a very Weasley Christmas

  



big Weasleys: Rowan pattern (now discontinued) and Rowan Felted Tweed
mini-weasleys: sweater ornament pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
and leftover felted tweed from big weasleys

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Yes, folks, it's that time of year again - the Winter Clearance Sale at one of my favorite yarn stores, Wild & Wooly in Lexington, MA. Love this store. Love this sale. Last year, I picked up the all seasons cotton for my first summer tank. That started my love affair with all seasons cotton and tanks. So this time I went in with hopes high for another great find. And I was not disappointed.

I arrived when they opened at 7am and scored some of the few available skeins of Rowan Felted Tweed. I've had a little crush on this yarn for a while and had been scoping out eBay hoping to find 5 skeins each in two different colors to knit aran sweaters for the boys. And there it was at the sale, waiting for me, in lovely shades of green and blue. I have a feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Just got back. Woo hoo!

It's a Weasley-along! You know, the Weasley sweaters from the Harry Potter films. And since co-hostess, Jenn, and I both have a little crush on Ron Weasley, it's also a Ron-along. Jenn's gonna make an "R" sweater and has come up with a chart for the letter for us. Check it out on her Ron-Along page.

Okay, sure we could buy a Weasley sweater, but why, when we can knit one (even without Mrs. Weasley's charmed knitting needles)? So, are you also as obsessed as we are (check out number 116)? If so, and if a scarf just won't do, get yourself the Rowan pattern or make up your own pattern (like Linda did) and join us!

Starting October 1st. The sweaters should be done just in time to give to your loved ones on Christmas morning (wink, wink).

[Updated: Linda has even recommended a source for the original pattern and yarn used for the sweaters in the movie, the Yarn Warehouse: Harry Potter kits for UK customers and Harry Potter kits for non-UK customers.]

[Updated: The link to McA direct seems to have stopped working - it must have been an older page -, so I have removed it and replaced it with the Colorway link - of course, this could be outdated as well. Here's the original McA link, in case you wish to ask them about availability.]

The weasley-along is almost here! I'm getting my yarn all ready, don't you know.

I'll be using this Felted Tweed for the boys' "H" sweaters. I got the yarn at a Wild & Wooly sale this January. I'm using up stash! Yeeeeessss! The sweaters will be in the grayish green and the navy blue colors and the golden green in the middle will be for the H's.

And to get me in the mood, I just started rereading Goblet of Fire which was my favorite of all the HP books. I'm in the process of rereading them all (I actually had Prisoner of Azkaban with me on the flight over to Germany when they showed the movie on the plane!). If I remember correctly, the weasley sweaters get another mention in either Book 4 or 5. I'll be keeping my eyes open!

[Update: Looks like the Rowan HP pattern is proving hard to find. The Colourway link is too old and doesn't really lead to the shopping cart. Helene reports: "I asked our Norwegian Rowan importer, and she told me that the pattern had been withdrawn because the royalty to the HP-people was so high." I bet that some copies are still hanging around at local yarn shops though. The trick is finding one. Otherwise, there's always the kits (yarn and pattern) from Yarn Warehouse.]

The weasley along is on!

Stella says she's spotted the Rowan pattern on sale at Sophie's Yarns in Philadelphia. If anyone's searching you might see if they will send it to you! Check out Mattie's blog for a glimpse of the Yarn Warehouse pattern. And lookie, lookie, Jenn, Katie, and Tami have actual progress to show. Woohoo! Poor MA is off to the frog pond already with the beginnings of her weasley sweater. Boohoo.

And I can't get gauge. I'd have to use US3's to even come close to gauge. Yeah, I'll be knitting this one continental again, and I'm a muuuuuch looser knitter when I use my left hand. I might try using the US4's and making a smaller size. It's a simple drop shoulder style, so there shouldn't be any huge problems with letting the gauge size-up the sweater.

By the way, will you ladies be doing the letter intarsia style or is anyone else thinking duplicate stitch, like me?

I worked on the weasley sweater in the car ride to and from Rhinebeck. We drove through torrential rain and impossible fog on the way up and although it was pitch black, I kept knitting in order to keep me from thinking that we were going to be washed off the road at any moment. Anxiety makes for good knitting apparently. I finished the back!

It's so rectangular. It's like I'm making a sweater for Spongebob Squarepants "with love in every stitch."

