrong sides on the inside and tack all around to secure. Bind the outside edge of the collar with the bias binding and press. Join the shoulder seams of the dress and facings and press open. 3 Tack the collar to the neckline on the…

BOUQUET FOR A BLANKET TEMPLATE AND STITCH CHART • buttonhole stitch • chain stitch • long and short stitch • lazy daisy stitch • satin stitch • straight stitch • sten stitch • fishbone stitch • cross stitch • french knot…

your life Pinning Jessie down at the Cape Town Yarn Festival was not an easy task. If not surrounded by eager fans of her work, she was busy presenting a workshop. Or darting off at great speed. Energy is not a problem for the Projectarian. But who is she when she’s back in her home town, Marina Beach? ‘I’m a crochet designer by occupation and probably my most prominent trait is that I only do things obsessively. I work in my business every waking hour and when I need a break, I’ll take a whole month off to fall into a new obsession like teaching myself piano or sculpting, then it’s back to work again. I have a lot of craft-type hobbies but I also enjoy scuba diving at Sodwana…

@CAPETOWNCRAFTCLUB CAPE TOWN The talented Andie Reeves is the powerhouse behind the Cape Town Craft Club, a place where creative Capetonians come together and socialise while they are busy working on their needlework or crafts. Take a look at her Instagram page for more information. @IBTESAM_ESSA DURBAN Food stylist Ibtesam Essa shares the loveliest food stories and recipes with her followers on Instagram. Her food photos and mouthwateringly delicious recipes influenced by her culturally diverse background will instantly inspire you to take out the saucepans and set the table. @MENDINGTHREADS_NELLLOUISE CAPE TOWN Embroidery artist and self-declared ‘craftivist’ Nell Louise Pollock uses her needle and threads to highlight social issues on fabric. She combines her love of needlework with powerful words and illustrations to empower and support women.…

❁ I was lucky to have been able to spend many happy hours with my granny, Edna Holst, while I was growing up. My grandparents lived in the beautiful town of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape and we often visited them for the holidays and on weekends. They ran a hotel called Arminel for many years and my gran was responsible for baking all of the afternoon treats — like these ginger nuts. ❁ In her later years she ran the small post office at Hogsback. We used to write letters to each other often; I still have many of her letters which I reread from time to time. They always bring a smile to my face. ❁ My gran loved knitting and taught me how to knit when I…

BEEF SHORT RIB CURRY This is a hot and spicy Durban-style curry. You can use any cut of stewing beef that you prefer. Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: approximately 1½ hours ♥ 45ml canola oil ♥ 2 sticks cinnamon ♥ 2 star anise ♥ 5ml fennel seeds ♥ 1 large onion, finely chopped ♥ 1 sprig curry leaves ♥ 4 cloves garlic, crushed ♥ 15ml grated fresh ginger ♥ 2ml ground turmeric ♥ 30-45ml hot Durban masala mix ♥ 10ml Kashmiri chilli powder ♥ 1kg beef short ribs, cut into pieces ♥ 1 × 410g can chopped tomatoes ♥ 1-3 green chillies, seeded and sliced ♥ 5ml garam masala ♥ fresh coriander and rice, to serve 1 Heat a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the oil…

SET THE SCENE Be sure to make some time to forage for greenery – scented pine sprigs and cones are excellent choices – to add the final touches to the layered, romantic table setting. And don’t forget, you’re part of the look and feel yourself too, so choose an easygoing linen outfit in nature-inspired shades, then accessorise with leather boots and a floppy, wide-brimmed hat. (See our linen dress on page 86.) A charming old box filled with fresh mushrooms and forest foliage makes the perfect centrepiece for this rustic table setting. HOME COMFORTS When it comes to colour, texture and patterns – and combinations thereof – this look is all about gently worn appeal. Mix checked blankets with cushions in faded floral fabrics, then add a pop of tactile…

stitchcraft DIFFICULTY: moderate TIME: half a day YOU WILL NEED ♥ 50cm firm tulle ♥ 1m of 25mm bias binding ♥ matching machine thread TO MAKE 1 Cut two strips of tulle 18cm wide and 132cm long. Place the strips on top of each other, keeping them even. Fold the double strip down 8cm and press flat. 2 Pleat the folded edge, each pleat 15mm wide, and with the fold of the pleat at an angle to create a curved edge to the length required around the neckline – sample size is 46cm. Tack close to the edge. 3 Press bias binding in half. 4 To create ties, extend 35cm from edge of collar on both sides. Stitch ties flat and bind the pleated edge of the collar. Neaten the…

stitchcraft DIFFICULTY: difficult TIME: approximately 60 hours SIZE Large Suggestions for other sizes: For XL use a 5mm hook For M use a thinner DK yarn eg Classic Wool DK from Elle and a 3,75mm hook For S use Charity 4-ply and 3,5mm hook YOU WILL NEED ♥ DK yarn in 100g Charity DK in the following colours: School Grey, Rhino, Porcelain, Tiger Cerise, Neutral, Tan, and 2 × 100g in Charcoal ♥ 4mm crochet hook ♥ tapestry needle size 18 ♥ pair of scissors ♥ 12 × stitch markers in different colours (2 sets numbered 1-6) ♥ 6 × 12mm diameter pearl shank buttons ♥ 2m × 12mm wide woven/satin ribbon ♥ 4 × strips of paper, 10 × safety pins, pen ♥ measuring tape ABBREVIATIONS (UK TERMINOLOGY) beg…