Yarn Dyeing, Take 2

I misread the Potions assignment SO here is a second one.

Pre-soak

Rung out

Dye soak

Steam- ready

Heat up

Cool down

After rinse

Close up

Wondering how I got the twist?  This is 77% Bamboo (plant fiber) and 23% Super Wash Merino dyed with red kool-aide.  Cool, huh?

OH, I just realized today I have been spelling Dyeing incorrectly....GAH!

Pandora Phelps- Slytherin

Yea for Mail!

Protego!

In the HLBOE swap I am in a "wizards duel" with a Pixie Rib Hat.  I am pretty sure that I will be curse today via USPS!  Here is my finished "protection charm" that is going to Freya Lovegood, modeled by R:

Classic, shirt on backwards with watermelon all down it.

Yarny Yarn Yarn

I am in a swap called HLBOE on Ravelry.  This week's assignment was Potions which we dyed yarn.  I blogged previous about my dyeing excursions with food coloring and tie-dye kits.  The skein of yarn I choose to dye for the assignment is merino, bamboo and nylon sock yarn.  I went ahead and purchased some animal based yarns to use the materials that I have already purchased. 

The dye colors were royal blue, orange and yellow (kool-aid).  I might have added some purple kool-aid too.  Of course blue and orange are oposites of the color wheel.  They compliment each other but when you mix them together it mutes the colors.  Certain shades of blue and oranges make lovely browns.

I can see the appeal to dyeing wool, it is quick and easy.  It was almost instantaneous. I was not even finished squirting dye on it and it was set.  However, I had to be careful not to felt it.  Cotton, you can scrub it, squish it, swirl it, etc. and it stays the same!

Pre-wash

dye mix

squirting

lots of blue and orange added

heat up

close up

Final product to come soon.

Appleby Arrows

After much anticipation, I got my Appleby Arrows package today from HSKS 9.

Containing my excitement I read the note first that explained a few items and gave an apology for tardiness from the lovely Olive Brumblebirch. 

I opened the box and what did I see, many little silver wrapped bundles with customized Appleby Arrow labels.

                                     

                              

THEN, I ripped, ripped and ripped.  R came in and helped me out towards the end.  She just knew it was tiresome for me to do it alone....haha.

Here is what Olive sent to me:

4 skeins of Berroco, which I am pretty excited about.  Enough yardage to redo the Emmaline pattern.

3 skeins of Knit Picks organic cotton in Heather Wave, Heather Bermuda, and Heather Grey.  I just ordered more. I could not have picked any better for myself!

Special Edition Appleby Arrow Stitch makers, beautiful shades of blue and silver!

Appleby Arrow stationary

Handmade accessory bag

Handmade bag, which is gorgeous.

Harmony DPNs in US 9

Interlocking Stitch markers

Cute little owl that is definitely going on my Christmas tree.  My tree is homemade/ folksy.

2 items from a local artist in Portland, OR, Lotion bar in Orange and Sage and solid perfume called Dragons Blood.  How fitting to the Harry Potter World.  The lotion bar is really awesome!

Ashley Hat pattern by Beth Gaiantino

Emerald Fingerless Mitts pattern - a black pepper design

I sincerely apologize if I have forgotten something!  I got many wonderful things and I thank you very much!

Gryffindor Ginny

My Blythe, named Ginny, in her jeans and Gryffindor sweater that was a gift from Mrs.Mamma in December Reducio swap.

I did some very brave altering for it to fit Ginny just right!

Knitting up a storm

I am in the process of taking a hiatus from swapping.  It is amazing what I can do when knitting for no one but me.  I have made a pair of Unmentionables, which I call "Grey Undercrackers"  on my project page on Ravelry.  I made my first sweater Emmaline (simply called Emmaline on my project page) which I had to deviate from the pattern significantly.  Once I got past the bust I realized it was not going to fit me properly. I have started, got nearly finished, and frogged Inamorata (Inamorata in Violet). It is back on the needles.  Once again, I got WAY past the bust and realized it was not going to fit.  I must have larger nungas that I thought.

Unmentionables-
Wow, they feel really nice.  They are on my butt right now.  In fact they inspired this blog posting.  I am planning to make another pair real soon for myself but first I am going to make R a pair from the little girl companion pattern.  Her's will be made out of Kraemer Little Pebbles yarn in yellow. 

