Detention gets me points.

I finally got my lovely Dobby's Sunset shawl off the blocking board. I really like all the colors, especially since autumn is about to start, and the little leaves... it all just makes me happy!


Here's a better shot of the whole thing (it's really just a neck-shawl, but I used every bit of the yarn possible (and probably a bit more than I should have - see below).


I was asked about how I prep things for blocking - I do the total immersion thing. That's my stainless-steel dedicated shawl/knitwear bowl, and the dedicated glass to sit atop whatever's in the bowl to keep it from floating. (Stainless steel & glass: non-reactive. Non-reactive is good, in general, when dealing with knitted pretties.)


Bowl of Shawl
I also used a cute trick - the center-pull bracelet - for the first time on this project. It really does work!


Center pull balls can tangle near the end.
But not if you wear them.
Well, not as much, anyway.
It helps.
Really, it does!
And I really did use almost every drop of yarn:


All the yarn that is left from my PEby's "Dobby's Sunset" handspun.
I'm turning my shawl in for Detention today. Points for Slytherin, Woohoo!

Finished Project: STOP SOCK Project Bag

So, here's what I did with the chart from yesterday... and then another chart. I think this little project will actually get written up (by the end of the month?) and put up on Rav. It's a small-to-medium project bag, made from wool and using standard color stranding, and *does* need to be lined if you're actually going to have needles in it. (It's also my turn-in project for Herbology this month, but it's still pretty nifty.)


Front



Back
I started from the bottom center, and made the bottom flat, since I'm fond of bags that will actually stay where you put them/stand up on their own.


Bottom
The drawstring space is made by switching needles for back & forth, and doing a turned hem. It worked out REALLY nicely - to the point that I scavenged the drawstring from the dice bag I'd sewn a few Decembers ago so I'd have a good solid cord. That just happens to be a sparkly red.


Anyway, it turned out great, the pattern's not that hard (begginer-intermediate), and someone else might want one, so I'll write it once I have a block of time (and "writing" involves "test knitting again" - hence the "end of the month/next month").

STOP Sign knitting chart

For Herbology, we have the option of making something that will "repel someone and keep them from approaching you". Since I had red and white(ish) wool on me on Thursday, I came up with the idea of making something with a STOP sign on it. I whipped up a quick little chart (WinStitch - it's AWESOME, it does cross-stitch AND knitting charts), and I'm sharing it with y'all, should you ever need such a thing.

Term Begins, and I'm already hopelessly overcommitted!!

Oh, the joy! Classes dropped! My Astronomy O.W.L. was proposed and accepted! And I changed my OAE goal from Third Class to First Class - which means I have a LOT of knitting coming up. So, I looked at the scheduled classes for the month. For Third Class, I have to knit one thing for each class offered - which means I need to hit Astronomy, Divination and Herbology this month, since they're only offered now and in November. (Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Transfiguration are ONLY offered in October - eek!). I figured out what I could make from the yarn I had on me...

... yes, I took six balls of yarn, two sets of needles and a crochet hook with me to work, just in case I could start any/all of my classes immediately. THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL.

Because I say so.

Anyway, chart:


Once I figured out the classes I wanted to take, then I figured out that I'd be doing original patterns for two, and needed actual patterns for the other two, got them printed out, and got the class requirements printed out. Assembled the classes in alphabetical order, with patterns (as applicable) behind them....

... yes, I put all my classes in a notebook at the beginning of each month. THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL.

Because I say so.

Anyway, paperwork:


Then, I realized that the six balls of yarn I'd brought with me would work for four of the classes. I've started Astronomy and Charms, so far... well, okay, I've started all of them, I just won't have all of them done just yet. But I can't believe I'll actually be able to use all the yarn I brought with me! And the Scrap Bag has enough black and silver for Muggle Studies, and enough orange for Defense Against the Dark Arts, too. Again, THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. Everyone has scrap yarn. And I'm being good, and working from the stash!!


So, off to a good start this term. If my O.W.L. doesn't kill me this time (I had double-OWLfail last term), I should be all set. Right?

Right.

Because I say so!

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!!!!