Friday, June 25, 2010

Expierements in Blocking

So believe it or not I have never officially blocked anything before. Although from what I've heard on some podcasts and read on other people's knitting blogs I am not the only one! Not the only one that worked through quite a few projects before they discovered blocking. I figured out what blocking was after my first handful of projects but I just have never done it.

Well within the last week I got my shipment of goodies from Knit Picks, and in those two wonderful boxes were: a ball winder, blocking mats, lack blocking wires with T-pins, and a new book! More on the book later. I plan to do a review of the book in fact because I am so in love with how wonderful it is!!!

Since receiving so many blocking products I was inspired to finally block the Waffle Scarf that I knit for Mother's Day. Yeah it is a little over due...but at least I am getting it done now! Presumably I will be able to present my mom with a completed scarf, finally! On Mother's Day I actually gifted the darn thing while it was still on the needles. Now it has taken me a couple of months to weave in the ends and block it. But hey we all know that is how I am with my knitting projects...as well as everything else that I have going on in my life.


In other news, the Windmill Blanket has been frogged because the person I was making it for does not deserve anything handmade or anything at all really. No, I don't want to talk about it.

The most exciting news of the day is that since I got my ball winder my stash is so much neater now. All of my HP yarn as well as the yarn that I am using for projects I have on the needles right now is wound into neat little honeycombs. Which may not sounds like a lot, but it is. There was a lot of HP (Harry Potter) colored yarn that needed to be wound and organized, and I have three projects on the needles right now. So anyway about half of my stash is in much better shape now.

Finally, I can't show any pictures of the progress of my knitting projects because I am doing a swap (my first ever!) and not that my partner would check my blog, but just in case I want to keep everything a surprise.

I feel like I have much more control over my knitting now that I have a ball winder to organize things with and blocking mats, et all to finish the projects that I complete. I am a much happier knitter now! If that was even possible. Book review to come shortly (and of course by shortly I mean...eventually).

Ta-ta for now. Happy knitting.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Gryffindor!!!

I just bound off the Harry Potter scarf that I have been knitting like a fiend for the past couple of weeks. This is the second HP scarf that I have knit, both were the same pattern.

It took a lot of work, and a lot of work to be completed. So to be nearly done with it is a huge accomplishment. I am even more excited that I it is done in time for me to wear to my upcoming vacation to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter next month.

Before my trip I plan to complete one more scarf, and I would love to knit one of the HP sweaters but I doubt that will happen. You never know. We'll see how it goes. All I can do is try, right?

Saturday, June 12, 2010

update time

First of all I have some good news! My brother is home from Afghanistan.  My parents and I picked him up from the airport today! It is WONDERFUL to have him home safe.

So as usual I have made little or no progress on my projects with the exception of my HP scarf. I am about 80% done (less finishing) with the first scarf (out of 2) that I need to finish before I leave for my awesome vacation. Oh yeah, I am going on a vacation next month. For the first week I will be in Vegas, and for the second week I am going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! So naturally I HAVE to have something knitted to take with me. It is going to be miserably hot during the day, but I'm hoping that the temperature drops enough during the nighttime for me to be able to wear my scarf at least once.


So I have been working away on my scarf for the past few days.

My corona sweater is sleeping right now. I have re-knit about seven or eight inches. So I did make some progress, but I haven't worked on it in ages.

The Twilight scarf has been frogged. I will get back to it once I finish the HP scarves, and my sweater. I ripped out because I did not like how wide it is. My gauge was right on and it is as wide as the pattern calls for, but I just don't like how it looks. So when I get around to it I will do some test swatches to find a width that I am happier with.

The windmill blanket is also sleeping. I really need to get to work on it since it is a gift for someone. Especially since they already know I am making it for them.

There is just too much going on for me right now to knit as much as I would like, but I squeeze it in as much as possible. Most of the stuff (paperwork, meetings, tours, etc) that I needed to get ready before I start school again in August is taken care of so I've had a bit more free time in the past couple of weeks.

Anyway that is pretty much it for now! I noticed I hadn't updated the old blogy blog in quite awhile so I thought I would throw something out there. Hopefully there will be an FO post on the way soon...but you know how I am with those so don't hold your breath.

P.S. How do you like the new look of my blog? Google came out with the new blogger template designer and I think it is fabulous. I played around with it for about half and hour before I wrote this post up. Not sure how long I will stick with this specific design, but I am overjoyed that there are more options for the look of my blog now!