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Violet Waffles Hat

Posted on January 20, 2014 by auburnchick

A quick post to show you what I kept myself busy doing on Sunday (as opposed to the lesson planning that should have been happening…which is why I’m posting this at 11:48pm on Monday evening…please I procrastinated).

This was my response to the current Quidditch challenge on my Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup group on Ravelry.

We were challenged to select one pattern from an approved list and knit it as quickly as possible…hence the name of the challenge…Speed Matters.  The quicker a person finished, the more points awarded.

I finished this in eight hours…potty and meal breaks notwithstanding.  I received the full forty points for finishing within one day.

I was able to use yarn I purchased on my Vegas trip in 2008.  I blogged about that here.  It was my first yarn shopping excursion to “real” yarn stores, and I’ve been a bit of a yarn snob ever since.

The yarn, Cash Vero, now discontinued (gee, I feel old) was a DREAM to knit with.  It was a mix of merino wool and cashmere.

Oh yeah…the hat is warm.

And now I better get back to lesson planning.

Yes…at midnight.

Thankfully, Tuesday is a teacher work day…sans students.  Still, I want to get up and have my Smartboard file finished so I can spend Tuesday making new seating arrangements and working on next week’s lesson plans.  My Saturday is going to be busy, and I’m learning to get these plans done earlier so I can have some time to be a non-teacher on the weekends.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Leaf Lace Washcloth

Posted on January 4, 2014 by auburnchick

Ta Da!

I present to you my first completed project of 2014…the Leaf Lace Washcloth, a free pattern you can find on Ravelry.

I knit this as part of my Harry Potter Ravelry “homework.”  It was a fast knit…only took me a couple of hours…knit while I watched a bowl game with Rooster.

I used Lily Sugar n’ Cream in Sage.  Size 7 needles helped the pattern “pop.”  My gauge tends to be a bit looser, so I always have to use smaller needles than what the yarn and pattern recommend.

I love the color and the pattern…so pretty!  I also enjoyed the instant gratification I got from finishing a quick project.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Assante Opaleye Shawl

Posted on November 30, 2013 by auburnchick

I’ve mentioned that I joined the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup on Ravelry.

It’s a fun group of crafters, divided into the Harry Potter houses (I am a Hufflepuff), engaged in friendly competition with each other for the House Cup.

“Students” receive points for monthly “class” assignments.  The prompts are posted at the beginning of each month, and there is enough leeway in a crafter’s interpretation to be able to fit almost any project into one of many prompts.

This has been a great way for me to “meet” other crafters who share my passion.  We also share other common interests and concerns that range from cooking (Hufflepuffs are known for our mad baking skills) to reading to parenting.

I love that the projects and the competition give me a “reason” to knit, and I’ve tried several patterns I would never have considered just to fit them into various prompts.

One of the activities we can choose to participate in (everything is volunteer) is the OWL project where we propose a long-term project, post progress reports, and complete it by a certain due date.  There are a LOT of points awarded for OWLs.

This has been my first official term as a “student,” and I just completed my first OWL!

I’m proud to show you my Assante Opaleye Shawl, so named because the Opaleye is a mythical creature in the Harry Potter series that has the same coloring as the shawl you see displayed below…

The pattern isn’t free, but the cost is minor compared to what you get back in a simple pattern and a designer who’s quick to answer questions.  The designer helped me adjust the pattern so I wouldn’t run out of yarn.

I used yarn in my stash (yay!).  The pink is called Tutu and is Cascade Heritage.  The green is called Wash and is Madelinetosh Tosh Sock.  Both yarns were divine to knit with…nothing but the best for my dainty hands.  heehee

I used size 4 needles to help conserve yarn.

It’s a different shawl for me…no lace patterning…but lovely all the same.  I’m pleasantly surprised by the result.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

A Sunflower for Chicky

Posted on October 24, 2013 by auburnchick

On Tuesday, I showed you the Boo Boo Bunny I knit for Chicky.

Well, I was busy the last few weeks, and I knit her another surprise, which I delivered last weekend.

This is what I’m calling Sunflower for Chicky…

It was a quick knit.  I think I made it over the course of two evenings, but it could easily have been finished in one.

Sunflowers are Chicky’s favorite flowers (they’re mine too), so it was a joy to make this for her.  Her kitchen is adorned with various sunflowery items; I figured this might play nice with the other things.

I love surprising my girl because, whether she knows it or not, she lights up my life just like those flowers light up hers.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Boo Boo Bunny

Posted on October 22, 2013 by auburnchick

Now that I’ve visited Chicky, I can begin to show off a few surprises I took down to her.

I needed to knit something quick and easy for the Harry Potter forum I’m involved with on Ravelry, so I selected the Boo Boo Bunny pattern.

Oh word, but this was such a quick, fun knit.  I reminisced as I thought about our own Boo Boo Bunny, sitting in the pantry, unused for the last few years.  It soothed away many tears that came about as the result of scrapes from childhood mishaps.

The new Boo Boo Bunny only took me one evening (albeit late) to finish it!  It has a cute little opening in the back for a re-freezable ice pack …

I did a bit of homework and found just what I needed at Target…

There are a lot of varieties of Boo Boo Buddies, but I wanted something small and round.

