Pattern: Northern Lights Sweater designed by Megan Lacey/Kids' Knitted Sweaters & More.
Finished Size: 28" (chest); 17" (length); 7½" (armhole depth); and 12" (sleeve length); size 4 with size 6 sizing for lengths.
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash 100% superwash wool; (100 g {220 yards}): Shire, 1 ball; Tangerine, 1 ball; Pumpkin Spice 2 balls; and Ruby, 1 ball.
Needles: Clover Bamboo US 6 24" circular & dpns, US 7 16" circular & dpns.
Comments:
Intermediate Knit. This is a Norwegian Setesdal Lusekofte sweater. I did not use the traditional red and navy for this. Instead I used colors that complemented C--warm autumnal colors. It was fun to knit and I am very satisfied with the finished sweater. Minimal finishing.


on the needles:


finished!








C modeling!!

Labels: children's knits, setesdal lusekofte

I had laparoscopic surgery on August 4th and have been trying to get some much-needed knitting finished and/or started while on my short-term leave!

I return to work on Monday so I will soon no longer have a lot of time to devote to my knitting; however, I feel I've accomplished quite a bit.

I've finished my tube socks (done in Patons Stretch Socks "Taffy"):







(and have one on the needles for gifts):



Today, beautiful Cascade 220 superwash yarn came in the mail (love when that happens :)) for C's 'back to school sweater.' I'm naming the sweater that to get myself motivated.

It's from the book Kids' Knitted Sweaters & More: "Northern Lights Sweater." Instead of the navy, I'm using Shire (green); instead of the red, I'm using Pumpkin Spice (brownish orange); in place of the lime green stripe, I'm using Tangerine; and in place of the orange stripe, I'm using Ruby. I'm hoping with C's coloring it turns out really nice.





Here's to continued productivity!

Labels: children's knits, holiday knitting, socks

C's Owl vest is completed. It fits her perfectly. She wants to wear it to school tomorrow which is a good sign she really likes it.





I made size 6 even though she's turning only 4 the end of this month. I did use smaller needles than called for--sizes 10 and size 6.

I'm now making Lion Brand's free pattern "Bouncy Bunny Sock Critter" for both B & C for their Easter baskets--its' ADORABLE.

Labels: children's knits

Sitting around early Saturday morning thinking of what to do. . . . I suggest going somewhere 'exciting.' "Saftler's!" My son was like, "That's not an exciting place Mommy!" We had seen the clip on Nick Jr. of the mom cheerfully making "Moose and Zee" pillows and I had that in the back of my mind before we trekked to the yarn store. Exciting for mommy anyway.

Any of you moms and dads with young kids reading this will appreciate the lovable Nick Jr. characters Moose and Zee!

The kids started acting bored in the yarn store (who can blame them honestly), so I took my son to the felt section and asked him if he wanted to make Moose and Zee. He lit up "YA!!" he exclaimed.

So I purchased enough felt for two Moose and two Zees. I found the perfect colors--everything fell into place. I had fabric glue and poly-fill already at home. Off we went, back home to whip them up just like the mom on Nick Jr. did.

Until, that is, a footnote in the pattern (Nick Jr.) confirmed my original thought that they should really be sewed together, not glued.

So I dragged the old Singer downstairs. Let's just say after an afternoon of trying to thread it with hubby (even he, who never gets frustrated was getting frustrated) and eventually discovering that the tension knob was broken; telling the kids to "Get away!" "Stop stepping on the templates!" My hands sore from cutting felt all day.

We looked nothing like the cheerful scene on Nick Jr.

At the point of no return, we made a desperate call to my mother and father-in-law (my mother-in-law is quite the sewer), we took the hour drive to their house (mind you, it was already 6 pm at this point), with the Singer in the back of the car and the moose and zee pillows in tow. After a delicious spaghetti dinner, my mother-in-law expertly sewed the pillows together perfectly!

The kids were placed into their beds already asleep when we arrived home and I glued the felt face pieces onto the pillows (they're still drying):


The kids love them and a BIG SHOUT OUT TO BOB & DIANE--THANK YOU!!!!

I'm also working on C's owl vest. I got the eyes (in violet) in the mail yesterday from Glass Eyes Online and boy did they get shipped quickly! I'll be using these folks again.

