Knitter in Progress

Lots going on away from the computer. Knitting: **Gryffindor squares--I'm under the gun with these as I want them done by Sunday(self imposed goal) **Mystery Stole 3--printed out clue 1--that's it--so clearly more needs to get done there Hopefully there will be a picture-ific knitting post next week. Reading: **need to finish Goblet of Fire (chapter 23 right now), then Order of the Phoenix (which I want done BEFORE the movie premiere), and of course Half Blood Prince --then the book we're all waiting for :) Just a random thought on Goblet of Fire . This is the first time I've reread the whole series since the last book came out(I read Azkaban a lot, but not the others). I watch the movies quite a bit though; and as I have told people before, even though I am sorted into Ravenclaw, I could totally see myself in Durmstrang. Now the movies make you believe that Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are not co-ed. It.is.simply.not.true. Reread and find out :) **and I am already accumu...

I've decided to try the whole Mystery Stole thing next month. Here's my swatch: Yarn: Misti Alpaca Needles: size 4 Blocked Size: 4"x4" I actually knit 2 swatches. The first one had a mistake on the last row and I didn't like the cast off so I tried again. In the second I alternated slipping one knitwise(column 1 & 3) and purlwise (column 2). Unless the pattern specifies, I never know which is the default one so I wanted to compare them. My biggest problem so far is my cast off--I think it's still too tight. I even cast off with bigger needles and it was still tight. I may have to bring out the "table leg" 35s, seriously. Any tips would be appreciated, because I can't tell you how mad I'll be if I do the whole stole and the cast off ruins it.

I went to Estes on Saturday with the knitting crew. Last year I only bought one skein. This year was a different story. Here's what I got at Estes: Stats: Brooksfarm Acero Yarn, Superwash Wool/Silk/Viscose, 420 yards(3 skeins) Stats: Plain and Fancy Sheep & Wool, 100% Wool--Variegated Royal Blue, 400 yards(3 skeins) Stats: Trekking XXL, Superwash Wool/Polyamid--color 147, 459 yards (1 skein) Here's what I got at Colorful after(because I did not bring knitting with me in the morning and wanted something to work on): Stats: Great Adirondack Yarn Company, Merino Superwash--Cranberry Bog, 360 yards(1 skein) This was the beginnings of a sock but this demon skein has decided not too cooperate. First it didn't want to be wound into a ball. When Stacey, Tiffany, and I finally straightened it out, the skein knotted up some more SO I ripped out what I had started, unknotted the yarn, and rewound it into what you see above. I love the color but instead of Cranberry Bog I think it ...

The Slytherin squares are done. Here are some different arrangements to enjoy: Light with Dark Peaks and Valleys Barn Raising The tally so far: Timberline On to Gryffindor!

**if you want to see what finished piece will look like click on the picture** In the midst of having about 1,000 other things to do this weekend I found time to work on my HAED SAL piece. I had wanted to get page 1 done, but I'm about 2,000 stitches short(if I would have started stitching on Friday instead of Sunday I would have met my goal). Hopefully, I can squeeze in some more time on it this month and still get page 1 done. The HAED team recently started charting a new artist . And I love this and this . I mean I really love them, so much so that--even though I don't need one--I may have a new start in my future. The Keltic Mandala is practically screaming to me to be stitched.

Your Eyes Should Be Brown Your eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom What's hidden behind your eyes: A tender heart What Color Should Your Eyes Be? Darn, I was hoping mine would be green or something more interesting. Mine are already brown.

I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I HAVE fallen into finishing mode. I am weaving in lots and lots and lots of ends. The Slytherin squares are done and I'm slowly plodding through the ends of those as well as the ends on a Stashalong project I'm working on. It's not really exciting to see a picture of me buried in yarn bits and afghan squares so I'll spare you that. Look for pics of the Slytherin squares with the Hufflepuff squares next week. I'm really excited about knitting squares now as only my two favorite houses are left! I did find time to sign up for this though. I guess I'd better get a move on with my Hogwarts afghan so I can start the stole guilt free ;) Happy knitting and happy weekend!!

As if I needed anything to build my excitement about the Harry Potter madness that will ensue in July. I bought this book last week: I read it and loved it. I was hooked by this part of a paragraph from the foreword: People will be picking up Harry Potter books for generations to come, but we are the lucky few who can say, "We were there." We will remember the crazy, late-night madness of book releases and the teeming crowds of fans all over the world gathering in honor of Harry Potter. We will remember watching a book about a boy wizard seduce millions of kids away from their TV sets. --Emerson Spartz, p. 10 I recommend this book for anyone who wants to be able to share a piece of the Harry Potter madness with people in the future. After Deathly Hallows is released, I'm sure we will have most of the answers--won't it be something to have a book like this to look back and see what all the theories were. It's very well written, meticulously researched, and gives th...

**Work on Misty Weniera for the HAED SAL(8-11, I think) and finish page 1 **finish the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Hogwarts blanket squares **finish my two pieces for the the Stashalong June KAL within a KAL **reread Sorcerer's Stone , Chamber of Secrets , Prisoner of Azkaban , and Goblet of Fire

With the end of the school year upon us, I came up with a list of things I'd like to accomplish this summer(June 4-August 10). As always this is a lofty goal and hopefully I'll be able to make a dent in it. Little Diva: **complete Summer Bridge Activities **read a book or magazine article a day(NG Kids and/or Highlights) a day **finish at least half of her latch hook Little Rage: **complete Summer Bridge Activities **listen to a story/magazine article a day(not necessarily the same as his sister's) Both: **go the the pool at least 3 times per week **go to the zoo at least twice a month(gotta use that membership) **complete chores(mostly consisting of cleaning up their rooms/toys) Me: **reread the Harry Potter books **read Deathly Hallows **catch up on my IRA journal reading **finish at least 3 pages total of any combination of my cross stitch WIPs **finish the Hogwarts Afghan and at least 2 other WIPS **declutter the house

Red, Black, and Metallics for the next two months :) And I have the perfect first picture. Yesterday we had a visitor in our back yard. This little one: Diva and Rage were VERY interested in this poor lost soul.