Cotton Cardi progress

Back & sides done, sleeves cast on, side seams done! 

New project - Cotton Cardi

Since it's almost Metro Yarn Crawl time, I figured I should start something with yarn I got last year. 

Gonna be: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/100-26-bolero-jacket-with-leaf-pattern (DROPS Design)

Hopefully, there's enough yarn if I play with needle sizes & cast ons!

A finish! Just now!

Okay, I've backdated this post to yesterday, since it's supposed to be the Friday post, but it's actually 12:58 a.m. on Saturday. I have just finished a project that HAS to be done later today (Saturday) as I'm going to see the recipient. Since scheduling may get truly weird, I needed to have it done *before* attempting to sleep.

So, I stayed up until it was knit, did the finishing, took photos, and will hand it off. But first, I share with you:


As you can hopefully see, it's a Hello Kitty illusion-knit dishcloth. The recipient is TOTALLY into that beribboned feline, even more than I am (and you may remember that scarf I made. So, woohoo, an actual post REALLY INSANELY CLOSE to the time of finishment!! Slowly, I get back into the Blogging Regularly thing...!

Note: Because I gave the original pattern away, I had to recreate it for this dishcloth - but I *cannot* share it, sorry, as I do not own Hello Kitty. (Man, I would have SO MUCH YARN if I was in Sanrio's league, money-wise!)

A Lot of Dishcloths.

I knitted a LOT of cotton dishcloths in 2013. Here, have a look!

This one was huge:


... and there was just this much yarn left when it was done:


This was my second (and very successful) attempt at a centered lattice dishcloth, and I just love the colors:


This one was a sunburst... which ended up looking more like an old-fashioned corset about 5 seconds after this photo:


With any yarn left over after making a "fancy" dishcloth, I made little garter-stitch dishcloths. They have been SOOOOOO useful to have around!






They're relaxing to make, use up yarn (this is a plus!), and turn into something really useful. Hooray!

Things to do with Leftover Cotton Yarn

Make iPod cozies! Regular ones don't fit my Otterbox-clad ancient iPods, so Something Must Be Done. Which basically involved "hm, cast about this many on, then pick up from the other side, then knit about this much, then make an edging, HEY IT WORKED!" To wit:
The cover on the covered iPod


See?


Yes, that's "Music for You and your Cat"

Also known as "Muggle Studies Homework for March".

YES, THERE IS CAT MUSIC OTHER THAN NYANCAT!!

Knitting a Pirate

So, there's this lovely iPhone/Android game calle "Book of Heroes". It's horribly, horribly addictive. It's a MMO in your hand, complete with guilds, social interaction, specialization, adventure... anyway, it's fun. Lots & lots! The art is a lot of fun as well. This is a screenshot of one of the Enemies: a pirate.


Screencap from the game
This is my knitted interpretation of same... thus far. It's mostly cotton (so it will be washable and get softer with age) with polyfill. It's bigger than I had originally anticipated, in part because I'm using cotton dishcloth yarn, but also because the stripes on the pants would have been a REAL challenge done any smaller. As it is, I actually figured out how to make them follow the picture, which I'm pretty proud for having done.


Stripes down one leg and around the other?
NOT EASY!
Originally, I was thinking I'd do a pattern to go with it, but it's not my starting image, and I'm winging it so much I can't really remember what I did!!

Helicies

For Arithmancy, we needed to make something math-y. Since helicies were specifically mentioned, and I love cup cozies, and I used to play with DNA for a living, I made a DNA cup cozy. (In high visibility yellow. It really is the best yarn for this for me! And... I think I have just enough yarn to make a third one some time next term.)

On the left, we have the cozy over a small drinking glass, just for shape. Eh, it looks okay. On the right, it's being worn by a 32-oz soda cup (its intended target), and looks much better.

And my hands didn't freeze coming to work, as they are wont to do on brisk spring mornings when carrying cups of ice-cold things. Yay!!

TARDIS dishcloth

A bit of geekery today. There's a really cool TARDIS dishcloth pattern out there. Specifically, it's here, if you're interested. Anyway, our HoH made one last month, and I saw it, and I squealed. So, I made one.