Labels: children's knits, felt, sewing

It's finished--yay! B is enjoying wearing it to kindergarten and in this cold, cold weather we've been having.

I wove a ton of ends in on this one and then sealed the knot with some fabric glue. The scarf curls in on itself as it's mainly stockinette--but I kind of like that effect as it doesn't show the 'wrong' side of the knitting.

Yarn is acrylic, Vanna's Choice in black, mustard, terracotta, chocolate, and colonial blue. I repeated these five colors eight times.
Ten rows of each color with size 8 bamboo straights.





I'm now knitting the same patterned scarf with Herrschners Worsted yarn (acrylic). I want to knit two of these but C's will have to wait (I'm knitting MINE first!). I'm modeling this after a Gymboree scarf I saw but it matches my ice pink winter jacket!

Labels: accessories, children's knits

Late this Fall, I treated myself to this book by cookie a:


I first heard of her at The Creative Stitch in Hingham. One of the nice women who work there was telling me to get on ravelry and to download cookie a's patterns for socks (after telling her I love to knit socks).

So, I also became a member of Ravelry. I'm a newby so I'm not that great at updating my projects, but this site is awesome, I can see that!

COOKIES!
**(Yes, I had my two cookie swaps to go to this year)**

Baker's Soft & Chewy Chocolate Drops



4 squares BAKER'S Unsweetened Chocolate
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 ½ cups flour

Glaze
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (Do not thaw.)
6 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

COOKIES:
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Microwave unsweetened chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar; mix well. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

SHAPE dough into 1-inch balls; place, 2 inches apart, on lightly greased baking sheets.

BAKE 8 min. or just until set. (Do not overbake.) Let stand on baking sheet 1 min.; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.

GLAZE:
PLACE frozen whipped topping and semi-sweet chocolate in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 ½ min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is shiny and smooth, stirring after 1 min. Let stand 15 min. to thicken. Spread over cookies. Let stand until glaze is set.

Christmas
I hosted Christmas dinner this year and we had a roast, salad, creamy au gratin potatoes, and squash (from our garden) for dinner. It was delicious! I also made a pumpkin pie and fudge for dessert along with my mother-in-law's awesome raspberry linzer cookies, among other treats!

I'm home with the kids this past week for Christmas vacation. It's been hectic, fun, stressful, everything. We saw "The Princess and the Frog," shopped at the South Shore Plaza, stayed in and played with Christmas toys because it was zero degrees outside, and today made these Wilton Gingerbread Pops (marked down at Michael's). Talk about a royal disaster. What a mess--I need to lighten up about it, but talk about microscopic candy beads everywhere when your six year old decides to dump the bag upside down!!!!

the pictures don't tell the whole story:






NEW PROJECTS:
B requested a scarf. He is in kindergarten now and just turned six-years old. So FULL OF ENERGY, it's crazy. He picked the colors and I did this sketch with his help:


We also shopped for the colors today at Michael's, laid them out to the sketches and I am going with the first order (black next to yellow). So it will go:
Black, yellow, orange, brown, blue, ending with black:





I can't wait to get knitting this TONIGHT!! Nothing makes me more happier than being INSIDE on a cold New Year's Eve night with my loved ones, knitting under a blanket.

***I also bought lavender yarn for C's Vintage Owl vest, stay tuned.***

NEWS!
Oh yeah! I wrote a letter to Creative Knitting Magazine and it got published in the January 2010 Issue! It's on newstands now, CHECK IT OUT! :) :) :) I'm excited about it anyway.

Labels: children's knits, cooking/baking, life in the BerryKnitty household

Tree on Boston Common
I hope everyone had a happy holiday season, I know I did. I have been off from work from Christmas until today. I'm fortunate in that I usually am able to take this time each year--do some reflecting and getting ready for the New Year ahead. I feel like I'm back in school! Back to work on Monday . . .

Here's what I've been up to since my last post and most of the reason I haven't been on here in quite some time:

We went to Disney World in Orlando, FL for our vacation this year. First plane trip for the kids. All went okay although C had a few meltdowns during the trip (we pushed it with late nights and no naps) and on the plane ride--thankfully it's a plane full of kids. If we go again, it won't be until 2010.



