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Alright...finished stuff...

Luna's Scarf!

Came out too wide and too short. Next time, I'll use thinner yarn and chain twice as long. Oh, and use wool, so it can be blocked. Because, really, acrylic won't, and the lace keeps spiralling.

I finished two pairs of plain socks, one navy, and another brown striped set seen below:

The pattern is so plain I've been getting away with knitting in school during ceratin classes, since its not even neccessary to look at the plain parts. It also produces the most comfortable socks :)  I have three pairs!

I made three washcloths, so I'll have something to swap at the April knitter's lunch thing. I think only one is really worthy of swap, though. I'll have to knit another one that actually looks right before the swap.

The garter stitch colorway is my favorite, but the decreases didn't end up matching the increases. :(

Ooo, cat blanket!

For the animal shelter around here. It could probably actually fit a small dog, but everyone ended uo just knitting cat blankets to keep the projects on the small side. I used some leftover Super Saver multi, and a light brown whose origins are unknown. It's probably an acrylic too, though.

I'm just about to graft the first of the second Slippery socks shut!

This colorway photographs horribly, but it's gorgeous in real life. Saki Rio Fantasy. Saki yarn can never seem to be unravelled correctly, though. I don't know if I'll buy it again. I blew $60 on two different colorways, and both skeins seemed like they were wound twisted and inside out. Took three hours apiece to untangle.

Lastly, these lacey socks were given to me as a gift. The organist at church belongs to a sock of the month club, and was a little behind. So, rather than try and keep up, she gave me a kit for my birthday during the winter :)  I had it started forever, but now I'm starting to cruise a little more.

Anyway, time for karate. Saturday conditioning class.

Selbu Class

I must say, the first session went rather well!

I had chosen NHM #3, as I figured everyone could speed on up the striped ribbing and get to the harder parts (colorwork and thumb increases) quickly. As it turns out, only one or two people made it to even the increases before the first chart for the wrist, and so a third session will probably have to be added for the completion of the thumb. I told everyone to keep going at home if they felt comfortable, but to stop right before the thum stitches are put on hold and then more cast on. I want to be able to make sure everyone's thumb will blend as well as possible into their palm. Granted, it will never blend perfectly, since the two are knit in opposite directions, but still. Ideally, it will look something like this...

Decently well done, I must say. A different pattern, but the same general idea.

This brings me to my next topic...my first Annemor #2 mitten is, obviously, complete!

I actually bought Norweigian wool for this set, Heilo, up in Lake Placid. Thick and warm, yet light. The colorwork is charming, and there aren't too many parts where it is required to wrap strands for long stretches. I had to stop right before the thumb stitches are dealt with, so I'll have something to demonstrate on, but by the time the class is over I'll be able to whip through the rest. (Actually, I have a feeling I'll give in and knit the pair and have to sprint to catch up on a demo version, but we shall see).

As a last little addition, I finially have a picture of my Harry Potter worsted bookmarks.

The house colors aren't all exact, as I was using scraps, but they get the point across. I picked up some pearl cotton for a few laceweight versions at Joanne's. I had planned on getting some wool for a full-size slytherin house scarf, year one, or ravenclaw, year three, but I was disappointed to find they didn't have any of the full sets of house colors in Patons Classic Wool. There was only ever one color of the two, such as grey, but not green. Burgundy, but not gold. (Yes, I was at the point of considering another Gryffindor scarf)! My business will probably go to the local Ben Franklin...perhaps its a good thing, supporting small business and all that.

Anyway, off for some tea and a lovely winter morning...

NHM #14

One mitten is done!

I like the effect that the white on black has with the speckled stitches, and it fits near perfectly. The lace looks more stripey than chevron, but hopefully if I actually bother to block these (a rare occurrence) that will sort itself out. With any luck that will help the hemmed edge lay flatter too. I love hoe finished it looks though, so I won't complain much.
I also have picked up the ol' House Scarf again. (I finally read Beedle the Bard, and am now re-reading the entire series)! It's coming along...

ETA: Just checked the page on Ravelry for NHM #14, and apparently Terri Shea had the same color idea as me. Aww...I was feeling so rebellious too :(

Ok, SOOOO...

Gwynedd is finished, and she was quite the marathon! (Or, at the very least, a 5K).

Super thick and warm, this scarf will be a gorgeous staple in my wardrobe this winter, I do believe.

Al so finished a while ago was my Fern Glade, the slouchy version, and while it's a bit big (shocking, I know. Usually my cranium is beyond any other sizewise), it's pretty and a nice change for boring outfit days when I want to funk it up a little bit.

Lovely.