My deviation from the pattern is doing a garter-stitch edging, because I'm used to doing that on my dishcloths. I just couldn't believe I had a nice blue bit of cotton yarn left over from (gosh... flag dishcloths, cup cozies, fish...) to make it! For class, it just had to be made from leftovers from previous projects - the yarn was orignally obtained to make this, which evidently never got on either Ravelry OR my blog, which I just don't understand (must've done it when I was between cameraphones, maybe?)


and was also used for this last month:


So that should count, right?

Time Capsule Cozy

The first Quidditch Challenge, in short, was as follows:

"You must make a memento to leave behind for future civilizations that may visit Earth. Your memento may represent yourself, the wizarding world, or humanity at large."

Since I am BOMBARDED with election things (from both sides, on all sides!) and I can see Congress out the front window, I knew I had to do something related to the craziness that's just heating up. (No, really, it WILL get more prevalent as the year goes on.) I had this left over from my American Flag dishcloth binge:


... and I'm pretty good at glass cozies at this point... plus, I can't find my With Flames wool one. So, here's my turn-in post:

Name: CraftyGryphon
House: Slytherin, Sixth Year
Tags: slyqw12challenge1, sqwin12
Project Page: Time Capsule Cozy
Yardage: Approximately 58, because of multiple stranding

I crafted a cup cozy with an actual Symbol as a symbol of our times. The Muggle world in the lower half of the North American Continent is headed into a major election year (every leap year, those particular Muggles choose new leaders, or keep the old ones, depending on who gets the most votes in the "Electoral College", which, I assure you, is NOTHING like Hogwarts). One of the sides in the election four years back adopted a stylized blue-and-red "O" as its symbol, and no matter which side (I think there are three this time?) a Muggle is on, there's really no avoiding that symbol, as it is plastered on Muggle vehicles, clothing, what-have-you, with more and more frequency as the "Election Year" (which really started sometime in 2010) heats up. It isn't often that a symbol is, itself, a symbol of the times, but this one is!!

The image is actually on the cozy twice: the chart I used is on the 'net, for free, here at emileeknits.com.

Lobster Trap Scarf - in progress

What I'm trying to finish today: a Lobster Trap Scarf.


I'm not certain it's going to happen, but at least lacets go VERY QUICKLY after my History of Magic OWL attempt!

12 in 12

So, according to Ravelry (which doesn't count cross stitch, quilting, canvas or hardanger, so no, I didn't get The List down super-far, don't worry), I have twelve WIPs. WIPs are things that I actually intend to finish at some point, as opposed to UFOs, which I have finally realized means I will NOT finish them. (The List has both right now; it will be pruned of UFOs for the new year.) Anyway, here are my Ravelry WIPs:


They're presented in order of "happiness" - which should probably also be updated, since by "happiness", my Evenstar should be dead last. (I am loathing knit-on beaded edging and only keeping going because the yarn is soooo fluffy and the beads are soooo pretty and I WANT THAT SHAWL.)

As pictured left to right, top to botttom, the items are as follows:

