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

One spiral tube sock down, a hundred more to go! These are quick and easy--well maybe not so quick. There's no heel flap to create or heel to turn for that matter and no foot gusset to create--so they're easy that way. It's a pattern I got from Mary Maxxim using Patons Stretch Socks --I got colors in Taffy, Sugar and Plum--yum!

Labels: socks

We visited Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack on Saturday and took a swan boat ride in Boston's Public Garden:


Afterward, we walked to Quincy Marketplace and ate at Durgin Park Restaurant.

We did a lot of walking, C had the stroller, but poor B was a trooper--they both were--C went without a nap and did great. We had a fun day.

I took quite a few pics of my newly finished socks (I finished them last night). Done on size 1 needles, it's simply Lion Brand's Basic Sock pattern. They're done using ONLine Supersocke yarn.





Now, I plan to start making C's cardigan from the book, Kids' Knitted Sweaters & More (sophia's ridged cardigan):


New Life. The marigold and zinnia seeds I've started have taken off in their little pots in the house, from this:


to this:

and the sunflowers have sprouted from the ground outside--so exciting!

Labels: Boston, family fun, socks

Last weekend armed with some Mother's Day money--myself, my husband, and the kids drove to The Creative Stitch in Hingham, MA. AND they were having a sale! My husband even brought up going because I've had my nose in the knitting books again--well, you don't have to ask me twice!

My husband (who works with someone who knows he has a wife who knits and recommended the place) eventually ended up taking the kids outside for a little walk because I got 'lost' in the yarn-buying. Initially I wanted to get yarn for sweaters for B--I even brought my notes with everything written down of yardage/weights/colors needed--but ended up getting sock yarn instead:

Plymouth Yarn's Happy Feet:

isn't this a gorgeous colorway for Fall socks?

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Tickled Pink (I love pink):


Classic Elite's Alpaca Sox--sooo soft!!!!!


I cannot tell you how nice the salespeople are in this shop. We talked sock-knitting and one very helpful saleswoman in particular showed me the socks she was wearing that she had knitted and also retrieved the ones she was working on from out back (I could have stayed there all day talking socks but I kept guiltily thinking of my husband and kids outside probably wondering what the H*** I was doing in there!). I even walked away with two links to two free online sock patterns that I've since downloaded. They said to come on in anytime if I ever needed help knitting something--I'll definitely be back.

The existing socks on the needles are coming along given my new knitting energy:


The same day, after lunch, we even stopped at Saftler's in Whitman, MA. A place I've taken a few knitting classes and owe my sock-making know-how to. I found a true stand-by yarn, Plymouth Encore Bulky, to make a top-down sweater for B in.

Labels: shopping, socks

I'm determined not to 'catch' it. I finished the sock I started back in November (I think it was Nov.) and I plan to cast on for the second one this week. This pair is for me and this one fits me perfect. I'm using the Online sock yarn--this is not my favorite colorway, but it's almost so ugly that they're cool! I mean, brown, yellow, blue, red, green and black altogether?!




I went to Knitting Pointers in Milford, MA a month ago and picked up yarn for two tops for C. Cleckheaton Country 8 Ply in a light sage green for a cardigan and Tahki Cotton Classic in a light yellow for a tunic. The colors remind me of Spring!

Labels: shopping, socks

B's twisted cables pullover from Kids' Knitted Sweaters & More is a challenge but yet still not difficult to knit--it's rated intermediate and that's about the skill level I like. The cotton is beautiful to work with and I love the color. The twisted cable yoke has proven to be a bit of a pain, I've tinked back a few times where the increases have gone wrong when I've gotten interrupted or daydreamed--I'm looking forward to the yoke being finished so I don't have to concentrate so much! The 'make one' knitwise and the 'make one' purlwise's are getting old.




I've put the sock aside for now--just need to finish the foot and toe, oh and then do a whole other one. . . .




I still need to get that ribbon for C's dress/jumper!

Labels: children's knits, socks, twisted cables pullover

In-between knitting B's sweater (I need to purchase sizes 6 & 8 16" needles before I can begin) and C in her new dress/jumper:

A picture of her jumper (before I've woven a ribbon in the bottom of it):




B will not have his sweater before I take the Christmas picture and may not have it in time for Christmas at all--busy times . . . -- but he'll have it soon enough to wear this winter.

I've started socks for myself with Online sock yarn--the colors are very different but I like them for some funky weekend socks:




I also purchased a Canon Powershot SD1000 Digital Elph camera--hoping these and following blog pics are somewhat improved!

Labels: children's knits, Festive Occasion Jumper, holiday knitting, life in the BerryKnitty household, socks

I found an awesome seller (it took only 3 days to receive this yarn) who had the green, yes green yarn that I was specifically looking for because of Alison Hansel's (the blue blog) embossed leaves socks.


what a find!