Plus, a person can never go wrong with Spiderman!

He was a perfect fit!

Now, when Chicky has a bump or bruise, I’ll feel better knowing that Spiderman is riding along, incognito, making her boo boo all better.

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Owl Cozie

Posted on October 1, 2013 by auburnchick

On Sunday, I completed another project.

This is my Owl Cozie…

I found the free pattern through Ravelry.  The pattern can be found directly, here, though.

I used Lion Brand Cotton and size 5 needles.

The eyes you see are glued on; however, I ordered sew-on eyes that will stay better.  As soon as they come in, I’ll switch them out.

This was a really fun and easy project to knit up.  The cables were extremely easy to execute, so if you’ve wanted to try cable work but never have, it’s an easy project to start with.

I learned how to do the duplicate stitch (for the owls’ beaks).  There’s a link to a tutorial on the pattern page.

Easy-peasy…just what I like!!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Star Stitch Hair Tamer

Posted on September 24, 2013 by auburnchick

First of all, I’d like to add a disclaimer to this post by stating that I am not neglecting my teaching duties.

Now I shall carry on.

This past weekend, I finished another small project for my Harry Potter knitting forum.  This is called the Star Stitch Hair Tamer, a free pattern you can find on Ravelry.

The stitch was a new one for me but easy to execute.  I used Lion Brand Cotton and size 6 needles.

I knit 80 rows of the pattern repeat but, in hindsight, should have only knit 70.  Lesson learned for the next time.

If/when I make this again, I will also shorten the row and knit fewer repeats across.  It is bit wide.  Still, I really, really like the way the stitch crawls up the piece.

The yarn is very soft; the headband is quite comfortable.

If you’re looking for a quick knit or a small gift item…Christmas is quickly approaching…I highly recommend this little item!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Pinwheels Lace Bookmark

Posted on September 22, 2013 by auburnchick

Last week, I knit up a quick project to turn in for a Quidditch event in my Harry Potter knitting forum, because I am nerdy that way.

This is my Pinwheels Lace Bookmark…

The challenge was to knit an item of luxury, so I interpreted this to mean that my Trekking Pro Natura sock yarn, from which I used leftovers from a different project, is a prized possession of mine and hence should be considered a luxury.  In addition, I explained to my “professors” that reading was once considered a skill taught only to the elite, thus it was a luxury.

The pattern is free on Ravelry.  If you want to learn how to knit lace, it’s the perfect small project for this.  If you love knitting lace but don’t have a lot of time, it will fill that need and provide instant gratification at the same time.

I used size 0 needles, and it still came out rather large; however, it lays flat and actually does its job quite nicely…

It was a good way to use up a bit of yarn without requiring the purchase of an entire new skein of it!  I only used 23 yards to finish this.

The only modification I made to the pattern was to braid three strings together instead of making a tassel.  I found that the instructions for the tassel were confusing, so I did my own thing.  An i-cord would have worked well also.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

A Yarn Treat

Posted on September 21, 2013 by auburnchick

I received the new Knit Picks catalog in the mail early this past week, and as I flipped through the pages, my attention was drawn to one kit in particular…

That, my friends, is the Heartwarming Stocking Kit.

Oh word, but I just knew I had to have it.  The Mr. once asked if I would knit some stockings for the house, so I figured this was the perfect opportunity…especially since the kit was on sale.

I ordered it, and my box arrived today…

I eagerly dug in…

Isn’t it pretty?

Take a look at what you see when you turn the bag over…

Oh, yarny goodness!!!!

I didn’t dare open the plastic wrap to touch the yarn in fear of totally losing my wits and forgetting that I had lesson plans to write.

The plans have been finished, and I have one day of fun before the week begins (along with another ESOL class).

I have decided to play with yarn on Sunday.

No, I will not cast on, because I have two other projects going.  However, I will cradle the yarn tenderly, loving on it…holding it close to my face…dreaming of when I can put the first stitches on my needles.

The colorwork scares me, but I’ve got some time to get over my fears.

I have much to do in the way of real life work and such.

Still, the joy from the yarn treat, though a bit frivolous, will linger, giving me something to look forward to when things slow down.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Marilinda Socks

Posted on September 16, 2013 by auburnchick

I have a finished project to show off!

I started my newest pair of socks in June but set them down to work on other things.

These are Cookie A’s “Marilinda” from her book Knit. Sock. Love.

I bought the yarn, Casacade Heritage Sock, in Sitka, Alaska during the cruise I went on with the family three summers ago.

The pattern was actually easy.  I know it looks complicated.  Trust me.  It wasn’t.

I did have to frog the first sock when I was the on the heel because I realized that it was going to be too big.  I should know myself better.  I have a loose tension, and my gauge is always bigger than what the pattern says.  Size 0 needles are the way to go for me!

I turned these in for detention in the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup forum on Ravelry.  I’m hoping to collect my ten points for the pair.  Woo hoo!

I think these are going be just perfect when the weather turns cooler, don’t you?

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

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