Last week I left you hanging with a picture and a promise. Time now for fulfillment.
Let me start off with a confession: I am a very big Harry Potter fan. Have been for many years now. Oh, I snubbed it in the beginning. I remember saying to my friend, who had just received the first three books as a set for Christmas, "Puh-leeese. Those are kids' books! What. Ever."
Then I saw the first movie. Watched it just to see what all the fuss was about. Then I read the first book.
It was all downhill from there.
My kids have watched me read, re-read, and re-re-read the books (over and over) over the years, but I couldn't even get them to watch the first movie. Not even as their friends started to become interested. They wanted nothing to do with it.
Then came the LEGO Harry Potter game. I knew I had them. Get them the game, and they'll be hooked and begging me to read all of the books and watch all the movies. They had already done the same with Star Wars.
So when the first new-game-for-the-DSI buying opportunity arose I casually reminded the 7yo how much he begged for that game when he first saw the commercial.
It was all downhill from there.
I read a chapter to them almost every night now, and we watch the movie together as soon as we finish the book. We are now halfway through the third year with no signs of decreased interest. Even my husband (a non-reader) is starting to catch on to the lingo. He's even allowed a wand (read: stick) into the house.
Now, I had seen the knitting pattern book Charmed Knits many times before, and I had eyed me some House Scarves, but had never gotten so far as adding anything to my queue. But on a trip to the local library near the end of summer I made my usual detour through the knitting book section with munchkins in tow and they saw it.
It was all downhill from there.
They have a long wish list from this book, including wizard robes and wand cozies, but I told them to start with something relatively small that they really really wanted, and that they didn't think they would tire of two days later. They chose Errol. They do love their "stuffties".
They scoured over my entire stash, looking for just the right colors and textures. I knit swatches to make sure they liked the fabric that came out of their choices. Then I got to work.
My 9yo helped out with his, knitting all of the basic "knit" rows (without any increases or decreases), and I managed to whip them out in just a couple of weeks! I did fudge the bottom a bit, and they don't have their talons just yet, but it's all good. I have two happy little boys who enjoy holding "Hedwig" and "Professor Dippit" every night at storytime.
Now, here's the kicker: turns out the pattern was written by a lovely local lady who I met about a year ago! Her name is Andi (aka knitbrit) and she also designed the incredible Weasley Clock Blanket. Andi, if you're reading this, I don't know if I did your pattern justice but I thank you for writing it and helping my boys and I appreciate the shared love of a magnificent story.
