Pattern Round-Up: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Did you see the red carpet photos and interviews from the HP7b London premiere?  Fantastico!
 
NEW FEATURE!!

PATTERN ROUND-UP!!

Yes, we live to enrich your lives.  I've decided that occasionally (sometimes, but not limited to, coinciding with the occasional Knitwear at the Movies posts) I will do a themed Pattern Round-Up of my faves, according to my whims and preferences... because I can!

Pattern Round-Up: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
relevant links to the KM post with pictures are helpfully provided in the pattern title heading

Screen Grab: Hermione's Cable & Eyelet Hat
This free pattern [Rav link], designed by Jackie Lauseng, is knit in the round with a worsted weight wool on size US5 needles.

Screen Grab: Hermione Hearts Ron
Another free Hermione hat pattern [Rav link], this one designed by Christy Aylesworth.  AND it's been translated into Spanish!

Screen Grab: Neville's Dinner Party Vest
Freshisle Fibers has gone cahrazy with the HP6 patterns!  Five dollars can get you the pattern [Rav link] for Neville's beautiful Fair Isle vest, featured in Slughorn's dinner party scene:

image (c) Freshisle Fibers

Screen Grab: Ron's Tuque
A tuque is a stocking cap, especially one that's pointy; Freshisle Fibers has thoughtfully provided a free pattern [Rav link] and taught me a new word in the process.

Screen Grab:  Hermione's Scarf
Hermione's free Fair Isle scarf, brought to you by Freshisle Fibers [Rav link]...

Inspiration: Hermione's Mittens
...and these free matching mittens [Rav link], also designed by Freshisle Fibers!

Inspiration: Half-Blood Prince
Designer Angela Tennant was very clever in naming her HP6-inspired socks Half-Blood Prince [Rav link]: super easy for searching!  The pattern has six (-ahem- sixth book) crowns and Slytherin cable-snakes to illustrate the muggle/magic duality of the titular Prince; only $5.
NOTE: The kit mentioned on Ravelry, which is sold here (Etsy store currently on vacation), has accompanying yarn House of Awesome AwesomeSock in a colorway called -- wait for it -- Half Blood Prince.  AND scene.

Inspiration: HP Fingerless Mitts
More inspiration -- and free at that -- from designer Lisa Mitchell...  these fingerless mitts [Rav link] incorporate simple stripes in house colors (but, of course, the sample is Slytherin).

Inspiration: Wee Slytherin
It's a tiny wee sock [Rav link]!  With an I-cord snake!  For free!  Thanks to designer Dawn Brand!

Screen Grab: pygmy puffs

"...a number of round balls of fluff in shades of pink and purple, all rolling around the bottom of a cage and emitting high-pitched squeaks."  ~ HP6, p121

I found two great pygmy puff patterns: one knit [Rav link] designed by Erin at Molly's Needles, one crochet [Rav link] designed by Brenna Eaves, both free!

Knitwear at the Movies: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

So I'm way too excited--and slightly saddened, let's be honest--about the upcoming release of the final Harry Potter movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (AKA HP7b). Let's get right to it: HP6!

Dumbledore and I have loads in common.

Hermione's Gray Hat
Hermione has the best hats, for reals.  This one is a dove gray stocking cap with a ribbed brim and a cable and eyelet crown:

<3 Luna!

The hat coordinates with her coat while the scarf matches the sweater peeking out at the collar.  Well done, costume designer!

Won Won's Zipper Sweater
It was tough to get a clear picture of this sweater; even after several tries, I was unsuccessful.  I blame the butter beer.

Don't give me that look, mister.

Squinting at the sweater in motion made me think that the detail could be either single rows of stranded colorwork between larger stripes or (more likely) visible purl bumps to add visual interest with the striping.  If you got a clearer view, let me know.

Hermione's Fair Isle Scarf
Ron's Pompon Hat
It's a double (triple, actually) whammy of knitted colorwork goodness in a three shot.  Ron's brown stripy hat shares the stage with Hermione's graytone Fair Isle scarf.  Harry's a knitwear slacker.

the gang's all here.

