Blogiversary

April 15 was the first anniversary of this blog. I started it so I could join swaps and exchanges and I have participated in quite a few. I've also used it to document all my completed objects. I have had so much fun keeping up this blog, planning, writing and taking pictures. I was going to definitely do an anniversary post and then we had a huge rain storm and I forgot completely. Today I read someone else's anniversary post and was reminded. I was going to just skip mine but that wouldn't be right. I guess I'll just have a belated celebration. How to celebrate? I still have to think about it. Maybe in the usual way, by buying yarn. Maybe donating some too.

Spring at Last

We had terrible weather early last week. I was so happy to see these daffodils at the pond behind the building where I work. Maybe I can get outside more now that the rain stopped and the temperature is a little higher.
I finished the Horcrux socks and they are really comfortable. Trekking XXL is wonderful. It's thick and spongy with muted color changes. The socks were easy and went so quickly. I have seen some made in Harry Potter house colors on Six Sock Knitalong and they look great. I may make a pair like that too. I just have to decide which house I belong to. Every time I take a quiz on the internet I come out belonging to a different house. I may pick Ravenclaw. I think they use blue and silver or bronze.
I've also jumped on the Chevron Scarf bandwagon from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I'm using up some left over red merino that I can't even remember buying and have no idea what I used for with some merino yarn that was a present from KnitPastis called Fallen Leaves. It is a little brighter than the things I usually wear but maybe it is time to go a little brighter!

More Gifts

I've been trying to finish up some gifts so I can start on the spring projects that I want to make for me with a clear conscience. Here are some more baby gifts, my second Baby Surprise and the Baby Bolero from One Skein. I’m not so sure that the bolero is enough for a gift. It may be better for a teddy bear than a child. It only took one afternoon to make though and it was fun seeing how it came together. Maybe I can combine it with something else. I am getting tired of Baby Surprise sweaters even though this is only my second. Maybe I should just wait a few months before making another. I have been looking on the web for other baby sweaters and I found a few that looked good so I may make one of those next. I need four completed sweaters for gifts. Luckily I don’t need the last one until September.
I am also working on the secret scarf for my scarf exchange pal and that is almost finished. I’m not saying too much in case she finds this blog but I will be mailing it in about a month and then I can show pictures.

I had to knit the April/May sock on the Six Sock Knitalong. It is the Horcrux Sock based on Harry Potter. See the zigzag scar? I’m using the Trekking XXL yarn that I couldn’t resist in Lenox when I went to the yoga and knitting weekend. Really, I think the pattern shows more clearly in solid yarn but I didn’t have any in my stash and I just love these muted colors. There is another pattern for a worsted weight sock and I may try that in a solid. I’ve tried a few house sorting sites on the web to see which Hogwarts house I would fit into and every time I get different results. I’ll just pick the colors I like best.
This Sunday is my one year blogiversary. Who knew how much fun this would be? Look at all the FOs this year. I’m impressed! Now, how shall I celebrate?

It's Here

My yarn order came today. This is just a part of it. I can't wait to begin using it all up.

And Crochet Too!

I learned to crochet a long time ago but usually just use it for borders, edgings and trims. But something about this sweater in the Free Friday Patterns email from Berroco just struck me and I had to make it from some stash Patons Merino. I had forgotten how fast crochet can be. It only took me a week to make this. The pattern showed a flowery belt and I thought it would be too much so I just used a hair clip to close it, but I see it looks a little bulky around the waist. So I will crochet the belt as soon as I get a chance.
A while ago while browsing the web I saw that a company called Knit Happens was having a great sale so I ordered a lot of yarn, mostly for making gifts. I am still waiting for it to arrive and then I will start my new April sock pattern from the Six Sock Knitalong (which are Harry Potter socks called Horcrux and look fantastic) and a whole bunch of baby patterns. Also, it is time for the 4th International Scarf Exchange and I ordered yarn for that too. I will certainly be busy soon!