Hello everyone!

This is Angiejude, bringing you the latest in Advanced studies.

We managed to survive the first week of June and it seems like finally Gryffindor stepped up the pace and more people reached the 50% mark for their OWLs. Still early, still time for everyone to craft. It's anyone's game now.

One project that really caught our attention was straayerliz’s Charms 50% progress in which she turned in a beautiful blue lace panel top. 

                                           It's so pretty! And she looks so good in it!

Don’t forget you have until the 15th of June to make any changes to your original proposal.

There’s not a lot to say about OotP projects yet. People must be crafting like the wind! Remember, you can’t turn in OotP projects until the 8th of July.

Until next week!

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!!

Catching Up with Our NEWT-lings

Evening everyone! I sent out questions two weeks ago to all those I've been following for OWLs and NEWTs. I had planned on giving the NEWT update last week and the OWL this week, but my eyes were not cooperating last week (stupid allergies). So instead this week I'll be featuring our NEWT students answers and next week we'll look at the OWL students. Then hopefully finish up the last two weeks of term with turn-ins! So let's get started!
I asked each student the following three questions:
1. What have you learned so far in doing this NEWT?
2. How is your progress coming?
3. Any surprises, good or bad, so far?
And here are the answers I got:
Volkat:
1. I have learned that you can never underestimate the power of quidditch, or the desire to Knit All The Things. I knew my October was going to be crazy busy, and had planned to have more than the required 50% complete by the end of September. However I was distracted by too many shiny things, and this didn’t happen. NEWTs really require you to focus.

2. Progress-wise, I’m behind! And I don’t think I have any hope of meeting my 75% by the 31st. I still think I can finish by the end of term; there’s just too much RL going on this week to fit in much knitting.

3. Surprises. Hm. Well, my first cat sock is too small, so I’m saving that project for last along with the needed maths. I’ll need to reknit the first one in an attempt to have a functional matching pair. That was the only big unexpected thing to come up. I’m trying to do the mitts two-at-a-time (I’ve not tried this before) to make up time…which really doesn’t make sense, but it’s the way I feel about it. If that goes well, I may attempt the sock rematch that way in November.

Stitchywitchy:
1. What have I learned so far? Do a m1 even if it say kfb. I’ve got “holes” where I kfb in the body shaping (which I’ve never done before) and they bother me. I’m going to go back when I’m done and see if I can tack them shut.

2. Progress is on track! I should be able to make my 75% this month! woohoo!! I’ve got piece #3 done for the HoM portion, and my sweater is nearing it’s 75% mark, too!

3. Surprises….just the fact that I LOVE this sweater more than I thought I would! I found my KP ends and new 60” cable, so I am actually able to try it on, and it fits!!!

djmeurer:
1. Expect that in a 4 month time period real life will come up. Time turners are useful for getting everything accomplished. Misplacing your pattern greatly hinders progress.
As far as techniques go this has been a NEWT of firsts. I knit my 1st fair isle sweater and steeked it. I spun with superwash wool and nylon for the 1st time. I spun my 1st cabled yarn

2. The 1st 2 months were great, I got to 50% about a week early and was very happy with how things were turning out. Then I had some real life things hit: both positive and negative, some expected some surprises. I know fully expect that I can hit the 75% mark on time by finishing all of my spinning. However, I don’t know if the last sweater is going to happen or not.

3. I was really shocked how the yarn I spun for Luna came out. I had dyed the fiber with very bright colors and some white spaces and was very surprised at how much those blended into pailer colors. Holding the first skein of yarn up to the remaining fiber, it was almost hard to believe they were from the same hank. I am now knitting socks from that yarn for my BROOM and am finding that it knits up in a way that looks like Luna to me. So I think that this was happy surprise.

Cindiknits:
1. I’ve learned a lot! I’m using a new-to-me charting program to chart the socks and fingerless gloves I’m designing for one part of my NEWT (how sad is it that I can’t remember if it’s Ancient Runes or Astronomy. Divination?), so I’m learning that as I go. I’ve also discovered that I love designing patterns! These first 2 are just socks and gloves, but I’ve got lots of ideas for other things swimming around in my head. I’m designing 2 patterns for my Order of the Phoenix mission, too, and hope to have all 4 done by the end of term. Then I plan to stalk the Ravelry pattern pages obsessively to see if anyone wants to knit them, or at least put them in their queue.