My next pair are going to be made out of Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton in black.  Ah...it is so so soft.  I had a moment of fear while knitting my grey pair (Knit Picks CotLin in whisker) that they were going to be too tight.  Fortunately, they fit.  I was going to make the black pair in medium, which I have changed my mind.  While wearing them today they have steadily stretched to prefection. 

Emmaline-

Cute, Easy, and Quick.  I am a bit opposed to the fact it is spring/summer top in bulky weight yarn but it will be a nice fall top.  Arkansas weather allows very little time to wear something of this nature during spring. 

My fitting problem was that the decreasing in the bust area to make it a empire waist was going to be too tight for me.  I have a larger rib cage from pregnancy.  On my 5 foot frame my tiny baby had no room to grow and it causeed my rib cage to expand to the medium/large sizing of the pattern when I am a small up top.

I would like to make this sweater again.  I think I can compensate early on in the pattern, now that I know, for the medium size for the empire waist.  This would be nice for my belly area too.

Imamorata-

Oh, well this was my mistake.  It is what I get when I check gauge.  My gauge was a bit large than the specifications for the pattern so I though I could make the XS size and be fine.  Well, I was wrong.  This time my bustline was too large.  GAH! I ripped the whole thing out and started over.  This time I am omitting the cable.  It will be a time saver and it really didn't look very good. 

I am using Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Gorgeous in deep violet.


HLBOE Term 4-

This term the subject is Fantastic Beast.  I have a lot of ideas!  I am hoping my swap mate will choose something that I know I can pull off really successfully.  I am feeling pretty rejuvenated.  I am going to start really soon on the little things that can go into any house package. 

I am coming back to Hogwarts as a Slytherin.  I have been a Gryffindor for all of the swaps and I am ready for a change.  It is a bit hard to let go, but I would really love to put together a package for a Gryffindor! 

Angel package from Freya

   Freya Lovegood is a true angel.  I received the most wonderful HLBOE package.

The package contained:

3 packets of coffee in Blueberry Crumble, Chocolate Nirvana, and Vanilla Almond...Yummy Yummy!
Albanese dark chocolate fudge (not pictured, went directly into the fridge!)
Albanese gummy bears
Albanese Candy Factory  brochure
Crown Point, IN map (It looks like a very lovely place to live.)
Blood pops!
Droobles Best Blowing Gum!
Precious bird nest stationary....You must of known that I am also scrounging for  note cards for swaps!
Pink Owl list and place marker paper
Green list paper with matching little notebook (Some little girl was eyeballing these items already!)
Pink and Yellow Owl tin (which matches the stationary paper) with surprises tucked inside!
Exploding frog soap was on top,
then Crochet Snitch bookmarker (Love) and
a Gryffindor pouch with a stitch marker bracelet from my wish list!

New Knits on the Block book by Vickie Howell, wow, great children patterns!
2 skeins of I Love This Cotton! very pretty color way that I think I am going to make R something from it.
Berroco Sock Yarn, my first Berroco yarn.  It is so soft!

BEAUTIFUL necklet scarf!  I love it so much!  The color is as rich and it feels....
And last but not least for me, a nice note from Freya.

R's goodies
Yes, enough to make a separate list.

3 pack of Little Pet Shops....aka Sweethearts
Little Pet Shop activity book
Lady Bug Necklace kit
The cutest crocheted Owl that has been named Hedwig

She was so excited that first thing we had to get the pictures taken!  Right after, things were being ripped into!

Thank you so much Freya.  You have no idea how much I appreciate everything you have given me.

Pepper Up Potion

Scarves

I joined HLBOE 3 even though I wanted a swap break.  I, so far, have kept my word and have not joined anything else.  Reducio is open, but I am resisting. 

It is a good thing that I am resisting.  I have been asked by several individuals to knit them somethings.  Three hats and 3 scarves.  I am really regretting the lace pattern that I picked for my HLBOE partner now. 

Two of the scarves are for Greeks- Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Sigma Alpha.  I am hoping they will look good. 

As for the lace scarf, I am out of my element.  I like cables, but officially I can say, I do not like lace.  Too much concentration.  I don't even get the rhythm and I can only work on it for about 3 or 4 sections a night.  I can not knit it while I am on the Reference desk,  I can barely do it with R in the room asking me a million questions.  Now that I have started with 8 inches, I am finished it.  I do like the experience.

