Babydoll's Magical Knits

The weather has become perfect

for Babydoll to start wearing

her summer knitting.

I've been enjoying listening to audio books while I knit.

In an attempt to interest Groovy Girl in a

little summer reading,

I picked up the first Harry Potter from the library

and got totally hooked on it myself.  

I listened to the whole series this summer

as I knit these great patterns.

Jim Dale narrated all of the books.

He really brings the characters to life.

When I fell in love with the top pattern,

I noticed it was called "Hermione"

and thought the designer must like Harry Potter.

Somewhere around book four

and while I was hard at work on Hermione,

I noticed the name of the shrug,

by the same designer, was "Ginny."

Harry Potter fan - check!

Toward the end of the series, I began thinking

a shrug was a great choice for Ginny,

and the fact that Hermione has

an eyelet pattern called "Elfin"

incorporated into it

couldn't be more perfect.

I doubt my creative pursuits and "reading" will

ever be so perfectly synced again,

so pardon me for saying 

that it made summer seem

magical.

"Hermione" and "Ginny" are both from

More Knitting in the Sun, 32 Patterns to Knit for Kids,

by Kristi Porter.

They were designed by

Janine le Cras.

I am working on my third,

and definitely not last,

project from this book...

"Thumbelina."

Looks like I'll have to hit the kid's section

of the library,

or maybe just listen to The Pretenders.

This shell was made for my oldest daughter 

from a pattern I found in 

Knit Simple spring/summer 2012.

It's the Sideways Shell by Mari Tobita.

It's a great pattern and I had fun knitting it.

I used Debbie Bliss Amalfi yarn.

It is a cotton blend,

So soft and a pleasure to knit.

Loved the pattern,

Loved the yarn,

-BUT-

Not together.

And like HOLDING a reservation,

the working TOGETHER

is probably the most important part.

I'm still learning about yarn fibers

and how they knit up.

I didn't realize the cotton would

STRETCH

so much

without a care 

for springing back...

As a result, the shell is pretty roomy

and blocking doesn't help.

It's not quite what a teenager is going for...

She's a sweetheart though

and wore it all day yesterday.

She said it felt really nice on.

Maybe she can just wear it around the house.

That's OK by me.

It's a process...

Dad's Socks

It only took thousands of tiny stitches

to make Dad's socks.

He received them in February.

He said they fit and seemed quite pleased with them.

I was very happy.

I thought about him wearing these socks

every time I sat down to knit,

and sometimes stitch by stitch.

I loved making them for him even though

I had rip back my work

on occasion.

That's something I like about knitting -

the good thoughts I have for the person 

I am knitting for.

Too bad the thoughts can't be

sent along as well with the knitting,

but I guess the

thousands of tiny stitches

are proof enough

that they were there.

Pattern: Simplicity

Book: Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks

Author: Melissa Morgan-Oakes

The Tatting Goddess

Who could have guessed that

a little thread,

adequate bandwidth,

a creative mind

and a generous heart

could bring so many strangers together.

Thank you for your kindness and encouragement.

I will miss you Gina,

as will all of Tatland.

You helped make

this little corner of the internet

a home to so many.