2. I’m pretty much right on schedule. Both patterns have been test-knit by my awesome friend Amy and I just need to incorporate her feedback and they’ll be ready to publish. They’ll be free Ravelry downloads, and I really hope people like them :-). I’m also cruising along on the Charms portion of my NEWT, which is a Shetland lace shawl. It’s the only thing on my knitting to-do list today, so I should get a whack of rows done today. My Order of the Phoenix mission is calling to me, though, so I may have to switch between projects. I have a hard time knitting one thing for long stretches of time.

3. I’m surprised at how easy it is to make mistakes when designing. What seems obvious and straightforward in my head doesn’t always turn out that way once I try to get it written up. And I’ve been happily surprised at how interactive the design process can be. Getting feedback from friends, having people I like test knit my ideas, etc. is so much fun!

Jajigirl:
1. I’m learning that although I love knitting lace charting it so it comes out exactly how my brain sees it is not as easy. The lace panel in my knee sock gave me fits and will need adjustments before publication. The lace for my first hat was much simpler and will not need modification for publication.

2. I am not as far along as I want to be right now. I’d say I’m at the 60% mark. I need to be at 75% by the end of the month. I’ve been very distracted knitting socks this month. They are great socks, just not part of my NEWT. I’d say they are a field trip into the wilds of knitting instead of staying in my dorm to study.

3. My biggest surprise is I’m needing far less yarn than I imagined I would to complete my projects. This is both good and bad. Good because it is always GREAT to have more yarn. Bad because that means I’ve over estimated my yardage for my benchmarks and I’m needing to knit more…knit faster…knit more…knit faster…

GazeboGal:
1. That I’m still not fond of colorwork, no matter how much I like the result.
Also, that over enough repetitions of the geometric patterns of traditional Fair Isle, I can memorize it and not have to stare at the pattern the whole time.

2. Thank goodness I have weekly goals. I may be behind on them, but not too far. I made my September 50% goal, and I’m pushing very hard to reach that October 75%. Also, I’m very pleased that I named my benchmarks in terms of “grams of yarn” instead of locking myself in to a particular sequence. Things have happened that I couldn’t have predicted, and the flexibility is what’s kept me on track.

3. I hadn’t worked with sport weight yarn much at all before - I hadn’t realized how close it is to fingering. I wish that I had been brave enough to re-calculate and get this as worsted yarn and simply have larger, fewer motifs. A nearly-fingering weight sweater? This is… difficult.

Not a surprise, so much, but… I get very excited about making progress because of the support and cheers from House Cuppers. I know that I can post a progress picture and get words of encouragement, and that helps me a lot.

I suggest to all the NEWT students that they check out the NEWT thread of the OWL-a-long group - it’s nice having our own hangout! http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/hpkchc-owl-a-long/1782978

Mauri:
1. Technique-wise, I’ve learned how to apply i-cord to a non-edge portion of a knitted item, along with making sure there are no terrible holes between my glove fingers. I’ve also learned that a good designer can make a difficult pattern a joy to knit…and vice versa. I’ve learned to live with a mistake in my knitting, because 1) nobody else can see it and 2) I’ll cry if I have to rip those frakking socks back again.
Also, planning is great, but it’s hard to know what you’ll want to knit two months in the future.

2. I think I’m progressing well. I’m on track for 75% by the end of October at least, though I want to get a little ahead because November is looking to be busy. Luckily, the socks I’m working on now are going faster than expected, so maybe I’ll have a chance to pull ahead. So far I’ve completed two pairs of socks, a pair of gloves, a cowl, a cowl, and some slippers. Except for the slippers, they’re all from fingering weight. Not doing that again, I’m craving bulky yarn.

3. Designers will sometimes give you a free pattern if you find a mistake in their design? Finding those mistakes was a surprise - I thought I was losing my mind and had to go through the direction with a handful of raisins (a raisin per stitch) several times before I convinced myself that there was a mistake.

jedimag16:
1. That I am a worse procrastinator than I first thought! I had a lot of other projects going on in August, so I wasn’t able to focus on my NEWT as much as I wanted to and it really set me behind. I’ve also learned that when you are doing a lot of crocheting with black yarn you need a really really good source of light. I just invested in an OTT Lite for our living room, and I think it might just save my NEWT. This NEWT (plus the past few failed OWLs) have also reinforced that sometimes I’m way too ambitious for my own good.

2. Slowly. I’m probably right at about 40% now, so I have a long way to go to catch up. Two dragons (out of 7) are completely done, with 3 others in progress. If I’m lucky I’ll still make my 75% and 100% marks, but it’s not a sure thing just yet.

3. Not really - but I still have a long way to go so there still might be surprises down the road.

Thanks everyone for your quick and thoughtful answers. I know you all have been doing great work and I'm looking forward to the final results from each of you! Check back in next week to see the answers from our OWL students!

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.