HSKS Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?

Ravenclaw

2. List your favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length. Or would you prefer circulars?

I prefer circular needles. A size 1, 32 inch length or a size 0 of the same length.

3. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?

I'm not picky about brand, but I do prefer metal to bamboo.

4. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?

I prefer the silver & blue.

5. Do you have any allergies?

None that I think will come up in this swap!

HSKS 3

I had so much fun in round one of the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap, that I jumped at the opportunity to join round three. This time around, second and third year participants have the option of swapping either a scarf kit or a sock kit. I stuck with the sock kit. After all, I'm addicted to knitting socks. This should be fun!

It's that time of year again....

The time of year where I plan my Christmas knitting! My eyes have always been bigger than my stomach, and I think it's safe to say that carries into my knitting as well. Each year I bite off more than I can chew. This year, I'm trying to be a bit more realistic.

This year there are really only four projects I'm hoping I can finish up in time. And if I get more on and then off the needles.... Great!

The first three gifts are for Joe's adorable nephews. Joe's Aunt, who has since passed on, started a tradition by knitting Christmas Stockings for all new family members (whether born into the family, or married in.) This summer while at a BBQ at his sister Debbie's house, his two sisters asked if it was possible to recreate the stocking by looking at it. (Joe's Aunt knit the same stocking for everyone and personalized it with their name duplicate stitched on to the top of it.) I told them yes, and they replied that it was really cool.

Since then I've given this a lot of thought, and while I can reproduce the exact same stocking with a little effort, I decided I would rather pay homage to Joe's Aunt's Tradition by using her stocking as inspiration. Using the same color scheme, but adding my own unique touches. Let's face it, even if I copied hers stitch by stitch, it won't be exactly the same anyway.

So after scouring Ravelry for Christmas Stockings, I picked one that with a few modifications would fit the bill. The Holly Stocking from Annie's Woolens.




It'll be my first real attempt at Fair Isle, but hey, if I can master grafting, I feel like I can do anything!

Speaking of grafting, last night was my first absolutely sucessful attempt. I've tried numerous times with various pairs of socks, but the tension always came out wonky and there was one sock there that I don't really know what the hell I did, but it looked nothing like it should.

But last night I finished up my first Charade Sock, and decided to just suck it up and graft the toe together already. What do you know, something clicked, and I finally got it!

Just look at that toe! She's a beauty!




More pics to come eventually. I don't know when yet.

Still no knitting here at Midnight Purls. Unless you count the two rows of a Harry Potter scarf Joe requested I knit for him. Two rows doesn't exactly make for an interesting picture.

So in the meantime, I will continue with my plan to distract you from the fact I am a bad knit blogger by posting yet another cute cat photo.

Here's Starbuck napping in one of his favorite sleeping spots. It's a felted pillow I made Joe a while ago. He also loves to sleep on top of my knitting bag if I leave it out. Hey, he's got good taste! And as long as I keep the bag zipped closed, both my yarn and Starbuck are safe.




I still owe some people some emails. I'm getting to it, I promise. This little hiatus really made the emails pile up. My apologies. I'm hoping to have a chunk of time tomorrow to dedicate to catching up on a lot of things, including my knitting.

Tonight, I will be heading to the hospital when I get off work to have some tests done. I'm not looking forward to the discomfort and invasiveness that's awaiting me. But hopefully it will be over relatively quick and I can be home and relaxing sooner than I anticipate.