When I needed a small, easy project to work on while on the recumbent bike, I cast on some easy handwarmers in Knitpicks Peruvian Highland Wool, color Cherry Blossom. The picture turned out terrible, I'll take another one later, but these have proved super useful. The pattern is called Emerald Green Handwarmers, but obviously these aren't. The wool is inexpensive, and the pair was knit in two or three hours, so these have become my workhorse handwarmers. I can wear them in the frigid school basement when writing essays during study hall, and if they start to pill or lose texture on the right hand from friction it won't be too large a loss. I even have two more skeins of the yarn if I want an exact replacement! (This pair took less than one skein).

Lastly, I finally started my Harry Potter scarf!

I picked up four skeins of Paton Classic Wool Merino in Burgundy and one in Old Gold, and so far the colors are pretty close to that of the movie. Some of the others I've seen looked too cranberry or plain red, and that was something I wanted to avoid. The 1x1 ribbing isn't boring yet, as the stripes keep it interesting at regular intervals and I'm a relatively quick knitter. It's fabulous mindless knitting for just before or after school, right before bed, or while watching tv. (These also happen to be the only times I'm really able to knit these days, so it all works out perfectly).

The merino is so much softer than the new Patons Classic Wool-I so wish they hadn't changed it! But of course they have, and I'll just have to resign myself to the fact that any other house scarves I make may not be quite as comforting on a cold winter day. I can't wait for this to be finished so I can wear it! (And start the Ravenclaw one soon after I finish Luna's)!

Another Hermione Hat Finished!

I finished this hat while stitching and bitching at a emmydee's for a sleepover:

I had been worried that my overly large head would tug open gaps around the cables and make it a little less warm, but I think my fears were unfounded. I'm sure I'll find out for real when the mercury dips below 32 degrees, but for now I am a happy camper! The cabling is as addicting as the pattern description said, and very impressive yet tasteful, bobbles and all. Even one of my Flogging-Molly-loving fire-fighting friends agreed that it was "badass" (or was at least able to convince me that was his opinion), and informed me that I am to wear it when we go sledding this winter :) Can't wait!

And of course, the now discontinued Patons Classic Wool Merino (I still can't get over that...) performed beautifully. I have just started a pair of Tridactyl gloves from Knitty using the replacement line, Patons Classic Wool, and it definitely seems coarser and more dense. At least the color is nice. "Aquarium" to pair with the wave pattern on the back. Will probably be a present for one of two people for Christmas...can't say who yet, of course.

Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat

Based on the hat Hermione wears to Hogsmeade in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie, and another pattern found in Charmed Knits (love that book), this cap was started around 9:00 last night and is still going strong.


For yarn, I grabbed more Patons Classic Wool "Merino" out of my basket is the brightest red I think I could ever find. I was concerned it wouldn't be as dense of a fabric as I wanted, because I usually go down a needle size or two for winter hats. This pattern and gauge required I use the size 7 US as is recommended on the yarn label, but the cables have kept it cozy. It'll be the perfect addition to my school football game garb, as red is one of the school colors :)

Hermione's Half-Blood Prince Hat Completed!

I love love love love love love love this hat!!!

(As modeled by my sister).

I found the pattern on Ravelry, and am so glad I did! I had been planning on starting it for a while now, and even bothered to buy the specific yarn suggested (a rare occurrence on my part). I had carefully pondered...do I stay true to the movie with a sewn crown? Or knit the highly attractive decreases written into the pattern? I finally figured I prefer knitting to sewing, and I'm also better at knitting, so the decreases were my best bet. Besides, as a steek virgin I'm not yet ready to stitch and cut my knitting! (Excuse the blurriness of the next picture...it was taken on the fly).

The alternate cable cast on used to start this project was quite the ordeal, and I must confess I spent some of the time wondering how much I really needed this supposedly more attractive edge. My ribbing would look fine with a long tail cast on, wouldn't it? It's stretchy enough for socks, it'll be fine for a hat. How much better can it be, really? In the end though, I loved the result. The ribbing is plump and present from the very beginning, instead of being restricted by a fine line. I'll probably end up using it again if I ever get the to the 3-4 Year Hogwarts Scarf, as if I plan to bind off in pattern, I may as well begin the same way right?

I can't wait to start Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat from Charmed Knits to continue adding to my wizard-style wear! As the Hogwarts climate dictates, Harry Potter knitwear is always super warm, and thanks to the fact that it was in, ya know, a movie, super stylish! I'm just unsure of whether to go up a needle size or two to fit my large noggin, and if I do, whether or not to use a slightly chunkier yarn than the Patons Merino Wool I was planning on. I may have to even track down the suggested yarn! Yikes! That would be twice in a row now!