The scarf's color palette is muted, but I'll forgive that because the colorwork designs are so strong.  Anyone else reminded of timeturners by the row of triangle pairs?

The hat, of course, just solidifies Ron's place as the cutest hipster ginger that ever lived.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my NEW FEATURE: PATTERN ROUND-UP!!

HP Love Crafting

Just a warning to WATCH THIS SPACE for some wild and wacky HP7b countdown material!!  It's going to be magical, folks.  One week!!

Also, I've cast on something new:

It's this.

More details after more knitting.

Totally went to a yarn store

And yes, this is news, because it's been a while, guys.  Yesterday we were dismissed from work early (what? happy birthday, America!) and I jumped on the opportunity. 

Bonus hour + can't go home yet + no baby in sight = trip to a LYS

I'm under the strictest of yarn diets--no yarn purchases with my own money in 2011--so it's been a good long time since I've been in the confines of a yarn store, and not only because I do most of my purchases online.  Knit and Stitch = Bliss was nearby and I'm in the planning stages of a new gift (which ); it was quite the winning combination.

I had my first encounters with tosh sock, Colinette Jitterbug, Malabrigo Sock, and Claudia Hand Painted Yarns. Omigoodness, you guys.  I may have to break my yarn diet.  Also: Addi Clicks in bamboo??!  Holy whoa.  Also also: I learned that there are circular needles in the world with 11 inch cables.  Ta-da!

FO: Celestial Flame Mitts

I've decided that "Celestial Flame Mitts" would be an appropriate name for a project from a Carl Sagan-inspired pattern:

Starstuff [Rav link] by Amy van de Laar; knit in Lang Yarns Jawoll Solid Superwash, colorways 83.0004 (black) and 83.0085 (silver)

These were knit for my fabulous friend Jill Factotum -- super handy, super crafty -- and I followed her preferences for modifications. Pattern designer Amy has very helpfully indicated good stopping points for trying on and making decisions, so that's what happened for the first one; I desperately tried to remember the mods for the second one.  Thanks to Ravelry, I wrote down that I doubled the number of large star repeats before the thumb gusset and I did one extra dot repeat round before the twisted ribbing on top.

She's a model, you know what I mean?

 

woman of mystery

AAH LOOK WHAT I FOUND

From Dec 2009 to Mar 2010, I made a bunch of Christmas presents for my parents and brothers.  Look at those dates again.  Yes, that's right.  And in mid-March we went Midwest-way to see them and deliver said knits, and everything was great...

Except...

I didn't start my dad's socks until we were sitting in the airport on the way there.  These were to be my first socks and my dad is a very particular individual and... well, I procrastinated.  Obviously.  Badly.  Ineffectively.

I did not finish them before our arrival.
I did not finish them before our departure.
I did not finish them before arriving home -- via a week in California.
I did not finish them.  And then I lost them.  Or it, rather: one lonely unfinished sock.

UNTIL TODAY:

What what whaaatt??!

COULD IT BE??!

Yes, it could!  (Something's coming, something good.)

FINALLY.  It's the Mr. Pitt's Socks (aka Dad Socks) [Rav link] designed by Kaitlyn Wong!  The name is a Seinfeld reference to Elaine's picky boss who needed the perfect socks.  Since my dad is so very choosy, I figured this pattern + Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in a classy shade (Salt & Pepper) might not be completely rejected -- croisons les doigts!

I'm so glad I printed the pattern out and kept it in the project bag because the pattern link on Ravelry is broken now! I guess she doesn't support it anymore?  Very weird.  It was free, and I've got it, if folks want it.

Yesterday's Quiet Night

Progress happened:

 

So bow down to her, if you want!  Bow to her!  Bow to the queen of floats, the queen of mitts, the queen of stranded colorwork!*

_____

* with apologies to the Ancient Booer

What I've Been Up To

A small bit of knitting...

a very small bit

A large bit of partying...

rainbow cupcakes using Dainty Squid's tutorial

photo credit: Jill Factotum

photo credit: Jill Factotum

from a bebe to a toddler

A quick check-in...

