First Socks!

About three years ago, I cast on a pair of socks. Since that time I have cast on six pairs of socks, until today I have never finished a pair. I am a process knitter and the idea of knitting two of the same thing makes me tremble. This month though I decided to try something new. I decided to finish something I started even if every fiber of my being makes me want to run in the opposite direction screaming. Wow, that is a bit dramatic, huh? Let me explain. As I have discussed in previous posts, I am in the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup. This month for the Defense of the Dark Arts class, I needed to finish a WIP and not just any WIP but one that is quite painful and uncomfortable. After reviewing all of my projects, I decided my Heelless Sleeping Socks would be the perfect, painful project. It was amazing that the more I knit, the more painful the project became. It was almost like I didn't want to finish the project. I guess that is the process knitter in me; I don't want to finish a project because that means that the knitting is over for it. Don't feel too bad for me though, I have 14 other projects on the needles. ;)

Now without any further ado, let me give you my very first pair of COMPLETED socks!

Why Are We Whispering?

My, I didn't realize how quiet this blog has been until a friend made a comment on a post and I realized that the last post was ages ago. Now before you think that I have been just sitting around watching episodes of Doctor Who (okay I have been doing this) and trying to keep my ahead above water at school (okay I have been doing this too), I have ALSO been knitting. Really. No, really. Really. I am not kidding. Truly!

Anyway, I have fallen in love with the lost art of washcloths. Washcloths are the most amazing projects ever. 1) You can knit one in a day. 2) You can knit almost anything on a washcloth (anything, seriously). 3). They are cheap! You can knit one for less than $1. 4) They are super useful! You can use them in the kitchen, you can use them in the bathroom, you can use them with a fox, and you can use them in a box.

So here are some of my recent favorites (in no particular order): Hedwig Illusion (you need to try illusion knitting, if you haven't tried it before, it will blow your mind), TARDIS, and Exfoliate! (I TOLD you I have been watching a ton of Doctor Who).

Another FO!

I can't believe I finished another project! Check out my Spiral Hat (101 Designer One-Skein Wonders)! It was fun to knit plus the yarn was super dreamy. If you haven't knit with Dream in Color. I highly recommend it. The colors are gorgeous! The worsted weight is called Classy. I should note, however, that I haven't washed my hat yet, so you will have to wait and see how well the color holds.

This hat brings my total FOs of the months to SEVEN! This is all thanks to the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup on Ravelry. I was hoping to knit 52 projects in 2009, and it now looks like that might actually happen! I think I will definitely pull through since my OWL consists of 20 Mason-Dixon Washcloths. If I only knit 1 project in June (real life might get in the way of House Cup knitting) and six projects again in July (for my 6 classes), I will have knit 34 items for the House Cup! Wow. I guess I need to go buy more yarn! ;)

Color Stranding Here I Come

I just knit my very first color stranding project! This this little baby hat turned out well, I am inspired to knit the Knit Picks Andean Chullo hat kit I purchased a few months ago.

I started knitting this hat at the perfect time too. I found out recently that my friend's wife is pregnant! I foresee myself knitting more baby stuff in the near future. I do feel limited by knitting only lightweight non-wool items though, since the family lives in Florida though. Hmmm.

Look At That Girl Go!

Wow, I can't believe how much the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup is keeping me motivated to knit! I have made 4 projects this month and I am planning on finishing 3 more projects before the end of the month! I am really loving seeing the finished products. Here is a little Gryffindor Bookmark I knit from Charmed Knits. I left off the fringe, because I detest making fringe. I always seem to make a mess and the product always seems bunched and sloppy. I knit the bookmark in worsted weight, so it is too bulky for most of my (fiction) books, but it is perfect for textbooks and other books, which I am not concerned about putting force on the binding.

Felting Is Fun!

Last night I finished my very first felted project! I made a Royal Crown for my Ancient Runes class for the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup. I was super nervous about the whole felting process. I was concerned that (1) the project wouldn't felt too well and I would have to wash the project a couple of times (which would have been expensive since I pay by the load at my complex), (2) I would break the washer with excess lint (yes, the project was in a zippered bag that had a safety pin holding the zipper and a rubber band tying the bag tight, but I was still concerned), and (3) the tennis balls I put in the washer would go crazy and bounce out of the washer. Yeah, none of my worries came true. Maybe I should stop worrying about zombies taking over the world.

Anyway, felting is so much fun! I highly recommend it! I am now inspired to finish my Christmas Rainbow Surprise stocking (all I need to do is the stupid i-cord, I hate i-cord, it is so boring). I want to see the project shrink and be super cute like my crown.

Keeping Up with Class

As I blogged about previously, I have been quite busy with classwork for the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup on Ravelry. This group has really lit that fire beneath me to not only start projects but to finish them! I have been working on a few exciting numbers including the Hurry Up Spring! Armwarmers. I am loving this project. I remember when I first saw this pattern in Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, I thought I would never be able to knit them. A year or so later, I bought the Noro yarn for the project, but I still only looked at the pattern in awe. This pattern had several intimidating factors to it including having to knit 2 similar objects and having to knit thumb gussets (what in the world is a thumb gusset? I kept asking myself). Well, it has been about 4 years since I first looked at the pattern, I knit one armwarmer. Parts of the pattern are challenging (I do need to doublecheck the pattern chart with every cable, so I make sure if I am supposed to have the cable needle in front or behind), but it is doable. I must admit that I keep putting on the one armwarmer and admiring my handiwork. I can't wait to see what "impossible project" I decide to knit next!

The Times They Are A Changin'

If you asked me two weeks ago how I felt about KALs, I would have said they are good for some people, but not for me. Normally, I can't keep up with them (if there is a deadline) or I immediately tire of the project at hand (nothing is more aversive for me than everyone knitting the same thing). Well, I must admit that my tune has changed thanks to the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup on Ravelry. I think a healthy dose of competition is encouraging me to knit like the wind. I finished my Bella's Fingerless Mittens yesterday and am now starting the Hurry Up It's Spring Armwarmers. I just keep thinking about how I can earn my house (Gryffindor) more house points.

Okay, enough chitchat! Back to knitting!