1. The 2011 Advent Calendar Scarf, Part 1. I started this on December 1 this year, so it hasn't been a WIP for long. Since I'm doing it with MadTosh Merino Light, 91 stitches and 12 days of pattern will actually get me a shawl. This is probably the closest item to being finished. It will be saved for the OWL frenzy that is March.
2. Slytherin Crest Bag. The knitting is done, the blocking is done. I have the hardware, the straps, and the canvas for the lining. I have zippers and more canvas for pockets. I just have to actually (*shudder*) SEW the thing together. February is a short month with a long weekend - I think I'll save this for then.
3. Ancient Runes OWL: Pretty as a Peacock Shawl. I actually have to frog back through the first set of peacock feathers, which is what killed this shawl getting finished in the first place. And (oh, joy!) I don't think there's a lifeline anywhere in the thing. (I have learned better since!) Whereabouts currently unknown; I'll keep this for August, in-between terms, since it's silk and not *super* warm.
4. Swiss Cheese Scarf. A pleasant little mindless something to carry around with everything else. Also to be saved for an end of term - preferably one where I'm traveling - like July.
5. Astronomy OWL: Evenstar Shawl. It's JUST the edging left. The beaded edging. Still, I think I've got a shot at finishing it in a week or two of knitting. Since it's very warm, it needs a winter midterm - either April this year, or hold until December.
6. Pullover WITH FLAMES. About half the flames are done. I just need to rework the neck (I hate the way it looks now) and worry about the sleeves. Except for the WITH FLAMES areas, it's simple stockinette, so it goes fast when I'm actually knitting.
7. The 2010 Advent Calendar Scarf. Whereabouts currently unknown, and I think I only have about seven days done. This one should be a midterm project, too... and I think I just ran out of midterms.
8. EZ 100th Anniversary Pi Hearts Shawl. This is a big shawl; I think I just kicked up to the 560-stitch rows. It's working well, though, and the Neighborhood Fiber Company silk is a pleasure. It's a pretty simple pattern, despite the size of what's left; I think I can do this during regular term.
9. Yarn on Thursdays: Stitch Edition Blanket. I'm going through (or was going through, I enrolled in the HPKCHC) the entire Knitting on the Net Stitch Directory. I got through 19 weeks of my project in 2010/2011, and 67 stitches on the list. For sanity, I think I'll call "finished" for the blanket at stitch 77, which should be two more panels on the blanket, which should make it queen-sized/futon sized. The rest of the stitches will be handled as sampler pillows for the colorwork/mosaic stuff and the rest in a nice little lap-sized throw. But finished for this is the last ten stitches in part II of the list. Should be able to knock this out during term.
10. Dragon Illusion Blanket. OY. I started this a long, long time ago, before I really had a grasp on what either "287 st/row" or "every row in illusion knitting is actually four rows" meant. I'm almost to the halfway point; I'm thinking if I can get five (really 20) rows a month, I might have it done by the end of the year sometime. And 20 rows of this thing is about all I can manage before it gets exiled again.
11. Peacock Feather Beaded Scarf. This isn't just "whereabouts unknown"; it's so small - just a tiny ball of merino and some beads - that I think it may actually have been accidentally thrown out. If I haven't found it by December 2012, it'll officially come off The List and my Rav page as "forever frogged".
12. History of Magic OWL: Peacock Fillet Crochet Tablecloth. I want this thing done. IT FREAKING TAKES FOREVER. It's a tiny hook. It's tiny thread. BUT IT IS SO PRETTY! I think this will be another "work about ten rows, put it down for a month" projects.

So, according to the above, I want to finish the twelve items in the following order, more or less. Any of the larger items (tablecloth, illusion blanket) will get worked on well before the month they're due - heck, all of them might be - so this is just a "hey, if I haven't started finishing this yet, I really should" list :

January - Pullover WITH FLAMES February - Slytherin Crest Bag March - 2011 Advent Calendar Scarf, Part 1 April - Evenstar Shawl (OWL) May - Yarn on Thursdays: Stitch Edition Blanket June - 2010 Advent Calendar Scarf July - Swiss Cheese Scarf August - Pretty as a Peacock Shawl (OWL) September - EZ 100th Anniversary Pi Hearts Shawl October - Peacock Fillet Crochet Tablecloth (OWL) November - Dragon Illusion Blanket December - Peacock Feather Beaded Scarf

Yeah, that should keep me busy this year. Not even counting the upcoming 54 classes, three BROOMs, three OWLs, Quidditch, Challenges, and other events!!

More things to do with cotton yarn....

So, for Potions this month, we had an option to make an Item Used in Muggle Cleaning. So, I found a crochet pattern for a a "Swiffer Cover". Swiffer is one of those sinister products that uses the "Razor and Blades" scheme - the consumer is able to purchase the handle assembly at a low price, but has to to purchase replacement refills and pads over the life of the product (and that adds up to a multibillion-dollar industry in fifteen countries). I happen to have competitor's product, engineered along the same lines, and still (allegedly) reliant upon buying refill after refill of the "mop pads". Or, rather, it was, until I made this: It's SheepOfADifferentColor.com's pattern, but the website is down right now, so the only way to get to the pattern is to look at the Ravelry Page for it (sorry!).

