Completions and Inspirations

Complete - Beth's Blankie! This picture looks really dark, but the blankie is actually burgundy & cream, about 2'x4' (approx.) - five balls of Bernat Harmony on a 6.5mm circ. DH2B, who is clever, suggested that rather than doing a second stripe pattern, I reserve the last three balls and do pillows for next year. This is why I love this man! So, FO! Ha ha!

Related news: today is mine and Peter's anniversary. 5 years ago tonight we had our first date - he picked me up at 7:30 in the evening and brought me home at 9:30 the following morning. No, we didn't have sex. But we've been inseparable ever since. It's a good thing.

To celebrate, I'm giving him a new Thermos - it's what he wants and it will keep him warm (well, the coffee will keep him warm, anyway). And we're having dinner / hang-out time with our dear dear friends (they for whom I am knitting the Harry Potter scarves), so it will be a lovely relaxed evening. JOY!

Now, inspirations... three nights in a row now, I've dreamt of a checkerboard blankie. As in, actual red and black squares with a border, that one could play actual checkers (or chess, I suppose) on. I'm thinking of a basketweave pattern but not quite sure how the carrying of colours will work, so I need to mull on it a bit. But the funky coincidence is that in my eBay acquisitions I have two HUGE balls of chunky acrylic - one black, one red. So really, it must be tried. The yarn is here and begging for it.

Currently OTN - well, getting closer to Christmas, trying to focus on prezzies. But I like to treat me, too. So:

1) Mom's prayer shawl (in LB Homespun). About 1/2 done now and it's very very pretty, and Jen at SnB last night showed me how to fix a couple of holes without too much stress, so it is very forgiving too!

2) Another pair of slippers for Peter - these in the aforementioned chunky black acrylic - which I tease him by calling them "blackfoot" slippers (he's Mohawk). First one's nearly done.

3) A new Moebius for Me, Me, Me! This in "Cora" by Lang, in purple which, when knit (and stroked), bears a bizarre resemblance to poodle fur texture. Thus, I christen it the Purple Poodle.

4) The last Harry Potter scarf - Slytherin house - which is about 2/3 done. Two weeks until the movie opens, so this is "travel" knitting now, just working it at lunchtimes or when waiting for papers at work.

5) About to cast on for the third and final pair of purse slippers for the girls in Halifax - these should be quick to do (like, within a week).

6) About to cast on for a scarf (also in Bernat Harmony - I like this yarn but getting tired of it!) for the girls' mom. One skein, skinny and quick, I'm thinking.

Once these are done the only Christmas knitting left will be Peter's socks. But before I do his socks, I have to do my socks, as they are the "learning" socks. So, by the end of this month, I should be in sock mode. Except I want to start on that checkerboard, and my sweater is calling to me, and... oh blast, I have no resolve whatsoever. :)