We had B's 5th birthday party at our house the week after we got home (can't believe he's 5 and will be attending kindergarten next Fall)--I've only done birthday parties at the house so far--haven't gotten sucked into the bowling alley/arcade stuff . . . yet. I made him a pirate cake because, well, Pirates of the Carribbean was hands-down the favorite ride while we were in Disney!!

I found the pirate figurines at Michael's and found a quick idea online--used Nilla wafers for sand and hid a Nestle's Treasure in the cake under the 'x.' B got that piece. I made a two-layer--one chocolate and one vanilla 9" x 13."

Next, "Cookie Swap" season started. My next-door neighbor has one and then my aunt has one the following week--every year. It's loads of fun and I love trying all the cookies--although I did eat so many this year that I felt awful for most of December :)

I made spiced snowcaps (from Woman's Day November 11, 2008 issue):
makes 48
Active: 35 min; total 2 hr.
(includes chilling dough)

1½ sticks (¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 Tbsp chai spice blend or pumpkin pie spice (I used Trader Joe's pumpkin pie spice)
1 tsp each baking powder and baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1/3 cup molasses
1 large egg
1½ tsp vanilla extract
2¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup granulated sugar
Nonpareil-covered chocolate candies

1. Beat butter, brown sugar, chai spice, baking powder and soda, and salt in large bowl with mixer on medium speed until well blended and paler in color. Beat in molasses, egg and vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually beat in flour just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.

2. Heat oven to 350°F. You'll need a baking sheet(s).

3. Place granulated sugar in a small bowl. Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into balls; roll in sugar to coat. Place 1½ in. apart on ungreased baking sheet(s). Bake 12 minutes or until tops crack but cookies are still soft to the touch.

4. Place baking sheet on a wire rack. Immediately press a nonpareil candy in center of each cookie. Transfer cookies to rack to cool completely.

We celebrate Christmas and it was fun this year. B & C are at the age when it's most fun and believable: 5 and 2.9 yrs. We made dinner at our house and my parents and brother came over (turkey with squash, stuffing, turnip potatoes--like Thanksgiving). One of my sisters, my brother-in-law, and my in-law's came by for dessert (my fudge, pumpkin and cherry pies, wine . . .)

if you're wondering, I didn't make B's sweater vest

While it was enjoyable, I'm itching to take the decorations down--most likely next weekend.

This New Year's Eve was a snowy one here.

Being off from work, I kept the kids home from school and we made the spiced snowcaps (my 3rd friggin' time in one month). I think they had the most fun cracking the egg and C really got into rolling the dough--ya, it was all over her pants, floor, everything, but it kept her occupied. The kids are cooking in school this week so I thought it was appropriate on a day they didn't attend to keep up with the cooking! B is wearing his chef's hat that he made earlier in the week at school:



I love snow days!

And, I finished B's sweater. It's autumn stripes without stripes! from Kids' Knitted Sweaters & More. I made size 4 but lengthed the body. I used Plymouth Encore Bulky in denim with size 10 bamboos:



HAPPY, AND HEALTHY 2009!

Labels: children's knits, life in the BerryKnitty household

Pattern: sophia's ridged cardigan designed by Bernice Vollick/Kids' Knitted Sweaters & More by Cabin Fever Designers
Finished Size: 26" (chest); 13" (length); size 2 years.
Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 8 Ply (DK Light Worsted Weight) 100% pure new wool; (50 g {106 yards}): #1962 sage green, about 6 balls.
Ten ½" buttons.
Needles: Clover Bamboo US 6 24" circular, US 6 set of dpns
Comments:
Beginner Knit. I loved knitting this. I especially enjoyed choosing the buttons. I loved the Cleckheaton yarn--I would like to make a sweater for myself using this yarn.

I love these silver rose buttons:


C loves her new cardi:


I have B's sweater almost completed--just the sleeves to go:

Labels: children's knits, sophia's ridged cardigan

We all went apple-picking and had a long, fun day. The weather was gorgeous and the apples were plentiful!





and who can resist a caramel apple?


or apple pie? I made two!


I have a sweater for B on the needles:



and C's cardigan is awaiting the perfect buttons!

Labels: children's knits, cooking/baking, Fall