Life goes on....

I apologise for my long silence here. I know you understand it, and thank everyone for the messagesof sympathy I have received. They have been very comforting, especially the lovely statue Clara sent me, 'Forever in my Heart', which expresses so beautifully how I feel about my Dad.

Anyway - this is my response to last week's activity, albeit a day late:

1. To which prison was Gellert Grindelwald sent after he was defeated by Dumbledore in 1945?

Nurmengard

2. Who is the first casualty in The Deathly Hallows?
Charity Burbage

3. What does Draco Malfoy name his son?
Scorpius

4. Before Harry gains control of it, who is the master of the Elder Wand?
Draco Malfoy

5. Severus Snape’s Patronus takes the same form as which other character’s?
Lily Potter

6. Where do Ron, Hermione and Harry apparate when Death Eaters invade Bill and Fleur’s wedding?
Tottenham Court Road

7. Who does Harry send to search for Mundungus Fletcher and the missing locket?
Kreacher

8. Who destroys Salazar Slytherin’s locket?
Ron

9. What does Hermione use to destroy Helga Hufflepuff’s cup?
Basilisk fangs

10. Following the death of Lord Voldemort, who is named temporary Minister of Magic?
Kingsley Shacklebolt

Incantations

Pumpkin Pie


Owl Order

Leaf Lace

Weasley Red

Quaffle Waffle

Hallow 's Eve

Mad Hatter

Dragon Eyes

Crystal Meths

Trees Woods

Hermione Granger

Hogwarts Express

Burrow Down

Dobby Wax

Horcrux Harry

Ministry of funny walks!

Magic Wands

Sirius Black

Apple Dumpling

Juice Orange

Candle Snuffer

Ghost Train

Snake Skin

Wand Electric

Invisibility Cloak

Tent Pegs

Spell Bound

Umbridge Archers

Dursely Dudders

Prophet and loss!

New Term, New Pattern!

It's a new term at Hogwarts and already I am getting behind with my homework! Alas I have too many extra-curricular activities keeping me from my quill and parchment, so shan't be able to do the set homweork to get to know my classmates as it looks like a very time-consuming task. I have very much enjoyed reading all the messages I've received from fellow students who were giving the assignment the proper effort.

The last few days I have had various freinds and family staying with me as we were all attending a course of advanced magic together. Houseguests included my brother and his wife, a young cousin of ours, and a friend who flew over from Switzerland especially to be with us. It was lots of fun being with them and we all learned so much on the course.

Recently I published a new shawl pattern of which i am very proud. My dear sister, Lizzie Wychwood, knitted the sample and it was modeled (in my garden) by a good friend of ours.

Kit from Ambyr!

Ambyr's owl arrived on Monday with this fantastic kit. Alas, I have been so busy working and minding Lizzie's children and my children since then that now is the first opportunity I have had to take pictures to show you. Ambyr is a very patient and kind witch, and I thank her for her forbearance waiting for this, especially as I hate waiting myself for folk to post about kits I have sent!

Of course, Ambyr did a stunning job with the kit, having clearly done her homework about my preferences. This led to the most amazing handsewn project bag, done in my most favourite colour with a snakelike pattern. It is lined with a lovely acorn patterned fabric. :0)

Pictured with the bag are the yarns (Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in green and pinks) and a tea-cosy pattern to go with them. The yarn colours are 'avocado', 'carnation', and 'hollyberry'. Although I do love the cosy I hope you don't mind Ambyr if I do something of my own designing with this beautiful yarn?

As you can already see, Ambyr made a nature kit for me. Hence these very lovely fish and butterfly-inspired stitchmarkers (I adore butterflies!) that Ambyr made especially for me. Note that the fish are in Hogwarts House colours!

