Friday, January 29, 2010

Badgers of the Day January 29

Our Badgers of the Day for today are paganinigirl and nautilus!

Technique of the Week!

Need a quickie Quidditch uniform? ShaylaMyst made it easy for us by just requesting a basic crochet chain or an i cord, if you are 'two needle inclined'.

I used to spend hours with my great grandma chaining random bits of Red Heart while she watched her 'stories' when I was four. If I can do it, you can! This should take a couple of minutes TOPS! Easy peasy and fun! Here is the easiest tut I could find. Check out that hook! Yowza!

Maybe, like me, you are a knit snob and prefer to use more than one needle, no worries. If you don't already know how to i-cord, then I don't believe you. Most likely you did it by accident somewhere along the way to knitting greatness. Such an easy and pretty technique. Practice this then move on to applied i-cord, it'll rock your world!

No offense to the hookers. I will totally admit to being a knit snob and in the same breath I will admit to being too lazy to learn crochet. Plus, it hurts my wrist and I'm a whiny baby. There, there, no need to get your feathers in a ruffle. Someday I'll learn just so I can make this. Maybe someone will be willing to share their amazing hook wisdom???




Thursday, January 28, 2010

Badgers of the Day January 28

Our lovely Badgers of the Day for today are knitwit685 and lalaith!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Badgers of the Day January 27

The wonderful Badgers of the Day for today are both Jenns - jennlovesgiraffes and Luckynumbers!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Badgers of the Day January 26

The Badgers of the Day for today are banklady6 and LadyPinky! Congratulations, Ladies!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Badgers of the Day January 25

The Badgers of the Day for today are catmadknitter and klio82!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Badgers of the Day January 22

The fantastic Badgers of the Day are dmcgrath and SuperM!

Technique of the Week

Have you tried casting on for a circular shawl and wanted to stab someone with the dpns before you were finished?

Well, here's a couple different ways to start those circular project and keep your head at the same time.

This one starts you off with a crochet hook and, even though she's using dpns, the hard part is already done by the time you start your stitching. And you can always use a circular needle instead. The second half of the video shows something similar to last week's cast on and will create an even neater beginning. (This is the same MtMom as on Ravelry.) And you can check out her kitty, Chloe.

And here is a cool cast-on for the tops of socks, cuffs of mittens or anything that will be circular, tubular or otherwise cylindrical. (by the way, this is not the same yarndude on Ravelry).

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Inspections are coming up!

Just a reminder that the beginning of stash and favorites inspections for those who volunteered is January 23 - only two days from now! Time to work on those finishing touches!

Badgers of the Day January 21

Happy Badger of the Day Day to JMN and lilleduck!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Badgers of the Day

Today's Badgers of the Day are anneadeline and rainbowdarling!

Harry Potter Themed Yarns

Etsy Shops

AlinaShea Creations
Draygone Yarnes (Look for Boston Bruins)
Fiber N' Ice
Tricoterie (They have a Twilight yarn that's yellow & black)

Independents

Shelby's Yarns (Harry Potter Themed Yarns)

Commercial Yarns

Dale of Norway: Baby Ull - True Black; Sunny

Discontinued

So you can scrounge through Ravelry, hunting, if you like them...

Harry Potter Opal Yarns

Tuesday Statistic

Homework Possibilities

In our house of 136 members, we have the opportunity to turn in, maximum, 816 homework assignments each month, that number being 136x6. Obviously we aren't going to come close because not everyone is going to do all six, and there's a dropout rate.

All that said, we have turned in 20% of the possible homework assignments our house can hand in this month. Assuming the other houses have the same number of students (seriously not interested in counting at the moment!) we are only 1 assignment behind our nearest rival!

Monday, January 18, 2010

All About Quidditch: The Overview

If you want to play but aren't sure what is going on, I hope that this quick series will help explain things. As we all know, the muggles are having their Winter Olympics this February in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On Ravelry, the Ravelympics is the fibery salute to pushing yourself to achieve greatness by beginning and completing a project during the Winter Olympics. Any project! You can knit, crochet, or even set your mind to spinning. The rules for the Ravelympics are right here, but the One Rule is to Challenge Yourself.

House Cup Quidditch for the Winter 2010 term is centered on taking our houses to the Ravelympics. There are warm-up events (sorting your stash and favorites), quidditch uniforms to make for the Ravelympics, and the exhibition events in March to cool down. The best part is that individuals can join in for any or all of these!

