Tis the season for Samhain and the harvest. We be needing crafts and recipes!

I’ve found a pattern for felted pumpkin. I’m thinking of some cute life size vegetables that could serve dual purposes. Pumpkin Toaster cover? Maybe?
Lots of Halloween and harvest related yummies are being posted in the Halloween Recipe community on LiveJournal.

How freakin cute are these patterns? I have absolutely no use for knitted food items, but they are adorable. It almost makes me want to buy them, knit a bowl and then knit some fruit to put in it! Almost.

So, I have decided to knit a little HP bookmark (PoA style) and then I will start on Coronet for my brother’s birthday. I am also thinking of making Cozy for my great grandmother. I think she might like it.

OK, I’ll bite…

Meet my favorite tee.

Pop culture is my weakness. While my Lollapalooza t-shirt is worn often, it isn’t the winner. My Curious George shirt was tied with my I heart geeks t-shirt for a while, but the softness of George makes it the overall winner. I haven’t always been a fan of fitted t-shirts due to me being so self-concious, but I’m slowly getting over it. Also, I should note, as was pointed out by a friend (female); not only is George going for the cake, he’s trying to “get some” too as Beavis would say.

I think my next project will be Coronet from Knitty. My brother wants a hat and his birthday is in a month. That gives me plenty of time and I have almost three full skeins of the green wool from my rogue. I think it should knit up nicely. I may stitch in a cotton band so that it doesn’t itch.

In a fit to get my projects done, I finished the cheap clapotis for Brittany. I may give it to her this afternoon. That picture is a pretty accurate color representation, surprisingly.

I can’t say this pattern was terribly exciting. I don’t know how often Brittany will wear it, but she wanted it, so she can have it. I am glad I decided to do it in a cheap yarn first, because I am not sure if I want to make one in my nice yarn for someone. It just doesn’t seem practical and we know I am all about being practical.

Pattern: Clapotis from knitty.com
Materials used:
US8 Straight Needles
Caron Simply Soft (Autumn Red 9730)
Yarn needle

I wonder if Josh would let me knit him a Weasley sweater now that a new pattern has been posted by Alison? I already liked her HiP, so a Weasley would be cute too. I’ll work on him. Not.

I finished sewing the sleeves and hem! Go me. I think I will block the shoulders, but otherwise it looks good.

Comments about the pattern: Holy crap is it great. I only wish there was more shaping in the body, but we can’t have it all. I once again recommend that you purchase sheet protectors and overhead markers. This is really handy for this pattern and all of its charts. The pattern is well written and easy to understand. I thought it would be above my head, but my biggest issues ended up being me not paying attention.

Comments about the yarn: I need to get some glycerin to avoid any possibly pilling. So far I haven’t noticed any, but I am looking to avoid it. While wearing it for a while, I did notice a bit of itching. It wasn’t bad, but it may go away in washing. The yarn stinks to high heaven when wet. I’ve experienced this with other wools, but the smell has eventually gone away.

Pattern: Rogue from girlfromauntie.com
Materials used:
US9 Circulars and straights
KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Fern
Three stitch holders
Yarn needle
Cable needle

So what did I do last night? Grafting baby. I finished grafting the hood. I didn’t like how I did the back part of the hood, but it will be fine. The body is blocking and then it is time for final assembly and possibly a steam blocking. I made it too long, but it covers my tush. I like that. I prefer stuff that keeps that area warm. I couldn’t have done it as fast as I did without PumpkinKnit‘s grafting instructions. I ended up putting it into a spreadsheet to make it two pages.

I think I may make another one, shorter this time, in Bartlett yarn’s Glen tweed. I don’t know what color, but now that I know what I am doing and a lot more comfortable, I am ready to do this in something nicer. Not that Wool of the Andes is bad, but i want something with a bit more pop or zing to it.

Pictures after assembly of course.

I’ve been feeling better off and on. That means knitting. I’ve got about 50 rows left of the hood and then I have to graft and seam. I’m going to do a lot of research before I start. I’m pretty sure I will follow PumpkinKnits‘ grafting chart, but I want to see how everyone else has seamed their sleeves.

More Rogue knitting done! I finished both neck sides and started the hood. My shoulder seaming originally sucked arse (A sure sign that I was sick and should have stopped), but this morning after pumping myself full of Tylenol and red pepper (I’m out of sudafed and peppered breakfast is more fun), I was aware of what I was doing and opted to undo the cast-off and do a three needle bind off for the shoulders. It looks much better. If only I had done it before I started the hood. Then I wouldn’t have had to go back and fake it.

I was really impressed with my picking up the stitches along the back, but at the neck (where there are decreases) I’m a little more iffy. Thankfully the eyes will be drawn to the cables and not my horrible neck pick ups. I was also pretty impressed with last night’s weaving in. I couldn’t find the damn yarn for nearly twenty minutes.

I really need to finish Rogue soon. I have a feeling I will have some actual work to do in the next week or so. That will limit my knitting time substantially.