Other activity in the Ron-along: Jenn has also finished the back of her sweater. Tami has made more progress on the back of her sweater. Erin's got her yarn and is ready to get started.

And I'm about a quarter of the way into Book Four, my favorite!

First, a finished knitalong project, Amysue's Banff! Woo hoo, the Banffs are coming back.

Now, on to the weasleys... Tami made a mini-weasley, which is so cool you just have to see it! Jenn has progressed to the front and has successfully started her "R". I, however, am in intarsia-avoidance mode, happily working on a sleeve.

And in Book 4, I just got to the part where Ron gives his latest hand-knitted Weasley sweater to Dobby for Christmas. Like Mrs. Weasley, I knit on undeterred.

Go vote! So we can all get back to knitting. Cause Tuesday is still knitalong day.

Jackie got her Schaefer Anne pooling colors scarf to work! At least for a while. Apparently it stopped working and now is no more, but we must celebrate pooling whenever we find it. To that end, a big woo hoo to Anne as well, who hadn't originally signed up for the knitalong, but got some Blackberry Ridge variegated yarn to work in a pooling scarf. Way to go! And Peggy says she's almost done. I bet we'll be seeing pictures soon.

Weasley time... I've gotten a lot done on mine. Finished the front!

I am so loving how this sweater is coming out. Felted Tweed rules and the "H" is awesome, if I do say so myself. I can't help it, I've got to have a big picture. Speaking of big, these sweaters will definitely be oversized. The boys should get a lot of wear out of them!

Katie finished the intarsia on her sweater too. Tami's almost done with the back. Others? How's it going?

And I heard from Nathalie that she finished a maternity version of my Rosebud pattern. Go see how beautiful she looks in it!

I've been doing a lot of knitting recently. I'm on a roll!

all the pieces for weasley one

the back of weasley two

Yes, weasley two is blue. Surprise, surprise. When B saw the back all laid out for the picture, he said, "where da 'H'?" They like the "H"! Thank God for small favors.

Another week, another "H".

And the boys still love them: "I touch it, yeah?" I'm hoping that wanting to touch the "H" will translate into wanting to wear the sweater. I've got visions of them unwrapping the sweaters Christmas morning and slipping them on over their pj's. Please, pretty please.

Other Weasleys hard at work: MA has started a sleeve. Ann finished the "B" on the front of her sweater. And Tami is just about to start the intarsia!

And just when you thought these knitalongs were dead: Peggy finished her pooling scarf. It's incredible! Check out pic #3. No new updates from the Banffers (Helene promises that she'll come through next week!), but fellow sweatpant knitalonger, Wendy, seems to be making a Banff now - check out the sleeves. Cat finished her no sweat pants and the tiniest tea cup ever for the tea party knitalong. And, get this, we've got a spring fling finsher: Deborah finished her beautiful red mohair cardi. Wow - well worth the wait!

This weekend, I got to do some in person weasley knitalonging. When I saw her at KnitNY on Saturday, Jenn was just starting her first weasley sleeve. And I was just finishing one.

MA is also working on a sleeve. Ann too! I'm sensing a trend here. Katie says she may or may not be done with a sleeve (kids aren't that easy to measure!). Meanwhile, Peggy is just getting started on her HP sweater, but get this, she admits to having never having actually read the books or seen the movies! Cool.

Attention, attention! We have another finished pooling scarf! Karen's scarf is absolutely beautiful and checks in at 7 feet long! There's a close up pic here.

And the Banffs are back, baby. Helene is 3/4 of the way done. Hooray! And Lisa just finished hers. It's looks super on her! I love these Banffs so much. Someone please stop me from casting on for another one!

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Update: For those who have recently asked me about the intarsia on the weasley sweaters, here's a picture of the wrong side of the "H".

And here's a link to an "intarsia how-to" page that I put together when I was making little tiger hats a couple of years ago. Hope this helps!

We have our first finished weasley sweaters! Signe finished hers last week, but she doesn't have a digital camera to share photos with us. Lucky for us Ann does. She finished hers just a few days ago and her little guy looks so cute in his "B" sweater. Awesome job, Ann!