Ambyr also included some M&Ms, which the boys promptly helped me to eat. There is nature inspired food too - some gourmet shell pasta (included because Ambyr is in Shell Cottage). Other nature treats include the 'Sea Garden' hand cream and a Bonsai kit (Mr. Wigworthy will love growing this while I am not to be allowed near it as I am bad news for plants!), as well as some very welcome soak sachets (I love this product - so kind to wool, and very easy to use).

Ambyr, this is a most delightful kit for which I wholeheartedly thank you! You are so, so kind! :0)

World Record Holder?

On 23rd August I am part of a team of 8 spinners and knitters who are attempting to break the worls record for fastest time from sheep to sweater! We have the world's fastest knitter (yes, really!) on the team, and some renowned spinners, and, um, me! So we're going to do it, right? ;0)

Problem is, magical means are not permitted. We are not even allowed to wash and comb the fleece! So, I had a lesson earlier this week with a good friend of mine from Bradford Guild who is an expert in long-draw technique, the fastest way to spin by far. See, even though I first learned spinning nearly 25 years ago now, my usual worsted technique is known as 'inch-worm'! Anyway, Freyalyn got me going well, and by the end of the session I was spinning yards in seconds rather than minutes!
 
Freyalyn spinning (with a spindle) with another friend at Woolfest 2 years ago (Freyalyn is the witch facing us in this picture, if she hasn't wandered off that is...):

In Swap News I can reveal that I have now received three separate owl deliveries in the last week for Wisty's kit!

Witches Wishes

Knit or crochet or both?
Both, and prefer knitting.


Brands you would like to try but don't have easy access to:
Anything KnitPicks!

Favorite fibers/least favorite fibers
Love any natural fibre

Favorite colors/least favorite colors
Love all greens, also like soft dark pinks (blue side of the range). Hate orangey pinks and pale browns.

Yarn weight preferences
I love laceweights (don't get a green one though as I have several already!)
Also like worsted weight as we can't easily get that in the UK.

Favorite projects
Small ones!

Favorite gadgets
Cute or funky tape measures and knitting gauges
Favorite designers
Me!!!!!! LOL!
Kieran Foley ('knitlab' on Ravelry)
Nicky Epstein

Salty or Sweet or...?
Both!

Tea or Coffee or...?
Tea!

Allergies
Fur and dust

Other things you like, i.e., buttons, pens, fabric, stitchmarkers, etc.
Anything crafty, so all of the above!

Currently Craving
A Debra's Garden gauge
A small project bag
Vintage style notebooks
Anything Potter!

Where you might have wish lists (Loopy Ewe, Amazon, Etsy)
Amazon (my email address should find it)
Etsy favourites (I'm Rumpelstiltskin on etsy)

Spoiled Witch!

Yes, my package from Celestina Pettigrew arrived this morning. I was sitting outside at the back of the cottage (wrapped in a blanket because despite the June sunshine it is definitely a cool day) when a heavily laden owl fluttered down and halted beside my chair.

I was so excited to see the package, realising instantly who it was from. Celestina spoiled me royally last summer, and she has done it again! :0)

Check out the Ravenclaw wrappings:

Contents:

1) Green yarn (my favourite colour) a rubber stamp specially made for me with a heart flower and 'Ann Kingstone Designs' on it, a packet of treats, a beaded row counting gadget, and a Rita Skeeter kit.

Celestina very cleverly worked to meet my needs as a designe in this kit.

She used the rubber stamp to decorate the beaded counter:

  

This is a wonderful handmade notepad cover with pockets for colouring pencils (included) and containing a notepad of squared paper (Celestina has clearly realised that I do a lot of charting for my designs).

Check out the magical internal cover:

 A generous-sized Ravenclaw satchel bearing a beaitfully embroidered Ravenclaw crest.

Close-up of the crest for you - beautiful!

A very cute mini Ravenclaw sock (I love the patterning - well done Celestina!) on a mini-blocker and keyring fastened to a bag of goodies - various chocolates and a mini shell bottle (for perfume?):

And the Rita Skeeter kit - a newsboy hat, Rita-style glasses, Quick Quotes quill and notepad:

Celestina, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You!!!

