Hashtag Winning

Again with the radio silence!  This may make me a bad person.  It definitely makes me a bad blogger.  I got all distracted with the best visit ever from my parents and evenings filled with blanket squares...  but no matter, I'm back (for now)!

Remember this year's Knit and Crochet Blog Week?  (If not, I'll wait while you peruse these entries written by me.)  OK, so: that Friday, we were supposed to write about Something a Bit Different (all prompts here; my entry here!) and fellow blogger Stitched Together had such an awesome idea: knit a stripy shawl with color order chosen by the commentariat!  She used her very own free! design, the More Than A Triangle Shawl [Rav link], in a bunch of beautiful colorways of Shetland wool [Rav project page].
Bonus: a random commenter wins the fabulous finished fanciness.

So guess who won?...

me me me me me me!!!  So excited.  :)  Every single color coordinates with the totality of my wardrobe and I'm just pleased as punch.  The triangle construction makes it easy to wrap-and-go, and this garter stitch is so squishy and nice!  All the glory goes to Stitched Together for her superlative skill in both knitting and designing.

There are much better pictures of the process and finished shawl on Stitched Together's blog, so head over there to fully appreciate the AWESOMENESS that is this gorgeous wrap!

Finished measurements: 102in/259cm (8.5ft) wide; 26in/67cm deep

Thank you thank you thank you again to Stitched Together!

 

I am a gigantic dork and also possibly a vampyre.

Mot-less Monday: Yarn Redemption

 

 

bag courtesy of Ali at alirags

 

 

 

 

Mystery Solved!

Hi guys.  I've been busy with family visits -- yay! -- and blanket blerg, but this was too good not to share.  Do you remember the photo I posted of the hideous plastic scary thing at work a while back?  No?  OK, go look, I'll wait.  ...AWFUL, right?  So creepy.

I found a sign yesterday that explained everything:

The U.S. government buys terrifying werewolves coyote decoys to scare the visiting geese in the hopes that the birds will decide to poop elsewhere.  And then they buy warning signs so that someone like me doesn't pick up and move the frightening things into a chorus line outside the boss's office window.  Not that I'd ever do that.  Ahem.

More HP for May

HEY, it's June, it's summer -- want to look over your shoulder for a quick glance at the end of May? And now for your viewing pleasure, the rest of the month's projects for the Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup...  SOAR RAVENCLAW!

* Herbology May 2012
For a project inspired by hedgehogs, I've chosen to go incognito; the sagebrush stitch pattern suggests spikes across my back, except these are super soft and not at all painful.

 

Sagebrush [Rav] by Hanna Breetz; knit with less than two balls of Frog Tree Merino Worsted in colorway 0012 Charcoal

The yarn is a worsted weight single of 100% merino -- super soft with a wicked halo.  The fabric is slightly fuzzy while keeping its stitch definition.  My only problem with it: it does not hold up well under my usual tinking-back-and-reknitting obstacle course.

* Muggle Studies May 2012
I had to craft something using a new-to-you technique... soooo crochet. All by itself.  Using absolutely no knitting needles.

a flower from Hippy Crochet Daisy Chain [Rav] by Danielle at A Stash Addict; crocheted with a tiny amount of Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer in colorway Carnation (discontinued)

 

That center yellow circle (ha, circle, yeah right) took me six tries and it's still not right.
And hey, what is that in the last picture?...

>> Quidditch: Knit Mini-sock Sprint! (May 18-May 28th)
Mini-socks are not socks, I've decided, and so I'm not a fibber.

Teeny Tiny Socks [Rav] by Victoria Magnus; knit with 10% of a skein of Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer in colorway Carnation (discontinued)

Quidditch is supposed to be "just for fun," but since house points are on the line, some people can get a little intense about it.  That wasn't going to be me UNTIL people started bringing up the competitive aspect of it and then it was over; I don't like to play sports because I have no discernible skills while getting really dangerously competitive (it's genetic and not at all fun; I HATE to lose), but... a knitting competition?  Sure, count me in.

** Ancient Runes Ordinary Wizarding Level Spring 2012 
I've now reached 50% in the shawl and have received my 50 midway points:

yarn is Knit Picks Swish Worsted in colorway Indigo Heather; 116 g, 255.2 yds

The first part absolutely flew by in two and a half weeks -- while all this other stuff was also happening -- but now it's slowed to a crawl (as shawls are wont to do).  I'm really glad I've given myself a reasonable deadline this time.  I'm still keeping the pattern to myself for now... but isn't it pretty?  :)

OK, time to do a whole mess of blanket squares for June...