Now I knit my ABCs - D is for Dumbledore?

So you may know (or not) that I do a bit of blogging about Harry Potter. I'm a big fan of the books and movies and, as this is the biggest Potter summer, evah, I'm chronicling some of the happenings over at The Hogwarts Herald.

So, over at HH we're (okay, I'm) planning a Potter Party to celebrate the release of the final Potter installment Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I've been posting different planning techniques and scheduling. One aspect of the planning is crafting (not the dark arts through!) -

So I've decided that I'm going to knit a Harry Potter house scarf. It will be burgundy and gold. I have the gold - I just have to find some burgundy.....

Yes, there are photos to be taken...

I haven't taken any pix of the alphabetic projects - they're lovely, and warrant some face time - but I just have been able to schedule a photo shoot with them!

Project Cotton is going to take longer than a week - and I'm probably not going to post any photos until it is complete (it's a gift) - but Project Boucle is beautiful!

Now I knit my ABCs - C is for Cotton

I love knitting with cotton - I know that it goes wonky when it gets wet - and it can stretch out into strange shapes - but it's, basically, a washable natural fiber, that you can use to make just about any project. I've used cotton yarn to make: dishcloths (shock?); baby bibs; baby blankets; children's sweaters; bath mitts; hats; coasters; trivets/hotpads; and, so on.



My most current cotton project, however, has been giving me fits. I really like the yarn - Knit Picks Crayon, is a 100% Pima (stands for "Pain In My Ankle") Cotton, DK Weight, Machine washable yarn that comes in 128 yard/50 gram skeins. The project is "knit in the round" - and, even on the wooden needles, now that I have switched to the dpns - the yarn just keeps slipping off and, subsequently, dropping stitches. ARRRGGGGHHH. I need to use "point protectors" to keep the stitches from sliding.

But I'm hopeful -

I'm the IT girl!

So girlfiend tagged me for a meme as an apology for not going to knitting. I did go to knitting; but it's okay, because I got the update on the planning status for the Rox High class of 1987 reunion (they've had a major setback!).

Here are the rules:

Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

8 things about me? HEY! WAKE UP!

1. I started this list by first typing in the numbers and punctuation (more time to think);
2. I'm, apparently, squeamish about typing the word "period" as I wrote "punctuation" instead;
3. I, apparently, don't know how to spell the word "squeamish" - thankfully Blingo does;
4. I use Blingo as my search engine - I love prizes;
5. I can't count the number of times I have won prizes on the radio - I'm all about being "the" caller;
6. My broadcast acting debut and swan song was as a child, on PBS radio, as The Velveteen Rabbit. I had one line;
7. Growing up, my next door neighbor (backyard neighbor, actually) had a pet rabbit named "Bosco";
8. I know the theme song to the Australian soap opera "Neighbours" - "everybody needs good neighbours..."

so, here's where I fall off the wagon - I'm not going to "tag" anyone - mostly because just about all of the bloggers i know have already been tagged - check out some of their responses.

This is why I have such bad luck - it started in grade school with that darn chain letter...

You say it's your birthday!

Well, it's Charlie's birthday too!




Ahh, the first of many birthday cakes to come!

Now I knit my ABCs - B is for Boucle

Derived from the French Boucler - "to curl," Boucle (Boo-clay) yarn is typically made up of 3 strands of yarn with one strand being looser that the others, creating a curled or bumpy effect. Both the yarn and the fabric created from the yarn use the term.

Boucle yarn, usually, knits up quickly (unless you have some unraveling issues), and fluffy. It's beautiful on it's own, but can also be "jazzed up" with a carrying yarn, such as an eyelash.

Lorna's Laces Grace. A mohair blend boucle. Worsted weight/ size 8 needles. Care: Hand wash and dry flat.

I got 2 skeins (again) of Iris Garden - another scarf - going to alternate in some "stripes" of plum colored eyelash - for an even more dramatic look.

This hand dyed yarn is a work of art -

As seen on Hogwarts Herald

Charmed Knits by Alison Hansel is a collection of Potter inspired knitting projects. The book includes 30 patterns, including: the "Weasley Sweater"; house scarves, mittens, hats and socks; and, robes, toys and other decorations inspired by the Harry Potter books and movies.





However, as the description on Amazon says, there are thousands (literally) of patterns and ideas for Potter projects on the internet - some for sale, some for free.

Photos from Knitpicks.com - where you can order the book and yarn to cordinate with the projects. The book is also available on Amazon.com.

Amy and Kate at Super Nanny's Birthday

Gave Super Nanny (who is now a Super Puzzle Book Editor) a bag full of (to be dyed) yarn for her birthday. Also present at the festivities were the ever lovely Amy and Katie.