Advanced Studies Update: So many proposals!

BROOMs and OWLs are flying all over Hogwarts!

As of Saturday morning, there were **242** OWL proposals approved!  I think this means we need to give a great big shout out to our amazing OWL examiners and assistants:

13moonsago 

damiknitter

KatieMc1229 

kimanneberly

Mindysue

Shadawyn 

softnshiny 

Stacymarie

Additionally, we have had an amazing story unfold from our Order of the Phoenix staff.  They truly are amazing and are continuing the magic through their interaction with Order hopefuls.  If you haven't already checked out the thread, do so!  There is amazing storytelling happening!  Shout outs to:

GazeboGal

Isisonearth

TheWindWraith

Vox8

If you want to get in on the storytelling, make sure you check out the OOTP role playing thread.  This gives us, as Order members/hopefuls, a place to continue the magical storytelling.

And, finally, our NEWTlings are hard at work, entering their second month of the four-month challenge.  Go, NEWTlings, go!

P.S. Have you created your OOTP/Hogwarts persona?  I have!  I'm Emmeline Chilcott.  I still have a bit of work to do on my background story, but if you have your persona, tell me about him/her!

Talking with some OWL Students

Hi Everyone! Sorry for the delay in looking at some of our OWL students answers to my mini interview. The last two weeks have been crazy, but here we go!
A quick reminder of the questions:
1. What have you learned so far in doing this OWL?
2. How is your progress coming? (Please remember I sent this out the end of October)
3. Any surprises, good or bad, so far?

cmelvin:
1. I really needed to redraft my cable charts to include the wrong side when I was doing the flat knitting. I kept the hem flat so I didn’t have three layers of fabric after the steeking - this was a good idea (the fabric is quite thick enough) but I did a pot of ripping until I got the hang of reversing the twists.
2. Very slowly, I’m afraid. I still have not completed the body of the hoodie, with sleeves, buttonband and hood all still to go. But then, I’m knitting this because I wanted the FO, not because I had any realistic expectation of finishing by December.
3. The tree was easier to knit than I expected. The math at the beginning was hard, and I think the seed stitch panel should be longer, but that’s hindsight. It doesn’t look bad. I also had a nightmare moment when joining the hem - due to integrated increases the top of the hem was 4 stitches longer than the bottom, which I failed to take into account. In future I must read the pattern more carefully or not go off on these strange little diversions. I am rarely improving it.

knittingnearsided:
1. I have learned that if I read slower and follow all the directions, the project will turn out well. I have learned to cable as well as most of the stitches were new to me. I used (de)mentors to help when I got stuck and utube to understand stitches when I didn’t.
2. I am right on track and excited about the fact that I will finish on time!
3. I am surprised I can do it! Cables are easier than I thought they would be. This is a Cruciatus Curse Project, so it is not surprising that many bad things have happened. I forgot a 6 inch section and had to figure out how and when to pick up the stitches and get it in there. I had to cast on/start over 3 times. I had to frog back several times. Crucio Crucio But perseverance will win out!

Aikaterini:
1.I’ve learned that scarves may seem really quick and easy to knock out but… they’re not. At least not for me.
2. I have 1 and a half scarf until my midpoint. :-( I’m still trying though! :-) The first scarf was really quick! 1 week and it was done this one has been going for 2 weeks now and it’s not that quick. I’m hoping that I can finish it between today and tomorrow’s football game. Then start on another one I hope will be quick.
3. How long this one is taking has been a surprise. It’s not a very difficult pattern but it’s taking me forever.

inkslinger1121:
1. I learned that when you want to do an OWL, find a way to wind your skeins first, especially if it is 30 different ones! I don’t have a ball winder or swift, so I sit down and use 3 legs of a lawn chair to act as an immobile swift so I can wind by hand. I swear, it takes about half time time of actually knitting the mini sock!
2. October was much better for me than September. I got a little distracted with classes and quidditch and tried to knit more than I had time for, but I budgeted my time better this month and I think I’ll finish on schedule. 13 mini socks are done and #14 is on its way!
3. Hmmm. With having to wind all this yarn I have had a big knotted mess happen once or twice. Once even necessitated bringing in the big guns (hubby) to help untangle. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how much smoother the knitting is now- I mostly have the pattern memorized and I’m eager to try adult sized socks again! (When my OWL is finished of course!)

