Considering the clues and untangling his way through his birthday gift treasure hunt.
“Happy birthday to YOU!”
That handsome young man up there, could that really by my little son?? The one I used to carry about in a star covered sling and tickle and kiss and cuddle? Can it really be that same boy, who when I hugged him last night, swept me off my feet and carried me across the kitchen?
And goodness gracious, that sweet girl of mine in morning glory blue! I’ve been wanting to make one of those dresses for years now. I don’t know why I waited so long? The pattern is Caesia made in Swish DK, “Twilight”. Now that’s my kind of princess dress!
If I don’t mention Iain’s sweater can we just pretend that everything went well and that you don’t notice anything, uhm, askew? This sweater was coming along absolutely beautifully. I was so excited about it! The very last thing I had to do was the shaping around the collar. I walked away from it for a while and couldn’t for the life of me figure out where I was when I picked it up again. There were days of knitting and ripping and nothing looking right. Then when I did figure it out things kept going wrong with the shaping. Nothing would lay as it should. The cables looked strange. His birthday loomed ever closer. I was stressed and not sleeping and feeling like my brain was going to explode and come oozing out my ear. It got to the point where I couldn’t bear to think about it for a moment longer and I switched to nice, simple, soothing ribbing. ahhh… I was so feed up with the whole thing that I couldn’t even be bothered to do it exactly the same on both sides. The asymmetrical look is in, right? Yeah, I meant to do that. Well, actually I did mean to do it, but only because I was at my wit’s end!
The pattern is #732 by Bergere de France made in Comfy Worsted, “Planetarium”. Even tracking down the pattern was an ordeal. Alas, after all of that, it’s too short. (!!!) It fits very nicely across the chest, which I was worried about. And the sleeves are fine. Probably because I was so worried about those that I added a couple of extra inches in length. I added a bit of length to the body as well, but clearly not enough. I blame the 4 1/4″ that he grew in the last year. He will get some wear out of it, just not nearly as much as I had hoped. boo.
I finally finished Mairi’s quilt, started several years ago. I couldn’t figure out a way to discretely do the hand-quilting on Iain’s without him noticing (it’s huge), and I really wanted it to be a surprise. So I gave him the completed quilt top, along with batting and backing.
I know, it’s such a cliché, so much so that even saying so is a cliché, but I really can’t believe how big these two loves of mine are getting and how very quickly it’s all going! My heart is full of joy and yet aching all at once.
Oozing out your ear! You always make me laugh- how I wish we lived closer!
Ok, so you know I found you long ago.. Back when you lived in your tiny house. I remember Iain turning 7, I think! You drew a tree on his back. 16?! No way! He is so tall and handsome… And his sweater really looks wonderful. I make mistakes on everything I make. .. We’re the ones who notice them most, right? Eek.
Happy 7 to miss Mairi Rose who looks just like her name- a lovely rose!
My heart is constantly full of joy and crying sad tears all at one. Oh, motherhood.
Hugs
I LOVE the way his sweater looks! Everything is lovely, as always!
Ian’s sweater looks fantastic. You are the only one who knows the mistake. Hand knit sweaters have mistakes, we are human not machines. Love Mairi Rose’s sweater too. I would wear it in an adult size but that is a lot of knitting .
Your beautiful family! It is wonderful having such a range of ages.. Your knits are wonderful!
That blue on Mairi is divine! The asymmetrical look is in, from what I’ve been told. Iain’s sweater looks great. Is he still Irish dancing? I started Irish dance when I was 17, way too late to do anything other than be really useful at a ceilidh. I hope his love of it survives the ‘teenage boy ennui’ that afflicts many a young man (My eldest brother Michael was well known for it).
Happy birthday to them both!
I would have never noticed the sweater being asymmetrical! I still don’t even think anything looks off!
love your photos. Love the hand knit dress.
Oh yes, he’s still dancing! I think he would like to dance more, but the studio is far away and of course classes are expensive.
I love how you made them work for those gifts! What a great idea. They both came out lovely. They do grow up too fast don’t they?
Both of the sweaters are beautiful. Your children look good in blue. Happy Birthday to your son!
I love your son’s sweater. I’ve just finished one for my son with a similar collar but I adore the cables on yours. Maybe he’ll stop growing for a little bit so he can get some wear out of it!
Stunning sweater! And what a great idea – a gift treasure hunt!
Simply beautiful your knitted clothes!!! Love the colour and the patterns and also the quilts look great. Happy birthday to your children. They do grow fast… I always tell myself that in a blink of an eye they will be grown up and I have to try to enjoy each moment of them growing up.
What wonderful gifts!! I love that your “little” boy will wear your handknits… sometimes they get to an age……
How lovely! And that cake is beautiful! What kind of cakes did you make?
Mairi’s cake was a grain-free pound cake with layers of raspberry jam, raspberry icing and marzipan roses on top. Iain’s was the flourless chocolate cake recipe that I’ve posted before here: http://www.littlehomeblessings.com/?p=7082 , topped with the dairy-free buttercream recipe from that same post, with marzipan balls.
Your knitting is amazing – happy birthday to both of your kids!
Gorgeous birthday gifts and cakes! There are so many things I adore here – handsome son in a stunning jumper, those quilts and beautiful daughter and lovely flower cake. Oh so many thoughtful and gorgeous hand makings for you beautiful children.