Transfiguration

Reducio- A Very Weasley Christmas

I feel so spoilt!  Violet Leveela (soon to be Vevina LeFey) sent me an abundance of Weasley-ness!

Here is what her owl delivered:

-not 1 but 2 owl bags!  (the green is for R and the brown for me!)

-Honeydukes was raided- 2 packets of pop rocks, 3 packets of twizzlers, a reindeer Pez, tootsie rolls, AND an assorted bag of chocolates!

-Yellow tape measure (I always loose mine)
-Circular row counter!
-hidden is a Gryffindor Weasley sweater (so soft and perfect!)
-a Rainbow stocking/sock
AND the coolest stitch markers!

I will have take better photos of the sweater, sock, and markers when I get my real camera.  I used my phone.

Thanks so much Violet!!!

Because I wasn't thinking...

I have a great idea for Reducio- A Very Weasley Christmas now that I already sent my package and he has received it.  I wish I would have made homemade Christmas Crackers. 

You know, of the greatest things about the second book (Chamber of Secrets) Christmas is that everyone sat at one table and had crackers.  Snape received a witch's hat with a vulture uncanny similar to Neville's bogart.  I can just imagine Mrs. Weasley making her own Christmas Crackers for her kids.  I could have knitted mini mice, mini bonnet, and added muggle sweets.

I am kicking myself in the rear end now.  At the time, I was pretty brain dead.  I did Harry's First Christmas which is not very Weasley other than his emerald green sweater. 

Grr....

I think I shall make some for me because it is too good of an idea to waste.

Angel Package

Here is the package I sent to Mandy.  She did not receive a package in the first HLBOE so I volunteered to put one together for her.

 This is accurate except for I gave her 3 skeins of Plymouth Magnum yarn, one was stuck in the box.

Curlatrix Black (Devotion2Knit on Ravelry) made this cute little project bag for Mandy.

I made her Owling Mitts

I also made a Hermione hat because last time it was hats.  I am trying to populate the world with these!

The list-

Owling mitts

Hermione hat

Curlatrix's bag

3 skeins of Plymouth Magnum yarn

2 skeins of Cascade Fixation

tea (gee, I don't remember what kind)

Godiva hot chocalate

wand pen

gadget bag

thimble

bookmarker

tape measure

AND her very own mini Sirius Black.

Quidditch Week 2

I never know when I am supposed to post exactly...

So, I will do it tonight and tomorrow.  I am bumping right along with Minerva's package.  I have one handmade item finished and I am at the half way point for the other.  The little goodies are at a start.  I have to make some decisions on items.

Anyway I will gab more tomorrow.

Last minute S.P.E.W.

Yea! Quidditch!

I am gearing up for another HSKS.  This time it is HSKS 9 Quidditch all Around the World.  I am on the Appleby Arrows.  The colors are blue and silver.  I am pretty excited about this swap.  We have some new choices of things to make for our partners.  Here they are:

--Bag
--Cowl/Neckwarmer & Mittens (can be fingerless) - MUST MAKE BOTH
--Hat & Scarf - MUST MAKE BOTH
--Hat & Mittens (can be fingerless) - MUST MAKE BOTH
--Socks



Obviously, sock is a big no for me, but it might be a choice of a kit to send.


I do have a goal, to send and use a lot of my items stash for swaps.  I have entirely too much and I am running out of room fro storage.  


I think we get partners Monday!  I am ready to get started on it!

Opera Mitts

Monster Feet

HlLBOE Package

I got my package today from Madam Jak!! She did a wonderful job! I love everything!

Here is what she sent me:

*Gryffindor's mascot himself, a lion wearing a t-shirt that says, "Here's a Hug From Alfred University"

Yummy Maxwell house coffee mix, R already put it the kitchen so I don't know which one

Lots and lots of Dove Dark Chocolate

The best mug that says, "I'd give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter"

Gryffindor mitts! I will get a photo on me later...have to wait on the hubby.

AND she is the greatest, she sent me a red 3.5 x 5.5" pocket landscape sketchbook!!!

Thanks for the note! I liked learning a little about you and your major. :)

*Good thing he isn't a tiger or everyone would think I have taken up sympathies with our school rivals! OBU Tigers and there colors are purple and gold. My new friend is sporting a "STOP Voldemort" pin! R has already tried to claim him!