Dawntreader7:
1. Each of the four main Magical Creatures I’m “hunting” has taught me something different so far. My bundimun (Citron) specimen was all about stamina - seemingly endless row after row - but I learned that that’s the very best kind of project to be working on while watching your favorite show. (Doctor Who, anyone?) The graphorn (Grayhaven) was a little bit difficult because of gauge issues, but I love how it turned out in the end. I’m also nearly done the 3rd creature, the salamander (Tudor). The shaping of that cowl was a brand-new technique for me.
2. I’ve turned in my 50% post! I also nearly finished my salamander, but my OWL has been put on hold just a bit because I got a huge Etsy order. It should be shipped out by this weekend and progress will resume! I am a little nervous about my final creature. I think it will be the biggest challenge because I have to learn how to do a provisional cast on, which has always scared me… I know I’ll figure it out though!
3. I was surprised how quickly I finished the first 2.9 projects. It’s a good thing I did, though, because of all the other non-OWL knitting I’ve had to get done this month. November will be all about my OWL and Order mission (after one class, of course :).

LidiDi:
1) I have learned that colorwork is significantly tighter than regular stockinette. I had frog most of one mitten of “Musica” and buy needles two sizes bigger after I realized that the mitten would never fit. The re-knit went extremely fast though.
I’ve also learned that acrylic needles, double-held acrylic yarn and k3tog’s don’t play nice. The nice thing about Arithmancy is that I could work on another set of mittens while I was waiting for my new needles. I got the replacement needles just as soon as I finished up another mitten.
2) I am currently working on my fifth mitten out of 10, so I’ll be good for 50% by the end of October, though I wanted to be there sooner.
3) See #1 for surprises.

barknknit:
1. I have learned that I can spin more yarn that I originally thought I could. I had not attempted such a big project before but I now know I can at least do it. I’m almost done with all the spinning and then I have to dye, which will be a little difficult because I’ll need a day where my hubby or someone can watch the baby. I also learned I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a yarn meter. That would help with the yardage counts!
2. I have managed to spin and ply up 1226 yards and only have about 274 left to spin singles for and ply up! I’m hoping to go a little over because I fear not having enough for the cardigan. :)
3.I haven’t had any major surprises other than maybe the fact that in the years I’ve been spinning, my spinning has magically begun to be more consistent. I still have some thicker and thinner parts but overall I’m more consistent than I have ever been.

I think that's everyone! Check back next week to see all the pretty that's been turned in for OWLs and NEWTs!!

OWL Updates!

Good Evening Everyone! Sorry for missing last week and being so late in the day this week, I've been having issues with one of my eyes and it makes computer time short, but hopefully by next week it will be better! And now to the OWL and NEWT updates:
Dawntreader7 has submitted her OWL 50% and it's looking lovely!

And Mauri showed us an update on her skew sock:

That's all I've got picture wise for tonight. I just sent everyone who had said I could follow them a PM with 3 questions for you! Feel free to answer when you have time with as short or long of answers as you would like. I'm going to answer them for my own stalled OWL right now!

1. What have you learned so far in doing this OWL?
I have learned that I am a very, very slow cable-er and that I really should mark my place in charts.
2. How is your progress coming?
It's stalled a bit because I had too much going on the beginning of this month and couldn't work on it much, and then when I tried to pick it back up this past weekend I couldn't figure out where I left off in the chart. Although for a little while I thought I had it, only to realize 3 rows later that I wasn't in the right place and had to rip back. I haven't had the heart to pick it back up. 50% will not be happening on time so I'm losing hope I will get it completed.
3. Any surprises, good or bad, so far?
I'm loving how it's turning out so I'm going to finish it no matter what. I am surprised that I couldn't remember where I left off, and that I can't figure out where I am supposed to be!

See everyone next week!

More 50% Progress!

Good Evening Everyone! Are you ready to see some more 50% progress made on OWLs and NEWTs? I know I am so let's get right to it!

Knittingnearsided has turned in her 50% on her DADA OWL jumper!

