HSKS3 Kit - sent

HSKS3 kit
Originally uploaded by micenrats99

My swap partner Peggy received this, so I'm posting the pic. The yarn looked a lot more Gryffindor-colored when I saw it online. I decided to send it along anyway, since the pattern I sent was for Autumn Leaves socks. It goes with the pattern, if not Peggy's Hogwart's house. I made some little gold and scarlet stitch markers. They remind me of the stripes on a Gryffindor scarf.

Harvest Sock Update

Week 2:

• The person who is sending to me has contacted me.
  
• I've chosen a pattern. It is different from the one I was considering.
  
• I've decided to dye the yarn myself. It'll be a single color, but shaded.
  

I'm not quite sure what else I'm supposed to post. I'm guessing that the weekly posting requirement is there so the powers that be can be sure I'm still working on this project.

Monkey

I admit it. I'm easily distracted by new things to knit. I'm going through this monkey phase right now. Surprisingly enough, this does not include Cookie A.'s monkey sock pattern, at least not yet. I was looking at stuff on Ravelry the other day, and learned about the ITV Digital/PG Tips Monkey. He's a advertising spokesmonkey in the UK. I found a pattern for him and want to make him. My sock monkey, Carol, needs a pal.

amulet

amulet
Originally uploaded by micenrats99

I didn't like the first bag I did very much. I redid it with a pattern I found on Ravelry. I used the same yarn. I found a few more things to put into it. I hope the recipient enjoys it.

Harvest Sock Swap update

Progress, week 1:

• I received my partner's information. (the partner I send to)
  
• I used the information to find out more information.
  
• I arranged a way to contact her anonymously.
  
• I emailed her, per rule #5.
  
• I have a pattern we'll use. Probably. It has some strange needle requirements, so I'll be considering some others.
  
• I'm thinking about yarn.
  

I haven't heard from my partner (who sends to me) yet, but it's really far too soon to expect it. ::waving to partner who'll no doubt read this::

Summer of Love Lace

Summer of Love Lace
Originally uploaded by micenrats99

I finished the latest Rockin Sock Club socks. I want to try these again with a different color yarn and some more work on shaping them to my foot. These fit better than it looks like they should, though.

HP Gryffindor House bag

HP Gryffindor House bag
Originally uploaded by micenrats99

I finally finished this. The lining drove me right over the edge. I hope the recipient enjoys it and all the goodies I've packed inside of it.

Phooey!

I woke up shivering with a nasty headache this morning. I'm not going to get down to Atlanta to see the Yarn Harlot.

I'll be sitting in front of the tv instead. I'll be sulking and finishing my second STR club sock and maybe do some more on the Socktopia mystery sock.

Point A to Point B, via several other Points

Sonia is one of the people in Slitherin house in HSKS3. In an attempt to get all of us to post trivia answers, she sent them to us AND bribed us with a drawing for a Loopy Ewe gift certificate. We all posted and I won the gift certificate! It was such a nice surprise.

I decided I wanted to go to The Loopy Ewe's site. I knew there was a link to it from Lime&Violet so I went there first. Yes, I know I could've just typed in the url, but my head hurts and it didn't occur to me. While there, I saw something called a Stress Ball Hat Pattern that could be knit in 3 hours. Ding-ding-ding, the alarm bell in my head went off. I need a hat to donate at Yarn Harlot's talk in two days. I also have some yarn that I hand spun myself that should work for it. It started out as pencil roving which is why a complete rank amateur with a drop spindle can say the yarn may actually work. Anyway, the hat is here. It's also on Ravelry. If just getting to The Loopy Ewe was taking me this long, there was no way I was going to Ravelry. I might never be seen again.

Eventually I did get to the place I started out for originally. Looks like they are going to start carrying Lime&Violet yarn. I have been craving it, but told myself I couldn't have any more yarn until I got a job. Still, I was happy to flip through the pages, looking at all the pretties. Then I found the thing that I Must Have. If you are Kitchener-stitch-impaired, go immediately and check them out.

I'm in!

I got my Ravelry invite not too long after the last post. I've been hanging out there a lot. It's a cool site and well worth waiting for.

I haven't been doing much knitting the last couple of days. I finished the Griffindor bag except for the lining. I'll take a pic of the kit before I mail it, but won't post it until after my partner receives it. The picture is of an amulet bag for a Swap-bot swap. It's made from a little bit of Koigu. My partner says she loves all things purple, so I hope she likes this.

I've also been knitting on the mystery sock a little bit. I'll probably take it and the latest STR club sock with me to the knit-in. It's something that's going on before the Yarn Harlot appears in Atlanta on Thursday.

It won't be long now

I meant to work on the HSKS3 bag yesterday, but things came up. Turnip prices were at 523 bells in Animal Crossing. I had to share the wealth with other people, so I was busy switching between two characters to let people into my town.