Half a ball of washable cotton - nice, washable reusable cotton - can substitute easily for one of the mop pads. So, for a small outlay of time and yarn (in this case, fifty cents - one half of a ball fo Pisgah Peaches & Cream, scored at the Dollar Store!), one can stop shelling out money for one-use pads.

The only problem is that mine looks so nice and pretty I don't actually want to get dirt on it!!

On the other hand, I know one of the things I'll be getting my mom for Christmas is a bunch of these in pretty colors. She's hit the "impossible to buy for" stage, but still loves anything I make for her. Yes, even Cleaning-Related Items.

What to do with All That Yarn.

In case you were wondering what you can do with one ball of Peaches & Cream, here's some examples. Yep, all four things took 97 yards of a 98-yard ball, and all told, it was about four hours of knitting/crocheting-while-watching-TV. Well... maybe just three.

Who: CraftyGryphon
Where: Slytherin, Fifth Year
Why: Quidditch, Yule Ball event #2
What: Dances - The Chudley Cannonball; The Tarapoto Tree-Skimmers Tango
When: (aka Tag, because I wasn't sure which heading it should go under) ybslyqf11
How: 97 yards (for all four items)

Hello to my fellow dancers! I'm here with two dances to perform (somebody cue the orchestra please). First up, is the oh-so-fun Chudley Cannonball, half in knit steps, half in crochet!



And then, we move to the Tarapoto Tree-Skimmers Tango (a crowd favorite) Two-steps are always fun!

Whee!!

Goodness, that was exerting. Someone fetch me a hottie to fetch me some Ginger Ale, please!

Um. That's a lot of yarn.

The Dollar Store had Pisgah Peaches & Cream 2 for $1. The cart-seat is my mom's haul; the cart is mine. I am set for cotton yarn forever, or at least until I crochet up a mess of American Flag dishcloths for the USO, a bunch of swiffer covers for me and my mom, glass cozies and washcloths for my family, and a bunch of Slytherin and pumpkin ornaments just for my own amusement!


(And no, I don't have anywhere to put it. I'm knitting/crocheting it up as fast as I can and still work on my OWL.)

Another finish

Also due to the commuting trauma last week (and not actually having cast on my actual Rogue hoodie until Tuesday evening - AFTER the commute), I was able to finish a lovely shawl I started back in April during the DC Yarn Crawl.


It's Color Changing Cotton, and I used all but three yards of it.


I also really like the lattice texture - it's just the "Nancy" part of the Nancy & Judy shawl on Ravelry; I'll be using it again in something-or-other!

New Term Starts Today! WOOHOO!!

Okay, classes are starting today, and just assume I'm putting my O.W.L. proposal in the INSTANT the thread is opened. Since all that is going on, here's the shots for my final STUFFF tile, turned in Tuesday (thus making me eligible for lovely Golden Tiles of Completness). Here's the before, which you've seen previously. You can see that the Pile of Stuff is spilling onto the Greek Key design in the center of the floor - and afterwards, the center of the floor design is down in the corner - look how far all the things are from it!!


Here is the after. There is, at the back, from the bottom up:

1. Bin of Spinny stuff and spindles.
2. Bin of Cotton yarn.
3. Bin of Acrylic Yarn.
4. Cross stitch stuff, in bags.

Then, in front, is the bin of Wool Yarn, a bag of wool for my "A New Angle" (from Wooly Thoughts) and another bag of cross stitch/sewing stuff. The blue bag on the floor is a bag full of project bags; the brown paper bag on the silver cases contains everything for my proposed Astronomy OWL.

I can find EVERYTHING!!


And this gets me my "T-is-for-Tidy" Tile. Woohooo!! That's the whole set!!


It's pretty cool to actually know WHERE THE YARN IS. I mean, if I'm looking for wool, it's in the wool bin. If I'm looking for puffystuff and a spindle, it's in that bin, and so forth. And I found a set of Glow-in-the-Dark knitting needles... I vaguely remember getting them, I think... Anyway. No, this isn't *any* of the yarn from the craft room, nor the storage unit. This is all the stuff that wasn't in either of those places, and needed to be straightened out. And it's organized, which is putting me ahead of the game by quite a bit!!

