A different sort of progress report.

(Excerpts from a recent inteview with CraftyGryphon)

So, let me get this straight: you've gone completely mad?

No, I wouldn't say mad, exactly. I may have let my schedule get a wee bit out of hand for the coming months, but that's not madness. More along the lines of rampant disorganization.

Well, let's review: you're about to finish - allegedly - your Masters Hand Knitting Level One packet for The Knitting Guild of America, correct?

Yes. I'd like to get it mailed by next Saturday at the latest, since that's when classes start.

Classes. More on that later. So, you'll be handing in your Master's packet shortly. This year, you've also started a "Monster Blanket Project". Which seems to involve knitting a bunch of patterns you've never seen before, and churning out a king-sized blanket when all is said and done.

Yep! That's a lot of fun. No requirement there, I just thought it would be fun to do, and it gives me something to blog about at least once a week. On Thursdays.

Thursdays. Say, weren't you doing something about books you'd read on Tuesdays?

I was, but I read so many books I'm about a years' worth of posts behind at this point. I'll probably bring that feature back sometime in the future, though. People liked it.

Okay, so, Masters, Blanket. And you've got a few projects going, correct?

Well, it's either forty-nine or fifty, depending on whether I can get some more Dreambaby DK tomorrow.

... depending?

Well, I've either got half a baby blanket or a bandeau top for myself - and not quite enough yarn. Well, actually, I've used all my purple yarn. I'm really hoping the store has more purple... although my friends Max and Cindy say I should just turn it into a cute little handbag, and I might do that if I can figure out where I left my extra handbag strap. So maybe it is done?

Er... right. So, Masters, Blanket, fifty projects...

Probably forty-nine!

Probably forty-nine. You do sleep, don't you?

(laughs) Of course! Not a lot; I've always done fine on six or seven hours. And I've recently discovered I can do stockinette in the round in my sleep.

Really?

(laughs again) No, just seeing if you were actually paying attention. Some people zone out when I start going on about knitting.

Well, it's safe to say most of our readers aren't that type.

Makes sense. Well, as much sense as putting a fake interview in my blog, at any rate.

Er, yes. That brings us to the final point - you were just admitted to the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup at Hogwarts-on-Ravelry. That requires quite a bit of work, doesn't it?

Well, it's not so bad. You don't *have* to do anything, really, but it's suggested you take at least one class a month - more if you think you can handle it. I'll start with one a month, this term, to get the hang of things.

Any particular classes?

Well, I won't know until the requirements for each are posted. But it wouldn't do to take a class I didn't think I could finish - sure, I'd get points for my House for starting, but you get the real points for finishing.

Um... that makes sense. I think. Wait, your House?

I don't know what House I'm in yet. I don't get sorted until next week. I think I'm hoping for Ravenclaw - or maybe Slytherin.

Not Gryffindor? Doesn't everyone want to be in Gryffindor?

Lots do, I suppose, but "being brave" isn't really my thing. It'll be interesting to see where I wind up. I hope we find out early, so I can get my O.W.L. proposal ready to go.

... Wait. You're going to sit for an O.W.L. as a First Year?

It's allowed, and I think it'll be fun. I'm going to see if I can do Girasole for my Charms O.W.L., if I make the blanket size. That should be doable in three months.

Let me summarize: you're knitting a blanket for fun, working on your Level I Masters, you've got approximately fifty projects already going, you're about to start taking classes at Hogwarts and you're going to knit ANOTHER blanket for an O.W.L.? Is that correct?

Yes. Should be fun! Oh, and I'm going to the TKGA National Convention for a few days in July. I hope I'll be able to take my O.W.L. attempt on the plane - I'd hate to miss a week of knitting time. Maybe I should take the train? That would be just loads of knitting time...

I stand by my original statement: "You've gone completely mad."