Last Friday, I took a mental health day after the week from you-know-what (let's just say UPS temporarily lost a very important package) so I could enjoy some knitting time to myself. Although I spent most of my time working on orders instead of playing with my new Rhinebeck acquisitions, I still managed to eek out my Hermione's Everyday Socks for the Oh Loops Harry Potter Knitalong - just in time to be a week early and get 50 points for Gryffindor! I kept seeing everyone's finished projects on the Ravelry board and thought I was super behind, so it was a huge achievement to finally get these off my needles.

The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Hand-painted in the Summer Blooms Tonal colorway. A big reason I selected this yarn was because I didn't feel like killing myself trying to match stripes. Another reason is that I wanted to double-dip in two Pinktober KALs, where your finished project had to be pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The pattern looks intimidating to a sock newbie, but trust me: it's not. It's just knitting and purling, guys, so if you're like me and wondering if you can do them, then please just jump in head-first - because you can totally make them.

I only edited the pattern enough to make a Fish Lips Kiss Heel instead of a standard heel; however, since I knit these on DPNs instead of my circulars (a decision I've come to regret), I wasn't able to pull tight enough and wound up with little holes in the gusset area. It's not too noticeable, so I'm mostly worried about whether or not they'll stand the test of time without me learning how to darn them eventually.

So now begins my hunt for a November main challenge project, which I get to start a week late due to managing trade shows in Vegas next week. Blargh. Wish me luck!