Elsewhere in weasley world, Jenn is working on sleeves and has posted a picture of her beautiful finished "R". Also in intarsia mode is Tami, who is doing a terrific job on her "H". Eklectika has opted for duplicate stitch. She just started her weasley sweater and is already done with the front. She's using a different pattern for a larger gauged yarn. Smart girl! MA has one sleeve done and is on to the front (check out her other awesome projects in her Sunday PicSpam!). Amy Lu is getting started on the back. And Hayden reports that although she is still working on the back, she will get this sweater done for Christmas!

And me? I've been knitting and ripping socks all week and so only managed a start on my last weasley sleeve. I'm going to have to start seaming these up pretty soon. Maybe that's why I've slowed down. Heh, heh.

The boys still want to touch the sweaters each time I take a picture of a piece. Today B asked if the sleeve was going to get an "H". Awwww.

And last but not least, Helene's Banff is almost to the sewing stage. Helene, we should have an intercontinental sewing party!

Finished projects first! Helene finished her big, blue Banff. I might be biased, having a big, blue Banff myself, but I think it's fabulous. And Katie has finished her weasley sweater! It's so like the genuine thing, it even got recognized. That's a real compliment!

Still plenty of people knitting along out there. MA has done a great job on her intarsia "R". Tami's "H" looks incredible! No new pics from Amy Lu (update: now there are - see them here!), but she has set a Dec. 10 deadline on her weasley. Go girl! And me?

My weasleys are all ready for seaming. I declare an official seaming party! I'll be boring you with details of my seaming, so naturally I want to hear all about your seaming too. Misery loves company, right?

And a little more weasley knitting:

wanna see a close up?

Mini weasleys! I must have been infected by some sort of crazy gift-knitting virus over Thanksgiving, because I've decided to use my weasley yarn leftovers to make mini-weasleys for everyone in my husband's family (uh, there's a lot of them!). I'm using the mini sweater ornament pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and duplicate stitching the initial on after finishing the sweater. If I do one a day, I can get them all done in time. So far each is taking about an hour and a half to make. And I'm not bored of them yet. Fingers crossed!

Lastly, a few calls for help. Anyone found the Rowan Harry Potter pattern anywhere recently? Tami, where did you say you found them? Those of you using the Yarn Warehouse kit, what do you think about pattern and yarn? And anyone know of a good source for letter charts for folks who are making weasley sweaters but want to use other letters? Thanks!

Getting down to a little seaming with weasley two in blue. I was going to sew up number one first, but then I remembered.... after knitting the first one, I got worried that the sleeves wouldn't be sufficiently long for the boys to get a good year's worth of wearing out of the sweaters (their shirts always get too short in the arms first), so I lengthened the sleeves on weasley two. Before going back to lengthen weasley one, I wanted to seam up this one to see how long these sleeves really are.

One sleeve in, call in a boy and give it a try on.

Half seamed, only one sleeve, and no collar, but it's already too cute for words. Oh, I don't know if I can wait until Christmas!

Melissa has finished her weasley sweater! She did hers in a jiffy in Rowan Cork. Yum! Eklectika has the front and back done and is starting on a sleeve. Leigh has just joined the knitalong and has two sleeves finished already. She admits to not really knowing the books, so go visit her site and tell her who Ron is and what the weasley sweaters are about, 'kay? Peggy has just finished the "E" on the front of her weasley. MA finished her "R" and a mini-weasley. And Stacey has just picked out her yarn. She's going to warm up with a few mini-weasleys herself.

I haven't done any more seaming on my big weasleys, but I'm cranking out the minis! (Clouds=bad lighting today. Here's a close-up so you can really see what they look like.)

all the boys done, now on to the girls

Speaking of boys, yesterday was Nikolaus, when German kids put out their boots before they go to bed and Nikolaus leaves small presents and candy in them for the kids to find the next morning. The boys were ecstatic! After eating their Nikolaus candy, we went to the "crack store". That was their best attempt at saying craft store. After I tried saying "craaaafffft" very slowly for them, they ended up with "crap store". Craft, crack, crap, same difference right? We got wire to make mini-weasley hangers. And some other crap.

All my sock knitting has really left me behind on my mini weasleys! I've got four girl ones to make and am only this far along.

But there are other mini-weasleys to show: Stacey is working on one, Lisa from Knitsmiths made a "J" one, and MA's made several.

