January 7

Fighting the Pern Plague

Fighting the Pern Plague

That’s what I’ve been doing for the past week and, believe me, it’s no fun whatsoever. It takes a hearty dragonrider to get through this crud. So my meanderings around the internet took me to finding ways to fight the dreaded plague (known as ‘the flu’ to you non Pernians) and this caught my eye. A great way to keep warm and the chill off your neck as you recover from being out of commission, a Fiery Dragon Scarfdesigned by Brooke L. Hanna. While the pattern was created for her son, it can be done to fit anyone in the family by simply adding more length to it.

And now, I’m off to bundle up and sip a nice hot cup of Klah and perhaps a Bubbly Pie while I continue to recover from the Pern Plague. Happy New Year all!

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December 31

When Worlds Collide

When Worlds Collide

Years ago, a fifth grader walks into her local library and finds a new series about dragonriders on a planet named Pern.

Some years later, another young girl half a world away discovers a series about a planet named Discworld.

Neither knew at the time that these two worlds were on a collision course with each other and would one day meet up in the wizarding world of Harry Potter but they did. That is where I met Muggs and for the past few years have shared back and forth on our respective favorite fandoms. Recently, she began reading Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series and, in return, I began reading Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. We’re both hooked.

Of course, being a crafter, and a geek crafter at heart, I began searching for patterns and crafts related to the new series and found some. One of my favorites is the adorable Swamp Dragon, foun which grows to a length of two feet, especially in the books Guards! Guards! and Men at Arms.

Steph Conley has created a “lifesize” knit pattern for these dragons. I introduce you to Flynn the Swamp Dragon.

Knit in worsted weight yarn, he doesn’t take much yarn do to as she made hers from recycled sweater yarn. A seven inch zipper is sewn into his stomach to turn this into a nice hiding place for special things.

You can find more Discworld crafty goodness on her blog.

 

 

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December 24

Twas Knitting Before Christmas

Twas Knitting Before Christmas

Twas knitting before Christmas, when all through the castle
Not a creature was stirring, not even a thestral.
The stockings were hung in the Great Hall with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The professors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of butterbeers danced in their heads.
And Dumbledore dreaming of knitted socks,
And Hagrid of having cakes as hard as a rock.

When out on the staircase there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Past Filch and Mrs Norris who ran mad as hatters
To find that Professor Staarkatt had yarn and a pattern.

Fresh off the needles in various colors
Each pair just what the head of houses would order.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But miniature house scarfs to hang from your ears!

Burgundy and gold or green and silver
Other house color combinations so familiar
All it takes is needles in size zero
And a bit of perle cotton for your rows

“Now Hufflepuff! now, Gryffindor! Ravenclaw and Slytherin!
A wonderful way to finish your Hogwarts gift giving!
To the top of the towers! to the ends of the hall!
Now knit a pair! Knit two pair! Knit them for all!

As she posted the pattern, Professor Staarkatt did shout
“Make sure there’s a pair for McGonagall and Sprout!”
But I heard her exclaim, ‘ere she apparated out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all and just knit through the night!”

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December 18

Star Wars Winter Warmer Hats

Knit Princess Leia Bun Hat,The weather outside is frightful but Star Wars hats are so delightful… Okay, so it doesn’t really have the same ring to it as the famous Christmas carol but they really are super cool. Anyone worth their salt will know there is a pretty big day coming up in the calender, one which we will all celebrate. Yup, the release of the Star Wars MMO Star Wars The Old Republic on December 20th. Most of us can wave goodbye to seeing our loved ones over the Christmas period but whilst he’s deciding to go Empire or Republic you can at least get some peace and quiet to craft.

This amazing hat is hand knitted by Etsy seller LittleBirdLucy. The knitted Princess Leia Bun Hat is available in Black or Brown and is available in Toddler, 4-6 years, teen and adult sizes. Yup we can all look this awesome, and just think how warm your ears would be!

 

Leia and Storm TrooperLisa (LittleBirdLucy) also makes an awwwwhhhhhh-dorable little Yoda hat available in sizes newborn to adult.

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December 12

Warm and fuzzy guts

Do you remember high school biology? Your lab partner was a little shy… and a lot adorable? The two of you acted bravely as you stole glances and awkwardly prodded at some poor little critter splayed out on the dissecting pan ?

Yeah, I don’t remember that either.  My lab partner was a creepy spaz (yes, you–Brian), and I still have the suspicion that more than one starfish stomach ended up inside of  his nose. >>shudder<<

Fortunately, Emily Stoneking can takes those macabre memories and make them warm and fuzzy with her AKnitomy knitted dissections.

Let’s forget, for a moment, how faithfully the organs are placed inside of the rat and freak out about Stoneking’s use of varying fibers and gauges to bring to life (or, uh, death) the different organs and tissues:  from the diaphanous, pinned-back skin to the ropey little tail.
Be sure to check out her other critters. Frogs, fetal pigs, earthworms, human brains, and an (oh my) Easter Bunny await. A lovely, caring homage to all the poor little critters who gave their lives for our awkward, adolescent memories.

 

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December 10

Ten Points to Gryffindor But Purses for All!

I mentioned in my introduction that you would be meeting some of the people who helped fire up my interest in ‘geek crafting’. One of the very first was my dear friend, Rosemary Waits, or Quietish as she is known on line. We first met on line in 2000 and lived over one thousand miles apart. As the fates would have it, I ended up moving only three and a half hours away from her and we would occasionally see each other in person.

 

It was Quietish who referred me to a couple of on line crafting groups for Harry Potter and, later , invited me to help her and another friend at an area event, Mugglefest. Two weeks before, she mentioned she was working on a Gryffindor scarf to wear that day. I barely could knit garter stitch at this time. There was no way I could create a scarf for myself in that time. Searching links, she sent me one for the sweater I mentioned last week and that was it.

 

There’s been many Harry Potter moments and crafts since there between us, and other friends, but one of my favorites is her HP House Fair Isle Pouch Bags which she shares here along with a link to her PDF pattern for all four houses found on Ravelry. With it’s flat style construction, the bag serves as a nice starting point for a knitter wanting to begin including pockets in their work. The pattern is a Fair Isle and is knitted in the round and includes a bit of basic crochet and some simple sewing to finish. The bags are lined and the pattern contains the graphs for all four house mascots.

If you’re not a member of Ravelry, membership is free and there are many patterns both free and for purchase available there.

 

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