It's looking great to me!

Jajigirl got to 50% on her NEWT last week, and can I just say: WOW! I am so impressed with what she's created, my favorite thing is the Hermione Cowl, which I'm hoping I will get to test knit for her! The pattern looks lovely, and since I have the same yarn I can't wait to see how mine will turn out!

Volkat also got to 50% on her NEWT and it also is looking amazing! I can't tell you how much fun it is to get to look through all these great projects!

I'm uber impressed by everything, but I'm partial to the shawl since it's in some of my favorite colors!

While stitchywitchy was a day short on getting her 50% in, I still am loving the cables on her hat:

That's all I've got for this evening! Keep up the great work everyone and I'll see you next week!

Get those OWL Proposal in! And some NEWT Updates!

Happy Thursday Everyone! This is your reminder that the month ends tomorrow, so all classes and OWL proposals must be in by midnight PST tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 30th). Also I still have no Hufflepuff's with OWLs to follow. So if you are a 'Puff and wouldn't mind being featured (I swear it will be easy) please send me a PM on Rav!
Since it's almost the end of the month I thought I'd check back in on the NEWT students that we took a look at the first week of the month! Here's who I've got (that told me I was welcome to follow their progress) and everyone who did agree, I am really going to send you all a PM with a quick question or two, RL has just been nuts! Without further ado, some NEWT 50% pictures
Miss GazeboGal's Foxy Projects:

I'm loving all the foxes! They all look lovely.
Miss Mauri's Lovely Work:

Every time I see her work I want to make everything she does! It's all awesome.
Miss Cindiknits with work in my favorite colors:

I can't wait to see how that shawl turns out (and I might need that pattern for the mitts).
And last up this evening, Miss djmeurer and her wonderful progress:

The sweater is adorable, and everyone should head on over to the NEWT thread to check out all the rest of the 50% progress that's been turned in! Everyone is doing a fabulous job!

Have a great last day of the month everyone!

Weekly Advanced Studies Report

Sorry for my absence last week. My permeant sticking charm here at the blog apparently failed and I was out of town. But I'm back and hopefully everything will work out right today! I have gotten a few more volunteers to be followed, and I'll keep taking volunteers until next Thursday. I could really use some 'Puffs and Snakes! If you're in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, I've got enough! Thanks to everyone that's volunteered so far. Also my NEWTlings that volunteered, be on the look out for a little interview in your message box sometime this weekend!
And now onto my new volunteers!
First up is inkslinger1121 of Ravenclaw! She is doing an Arithmancy OWL of mini stockings! She's proposed to make 30 of these:

It looks like she's off to a good start. I can't wait to see this garland when it's done!

Next we'll take a look at Gryffindor firstie Knittingnearsided. She's proposed a DADA OWL to knit an adorable jumper dress for her grand daughter! I love the yarn she'll be using:

Now up: LidiDi of Slytherin! She'll be doing an arithmancy OWL with mittens!! I made those Bella mittens as a part of my HoM OWL last winter, and it was a great and simple pattern once I got started. Also does the yarn in your Lace Garden mitts sparkle?!

Too cool! And even if it doesn't, I still love the color and how that pattern looks.

Next we have cmelvin of Ravenclaw! She's proposed a Transfiguration OWL that involves steeking!! (I am still too chicken to try this technique out). She's going to use this lovely plum colored yarn:

I know I'll be waiting to see how this lovely sweater turns out!

And last this Thursday morning is another Gryffindor Firstie: Barknknit! She's proposed a Transfiguartion spinning OWL. Her swatch/sample look lovely. I hope my spinning gets to look like this!

Also I promised to keep you updated on my OWL. And I've gotten through the first repeat of the cable chart on the back section! I have a ton of work to do this coming week to stay on track, but hopefully it will be alright.

Sorry for the horrible picture, maybe if I can get a lot done this week I'll have a nicer picture next week.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! And remember Hufflepuff and Slytherin I'm still looking for a couple of you to volunteer to be followed. And NEWT students keep an eye on your message box.

Checking In on the OWLs

Good Thursday Evening Everyone!