Anyway, ON TO HOGWARTS!!!!

Care of Unmagical Creatures

I have actually been knitting quite a bit - all washcloths, lately. They're small, portable, and I can fit four balls of yarn in my purse and they don't weigh all that much! So, if a class can be made to fit a washcloth, I'm trying to make it happen.

For Care of Magical Creatures, we could start on the Christmas knitting, so I did. Most of the women in my family (whether they want them or not) will be getting little cotton washcloths, and, if there's enough yarn, little facepoofs to match. (Looks like one ball of Lily Sugar n' Cream nets two washcloths, and *maybe* one facepoof if I'm lucky. Here's the first set, turned in for class:



For Muggle Studies, I had the option of (being a Slytherin) reading through The Green Fairy Book and crafting something to represent a story from it. To my delight, it contained the tale of The Enchanted Snake!! For the HoH Challenge for July, we were also to attempt, for some class, to find a Gryffindor to stalk, and make a project of theirs that fit. I found a wee Gryffie with a perfect project to try: a dishcloth with a big giant "S" on it. Which, if done in green, winds up looking like this:


That's likely it for classes, although I have some ideas for Arithmancy, DADA... oh, heck, for all of them, but OWLS, Quidditch and Tour de Fleece come first!

Yarn Leftovers: A Solution Thereto

I finished one of my Hallows for-sure-for-sure over the weekend (more on that later). I started with six 120-yd balls of Lily Sugar'n'Cream and made some American Flag Dishcloths. I did one exactly to the pattern for Charms last month, but the rest I changed a wee bit here and there, and will be turning them in as Hallows #1 for Quidditch. (Hallows have to be 300 yards; I figure mine's in the 500yd+ range) I had a couple of yards left at the end. So, rather than just toss an otherwise unworkable amount of cotton yarn out, I did what made sense to me at the time. I braided it:


...which resulted in a bunch of little friendship bracelets.


Yay! No wasted yarnbits!

Washcloth of Mystery

This is a round dishcloth/washcloth made my my Gramma Suzie. This one is her daughter's, but her other daughter has one, too (and probably her granddaughter, my SiL; can't remember if my cousin said she had one or not). It is a very pretty round washcloth, looks to be made from short rows, with a yarnover increase near the ends to make the petaly bits.


It's possible Gramma just made them off the top of her head. I did a Rav search to see if I could find the pattern, but didn't, not exactly. Marion Torgerson's is close - enough to give me an idea how to start it, anyway. And I do have a pretty good photo.

Once I've turned in my 50% HoM OWL (or failed spectacularly to do so - 18 rows left!), I'm going to do one of these just to relax on Friday. I'm sure there's a class for which I'll be able to make it work!

Dishcloth Pattern!

Easy Pretty Dishcloth

This dishcloth is made on the long edge, from alternating 5-row bands of stockinette and reverse stockinette, with a garter stitch border. It took exactly one ball of Lily Sugar'n Cream - 95 yards. (I knit loosely; your mileage may vary.
______________________

Cast on 54 stitches using long-tail method. (Explained in Knitty's '05 Summer Issue, here.)

Knit four rows. The long-tail cast on creates a row as it's made, so you'll have a total of five rows to start.

Begin Pattern:
Row 1 - K5, place marker, k across to last five stitches, place marker, K5.
Row 2 - k5, p across to last 5 stitches, k5.
Row 3 - k across
Row 4 - k5, p across to last 5 stitches, k5
Row 5 - k across


Row 6 - K across
Row 7 - k5, p across to last 5 stitches, k5
Row 8 - K across
Row 9 - K5, p across to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 10 - K across

Repeat rows 1-10 three more times (a total of forty rows of pattern, plus the five from the cast on and k-across at the beginning); then repeat rows 1-5 one time.

K four rows, then bind off. (Various methods also at Knitty, here.) If desired, crochet a hanging loop from the yarn left in the tail, slip stitch firmly back where you started the loop, tie off, and weave in ends.