...to let you know I'm still breathing AND I'm re-picking up knitting in the next ten seconds.  It's been too long.  Time to re-CO the second Starstuff mitt!

Knitwear at the Movies: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1

I <3 the Harry Potter series.  I work in the children's department of a public library for four years during the major Potter boom times, and let me say, it was fantastic!  We had all sorts of Potter-related events; one very special seven-hour party was done in partnership with a local bookstore, culminating in the midnight sale of the newest book at the time (Order of the Phoenix was the only one published in that timespan, so that must've been it).

I've recently attempted to join the Ravelry group Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup.  It looks like a fun time; unfortunately, I missed the Sorting Hat cutoff for this semester (by three hours!).  Since I haven't been knitting at all in the last two weeks, that's probably a good thing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I have seen every Harry Potter movie in the theatres EXCEPT the most recent release, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1, or as I lovingly refer to it, HP7a.  Netflix came through for me, and I was able to get screenshots of some pretty fine knits.

No spoilers.  Are you surprised by people wearing sweaters in England in winter?  Then OK.

Ron's Cabled Cardigan
The first sweater featured here belongs to Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).  I caught myself staring and had to rewind to catch the dialogue of the scene!

A bit grumpy, but well dressed

My husband does not find cardigans to be sufficiently manly -- try telling that to Mr. Rogers, honey! -- but this one might actually fit the bill.  The dark gray color plus the heft of the cabling combine: so cozy!

Harry's Pullover

And then, there's Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) in a subtle tweed:

Again with the dark gray

When he was moving around a lot, it was difficult to see that there was any pattern at all; standing still here, one can see the small cables and braids that wind through the front.  Very classy.

Hermione's Hat

My girl Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) has good taste in stocking caps:

Very pensive

I love the dusty rose color, I love the stitch pattern...  all in all, I want this hat on my head.  But not right now, it's a little warm.

FO: Grape Gobblin'

Soooo my awesome friend Laura lent me her camera until I get a new one!!!!!!!  Whooooooo!!!!!   Thank yoooouuuuu!!!!!

I finished the teeny tiny T-shirt I started during Startitis...

 

 

Cute Summer Top by Anna & Heidi Pickles, knit in South West Trading Company Bamboo, colorway 138 Purplexed

The top photo is truest to color; photos are pre-blocking and the button is purple.

I had to do a supersized mod on this one to get it to fit.  All the Ravelry projects make reference to "sizing issues," but what they really mean is, this is NOT written to fit a 9-12 month old, as the pattern states.  This is 0-3 months tops.  There is no gauge given, so you have three choices:

1. make this for a newborn
2. size up the needles and yarn to US 6 or 7 and worsted weight
3. cast on extra stitches and do the math along the way

I opted for the third choice; my mods are listed on my Ravelry project page.

Action Jackson wouldn't stop moving around; blurry shirt!

As you can see, it fits perfectly; ergo, the mods are necessary if you want to make this for an eleven-month-old.  Only took me two failed starts to figure it out... DUH.

Knitwear at the Movies: Nanny McPhee

 So I've decided to do an occasional feature, detailing all the handknits I notice/covet in the movies I watch.  Yay!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nanny McAwesome-Teal-Sweater
"Nanny McPhee" is a 2005 film starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth.  Not only does it feature Angela Lansbury being fantastically crotchety (I almost typed "crochet-y"), it has seven adorable children in sweaters sweater sweaters!!

My fave: the teal tweedy pullover worn by the oldest child, Simon (Thomas Sangster), in the kite-flying beach scene...

Situationally appropriate and adorable

 It's difficult to see in these pictures, but there are subtle stripes created throughout by switching stitch patterns.  The sleeves are mostly stockinette with seed stitch on the bicep and garter stitch near the seam.  The tops of front and back have a seed stitch background with thin garter stitch stripes; the bottoms are stockinette.