I've gotten a few responses about being followed for advanced studies, and I'm still accepting more! So please feel free to let me know if you wouldn't mind me checking up on your progress on your OWL throughout the term and maybe doing a mini-interview or two! It will all be fun, I promise.

So far I've had Aikaterini of Gryffindor and Dawntreader7 of Ravenclaw volunteer for the OWL side of things. And they have some very ambitious OWLs proposed for this term.

Aikaterini is doing HoM, option 2! She's proposed to make lots and lots of scarfs for Sirius, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, the Weasley Twins and Luna! They all look lovely, but I'm looking forward to seeing the Hermione and Luna scarfs (because they are in two of my favorite colors). Look for the pictures of her swatches for those two down below.
Dawntreader7 is doing a CoMC OWL, Option 1! She's proposed to make 2 cowls, a scarf, a shawl and monster chunks!! Everything looks awesome but I'm really excited to see the Graphorn cowl because of it's lovely dark purple and to see some monster chunks because they are so very, very cute. See a shot of all her yarn lined up and ready to go under Aikaterini's swatches.

Aikaterini's Hermione Swatch

Aikaterini's Ginny Swatch

dawntreader7's Yarn Ready to Go!

And I suppose I should share a little bit of my Herbology OWL. I'm going to be making a cabled cardigan and I finished my swatch last weekend:

spartyliblover's Swatch

I cast on Tuesday night and have about 4 rows done. Hopefully I'll have a full cable chart repeat done by next week to share with all of you!

Keep submitting those OWL proposals and remember to get in touch with me if you'd like to be followed throughout the term!

Happy First Day of Term!

Good evening everyone! I hope everyone has had a fantastic first day of term and that we're all getting over our excitement about shinny new classes and common rooms and settling down for some crafting!
I'm spartyliblover, 5th year Gryffindor and I'll be covering Advanced Studies this term on the blog every Thursday. If you'd like and are willing to be followed and answer some questions as you work on your NEWT or OWL this term, let me know! I would love to have at least one person from each house that is doing an advanced studies project and follow their progress through the term. I might even post some of my progress each week to try and help myself get my OWL done (like right now I really need to finish this silly swatch so I can do my proposal and get started on it!)
There have already been tons of great OWL proposals today, but today I thought I'd give a shout out to all the NEWT-lings as they have been hard at work for the last month already!
From Hufflepuff there are 4 brave souls taking on NEWTs: 
Cindiknits doing Charms and Astronomy with a shawl and designing socks and fingerless mitts!
Fluttervale doing Herbology and Transfiguration with two afghans!
JMN doing Muggle Studies and Divination with a pair of wrist warmers and designing Neville's Sweater (swoon, I'm super excited about this and hope she'll be willing to show things off with the Blog this term)!
TheAlexKlein doing Astronomy and Muggle Studies designing socks, a hat, vest, mittens, sweater and slippers! 
From Slytherin there are 7 brave souls:
Bidibid doing Astronomy and Charms designing a star chart beaded stole!
Eurekas doing Ancient Runes and Divination doing three shawls, a hat, pair of socks and spinning!
Kims doing Muggle Studies and Transfiguration making four sweaters!
GirlyWithATwist doing Charms and Divination with a lovely lace table topper!
Needlesnswiffers doing Charms and Astronomy with a very large circular shawl!
Peanutzmom doing Arithmancy and Transfiguration
PEby doing Arithmancy and DADA studying squares making blankets!
From Ravenclaw there are 3 brave souls:
GazeboGal doing Potions and CoMC  making a fox set of hat, mittens, sweater, scarf and socks!
Kountingsheep doing Arithmancy and Potions with a blanket!
Volkat doing Potions and Ancient Runes by spinning, a shawl, three stockings, socks and fingerless gloves!
From Gryffindor there are 8 brave souls:
ChristineA doing Charms and Ancient Runes doing spinning and a shawl!
clmnj58 doing Muggle Studies and Herbology with a cardigan and a pullover!DJMeurer doing HoM and Ancient Runes with spinning, two sweaters and a pair of mittens!
Jajigirl doing Divination and HoM designing two pairs of socks, two hats, a cowl and mitts for her cardio knitting book (I am also very excited about this NEWT and hopes Jaji will let me follow her progress too)!
Jedimeg16 doing Astronomy and CoMC designing Toothless, and making a shawl, gauntletts, spinning, a scarf and a snow dragon!
Lupingirl doing Muggle Studies and Herbology with two sweaters!


