Weasley Household Items

I received these wonderful items from the Molly Weasley, by way of Astra at HarryPotterCrafts group.

I think Astra really zeroed into my personality when she sent this. I just laughed and laughed. I still smile when I look at my great magical cookbook.

Now, I just need to think of what to hide in it!

Expecto Patronum!

While pursuing completed works of craft for two swaps, I found a link to a quiz that would indicate your patronus. Well, I am surprised to say that mine would be an eagle! What an awesome animal!

My Patronus would be an Eagle!
Take this quiz!

BEWARE of the Bear!!!!!

My sil & bil have a dog named Bear. He is a great big teddy bear (or honey bear as my sil calls him). His pen has this great sign outside of it and I just had to take a picture of it. Bear can be seen on the lower left of the picture.

The $80 Tote

I made this tote for my sil. She had a baby girl, very healthy and so pretty!

This bag is for her, not just to be a baby bag. Unless she wants to use it as such. I wanted to give her a gift, as usually when a baby is born, almost all of the presents are for the newborn.

I made the bag out of Sugar 'N Cream yarn. I added rigidity by creating an inner shell of plastic mesh and then lined it with fabric. The response was fantastic. Both of my sils, including the one who had the baby, loved the bag.

The one who was not pregnant suggested I make them to sell. She commented she would pay $70 - $80 for one. Well, she won't have to, as she is getting one for her birthday. It made me, think, anyway.

(Another surprise was that my mil praised my work and suggested I make things to sell in craft shows before Christmas.

The pattern is free, found here. It was negotiated as being a free pattern from Lion Brand as it is included in the book HOOKED BAGS, from Creative Publishing international.

I left off the back pockets and the button clasp due to time.

The next one will be a dark brown base with light blue piping.

On to the next project! The work never ends!!!!

Baby Harp Seal

Here is a gift I just finished for my soon to be niece or nephew. My sil is expecting anytime in the next week or so.

I made it from Baby Homespun yarn, so it is washable and dryable. I also sewed on the eyes, nose and wiskers and the bow. I made every attempt to make sure this is as safe as possible for the baby. As an added benefit, the stuffing gets softer and a bit flufflier each time it is washed. Now, of course, the girls want one, too!

Machine Knitting for a Techie

Here is one of the coolest knitting machines I have ever seen. Now I do have an Incredible Sweater Machine from Bond, but I haven't even begun to master it. (Too many projects and way too little time!)

Well, here it is!

Knitting Scouts - Are you one?

I recently found a group to which I truly feel I belong - the Knitting Scouts! I've included my earned badges below to the right. Now, I just need to get them stitched and I can proudly wear them. Some are a bit out of my reach (thankfully!), and I'm sure there are more to come, but the irreverency of it all.....

Until such time, you can read more about what each means at the Knitting Scouts info area.

In case anyone has any doubts about the continuing popularity of knitting, then you should read this article by the Yarn Harlot (a TRULY best selling author of, yes, KNITTING books). It's humorous and soooo true! I just love how she calls non-knitters MUGGLES! *Harrry Pottter!*

Now, don't take that as a severe slam against non-knitters. I have several good friends who are such and I don't consider them Muggles. Muggles are meant to be more of a people who don't believe in the "community" of Magic as in J.K. Rowling's novels or Knitters as referred to by the Yarn Harlot.

Drape (no, not curtains!) and the correct hook size

This is a fantastic tutorial about drape and how the size of a crochet hook can have a dramatic effect on it. Plus, there is a definition of "drape" when dealing with clothing.

Hangin' Tough - A Highly Subjective Primer on Crochet Drape and Hook Size

I'll be reading this one over and over again!

Happy Hooking!