Back detail!:

also, it goes really well with his hair

The strongest draw for me is the delicious color.  Jewel tones in general are great, but... I worship this color.  I want to spend the rest of my life writing poetry for this color; giving this color foot massages; hand-feeding it chocolate.

Are there any cinematic knits you covet?  Comment away!

So my camera has entered the Baroque period

and I'm a little miffed about it, since it's my fault it's broken.  Blech.  Story below in blue, for people who are as naturally curious as I am...

So a decision must be made: until I get a new camera (ETA TBD FCOL), should I do words-only posts OR include pics taken with my admittedly-awful camera phone (sample below)?

actually, can you even tell the difference?

I'll leave the poll up for a week, starting......... now!

I was recording a video of PQ Pie being cute and playing peek-a-boo; the birds were singing, my hair was especially shiny, etc.  I went to press the button to stop recording when ALL OF A SUDDEN the camera leapt from its perch to the stone tile floor below.  The lens was still protracted, it's all crooked now, "lens error, restart camera," sad face.

Happy Easter...

...to those who celebrate!

 And now to document my raging case of Startitis:

This is Cute Summer Top by Anna & Heidi Pickles, knit in South West Trading Company Bamboo, colorway 138 Purplexed.  More on this later!

Miscellany

>> After picking up the second mitt of Starstuff again... I had to put it back down.  Complete with frogging.  Blerg.

>> I was listening to the radio on my drive home from work, and the DJ was extemporizing on the Capitals hockey game last night and how nail-biting and awesome their win was and how he "can't wait for them to take care of business on home ice" for the next game.

He said: Home ice.
I heard: Wollemeise.

They sound nothing alike.  But my brain made a sound switcheroo.

>> When I was flipping through People magazine's Most Beautiful 2011 issue, I was mesmerized by this cropped cabled sweater that J.Lo was wearing:

[source]

Also?  That woman had twins three years ago.  Dang.

FO: Simple Stone Shrug

The "Autumn" Four Seasons Kimono went so quickly, I thought to myself: I should definitely knit some more for the Punkin, as she has already started to grow out of her other sweaters n such.  Changing seasons, lighter yarns...  quick knit on a whim!  This one was done in less than a day.

Pattern is rejoice ('shrug this' for little girls) [Rav link only] by talitha kuomi, knit in about half a skein of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in 149 Stone.  One of these days I'll get a digital scale, but until then, please bear with my guesstimation.

FO: "Autumn" Four Seasons Kimono

It is finished, it is delivered, it is beautiful:

as of Monday night

Again, this is Seamless Baby Kimono by Jacki Kelly, knit with less than 1 skein of Lion Brand LB Collection Superwash Merino in 141 Wild Berry.  The Monday night photo is truest to color.

The baby shower at Sammy's work went well, from what I understand.  And mine was not the only hand-knit offering [Rav link]!

I'm just glad I got finished in time, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning...

Yes, that's 3.06 AM.

Back on the Unicorn (it's OK, we have an agreement)

Alright! So!  Picking myself up, dusting myself off, casting on anew...

love this color; it's called Wild Berry

This is Autumn as of last night, the fourth in a series of Seamless Baby Kimono sweaters (design by Jacki Kelly).  I call them my Four Seasons Kimonos, as they are all knit in seasonally appropriate colors (yarn is Lion Brand Superwash Merino for extra easy baby care).

Spring, in Spring Leaf, was knit during spring 2010 and belongs to Mademoiselle P. Q. Pie, now sadly outgrown:

Summer, in Dijon, was knit during summer 2010 for a surprise-type swap; its owner is camera-shy, but here's the color I used:

Winter, in Sky, was knit for big baby F in December 2010.

So I'm knitting Autumn in spring -- so what?  This is an emergency: baby shower on Wednesday!!  Can I finish in time?