Spooktacular

Happy

Halloween!!

HSKS 3 - I have been spoiled

The postman delivered my HSKS swap package on Friday, all the way from Alberta. It did wonders to cheer up a cold, blustery, wet Autumn day.

My swap pal Tammy cetainly did an amazing job and I feel totally spoiled.

Harry Potter stickers

and a Platform 9 journal to keep track of my stash or knitting projects.

Stitch markers in Ravenclaw clours and SRK Kertzer 2.5 bamboo dps, I love trying new dpn needle manufactureres, nothing like broadening the horizons.

Cookie A's Gothic Spire sock pattern, a new pattern by one of my favorite sock designers.

Regia Loop colour sock yarn, I know it's hard to see but this is dark grey and navy, the perfect sock colours for the man or men in your life.

Opal sock yarn in colour 17

Tammy will be opening her own Etsy shop very soon and sent me a skein of her sock yarn. Faery Fiber in Halloween Fun colourway.

I saw this yarn on her blog the other day (not knowing she was my swap partmer) and feel in love with this colour, so much so that I did an etsy search to try and find it.

It is a wonderful peachy orange and navy (420 yds), I love the colour of this yarn and the feel of this superwash merino is fantastically soft. I included the Halloween pencil she sent in this shot. I will be checking out her store when it opens.

A swap package wouldn't be a swap package without a little something for those moments when knitting just doesn't cut the stress, Numi Earl Grey tea, two fun size Smarties (down to one now), and a block of special dark from Hersey (minus a few squares now).

This is the bag that Tammy created for me, and a little book mark to keep the place in my 25 Favorite Socks book (which is quickly becoming my sock bible). Tammy used Patons SWS, in two colours, I love the effect of the silver grey and blue, this will make a great project bag (you can't have to many of those in different colours and themes).

I can't thank Tammy enough for being such a generous swap partner. This was a fun swap, not only meeting fellow knitters but the competitions and prizes that went along with it. I am looking forward to the next go round, if there is one.

No nasty bills in January

With Christmas just around the corner, oh yes it is, I have been busy working on projects for friends and family. To make this as economical as possible I am diving head first into the ever increasing stash. Even though it looks as if I am more involved in swaps these days than knitting nothing could be further from the truth, and I do have pictures to prove it. The following is my second edition of a knitted "dolly bag" , the first was gifted for Chrissy in Singapore, pink is one of her favorite colours, anyway I liked it so much that I made a second.

The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in shocking pink. I had the black suede base, in fact I have several of them in different colours, I made up my own pattern, and added a great little bead pull.

The directions that comes with the base has you knit the bag in the round and then sew it to the base (the base has tiny holes already punched), I thought there had to be a better way, and there was. I used a tiny crochet hook, and crocheted a single chain around the base, picked up the stitches with a 16" circular knitting needle and knitted in the round, finishing with a picot cast off.

I lined the bag using a pink and black cotton fabric square I also had in the stash. I have the same yarn in blue, a navy base, and blue cotton in the stash, and will be working on another one very soon.

As for the Christmas present stash, I have a baby hat finished, a vintage baby cardigan, a hat and sweater for our 2 year old granddaughter blocking upstairs, a knitted "pirate" hat and five more pairs of socks yet to show. James has requested two scarves a brown and a blue one, I have Gems for the brown one and Fleece Artist for the blue, and I have semi-solids for a log cabin cable sock I am toying with.

I love knitting from the stash no nasty bills in January.

Quidditch - Round Three

1. What was the name of the book Dumbledore left for Hermione in his will
a. The Tales of Beedle the Bard

2. Whose sign was on Xenophilius Lovegood's chest?
d. Grindewald

3. Was October 30, 1980 the night that Lilly and James Potter died?
b. No

4. What's another name for the Elder Wand?
a. Deathstic

5. Whose Potterwatch code name was 'Rodent'?
d. Fred

6. What was so special about the peacocks at the Malfoy Manor?
d . They were all white

7. Who does Harry say was "probably the bravest man I knew?"
a. Snape

8. What thing was Lockhart giving Hagrid advice about getting out of a well?
a. Hinkypunks

9. What was the occupation of Colin Creevey's father?
a. Mailman

10. Which Professor of Hogwarts was a dueling champion when he was young?
b. Dumbledore


Picture Scavenger Hunt

Bertie Botts Beans
http://img.nextag.com/image/Jelly-Belly-Harry-Potter/0/000/005/399/597/539959769.jpg

Jelly Slugs
http://www.sylvanlaneshoppe.com/07JellySlugs.jpg

Chocolate Frogs
http://www.archjrc.com/childsplace/images/potter-frogs.jpg

Blood Pops
http://www.sylvanlaneshoppe.com/candyBloodPops.jpg

Jenean's first HSKS kit
http://www.witherspooncabin.net/wordpress/?p=201


(Bonus Point: Who made the kit?)
Ansley

Sock Club Update

Over the last few weeks it's been like Sockclubpalooza around here. It's that time of year for fun patterns and great yarn to take knitting in the autumn and winter season. In no particular order are:

"The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" from Woolgirl. White Oak TV yarn and pattern, pumpkin stitch marker, Charlie Brown sock bag, and Halloween treat bag.

Coming in November, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown", and in January "Be my Valentine, Charlie Brown". I love this holiday themed club, lots of fun and patterns I will use for years to come.