In big weasley news, Eklectika has finished her first weasley! Like me, she's got two to make though. There's not much progress elsewhere this week. My two weasleys are on hold until I get the socks and the minis done (they've got to be sent out to relatives this week!). But Katie, who finished her weasley a while ago, has shared another pic with us: in this one, weasley meets Santa. Priceless.

And in other knitalong news, Anita's going to be hosting a Leftovers-along. How exciting!

There's still sewing to be done on these mini-weasleys and one more left to make.

And the last pair of socks only has one heel so far.

Two days until they've all got to go in the mail. Let's go people!

click for the weasley family parade

Late last night I finished up the last mini-weasley (mine!) and made about a dozen of these little hangers, thus finishing the great weasley mini-sweater project. There's one for every member of the family, so now we can all be together on the family Christmas tree back in Germany even if we can't all be together around it.

Last weasley update before Christmas!

Peggy finished her weasley for her little "E"! Go congratulate her. Stella is practically finished. She's doing hers as a raglan in the round. Eklectika has finished the intarsia for her second weasley. It's a "Z" - you've got to check it out!

I know my co-hostess Nipper is shooting for Christmas with her weasley. She's almost there too, with at least one sleeve done. Go Jenn! MA is also getting close, with only one sleeve to go. Tania reports that she is also working on sleeves. And Orli is working her way up the back and planning to start a sleeve next.

Speaking of sleeves, I went back and lengthened the sleeves for weasley one and second weasley is just a seam away from being finished.

Who else is trying to get these done by Christmas morning??

Weasley two is in the bag and the elves can hardly believe it themselves, but something for mom is blocking right now. (Mom, no reading the comments, if you know what's good for you!)

And they even finished that orange hat for me.

Get out!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

The boys' interpretation of green Christmas tree, with yellow star on top and red, blue, and purple presents underneath.

Speaking of presents, the elves finished all the gift knitting! Weasley one is the last present to be wrapped.

And the boots were hung from the cabinets with care. . . .

Click for a very weasley Christmas.

Gee, what a great Christmas!

Let me start this week by first saying how much I have enjoyed all the pictures I've seen of little mini-weasley Christmas ornaments. Thanks to everyone who wrote to me and sent me pics and links (thanks to Lindsay for the picture above!). I loved seeing all your creations and congratulate you for spreading the joy of weasley knits this Christmas. In case you missed it, here are pictures of our weasley Christmas. So, who else had a weasley Christmas? Jenn, my weasley co-conspirator, did Ron make it to your Christmas fest?

Tania sent an email letting me know that she finished her weasley early last week. Congrats Tania! MA reports that she has all but one sleeve done. Eklectika has finished front, back and collar of weasley number two, leaving just the sleeves to go. And Orli's getting started.

For all of us knitting weasleys for kids, Mason Dixon Ann wrote to say that she made a weasley for her son a year ago and he actually wore it! Isn't it good to know that we're all following in such admirable footsteps and to hear that at least one kid out there was willing to wear a weasley sweater? Fingers crossed that all our little ones feel the same!

Now that my weasley knitting is done, I'll have to settle for evenings of weasley watching. And start up a new knitalong, I guess. Tune in tomorrow for details!

More weasley Christmases! MA finished her weasley in time and her little one looks great in it. Co-hostess with the mostest, Jenn finished hers too and SHE looks great in it! And get this, Tania knit a second weasley in the THREE days before Christmas! Hope we get to see some pics of her weasleys on her new blog (hint, hint). And there's even more super cute mini-weasley ornaments to see, this time from Stacey. You gals rock! Check out Tami's gorgeous weasley almost done. And poor Orli's had a little catastrophe with her weasley, but is back on track now.

Hey, sock knitters not in the sockapalooza, Memoija is hosting a fabbo long sock knitalong you might be interested in. And for beginners who weren't quite up to knitting socks for someone else just yet, I've heard talk of a "learn to knit socks"-along at Karmicknits. Check there later this week for details!

And in other knitalong news, I may just have to sign up for this knitalong. Can. Not. Resist.

A couple of things from the comments yesterday that deserve repeating here.

First, sockapalooza sockers, Jenny is having a little contest over at her blog and the prize is.... SOCK YARN. Go now!