Lonely Witch :0(

Mr. Wigworthy and the boys have gone camping without me!

They've gone off for a weekend of magical fun on a camp exclusively for wizards. They're well equipped, although their tent isn't quite up to the standard of the one the Weasleys biorrow from Mr. Perkins. Only two bedrooms and a very small kitchen area for the Wigworthys. Snug!!

The boys were particularly excited, especially as their cousin, Lizzie's son was going with them too. They are looking forward to all kinds of crazy activities - a wet and soapy slide, climbing, campfire singsongs, and a party, for which they had to take buns. I admit, I didn't make the buns myself but ordered them from Madam Puddifoot's teashop in Hogsmeade. She makes such delightful fairy cakes!

So, here I am, forlorn and forsaken! ;0)

Luckily I have the excitement of my meeting tomorrow with the Lord Mayor of Coventry to keep my spirits up. I've been madly preparing for it. A new hairdo, clothes laundered, knitting supplies bagged up, etc... I've even bought a wonderful artefact from Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment that will magically guide me to the location in Coventry of this stupendous event. I'll be sure to tell you full details of the meeting when I next write here. Until then, may you find pleasure in all of your stitches. :0)

Lord Mayor of Coventry

I just found out that next Saturday I will be teaching the Lord Mayor of Coventry to knit!

Here he is with his wife (the lady Mayoress):

It is to be World Wide Knit in Public day, and the organiser of UK Knit Camp has asked me to go to Coventry for this immense honour. Jo lives in Coventry and owns a yarn shop there. Information about the event can be found by grabbing this portkey:

I'm a Winner!

Yes - I won a prize in the Ravenclaw draw a couple of weeks ago. I am the most happy recipient of some beautiful hand-dyed yarn and stitchmarkers from the wonderful Olive Bumblebirch, who just happens to have been my spoilee in the last swap, and is my dear siter's spoilee in the current swap. I think that is why she included two sets of stitchmarkers with an instruction for me to give one set to Lizzie. It iwll be the blue set as that is Lizzie's favourite colour. I also love the cute little envelope Olive sent the stitchmarkers in. I'm a sucker for pretty little things!

Sadly I learned this week that my spoilee, Elladora Madley has withdrawn from the swap. I think that, like me, in the context of a busy life she has been finding it difficult to maintain the level of participation that is required. So, instead of creating a kit for Elladora I have now been delegated the joyous task of helping to create an angel kit for her spoilee, the illustrious Megaera Black. Luckily Meg is a Slytherin, the same house as the Draco around whom I was theming Elladora's kit, so many of the things I was going to put into Elladora's kit are in fact quite suitable for Megaera instead. So all's well that ends well....

Apart from the cashmere yarn that is, which I'll have to keep for myself. Shoot! ;0)

Which witch?

Who in the magical world do you think these would most suit?

They are my latest design and I am currently working up the pattern ready for test knitting with the intention of publishing the pattern within the next couple of weeks. I'm using my new publishing spell (PagePlus X4) to write up the pattern, and am really enjoying this advanced form of magic which is apparently comparable to Adobe InDesign.

As with most of my designs, these are very original. I've not seen a knitted lace overcuff in any other glove design, and I know the lace panel on the sleeve is original as I developed it myself from a lengthy trial and error swatch process! I even invented a new double increase technique for them (I know by saying so that I risk incurring the wrath of folk who think ther are truly no new techniques in knitting, just re-discovered ones; nevertheless I do think this invention is truly new).

Close-up:



In Swap news I am sad to report that my handmade item for Elladora's kit is unfinished. In fact I'm not very happy with it at all, and am considering sending it to the frog pond and starting afresh on something altogether better. Trouble is, I don't know what to do instead. I've found it very hard to think of a relevant handmade item to make for the kit this time. I know Elladora has high tastes, and worry that whatever I make will prove to be too tacky! ;0)

Late again!