The first "Woolgirl" sock club shipment, this was a "wow". Great pattern, wonderfully soft Miss Babs yarn, sock journal, club pen, crystal stitch marker, mint lip balm and a yarn contest. If all the club installments are of this quality I will most definately be signing up for the next installment.

Pick Up Sticks, new Fleece Artist sock yan, Nova Sock, and the member contest pattern by Corey LaFlamme. The colours scream autumn and may be turned into "Charlie Brown pumpkin" socks.

Tsarina sock club, as you see the pattern is based on the opera Turandot, the VanCalcar Acres yarn is soft and silky and came with a gift from the yarn fairy, a skein of soft pumpkin sock yarn, which will be turned into Log Cabin cable socks.

On the needles I have a vintage baby cardigan, the first of three, three pairs of socks, and I have found the pattern and yarn for my Christmas Around the World Swap, Cherry Tree Hill in Amythest using the Log Cabin sock pattern from Handknit Holidays. I finished my variation of the "pirate" toque last week, present for great-neice, and am looking for the perfect pair of fingerless mittens to go with it.

The temperatures are starting to cooperate with the season and I am starting to really enjoy the spirit of autumn, I made a glorious pumpkin pie this morning and a large pot of pumpkin corn chowder. This really is my favorite time of year, crisp cool days, warm pots of homemade soup and old-fashioned comfort deserts.

The most thoughtful Santa ever

The UPS man brought these cute little furry's to the door yesterday. A surprise present from my Christmas Around the World Swap partner "J". They aren't for me but for the five fur babies we spend our lives with, yes a squeaky furry for each of the four dogs and a catnip parrot for the cat. How amazing that someone I don't know could be so thoughtful. "J" and I have been exchanging emails and it has become apparent how much we have in common, it's as if I am getting back in touch with a friend I haven't talked to in years, I am so looking forward to getting to know her better when the swap is over.

I can't thank "J" enough for being such a thoughtful and caring "santa", that she would think of sending these adorable toys for the dogs and cat to enjoy, you really are the best "secret santa" ever.

Harvest Sock Swap

I finished putting together my swap package for the Harvest Sock Swap. I decided to follow a Halloween theme, partly because with the temperatures being in the 80's and today being 90 it just didn't feel like October to me, I wanted to have a sense that autumn had arrived. The questionnaire was a wealth of information when putting together the treats and extras that I included. The witch sock bag is a hoot, I included stickers, pins, two treat bags and of course the yarn and pattern to knit the other sock, I needle treated by including Lanter Moon Sox Sticks. The pattern is the Crooked Cable Socks by Sock Bug, which I adapted quite a bit and included a separate adapted pattern to use.

The Sock is knitted using Seacoast in Cobbler,

I think it turned out rather pretty.

I think I will post the package this weekend, as I want it to arrive in time for Halloween enjoyment.

The weather man just informed us that this is a new record breaking day in Pittsburgh, 90 degrees we shattered the old October 8th recored set in 1916 of 86 degrees. Come on Friday, I need to feel those 60's.

Trivia

1. In Deathly Hallows what does Harry step on when exiting his room to wash his cut?
a teacup

2. Which two members of the Order of Phoenix came to escrot the Dursleys to a safe place?
Diggle and Jones

3. In order to throw off the Death Eaters, several of Harry's friends take Polyjuice Potion to resemble him and each Harry goes with a different member of the Order of the Phoenix to a different location. Where do Ron (disguised as Harry) and Tonks go?
Aunt Muriel's

4. At Bill and Fleur's wedding, Harry must disguise himself by taking Polyjuice Potion and takes on the appearnce of a redheaded Muggle boy from Ottery St. Catchpol. He was introduced to wedding guests as Cousin . . .
Barney

5. Kingsley sends a message via Patronus to warn the Weasleys and wedding guests of the coming Death Eaters. What form does his Patronus take?
lynx

6. In the Half-Blood Prince what drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?
Gilly water

7. What is the name of the person that heads the Holyhead Harpies?
Gwenog Jones

8. What tatoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?
Hippogriff

9. What color robes do the staff at Weasley's shop wear?
Magenta

10. Where do Nicolas Flamel and his wife Perenelle live?
Devon


Picture Scavenger Hunt

A Gryffindor Quidditch Uniform
http://www.latinoreview.com/moviereviews/2002/hp2cos/images/hp2.jpg


A Hufflepuff Quidditch Uniform
http://www.mocpages.com/image_zoom.php?mocid=4624&id=/user_brickshelf_resized/gallery/mattcorp/Hogwarts/quidditch/hufflepuff-q.jpg

A Ravenclaw Quidditch Uniform
http://www.mocpages.com/image_zoom.php?mocid=4624&id=/user_brickshelf_resized/gallery/mattcorp/Hogwarts/quidditch/ravenclaw-q.jpg


A Slytherin Quidditch Uniform
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38302000/jpg/_38302557_draco300.jpg

A Picture of the Room of Requirement
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/113/252955059_f8ce01e6a3_m.jpg

New Swap Partners

I received my partner for the Harvest Sock Swap and also Christmas Around the World. I have sent annonymous emails to both and received an answer from my Harvest Sock Pal, but as yet not my Christmas Around the World pal. It's much easier to choose the correct yarn and "fun" goodies when you know a little about the person you are knitting for.

I received an email from the Harvest Sock Pal who is knitting for me but not from my Christmas Pal, looking forward to making contact.