Second, weasley-alongers, Laurie wrote: "So there I was on a plane from Denver to Boston. We upgraded to 1st class with miles, since it is so hard to get a free ticket. In row #1, was a man, probably mid-30s, alone with a young child, probably about 18 mos old, blonde. WEARING A WEASLEY. Who was it?" Any chance the knitter of the weasley Laurie spotted was one of us??

Okay, now on to Wednesday.

One Harry Potter scarf all done. You can't tell with it hanging in the window but it's almost 8 feet long. That's 57,600 stitches (to compare, I'd estimate that the NBaT is about 33,000 stitches).

Boy, did I have fun putting the new store window together!

want to see the BIG picture?

There's one of the boys weasley sweaters and both Hogwarts scarves. On the left, by the original scarf, are pics from the Sorcerer's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets films (can you spot Molly Weasley's magic needles?).

And on the right, by the new scarf, are the pictures I posted a while back from the Prisoner of Azkaban and the upcoming Goblet of Fire.

And there's even a Nimbus 2000!

Only 5 days left and we can put the new book in the window too. Oh boy!

Back in NYC for a "make-up" visit for my son S, who missed the last one two weeks ago with a fever. I started a new project to bring with me in case I find some time to knit (fat chance with two 4 year-olds on the train!). I thought it only fitting that I work on the beautiful feather and fan shrug that I found at Downtown Yarns on the last trip.

Koigu and JaggerSpun

And speaking of fans, after putting the boys to bed last night, I went over to the local Barnes & Noble and stood in line with the other obsessed fans and quidditch seekers to buy the latest Harry Potter book at the midnight release. They handed out free posters and Harry Potter glasses.

don't I look like Trelawney in those glasses?

Those of use who had not reserved copies of the book received orange wristbands and waited well past midnight until all of the folks with reserved copies bought their books. At 1:10 our line started moving!

let my orange people go

At 1:20, I had my book.

hooray!

After seeing S's weasley sweater every day in the window in the store, I've decided that I have to make myself one. Did I tell you that I actually tried it on? Uh, yeah, I did - I tried on my 4 year-old son's sweater. And it fit great! Granted, it was about a foot too short, but the rest was so nice and snug and the little boy sleeves were perfect 3/4 sleeves on me. Once I saw it on me, there wasn't really any question in my mind that I had to make another one. So I ordered some more of the Felted Tweed from Jimmy Beans.

Now, I thought this was the great red color that my weasley-along co-hostess, Jenn, used for hers (that color, by the way, was called Conker), but it's purple. It's a pretty purple. I like the purple very much. But I really had red in my head for this sweater. I may have to stash this purple and order some red.

So I'm thinking I need to officially re-open the weasley knitalong. I'd love to hear some updates from those I still have listed as unfinished. Anyone else out there planning on making one of these? Any new pattern sources?? That pattern hasn't gotten any easier to find. Any interest in my writing up a standard pattern? And of course, anyone making other Harry Potter knits is welcome to join! Got something you want to make before the release of the next film in November? Join us weasley knitters!

And for the few who are interested, here's the house I was recently sorted into. I'm not as much a fan of the colors (though I loved that Hufflepuff scarf in Prisoner of Azkaban), but I find the principles of the house the most appealing.

HUFFLEPUFF! You scored 8% Slytherin, 20% Ravenclaw, 36% Gryffindor, and 52% Hufflepuff

You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal These patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil. Hufflepuffs are known for their loyal, hard-working, and humble demeanors.

There are so many Weasleys, why not another weasley knitalong? Okay, weasley knitters, get those magic needles ready!

    
pick a button, any button

I've posted lots of links in the sidebar, so check there for info on where to find all kinds of Harry Potter knitting patterns. I'll try to start writing up a pattern soon and MA says she's willing to share the pattern that she came up with. Plus, I'm working on a little something harry potter-y right now, which I should be able to share with you next week!

what could it be?

Got any more links and/or pattern suggestions for me? Let me know!

And I thought they'd outgrown them!

The boys' weasley sweaters from two Christmases ago still fit. They seemed like the perfect thing for them to wear on the coldest day of winter so far. Warm but light, that Rowan Felted Tweed was just right! (And so was a trip to the neighborhood Dunkin' Donuts where I snapped these pics with my camera phone.) The boys still love the sweaters too: "Oh, look my H sweater!" And two days later: "Are we wearing our H shirts again?"

And did I mention that they still fit?!