Since my last post I have been sick, had a fever blister erupt on my lip, (just in time for the Thanksgiving family pictures!), traveled everyday of the Thanksgiving holiday, and finished the first sock for my husband.
This was my first time making a short row heel and toe and I really enjoyed it. The heel knit up without a hitch, which left me a bit cocky when it came to the toe. So once I got to the toe I didn't really pay as much attention and had to rip it and redo it twice. That's what I get for thinking I'm a knitting genius for getting the heel right the first time.
For the socks I'm using pattern #7279 from Grace Ennis' Graphic Knitting Patterns. BUT, from the design down I'm going by the Dream Socks pattern by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. (They are in the Fall 2000 issue, or the subsciber-only content of Interweave Knits site.) Changing up the sock structure has greatly increased the fit of the socks. If you are thinking about using some of the Grace Ennis patterns I highly recommend changing the gauge and length of your sock to get the right fit. The first socks I tried to make out of one of her patterns (following all directions and keeping correct gauge) wouldn't fit my size 6 shoe-wearing sister, much less my size 11 shoe-wearing husband.
They are great patterns though. I love all of the cool designs.
Now I'll start the second sock and hopefully I will finish it faster than this last one!

Stephanie and I went to the 9:15 showing of Goblet of Fire last night. I must say, I was a bit disappointed. I was the ONLY person wearing any house colors, and no one was wearing any kind of Harry Potter item at all. It made me wish that I were in Fayetteville, NC, instead of Burlington, Alamance County, NC. Those in Fayetteville have more fun with things like this.
When I waited up until Midnight at the Books-A-Million in Fayetteville, they had all kinds of activities and a lot of people were dressed for it. I found out from Stephanie last night that at the BAM here, you just waited in line and that was it. Nobody was dressed for that either.
C'mon people! Have some imagination!
I enjoyed the movie, though. I wish they could have covered everything in the book, but I think what they did gave you the feel of the book. Everyone had grown up so much!!!

It was hard for me to calm down and go to sleep last night, then my nose was runny and Bruce kept waking up, so I'm going on very little sleep right now. We have Little Gym, a birthday party and another event to attend today. I hope I can be presentable!
I'm off to work on the sock!

I finished my first mini-Weasley. I am a little disappointed in the way it turned out. But I probably only have myself to blem for that. I was supposed to be following the directions for the mini-sweater in "Last Minute Knitted Gifts", but it tried to change it up a bit.
The elastic for the cuffs of my husband's sock came in today. I casted on and have knit a couple rows of ribbing.

I would like to take it to the Goblet of Fire tonight, but I know I will be too into the movie. I would probably make a ton of mistakes.

Dante's mom, Stephanie, and I are going together. I will be wearing my Ravenclaw scarf!Hooray!!!

The back and left front of the 1962 Weskit are finished and sewn together. It's quite hard to see much in the picture because the yarn is so dark. This shot is looking at it from the front. This will be put on hold until I get some holiday knitting done.
I've joined the "Who Wouldn't Love a Handknitted Gift" knitalong to help push me through the holidays.
Topping my list of gifts is a pair of socks for my husband. They were supposed to be for his birthday last year, then Christmas last year, then birthday this year, and now they MUST be done for Christmas this year. Other gifts are less important, but include 1-2 scarfs, 2-3 hats, a purse, 4-6 Weasley sweater ornaments, and maybe a few crocheted snowflake ornaments.
I'm not going to let myself get too involved with anything, though, until I have completed the socks. I am using one of Grace Ennis's patterns, style #7279, "Overlapping Diamonds". I've decided to switch to smaller needles for the cuffs and add some elastic thread at the beginning to make sure they stay up well.

It still fits!!! Bruce's Weasley sweater still fits him. I'm glad I made the sleeves and torso a little too long. It may even fit him next year too!

Here he is with his Quidditch broom ready to play! With his penchant for hitting and banging things, I think he would make a good Beater.

Here's my Harry Potter with his Gryffindor tie. I was going to wait and give it to Dante when we went to see the movie, but for some strange reason he wants to go to the opening with a friend instead of his mom and me. I thought he might like to wear it to the opening. (He'll have to wear it again when he goes with his mom and me the next day!)

And yes, that is a John Lennon shirt he's wearing. And this 6th grader knows all about John Lennon and many other classic rock greats. What a cool kid!

Bruce is actually sleeping and I have forsaken all housework to begin Dante's Gryffindor tie. I decided to stop at three sets and now I will go and get some cleaning done.

I'm excited at how fast it is going!

I've requested Barabara Walker's "The Craft of Lace Knitting" from my local library. Two of the branches of the library have this book. It's a compilation of her first, second and third treasuries. I'm hoping to find a lace edging pattern that I like for the circular shawl you see above. It's from Elizabeth Zimmerman's "A Knitter's Almanac."

Okay, I made a pledge to myself that I wouldn't buy any more yarn until I had completed some projects that have been patiently waiting in line to be created. I am now compelled to break that pledge. I think I will knit the HiP scarf/tie/belt in Gryffindor colors for a most favorite friend of mine, Dante. I'm hoping I can have it done by the time the movie opens. I will probably be attending the movie with him, his mom, and another friend of ours. I plan on wearing my Ravenclaw scarf, and I think he would love to have something with Gryffindor colors. I don't have enough time for a sweater or a regular scarf, so I think this project will be perfect. My LYS had some yarn in appropriate colors and I will get started this afternoon while Bruce is supposed to be napping.

I've decided to move to Blogger and see how I like this. I get a lot of more image space with Blogger. I was having to delete past images to post new ones on the other blog. I will start posting knitting pictures before long!