A whole day late this time. Sigh. And Hermione has increased the pressure - no prize drawing for Ravenclaws unless everyone blogs. So I've just deprived my housemates of prizes. :0(

I am, however, making some progress with the kit for Ella. A few owls arrived this week with goodies for her, and I have scouted out a very special pattern to give to her. I will, of course, also give her all my patterns too.

My dear sister Lizzie is now in Florida, and sent me some wonderful pictures of the Wychwoods swimming with dolphins. Amazing!! I'm missing her though, not least because she is best at getting me organised.
She took yarn with her to knit up a shawl for me. It's a design I've created for some lovely red yarn I received from The Knitting Goddess, a British yarn witch. Here's a sneak peek of the swatching for it:

It seems I'm too busy designing these days to be able to give the time to The Swap that is needed for proper participation. Perhaps I should just not sign up next time (sob!)? While I would feel bereft, at least I wouldn't keep feeling guilty.

Post, post, post!!

My dearest sister, Lizzie Wychwood (easy to say 'dearest' as she's my only one actually!!) has prodded me to post as I forgot last week in the midst of all my busyness. I've been working on a number of different design projects you see, and wishing for a time-turner to fit it all in. Alas, without a time-turner I've just had to burn the midnight oil instead.

One of the projects was writing up the pattern for the Knit Camp Pullover. The organisers of UK Knit Camp (a week of knitting heaven at Stirling University this August) asked me to design the 'official' Knit Camp Jumper'. It being in Scotland I used fair isle style colourwork, charting thistles (national flower of Scotland), and adding flags of the patron saints of Scotland, England, and Wales, and sheep and yarn and needles:

Another of the projects was working on the design for a shawl to go in the book of designs I'm writing. Lizzie is going to knit the shawl for me during her trip to America. Yes, the Wychwoods are going to Florida for two whole weeks to celebrate Lizzie and Mr. Wychwoods' 25th wedding anniversary (yes, she was a child bride!!).

I have pictures of the swatch of the edging I've designed for the shawl. If you want to read about how I developed this stitch pattern then please visit my new muggle blog.

In The Swap I am happy to reprt that I have made good progress on Elladora's kit. I have ordered the yarn and pattern, decided what to do for the handmade item, and have recieved through the post a few of the goodies I plan to include in the kit. I've decided to go with Ella's first choice of Draco Malfoy for theming the kit, and it is proving to be lots of fun. I just have to work out how to include a sock!

Care of Magical Creatures

Five items that are used in caring for unicorns:

Silver horn polish:

Grooming brush:

Tool for removing stones from hooves:

Hay rack (during hard winters unicorns are only able to survive because of the food that magical folk put out for them):

Blanket (a comfort in cold weather, and essential for ailing unicorns):

1. Please describe the physical appearance of a house elf.

Short with pointy ears and long thin limbs.

2. Kreacher is the house elf of which wizarding family?
The Blacks

3. What is Hermione Granger making for the house elves?
Hats, scarves and socks.

4. How do you free a house elf?
Give it clothes.

5. What does S.P.E.W. stand for?
Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare
 

I made this little hat for the UK branch of SPEW:

 

 

Woke up this morningrealising I hadn't blogged for HSKS! Remember something about the deadline being midnight Saturday PST (??) in which case I've just got time to do it (it's 11pm PST as I write, 7am BST), so here is this week's blog:

Alas, there is not time enough to do the spell homework we were set this weeek - a transfiguration project. I loved Hermione's work (swot!) on this, and Poppy also did a great job with it.

The problem is I've been working so hard. As well as my usual duties assisting Madam Pomfrey in the infirmary, I've been working my socks off to publish my new pattern, Lissuin. It's a fair isle jumper, and writing the pattern for it to be clear and straighforward to follow was an amazing challenge. I opened my mail this morning to find a huge compliment from someone who bought it which makes me think this effort will prove to have been worthwhile.

