Have you ever been in a meeting, where people are talking and delivering lots of great information, and you want to pay attention, but find yourself fidgeting or tapping your fingers or toes, or just getting restless?  This happens to me sometime, and then once I get restless, it becomes more of a chore to focus and listen to what’s being said.

At a long meeting today, I finally just rummaged through my bag and got out my emergency yarn/needles and cast on for hat number 31.  I’m getting rather predictable these days..it’s all about the Robot Hats, and I’m ok with that.  I was just not sure if it would be considered rude, or distracting to be knitting while someone was speaking.

Thankfully, the presentation was being given by an occupational therapist who recognized that my knitting was serving a purpose, and helped me focus, while she spoke.  I was so focused on the learning, that before I knew it there was a completed hat sitting on my lap, with no recollection of its creation.  

After returning home, having dinner and a nap, I picked up my cousin and headed to the theatre to line up for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-part 1.  We wore costumes over our coats, and appreciated the extra layers while waiting in line for 1.5 hours.

There were three sold out theatres at the cineplex!  It was exciting to be amidst the crowds of Harry Potter fanatics, and be the first ones to watch the film.

To keep myself awake, I cast on for hat #32.  I’m not going to reveal any Harry Potter secrets at all….but it was a long movie!  I’m so close to having accomplished the near-impossible task of knitting two hats in a day.

I think that I may attempt the Two Hat Day in the future, but for now (at 3:30 AM)….sleep seems much more important.

Am I the only one that knits through movies at the theatre?

While searching for Harry Potter scarves earlier this weekend, I discovered a great resource for Hermione’s knitted fashions.  Here are links to two free patterns for a beautiful fairisle scarf and cable and eyelet hat.  Thanks to JL Yarnworks for doing such a great job of these patterns.

Hermione’s scarf (JL Yarnworks) from the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Hermione’s Hat (JL Yarnworks) from the movie Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

I am getting excited to see the Deathly Hallows movie(s).  I wonder what knitted goodies will appear in those films.

What are your favourite Harry Potter patterns?

P.S. If you are a Twilight fan, check out Bella’s Hat pattern…it will keep you warm as a werewolf!

The seventh Harry Potter movie (part one of The Deathly Hallows) opens in theatres on November 19th.

You know that most people will dress up with their Hogwarts gear and make a party of the opening night experience.  Why not knit a scarf for yourself, or for a little (or not so little) Harry Potter fan that you know.

For the Muggles: Wizards like Harry Potter are educated at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  When they enter the school, a magical sorting hat reads their character and assigns them to certain houses which each have different colours and crests.

The houses are:

Gryffindor (gold and red) values courage, bravery, loyalty, nerve and chivalry	Hufflepuff (yellow and black) values hard work, tolerance, loyalty, and fair play.
Ravenclaw (blue and bronze) values intelligence, creativity, learning, and wit	Slytherin (green and silver) values ambition, cunning, leadership and resourcefulness and most of all pure wizard blood

You can sort yourself by various web-based personality tests.  My results seem to say I’m a Hufflepuff.

The sorting hat says that I belong in Hufflepuff!

Said Hufflepuff, “I’ll teach the lot, and treat them just the same.”

Once you know what house you’re in, you need to invest in some yarn in your house colours to make your scarf.  There are a few choices you’ll need to make.

Choice 1:  Which movie are you basing your scarf on?

VERSION A:  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

VERSION B:  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The width of the stripes vary between the two films.  Your needle choices and yarn weight will dictate your gauge.  It’s up to you to change colours when it looks right.  Just be sure to keep note of how many rows you knit, to stay consistent.

These scarves are long.  The general rule for scarves is to make them as tall as the person who wears them.  These scarves are probably about six feet long, and being worn on young children.  For an authentic look on an adult, you’ll want to make the scarf at least 7 feet long.

VERSION A: Scarf is about 8-9 inches wide, and stripes are each about 6-7 inches.

VERSION B: Scarf is about 8-9 inches wide.  Main Colour 6 inches, 1/2 inch Contrasting colour, 1 inch Main Colour, 1/2 inch Contrasting Colour

Choice 2: Method of scarf construction.

To make a scarf that lays flat, there are two main options:

1.  Knit stockinette in the round (double thickness, so it takes twice as long and twice as much yarn but looks authentic to the films)

Cast on 100 stitches in Main Colour, join in the round and knit.  Change colours as needed to achieve the stripes.

2.  Make a flat ribbed scarf (not as authentic, but you can finish it faster)
Cast on 50 stitches in Main Colour.  Work in K1, P1 ribbing.  Change colours as needed to achieve the sripes.

No matter what scarf you make, you’ll need to save yarn for fringe at the end.

Here’s a nice video tutorial on “fringe making” by Judy

Recently I have become more interested in knitting pattern design, and as winter arrives I start to notice interesting patterns and stitch combinations on garments in stores, or on people that I pass in the street.  I keep mental notes for the most part.  I sometimes worry what people might think if I got out my camera, or notepad to record details on the spot.

There are many people that I know well enough to ask them for a closer look at their knitwear.  They often put up with me examining their new hat, or mitts, and my need to feel the wool and figure out how the garment was made.

It seems like moviegoers have been struck with a similar obsession.  People freeze frame movies, and design the knitwear that they see.  It must be quite a challenge!  I now worry that I will never watch a movie the same way again!!

I’ve done a quick Ravelry search this evening, and compiled a list of movie inspired knitting.  I’ve linked to blogs where available and also to {Ravelry}.  These patterns are all FREE!  Pictures were taken from Ravelry pattern pages.

Feel free to add your favourites in the comments, and I will add to this list.

I think I’m going to have to knit a pair of Bella Mittens, they look so cozy.

Twilight/New Moon inspired

Twilight Book jacket socks or mittens or arm warmers etc {Ravelink}

Bella mittens {Ravelink}

Bella’s LaPush Hat {Ravelink}

Angela’s LaPush hat {Ravelink}

Alice Cullen’s fingerless mittens {Ravelink}

Harry Potter Inspired

Hogwarts scarf {Ravelink}

Dark Mark illusion scarf {Ravelink}

Hermione Hat {Ravelink}

Transformers Inspired

Reversible Transformers Toque {Ravelink}

Starwars Inspired

Starwars Fairisle charts {Ravelink}

R2D2 Beanie {Ravelink}

Felted Baby Yoda Hat {Ravelink}