Where in the World Was Winnie?

I am a little worried about her actually, and wonder if she ought to go back to St. Mungo's for a short spell? She is all confused about times see - Cyprian Youdle played quidditch in 1357, not 1857, so dear Winnie is 500 years out of Sync - perhaps she's been using that timeturner of hers a little too much? Anyway - I believe she must have been to Queerditch Marsh as she has been muttering strangely about the first ever quidditch game, and that was there. Oh, and Appleby Village in Lincolnshire. She was complaining bitterly about the lack of pubs and shops there, the old soak!

Where in the World is Winnie?

Well, some folks have clearly been doing extensive research in an effort to deduce Winnie's whereabouts. I've seen posts about far-flung castles and maple syrup factories. By contrast I lack time for such levels of research so I'm keeping my guesses simple. I'd hazard a guess that Winnis has visited Australia or New Zealand and Canada!!!!! (Wheezing with laughter here!)

Dad has been in St. Mungo's this week, so me and Lizzie have been somewhat occupied, especially me as Mum came to stay while he was in the care of the Healers. They did a good job, and I'm relieved to say he is home again now, though feeling his age much more than previously.

Other news is that I have published a new pattern.Well, it's actually one I designed many months ago, and only got to publishing it now. It's a doubleknitted scarf pattern which I originally conceived as a gift for my newest niece, Poppy. Below you see it modelled by another of my nieces, my sister Lizzie's daughter. Isn't she gorgeous?

Getting to Know You

Someone with the same craft as you. Andromeda Finch-Fletchley spins. I love the cup-holder she has on her wheel.

Someone who was born in the same month. Lizzie Wychwood ofcourse! ;0)

Someone from a different country. Maisy Muddlestixs is from South Australia - that's 10 hours ahead of me in England!

A new HSKS Quidditch player. I think Celeena Cree is new?

A player who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps. Wisteria Lovegood is a trampish type of girl who can't keep away from Hogwarts, or it's male professors!!

A player who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!) Winifred Hornswaggle has 91yarns stashed on Ravelry. That's more than I have, just!

A player who both knits and crochets. Hermione Bagnold has learned to crochet and it wasn't long until she took up knitting too. She's now knitting a beautiful laceweight shawl!

Someone who has the same favorite color as you. In her Ravelry profile Stellwa Quinn has listed pink and green as her favourite colours. That's the same as mine, just in the opposite order.

Where in ther World is Winnie?

Mistress Wartbobble is undertaking a round-the-world trip and we are most fortunate to be blessed with wonderful correspondence from her while she travels. She is clearly currently in London, England, not far from Yours Truly, as she has sent a postcard that pictures a remarkable image of the atrium at the Ministry of Magic. I think she might have visited Saint Mungo's too as she was rambling about ministry officials having poor bedside manners. I do hope you are OK Winnie?

I made it onto the team!!

Yes, my friends, you may think I am a clapped-out old housewitch from Ottery, whereas really I am a fledgling international quidditch star. Appleby Arrows have recognised my hitherto hidden talents and following tryouts have invited me to join the team!!!!!!!!! Go me!!! :0)

So, my first task for the team is to post a list of 'wishes' - things I would dearly love to receive from my top fan (aka 'spoiler'), and things I would like him/her to know about me, like that I really am so allergic to cats (I know - not very witchlike of me!) that I will start sneezing and itching and struggling to breathe just if I sit next to someone who owns one. The cat doesn't even have to be there! Same thing with horses, dogs, hamsters, mice... As far as I know I am pretty safe with goldfish however! Luckily I am also fine with sheep, which may be why they are my favourite animal, and why my patronus is a ram. So it will not surprise you to know that I love wool, preferably without too much plastic mixed into it. I also adore silk. So yarns that blend wool and silk are totally awesome in my opinion.

Other useful information for my top fan might be that I totally love green, any variety of it, and especially moss and leaf greens. I love floral scents, and fruit flavours.

And the rather obvious information, though I will state it nonetheless, is that I love to knit. I have a very strong creative bent, and love to express this through designing and knitting.

Now as I am an Arrow, I know my top fan will want to provide me with blue stuff, so I'm going to help by pointing out some blue yarns that I like. Sock yarn first:

In the US:

Knitpicks Stroll Tweed in 'Aegean'
Knitpicks Stroll in 'Tidepool Heather' or 'Mermaid'
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in 'Powder Blue'

In the UK:

Fyberspates Scrumptious 4-ply in Aqua
The Knitting Goddess Cash Sock in 'Semi-solid slate'

Now, the bag! Hmmm... This will have to be a project bag (not main handbag) as really I would not usually use a blue handbag. If you want to make the bag yourself, then let your imagination and creativity go wild with those hints and the blue and silver Arrows theme - any blue for this will be fine. If you want to gift me with the yarn and pattern for me to make the bag can we make it that the pattern is any old throwaway (so definitely one that is free to you), so that actually I can use the yarn to knit a bag to my own design? I say this because as a designer I need to devote as much of my knitting time as possible to stuff that can go into my portfolio. BTW I'd prefer a throwaway sock pattern for the same reason if you decide to make the bag and send yarn for socks. In fact, I'd be happy if you don't send a pattern at all, it's just I think it is a requirement of the swap for you to do so. Perhaps the powers that be would allow an exemption in my spoiler's case?

I can design to whatever yarn you send, or pick from the following:

US choice:

Cascade 220 in Pale Blue

UK Choice:

Texere Yarns Troon Tweed in 'Sky tweed'
Texere Yarns Airedale Aran in 'Sky' or 'Duck egg' (the latter is my top fave!)

Other wishes:

I would love to have a shawl pin - anything pretty and dainty (clumpy things don't look good on me!) such as the ones made by this etsy seller. (Not a budget purchase - perhaps you can find something similar at a lower price?)

Another Etsy seller makes cute little rubber stamps - including an option to have this one done with knitting needles instead of a crochet hook.

This UK company sell beautiful and very reasonably priced rosewood straight knitting needles.

I'd love to try some square circular needles, also available in the UK from KCG Trading.

In general I'm sure to love whatever you send. As you can see I love handmade items, so please do include as much of your own crafting as you wish - I'm bound to like it!