My To-Do List this week

I really want to be able to start the Weasly-Along when I get my yarn (probably not on October 1st, but as soon as I can). To do this, I need to clear some WIPs from my list.

3 striped scarves Peter asked me to make for his girls for X-mas. He's moving in October, so I do need to get these done so he has them in his hot little hands before leaving. These really are priority.

BBBB for Meghan. I'm seeing her the end of October, so I do need to get my butt in gear to finish the last 30% or so on that. If I ever say I'm going to knit this again, someone hit me alongside the head with a blunt object. Thank you.

My poncho. I want to be wearing that soon. It's getting cooler in the mornings going to work, so that will be required in the not-too-distant future.

I have 2 stuffies I have promised. One is about 40% done, the other not started, but shouldn't take too long. Both are for X-mas. I'd like to just move them up the list a bit.

Scarves for the 'rents. I actually started on Dad's last night. He doesn't like super-long scarves, so he will get a 1-skein ribbed scarf and a matching watch cap out of the blue Cascade. To add interest, I placed a small stripe of ginger at the end of the scarf, and will do the same on the brim of the hat. Just a few rows to break up the blue. Mom and Roger will get longer scarves. I think the Doeskin for him and the Celtic Green for her.

Paul's scarf. I've left that alone while trying to get the other stuff worked on. Gotta remember to not just forget about that.

So, I think I should get off the computer and get some work done so I can actually work on my sweater when I get the yarn! Still trying to decide what letter to place on it. 'H' or my own? If I had gotten the right blue, I would have done the 'G', since my last name begins with a 'G'. Well, I think I'm going to duplicate stitch it on, anyway, so I can really decide once the whole thing is done.

Weasley sweater, new book and more Cascade-goodness

I just ordered my yarn for my Weasley sweater. After looking at tons of tweeds, I finally settled on some Plymouth Classics Galway Colornep. Yes, I know it isn't quite the same, but it's well within my budget. I'm making this for me, and in Weasley tradition, want it a bit oversized (which is how I like my sweaters, anyway). I chose the Hunter and got another skein of Galway in Butter for the letter. The whole thing cost about $60, including the shipping. I figure that's not too bad.

In the mail today were a few goodies. One was the book Socks, Socks, Socks that I had won in an e-Bay auction. I'm hoping that I can find a nice pattern to use for my Remus Socks.

Speaking of which, my order from HelloKnitty came today. The two skeins of Fixation as well as some more Cascade 220 (I think I'm in love with this stuff). I got 2 skeins each of Doeskin and Celtic Green. Those will be scarves for the maternal unit and step-father. I still have the two skeins of Sapphire Heather that will look very nice on my father, with his blue eyes. Also, another skein of Ruby. Well, I figure that I may have enough for a pair of mittens from the left-overs of three Hatmiones. There was quite a bit left from my first one. If not, I'll figure something out to do with it. Maybe there would be enough for a fourth hat! ;)

I'm off to drool over my new lovelies and flip through the sock book.

And a good time was had by all

Lots of fun last night at the improvisational knitting group. The coffeehouse we went to was the perfect spot. I hope it's only the first of many get-togethers. One of the attendees is a crocheter. She completed an entire scarf during our meeting. She would like to learn knitting, and I would like to learn crochet, so I think this might be a good swap opportunity.

So, while doing some random searching yesterday, I came across a knit-along that will be starting October 1st. It's a Weasley Sweater-Along, or, since the hostess is a fan of Ron, a Ron-Along. I know I've said that I need another project like I need a hole in the head, but I've wanted a Weasley sweater for quite some time. If I get a few of my smaller projects out of the way this week during my vacation, I may see about joining- even if I'm a bit late getting started.

I've done a few more inches on my poncho. It really is going along quickly. I'm hoping to finish it in a week or so (between all the other things I need to get done this week!).

