Scarves, Hufflepuff and Blocking Wires

On February 8, 2009, in scarf, sweater, yarn, by Anna

I started knitting a lace scarf out of Silkie Socks that Rock (merino/silk blend), from Blue Moon Fiber Arts the other day. The colourway is called Valkyrie, and looks really neat. It’s not quite as black as I thought – it’s black overdyed with shades of red, which makes it look purple, brown and green in parts. I like it though, and it’s really wonderfully soft. I should have some pictures of the scarf up in the next few days.
The intended recipient is Mina, who has agreed to trade one of her wonderful bags for a lace scarf. It will be a flippflapp style bag, that will become my new knitting bag.
But just in case this scarf is not black enough, I will make a second one in licorice Apple Laine.

I have also started a third Weasley sweater. This time it’s a Hufflepuff sweater for my youngest. The colours are gold and black. I’m altering the pattern quite a lot this time around. I decided to knit the body and the sleaves in the round, so as to minimize the amount of sewing I have to do at the end. I have knit half the body since Friday, so just as before, it’s a quick knit. And that’s probably a good thing, since it’s a winter sweater, and it’s best if he gets a chance to wear it a few times before spring comes.

On Friday I made a quick visit to my LYS and picked up some yarn – the Paton’s Classic Merino Wool required for the Weasley sweater, some Apple Pie/Apple Laine in licorice colour for a black lace scarf, and some blocking wires. I’ve been meaning to order blocking wires from Knitpicks for ages, but they were out of stock before Christmas, and then I just haven’t gotten around to it. But with the current exchange-rate, taxes, and shipping to Canada, I got a much better deal on some EZ-blocking wires locally. I tried them out today, and while my shawl isn’t dry yet, I really thought it made the entire process a lot simpler. I think I will like the result too.