While that was going on, I read Lime&Violet. They had a link to a crocheted and felted skull pattern from Lion Brand. I had to try it. It was only 10 rounds, but a little tricky. I ended up charting it to see exactly how it went together. The yarn I pulled out of my stash wasn't marked and I wasn't sure how well it would felt. Turned out it didn't too well as you can see. I did a second skull with a single strand (pattern calls for two) and a smaller hook and I like the look much better. I'm planning on trying the little one again with some Cascade 220. Too bad glow-in-the-dark yarn doesn't felt. Or I could even figure out where I've stashed it.

The kit bag will be finished today. It's just a matter of the lining and strap. I've got a Coronation Street tape to watch so I'll just plant myself in front of that and do it. The other parts of the kit are already complete, yay!

In other it won't be long now news, see below. I'll have to go check my email once I post this.

-----
Ravelry progress:
197 people are ahead of you in line.
19700 people are behind you in line.
Front 1% of the line. Exactly.

Push to finish the kit

I spent yesterday either asleep or trying to sleep. Today I'm on the way out to get the final supplies for the HSKS3 kit. I saw an idea for stitch markers that I'm swiping from someone.

I'm so lucky, it looks like I should be hearing from Ravelry inside a week!

-----
Ravelry progress:
771 people are ahead of you in line.
19337 people are behind you in line.
I'm in the front 4% of the line. :)

HSKS3 Trivia answers

1. b. Charity Burbage
2. c. Alecto Carrow
3. c. The wand chooses the wizard.
4. a. to kill the owner
5. d. Jack Russell Terrier
6. a. Otter
7. a. Stew
8. c. Roast potato
9. b. three up…2 across.
10.d. ‘For those who take, but do not earn

Need to sleep, not surf

I finished the lace part of my second STR sock and just couldn't get into starting the rest of it yet. I sewed up the bottom of the bag I made for my HSKS3 partner and then couldn't get into starting the strap. I'm tired, but not enough to go to sleep.

So I've been clicking around looking at yarn pr0n. I know I've got lots of pretty yarn I've not touched yet. I know I've got several skeins coming from swaps. I don't care. I want more! So pretty. ::yum::

I saw a place where you can adopt an Icelandic sheep. You can get a picture of your sheep and its fleece and even its fleece already processed as roving. ::moan::

And then there are needles: KnitPicks has started offering those pretty multicolored needles. Paula want some. Mmmmm, pretty needles ::drool::

-----
Ravelry progress:
1075 people are ahead of you in line.
19080 people are behind you in line.

Christmas Around the World Knitters Swap

I haven't heard yet whether or not I got into this swap. Just in case it might help get me in, I'm posting the answers to the questionnaire.

1. Are you religious? No.
   
2. How long have you been knitting? Almost half a century. Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Advanced.
   
3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? I dabble in assorted fiber arts. I'm just beginning to learn to spin. My current non-knitting obsession is the computer game Animal Crossing: Wild World.
   
4. Favorite color(s)? I like mostly soft, pastel, and cool colors.
   
5. Do you collect anything? Not in any formal way.
   
6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? Not so far.
   
7. Do you have any pets? Two cats.
   
8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate.
   
9. Cookies or Sweets? I have to choose???
   
10. Do you knit socks? Almost constantly.
    
11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits). Socks.
    
12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? Sometimes I put one up. It depends on how lazy I'm feeling.
    
13. Favorite holiday treats? Chocolate. Cookies. Chocolate cookies.
    
14. Favorite holiday smells? Pine trees.
    
15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. I'm not religious, so church is not involved. Traditions include trying to find a pizza place open on Christmas Eve and sneaking a weird mooing cow toy into a family member's stocking.
    
16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Being able to spend it with my family.
    
17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” giving stuff to others.
    
18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? The handmade angel my mother made for me.
    
19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? I've drawn a complete blank on this one. No single thing stands out for either.
    
20. When do you start your Christmas? I usually decorate right after Thanksgiving.
    
21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? I don't usually, but if I do, I make them.
    
22. What is your favorite Christmas dish? An obscenely rich potato/cheese/sour cream casserole.
    
23. Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Listen to their song and give 'em each a cookie.
    
24. When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Eve.
    
25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Usually family.
    

The Return of the World's Biggest Sock

THE BIG SOCK IS BACK AT ONLY EWE AND COTTON TOO

SUNDAY - SEPT 9 - 1:00pm to 5:00pm

I may have to go back and inflict some more knittage upon it.
---
Ravelry progress:
1570 people are ahead of you in line.
18386 people are behind you in line.
I'm in the front 8% of the line.

HSKS3: a fuzzy little peek

This swap isn't secret, but I still want some element of surprise. This is what I've been working on. Everything that goes in the kit has been addressed: things have been purchased and things that will be made have been started. If my employment situation continues to, well, suck, I may have this thing in the mail long before the due date.

I did start on the second sock with STR Flower Power. It has two more repeats of the lace part. I've set it aside for the work on HSKS3.

Woo hoo, my place in the Ravelry line is under 2K:
1883 people are ahead of you in line.
17285 people are behind you in line.