I’ve been playing with the knitting machine a bit more. I finished the knitting part of the Harry Potter scarf on Sunday night:

and then I started a hat to practice ribbing. I finished the ribbing part last night, and now I need to take it off the machine and then I’ll hand-knit the decreases at the top. I think I’d be better off hand-knitting the next time I need ribbing (at least in mass quantities). no pics yet.

I’ve also been making good progress on the Vintage Velvet:

the loop of yarn near the needle is about where the first ball of yarn ran out. I figure I’m about halfway through the second ball now.

k-chan #2 was felted back when the clogs were, but I still haven’t taken the time to sit down and sew the handles in place.

I’d also set a goal last month to finish L’s mittens from last year by the end of the month. unfortunately that hasn’t happened. I think I’m going to sit down tonight and at least get a good start on the second one.

and as a wrap-up, I’m a bit bummed to report that I spent absolutely no time knitting socks during socktoberfest. =(

NaKniSweMo starts tomorrow. I’m trying to decide (still) if I want to participate and whip out a sweater this month, or if I’m better off focusing on the holiday knitting. tough call.

Finished size (post-felting): about 7″ from top to tip
Yarn: Paton’s Classic Merino for the white, Lion Wool for the orange & yellow
Needles: Size 13 circs and Size 11 dpns
Pattern: Candy Corn Inspired Bag
mods: I wanted to make it smaller, so I cast on less stitches and worked the decreases every garter ridge in the yellow.

Started: 13 October 2007
Finished: 30 October 2007
made for: Halloween swap pal

I just spent who knows how much time on webring maintenance. for those who don’t know, I manage the Minnesota Knitters Ring. I’m pretty easy going - I don’t have posting requirements or anything. All that matters is that you have a Minnesota connection (so if you’re like Stephania over at Moriae and have moved, no problem. you’re still a MN knitter. join up.), the ring linkage works and that your site hasn’t disappeared into the ethers.

so, all sites that had joined and have proper linkage are now active ring members. active members who updated their templates and forgot to put the ring on (or whatever other reason might have caused the linkage to disappear) have been moved to the queue and should have received an email with ring linkage code. (same goes for people that were in the queue and never got the linkage up - you should have received an email). a few people received more personal emails. at any rate, there was lots of shuffling and emailing going on.

if you have questions about how to get your code up, let me know - I’ll see what I can do to help. (or if you want your site removed, let me know and I’ll stop sending code to you.)

ETA: Here’s the page for joining.

Finished size: preemie sized
Yarn: Emu Superwash DK in the Rainbow color. (leftover from A’s socks)
Needles: Size 3
Pattern: Feather & Fan Preemie Hat from the 2007 Pattern-a-Day Calendar

Started: late August 2007 …
Finished: 27 October 2007
made for: Hats for Alex

I got an awesome package from my pal Alpaquita in the Great ‘Weenie Swap over on the knittyboard.

the Lindt chocolates didn’t make it home from the post office. the kinderegg didn’t last long either.
I’m still working on the Pastilles.

the yarn… mmm - Socks that Rock in Purple Rain. (every time I see that, I get the Prince song stuck in my head.)

and a suri alpaca/merino blend to make mittens with:

I can’t wait to cast on!