Anyway, this is the jumper. It is only 12 hours now since I published it, and already over 100 folk have added it to their favourites in Ravelry, not to mention the number who have queued it:

A New Year at Hogwarts

And I have once again been appointed to assist Madam Pomfrey in the infirmary. I so love the opportunity to do a little nursing. Of course, this is only a part-time appointment. Most of the time I will be at Creaky Cottage (the Wigworthy home) loooking after my brrod, and working on my knitterly creations. i sell knitting patterns via the Daily Prohet classified section. It's not exactly lucrative, yet together with my nursing salary at Hogwarts it will go a little way toward ourt household expenses.

Deputy Headmistress, Wisteria Lovegood, is running another knitting swap, and as usual i have signed up for it. We are doing kits themed on well-known personalities in the magical world. I've chosen Luna Lovegood, Albus Dumbledore, and Rita Skeeter as my characters.  Here's why:

Luna Lovegood:

Very much reminds me of myself in my younger days. She has so much creative energy, making her rather scatty and quite the daydreamer. I love her fascination with the weird and wonderful. Most of all I love her strong sense of loyalty to her friends, her amazing artistic ability, and the wisdom and insight that she sometimes manifests so humbly yet powerfully in the most poignant situations.

Albus Dumbledore:

Is such a twinkly, loving man. As with Luna, I adore his eccentricity and how willing he is to appear extremely odd. I deeply admire his principles, and most especially appreciate his humility.

Rita Skeeter:

An odd choice I know! It was spur of the moment. Maybe I chose her because she reminds me of how I don't want to be? Narcissitic to the extreme, sucks everything she can out of folk, cares not a hoot for how much she hurts people, acid tongue, acid quill.... And there's the thing - I think ultimately I chose her simply because she is a writer!

Very late photos of my wonderful package from Lily May Clearwater

I am so sorry Lily that it has taken me so long to get around to posting these photos. It is two and a half weeks since this package arrived. I know, I'm a very naughty witch for taking so long to do this, and I apologise profusely. :0(

Anyway, I really love the package, particularly the awesome fingerless mittens that Lily made for me inone of my most favourite shades of my most favourite colour. Thank you!

Sadly Lily's owl arrived in a very sorry state, having taken a lot longer to make the journey than owls usually do, and the package had come open mid-flight! Was he attacked by dark forces? We can't know!

There may be little items missing, yet there still was so much stuffed in this package that I think it might all have made it here. Alas, the day the package arrived the delicious variety of Green and Black chocolate bars within were quickly consumed by the younger Wigworthys!

So here is what was left:

Beautiful yarns, all wool in sock weight (Lily has clearly noted my preference for fine-guage knits). The first two pictures are of scrummy Chinese yarns, presumably brought back to Scotland by Lily when she last came to school here. The last picture is of yarn dyed by a very well-known British dyer, The Knitting Goddess - this is her 'semi-solid slate' - lovely! :0)

I'm going to use the small skeins in the first picture to edge something (ponders possibilities!) made with the main yarn which they complement beautifully:

Handmade by Lily; a lovely bag in Arrows blue which I'm going to line with the pretty fat quarter it sits on in this picture which Lily also included in the package:

Utterly awesomely beautiful and scrummily-coloured fingerless mittens, handmade by Lily:

Rosewood knitting needles and pretty stitchmarkers (made by Lily):

Rose oil (for my burner), knitting badges, and some wool wash (there were two - I've already used the other!). Despite the pronouncement on one of the badges, which I suppose is to ward off dark wizards when I knit in public, I swear I have never been in prison! ;0)

And finally a gardening journal. Lily has obviously noticed the pictures of my lovely Yorkshire garden that I have occasionally posted.

Thank you so much Lily for all these lovely things. You have again really touched ny heart with the extent of your generosity. :0)