Stitchywitchy doing HoM and Muggle Studies doing a sweater, hat, two pairs of mitts and a cowl!
Mauri doing Muggle Studies and CoMC doing three pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, cowl, slippers, shawl and hat!


I hope I got everyone and got all the projects right! If any of you are willing to let me follow your course of study this term as you all embark on these truly amazing projects, please let me know! They all are inspiring and I can't wait to see how they turn out. 

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday

HI THERE!

I'm just stopping in for a bit to give you guys a little update on what I've been working on for the past week.

I managed to finish my chain mail socks for Charms:

I also conjured up a magical washcloth to apply the honey soap that wards off flesh-eating hags for my Potions class;

I also practiced more spinning, but this isn't for a class (unless you can think up a story for History of Magic's assignment...)


BUT! The most exciting part of my week was finishing off my OWL scarf pattern (Astronomy) and being marked 50% complete. I'll show you pictures in a minute, but first I need your help on two counts. One: I need test knitters, and who better to test knit than my fellow Cuppers? In all actuality, you could probably finish this scarf in a matter of a week or two, but I took longer because the shaping was a challenge. Hehe. If you want to test knit, you'll need approximately 220 yards of a worsted weight yarn; I used Cascade Venezia and managed to get in around 210 yards of worsted weight, but you would probably do well to have a little insurance. Two: I need a name for this scarf. If you can help on either of these counts, please please please let me know by commenting here or sending me (TheAlexKlein) a PM on Ravelry. And now for the pictures:




That's it for now, but I'll be back next week, hopefully with a finished pair of Naiad socks and a Celaeno shawl!

We have a winner: Badge Design Contest

The second term of HPKCHC started with the New Year & a new challenge. The winter term, as the 3 month sessions are called, brought forth the introduction of Ordinary Wizarding Levels, or “OWLs.” OWLs were introduced to incorporate larger projects requiring more time commitment than the regular month long classes would allow.

OWLs were developed following the course themes of the Hogwarts classes, but incorporating various challenges of the knitting and crochet world. This term there were seven different offerings for OWLs, and due to an oversight, students were allowed to sign up for multiple OWLs, but limited to a maximum of four to limit students exam stress and sanity.

In order to reward students for their hard work diligence & efforts, points were awared in three stages. 10points were awarded after submitting a written portion, which included outlining the pattern, the challenges, and identifying the yarn and hooks/needles required and swatches. (With photograph.) 50 points were awarded at the end of February to students that submitted photographic proof of reaching the 25% mark in their project. The 3rd stage for earning points was submitting photographic proof of the completed project. The total completed OWL project is worth 200 points awarded to the student’s house.

While earning the points and aiming for the House Cup was the initial reward for the challenge, Professor Fricknfrack thought a little individual reward would be nice to earn as well. She developed the idea for badges to be given out to students who completed the OWL challenge. But what would the badge be? Who can design it? How does it get distributed? These are all are questions that Fricknfrack had to answer. With a little help from others at Hogwarts, Professor Fricknfrack came up with a contest to design the badges and donated the prize of 9 skeins of yarn from her personal stash.

Eleven students submitted designs for voting. All of the house common rooms, including NQFY, were notified and sent to the blog to complete a voting ballot. 93 votes were counted, and we had a clear winner. “Not Quite First Year” Fruitloops’ design came in with 53 votes!

Fruitloops joined HPKCHC group after being introduced to the group through searches for Harry Potter Projects, and the Harry’s Happy Hooker’s Group, which is moderated by HPKCHC member Pretywtch. When asked about her design inspiration, she replied, “I read the owl descriptions and tried to incorporate the assignments into the design while keeping them magical. The ideas came from a combination of the books, the owl assignments, and two nights of very little sleep.”

To future students, Fruitloops recommends being active within the Ravelry group, It will be helpful, “Especially for someone shy like me. I won’t be nervous come sorting time :)” Fruitloops wants to be in Gryffindor next term, and hopes to earn her own OWL badge!