I should be casting on for my second Hatmione soon. I also heard that HelloKnitty sent my yarn out yesterday, so that should come very soon. I'll have to see what sock patterns I have to make my Remus Socks. I really would like them to be special.

That's about it for right now. I'm off to work on some of the many UFOs I have staring at me.

A quick question

I saw a button a while back that I would really like to grab, but I can't find it now. It says "Life is too short. Buy more yarn" Does anyone know where it's located? I'd really appreciate it.

So this isn't completely without knitting content, I got the ribbing done on Paige. Who would have thought that 8 inches of 1x1 ribbing with bulky yarn would take as long as it seemed to! But I now have my markers set, larger needles in and am ready to start zipping along. I did decide to go with stockingette. I know it will be slightly thinner fabric, but how chilly can it really be to wear with the Lopi? Plus, since it's a cold-weather poncho I will likely be wearing long sleeves anyway.

Vacation this coming week (starting tomorrow, actually) so I'm hoping to get a few things done. I made a list last night on Word of UFOs and FOs. The first column is much too much longer than the second. Maybe I can move a couple of things over next week.

I'm meeting a couple of people from the Cape Cod and South of Boston group tonight. It's really rare for me to find people who like to knit in person. And these are ladies my own age, which makes it even better.

It's an addiction

I ordered some more Cascade 220 from HelloKnitty yesterday. I sent my mother the pic of the cable scarf I am doing for Paul and both she and my step-father loved the pattern. I don't want to do that one for anyone else (except maybe me) but I do have the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern, and I think they would like it.

While I was there I decided to look at the Fixation, because I really can't have enough yarn for socks on hand. ;) There was a colorway called "Lupins" that I just had to have. More for the name than anything else. Yes, I know it is named for the flowers, since it is purple and white, but my HP-obsessed brain immediately jumped to our favorite DADA teacher's name instead. With the right pattern, these will be very cute "Remus Socks"!

Cast on for my poncho last night. I'm hoping to finish the ribbing today; mainly because I need the size 8 needle tips back for another project. I may change the garter stitch body to plain stockingette. I'm not that big a fan of garter stitch garments. Hopefully it won't affect the shaping too much, although since it's 100% wool, I can block it out a bit. Once it actually looks like something, I'll post a picture of it.

It's Done!

I finished the hat last night and couldn't wait to show it off. I still want to block it, but I did try it on and it seems to fit all right. Guess my head is about the same size as my little model's below.


Unblocked Hatmione

I still have a fair amount of yarn left, not enough for a full project, but I wasn't at all worried about running out.

I'll be doing another in this same color, but will reverse the cables and twists so that they run in the same direction as in the pattern. That will be for a gift. This one is all mine!

Now to break out the Lopi and get started on my poncho.

Hatmione progress

I started the hat on Saturday. I'm about 2 rows from the first bobbles. The pink thing in the middle is my marker to show the start of the round. The white string up near the needle is a lifeline that I put in. I missed a cable twist and had to unknit, so to keep from having to go through that again I decided to use lifelines every 10 rows or so. Thanks for the idea, MA!



Hatmione progress

I know the color is funky. It's because I again turned the flash off- couldn't see the cables. Also, my cables and twists are moving in the opposite direction from the pattern. It's that left-handed knitting. At least I'll be able to pick my hat out of a lineup. ;)

I'm hoping to finish in a few days. I'll try to post a picture outdoors in daylight to get truer colors. This is so much fun that the other skeins of Cascade I got may end their days as hats, as well!

Started Hatmione

Yesterday was a cold, wet and stormy day. So it was a very nice thing when I got home to find a box on my doorstep that held my Cascade. Yay! The colors are even nicer than I had thought.

I cast on for the hat and am almost through with the ribbing. I think I'll start the pattern tonight.

I am so happy to finally be starting this! Progress pictures will follow.

Hatmione will soon be mine!