Now what were the odds that I found the only person on ebay selling Lang Yarn's Fantomas and they were only selling GREEN? Nobody likes green? I love green! Now I'm patiently waiting on a Patternworks order for something completely different, of course . . .

Labels: shopping, socks

After drooling over Alison's sockapalooza knitting and her rendition of the embossed leaves socks using Lang Fantomas, I can't stop thinking of getting this yarn and trying to knit myself a pair. Eventually.

I think back when I subscribed to Interweave Knits that I may have *gasp* thrown this issue out so instead of purchasing Favorite Socks which has the embossed leaves pattern in it, I scoured the city of Boston searching yarn shops for the Winter 2005 issue:

and I found it for a total of $7.34 at Newbury Yarns! Now, on Newbury Yarns--I have mixed feelings on this yarn store. I love it's convenience to where I work in the city, but the prices are ridiculous and today I discovered that the website no longer comes up (I checked their link out of curiousity because I noticed someone different running the shop today when I walked in). The new owner, or so I think it was the new owner, was rude. She didn't seem to care that I was there to purchase anything and as I stood at the register, she kept listening to this knitter go on and on and on and on and on about his needles and this and that and what's best, etc. instead of excusing herself to help someone that was actually going to BUY something, that someone being me. Granted he was there first, but HE actually had to tell her to go help me. Common sense--does it exist anymore? Then I commented on the adorable crochet teddy bear on the table and she just smirked and shrugged her shoulders in a snobby way. Well, I wanted this issue so badly, that I wasn't going to let her reaction deter me from purchasing it. But I will never purchase another thing in that store again. I scampered out with my prize in hand, never to return again. Weird phenomenon, these LYS owners, very weird. Alison, I feel like your kindred spirit in a weird sort of way--the embossed leaves calling my name, the rudeness I experienced today, wow.

Labels: IK, Knitting in the Boston MA area, socks

to finally knit something for myself. I've started the "Gypsy Mesh Pullover":

and I must say that as for gauge, well, I'm winging it. I think I'm a-okay but will of course check throughout. You had to swatch in pattern stitch and there is a decent amount to keep track of in the pattern stitch with all the yarn overs and well, I just didn't feel like swatching (bad, bad, bad and I may come to regret this decision later).




The yarn isn't too bad to work with, not a lot of give to the cotton and for me not having a ball winder or a swift, I'm risking a really bad tangled mess with this stuff but I have a system and as long as C the 11 mo-old doesn't mess with this system, I should keep my sanity with the yarn. I love the gold color and as that's what attracted me to the project in the first place along with the design, I'm keeping it as it called for in pattern.



I hope my finished result turns out well.

The Good & Plenty socks are finished! Now, I have to get them to my sister as this was supposed to be a Christmas 2005 gift:


Note to self: must never underestimate the fascination an 11-mo-old has with the bright blue 'on' button for the computer. This is my second attempt at writing this!

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, IK, knitted tops, socks

B's owl vest is finally finished after waiting months to be seamed together. I hate finishing and I think this will be it for the animal vests for a while. This vest was knit using Lion Brand's Wool Ease in the color Loden.

So during an episode of "48 Hours Mystery" on CBS last night, I seamed it up!



The Good & Plenty socks are almost done!


B looking over his new vest after telling me he doesn't want to wear this one :)

Labels: Animal vests, children's knits, socks

That's my new name for these socks. The colors of this Regia yarn remind me of licorice and the Good & Plenty candy box and the colors of the candies.

Once upon a time there was an engineer
Choo Choo Charlie was his name, we hear.
He had an engine and he sure had fun
He used GOOD & PLENTY candy to make his train run.
Charlie says "Love my GOOD & PLENTY!"
Charlie says "Really rings my bell!"
Charlie says "Love my GOOD & PLENTY!"
Don't know any other candy that I love so well!

One sock done and the other in progress on the size 2 needles.




a basic sock pattern done in knit 5, purl 2 ribbing.

See what I mean?


All my sock yarn--the Jawoll and the Plymouth Sockotta were the most recent purchases done with a gc to a local yarn shop that I got for Christmas from my husband:

That's five pairs that I can make with all of this--yay! I'm really curious to see how the Sockotta knits up--it's got real pretty hues of light pink, mauve, white and blue. The Jawoll is pretty too--solid deep mauve but the picture doesn't show that there's a shimmer throughout.

B requested a pair of socks when he saw my finished Good & Plenty one. He took his sister's socks off of her feet, put them on his hands to prove his point.

Now I'm going to look for patterns in preschool size or hope he forgets!

Labels: socks

I finished my mother's socks (finally) Sunday, Feb. 19! Phew.

AND she had them on last night when we went to visit! She said they fit perfectly and she loves them--yay!!!! I felt great *blush* I really honestly do LOVE to knit socks. Minimal finishing and they're so practical.

Finished result:

Me modeling them:


I've now started a baby hooded sweatshirt for my new little one due in about ONE MONTH! Hard to imagine it's almost here.

Labels: socks