Monday, November 26, 2012

What would Nancy do?: Are you ready for some football

What would Nancy do?: Are you ready for some football: It's football season, and around here that means one thing. PACKERS! I made this pattern a few years ago and thought I would share it wit...

What would Nancy do?: Christmas Traditions

What would Nancy do?: Christmas Traditions: I'm sure you all have Christmas traditions, if you're anything like me, these change as we our lives change. When I was a little girl, ...

Christmas Traditions

I'm sure you all have Christmas traditions, if you're anything like me, these change as we our lives change.




When I was a little girl, my sisters and brother and I couldn't wait to see the Christmas window displays at the H.C. Prange store in Appleton. Families would line the streets to walk past the windows and marvel at the animated figurines. You can click HERE below to take a peak into the past.

If you're up for a trip, you can see some of the displays at the Neville Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.




Another favorite memory is driving around town and looking at lights. I did this with my family growing up and then with my children. Back in the 80s and 90s, in Milwaukee, there were 3 main neighborhoods to go to. Candy Cane Lane, Christmas Card Lane and Orchard Hills. Cars would wind through these neighborhoods night after night. One of these 3 remains: Candy Cane Lane

Besides being an excellent destination for Christmas light viewing, Candy Cane Lane also supports Midwest Athletes against Childhood Cancer (MACC). Click here for a listing of appearances of local celebrities.

We have other Christmas traditions, going to midnight services at our church, family gatherings and of course cookies. I'll be back later to share some favorite cookie recipes with you.

What are your family Christmas traditions?

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Before I move on to the bulk of this post... I had to mention the most beautiful talisman roses I saw at the grocery store today. They were grandma's favorite. I said hello to her as I passed them by.


Anyways the post is dedicated to my Aunt Martha because she is a better baker and is certainly craftier than She-who-must-not-be-named. And certainly wouldn't end up in jail for tax fraud.

The cheesecake recipe unfortunately comes from She-who-shall-not-be-named, but the recipe looked too good and too easy to pass up. I used the homemade pumpkin purée that I made and froze a few weeks ago. You can click here to find the site I used to make my own.

The cheesecake is currently in the oven... The hardest part is knowing it has to sit in there for 2 hours and 45 minutes before I can successfully celebrate it! And then cooling it prior to letting it set for four hours in the fridge before I can EAT IT! This just might have to be breakfast!

Pictures will be posted when it is complete!




I don't think this will last until Turkey Day, but that was kind of the point! Enjoy!

~eem
Keurig K-Cup 18-Pk. Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice Coffee (Google Affiliate Ad)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Are you ready for some football


It's football season, and around here that means one thing. PACKERS! I made this pattern a few years ago and thought I would share it with you here.

This is my original pattern, I see that there a quite a few variations on Ravelry now. I love that!
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/are-you-ready-for-some-football


This is knit flat for the first few rows and then knit in the round, I use the magic loop
method.
Materials:
I used Cascade 220, but you can use any worsted weight yarn and get similar results.
You’ll need less than one hank of the main color and just a few yards of the contrasting
color.
Size US 7 (4.50) circular needles.
Pattern instructions are for newborn, toddler and child changes are listed in parenthesis ()
Cast on 54 ( 60, 70) in brown if making hat A(see photo above) or in your alternate
color if constructing hat B (see photo below).
Rows 1-10 knit each row, as if on straight needles. This will give you a nice 1 inch brim
in garter stitch.
Row 11 join for working in the round. You’ll need to switch to your main color if
constructing hat B. If you choose to use dpns you’ll need to place a marker to indicate
the beginning of a row.
Continue knitting for another 2 inches (3 inches total)
Decrease pattern
SSK, K to end of needle (26 (29, 34)remain on first needle)
K2 tog, K to end of needle (26 (29, 34) remain on second needle)
Knit next Row
Continue with decrease every other row until you have 21 stitches on each needle (having
just completed a decrease row.
Join contrasting color
Knit one row
Decrease one row (20 stitches on each needle)
Knit one row
Return to main color
Knit 8, K2 tog, to end
Knit 7, K2 tog, to end
Knit 6, K2 tog, to end
Knit 5, K2 tog, to end
Knit 4, K2 tog, to end
Knit 3, K2 tog, to end
Knit 2, K2 tog, to end
Knit 1, K2 tog, to end
K2 tog to end (4 stitches remain)
Cut yarn and run through remaining stitches to tie off.
Weave in ends on wrong side of hat.
Using Contrasting Color, embroider the laces as shown in the photos.

You can check out this design on Ravelry and download a PDF file for free. Just type in Are you ready for some football in Ravelry's search engine.

Happy knitting!

Check out Emilie's spin off mittens available on ravelry.com as well!


google.com, pub-9160874291804057, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

Don't want to/can't knit?  You can order a completed hat here

Monday, November 12, 2012

These are a few of my favorite things


I love Knit Picks knitting needles, their Harmony Wood needles changed my life as my hands don't "buzz" when I use them. They are so smooth, the yarn glides along the needles and they are reasonably priced. The options Interchangeable set is my favorite. If you are just starting to knit, Clover bamboo knitting needles are a great option. I found mine at Jo-Ann Fabrics.


Yarn, I love me some yarn. When I started knitting (again) a few years back, I used Red Heart, but I longed for a softer acrylic. Enter, Vanna Choice Baby by Lion Brand, excellent for baby hats. Then I found Cascade Superwash 220 at my FYS in Appleton, Wisconsin and it was love at first cast on.






Not that I don't love to shop for other yarns, one of my favorite places to discover yarn is,,,

It's free to join the community and there are not only tons of patterns (knit and crochet) but there are tons of hints and message boards. I have to give myself a time limit when I go there :)

And of course Pinterest...my latest obsession. Here's what I pinned last, take a simple sweater and bling it out for the holidays!


And one of our groups original designs as shown on Pinterest


What are some of your favorite things?


Clover 71195 Bamboo Circular Knitting Needle 29 in. -Size 11 (Google Affiliate Ad)