I just got an e-mail from HelloKnitty saying that they shipped my Cascade out today. They also apologized for the delay and offered to give me a free pattern. I ended up choosing the Mia Mini-Bag. How nice was that? This is definitely a company that I will do business with again.

Out with the old, in with the new

I cancelled the LP Bulky order. By the time I get it, it will be too late to get any real wear out of it this winter. In it's place I ordered some Reynolds Lopi from Yarnware in Field. I'm going to use it to do a shorter, mitered poncho. At least I'll have a winter-weight poncho.

Still waiting on the Cascade. I hope it arrives soon; I'd like to cast on for Hatmione this weekend. In the meantime, I'll be working on some of the dishcloths tonight.

My first designed scarf

This is the scarf that I am doing for my boyfriend for Christmas. He has asked me a few times to knit him a scarf and when I was unable to find a pattern that I liked (simple enough for him to wear without putting me to sleep making it) I came up with this. It has seed stitch borders and the cables are left and right plaited braids. I knit left-handed, so I think they actually are twisting in the opposite directions, but since they are a matched set it didn't matter. :)

The yarn is Plymouth Encore in I think it was Charcoal Grey. #389, anyway. It isn't quite as dark as it shows, but I had to turn the flash off so it wouldn't wash the cables out.


Paul's Cable Scarf

I also had to take a break from the I-cord, so I haven't felted my Booga Bag yet. As soon as it's done I'll post pics.

I got my Sugar 'n Cream and Halloween fabric for my needle case today. Still waiting for the Cascade, but it should be in in the next day or so. No idea on the Lamb's Pride Bulky yet; it's still waiting in the warehouse. I'm getting close to just cancelling that order.

My first Booga Bag (sort of)

I just finished knitting the body of the Booga Bag in colorway 146. I still have to do the I-cord, but wanted to show the cool stripey-ness. There's a square basket inside it to keep it from folding down on itself which is why the garter-stitch bottom is showing and there is an odd lump to it.



Unfelted Booga Bag

It took about 6 hours of casual knitting to do. The only thing I will do differently on the next one is to use a provincial cast-on. The yarn gets a bit fuzzy and I found it a bit tedious to pick up the stitches along the long edge.

I'm hoping to felt this weekend. It will be my first felting project, so I'm a bit nervous. I'll post pictures when it's done.

Edit (9/11): I've been working on the I-cord, which should take the rest of the third skein. I will have some yarn left over from where I cut to match the striping on the body. I think I may do a patch pocket for the bag. Perfect for holding smaller items and then I don't feel guilty about having a few yards of left-over yarn.

Yarn deliveries

I got an answer from HelloKnitty this morning. The order was delayed because they were waiting for a shipment of Ruby Cascade 220. They only had one skein in house (I ordered two). It should be in Saturday and I should have my yarn by Monday or Tuesday. Hatmione will soon be mine!

Still no shipment on the Lamb's Pride, which is odd. I don't think I've ever waited so long for a shipment from Patternworks before.

I started the first Booga Bag last night. I may even finish knitting it tonight. It goes very fast. I'm thinking that once felted it might make a nice bag for holding sock-knitting projects. It would be a bit more portable than my canvas bags. I'll have to see when it's done.

Can you count to 8?

Apparently I can't. I had to rip the cable scarf out. Again. I was about 6-7 repeats into it when I realized that I had done the wrong cable. Instead of row 3 I knit row 7. Ugh.

Still haven't heard about the Cascade and the Lamb's Pride is still in the warehouse, but I did get my Kureyon from the Post Office today.


Yummy-looking Kureyon!

The #146 on top will be for me, while the #149 will be for my mother. Both are going to be Booga Bags. This should keep me occupied until my other yarns arrive. :)

Grrrr!

Pardon me a moment while I do a little grumbling about deliveries.

Still no word from HelloKnitty about my Cascade 220. I know the shipping is low, so it probably takes a bit longer, but some sort of communication would be nice. I may send them an e-mail just to inquire.

I just checked on the status of my Lamb's Pride Bulky from Patternworks. Suddenly the order that was In Stock and at the Warehouse is now Backordered! Double Grrrr! I was figuring that I would at least have that by the weekend and could get a start on my poncho, which will likely take a bit and I would like to wear it this winter.

On a somewhat happier note, my Kureyon came yesterday from WoolNeedleWorks, but they didn't deliver it because it needs a signature. Of course, I arrived home after 5 last night, so couldn't go down and get it myself. I signed the card and hopefully it will be here when I get home from work today. If I can't start my Hatmione and Cable Poncho, at least I can play with a Boooga Bag. Or maybe I should work on some of the other things I have to get done.

Also, my Sugar 'n Cream and Halloween fabric shipped from JoAnn. The Sugar 'n Cream will be for dishcloths and towels for my brother. The fabric will be for my needle roll- mainly for DPNs; I only have a couple pair of straights, and think I can keep track of them.

So, I should be busy for a bit, just not with the things I wanted to do. Enough of the grumble. I'll be the happy knitter again next post.

Edit:I just got an e-mail from Patternworks saying that the yarn had just come in and they would be shipping my order. Guess that's one good thing. But the WNW stuff wasn't there! I hope it doesn't get sent back! *cries*

A picture, as promised

I didn't have as much time to knit this weekend as I wanted to since work was such a bear. Glad the season is over.

Anyway, I did manage to take a picture of my Ravenclaw scarf. This is the one that has about 5 stripes left on it.

Almost done Ravenclaw scarf

Hopefully I can finish it up in the next day or so. I'd like to have the needles for other projects.

I also got the pattern for Paul's scarf written out. Maybe I can actually travel with it now that I don't have to use my Vogue Knitting book to follow the cable.

I'd like to put a WIP bit on my sidebar, but I think I just want text instead of the pictures. I wish I could figure out how to do it without them turning into links! I know there must be a way because I've seen it in other blogs, I just don't know what.

I also ordered my yarn for my winter poncho (and the Yahoo Poncho Along). I'm using the pattern at http://www.lindascraftique.com/free/poncho.htm but substituting Lamb's Pride Bulky in Chianti. I think it will be lovely for the winter. I hope my Cascade 220 gets here soon, too. Otherwise I'll still be waiting to start my first hat and everyone else will be on their 2nd and 3rd hats!

I also found out that I'm seeing my cousin next month. That means I have to really finish the Big Bad Baby Blanket (aka The Blanket That Would Not End) soon. Once that's done (about 65% right now) I'll post pics. It's Paton's Decor in Periwinkle. Love the color. Beginning to hate the blanket. But, I'd better go see about doing a few rows.

Anxiously awaiting yarn

I placed my order for the Cascade 220. I'm curious about how long it takes for delivery, since I've never used HelloKnitty before. Hopefully it won't take too long.

I've also got an order coming from Wool Needlework- some Kureyon (for future Booga Bags) and size 0 DPNs. Hey, the Kureyon was on sale. Had to do it.

And, in order to get into the Dishcloth Along (button on the sidebar) I've got some Sugar 'n Cream on its way for Michael's new apartment. I also picked up some Halloween fabric (well, I am a Witch!) to make a needle case for my straights and DPNs.

In the meantime, 20 rows left on the Molly poncho. And the socks and throws/afghans are coming along well. I just need to write Paul's scarf pattern out a bit clearer. The last time I wrote it I was half-asleep and can't read it. So I've been going from the book, but that's a bit non-portable. That'll be tonight's project. Then I can take it to work with me. It's only 2 skeins of yarn. How long can it really take to work up? My Ravenclaw scarf is almost finished, too. Only 5 stripes left. I should finish that soon. I need the needles!

Looks like I've got a bit of work to do. Pictures before the end of the weekend. Promise. :)