As a member of Hufflepuff House, you are very welcome and encouraged to Challenge Yourself with Team Puff Quidditch Cup. The commitment for this is:

1. create a team uniform (it is small! Details TBA)
2. choose a project to Challenge Yourself
3. tag your project

Now, there has been a lot of information about tagging, and not surprisingly, a lot of confusion about who's tagging what for what where, tag tag taggity tag hooray. I want to make this easy. That is why you're here!

Because the rules for the Ravelympics are barely published and the events available haven't come out yet, I'm going to recommend that for right now - don't worry about the project tags. We can worry about them later when all the tools are available to help. Just work on making sure you have the materials for your uniform (house colors of pretty much any knitable or crochetable substance) and choosing an awesome project.

All About Quidditch: Sharing is Caring

Quidditch players from all the houses will be looking for house colors this term. Individuals are under absolutely no obligation to trade or sell anything, anytime, anywhere. However, if you find yourself with a pile of house color yarn that you wish to part with, well, there's a solution. Tag the yarn with the appropriate house tag:

qgryffindor - red and gold
qhufflepuff - yellow and black
qravenclaw - blue and bronze or silver
qslytherin - green and silver

Be careful with your spelling - it counts!

If you are in search of house colors, you can search stashes for the qhufflepuff tag or just use this link here.

If you just need to make a uniform or have your stash inspected, embroidery floss is widely available and will fulfill your needs in yellow and black for very little financial outlay.

Please remember that there are a lot of tags floating around the House Cup right now and that someone might have accidentally tagged something that they aren't actually willing to sell or trade. Also, if you agree to a sale or trade, please remember to treat others as you wish to be treated.

If you need help securing house colors, please contact me, Needlesnswiffers.

All About Quidditch: House Colors

House Colors are about house pride and standing together as a team. Several of the activities in Quidditch require house colors this term:

1. having your stash inspected
2. making your uniform for the house Ravelympics team - required of all house team members!
3. being the sock chaser (the fabulous Faerie)
4. being on the House Precision Crochet Exhibition Team (7 members including the lovely Luckynumbers)
5. being on the House Beginning Knitter Team (7 members including the terrific TiggrAng)

Categories 1-4 need the Hufflepuff House colors of yellow and black. Category 5, the House Beginning Knitter Team needs to use house colors but they can be the colors of any house.

All About Quidditch: Favorites Sort

One of the warm-up events for Quidditch leading up to the Ravelympics is sorting your favorite patterns. It's only for favorited patterns, not projects, forum posts, or clipped ads, so it's a lot less work than it could be. Yay!

The image here shows how to look at just the favorited patterns - go to your favorites and then click on the patterns (highlighted in green).


Faved Patterns will be scored on:

No untagged patterns - Every pattern needs at least one tag. The first entry on the list of tags shows the number of untagged patterns. If you click it, all your untagged patterns will come up and you can get to tagging!

No more than 10% “singleton” tags - (only 1 thing tagged ‘sock’ and 32 things tagged ‘socks’? Fix it.) The idea here is to get rid of redundant tags, and make your tags work for you.

And when the Inspection Beater lists your name, she will list beside it the one word that the coaches should search on to be certain that you have tagged at least 7 Faved Patterns to fantasize about making for yourself. - Dream big, dream small, the only requirement is that you choose 7 patterns that you want for yourself and tag them with something, and tell Coribug what that something is. It can be "mine" or "Steph" or "ShaylasAwesomeStuff" or "dreamy" or "retirement" or "Rumpelstiltskin" - you just have to have 7 of them, and tell Coribug what to tell the Coaches to look for. That's it!

The deadline to be prepared is January 23rd!

Your Inspection Beater is Coribug and her assistant is Juliebug137.

All About Quidditch: Stash Sort

One of the warm-up events for Quidditch leading up to the Ravelympics is sorting your stash. Of course our esteemed Coach and Assistant Coach won't be knocking on your door to inspect, so they have to check out what you have in the stash feature on Ravelry.

Stashes will be scored on:

Photos for all yarns - This one is pretty self-explanatory.

Presence of both House colors tagged “QColors" - You've got to have yellow and you've got to have black. Make sure you spell it this way, or if you spell it qcolours that you alert everyone.

“Stored in” is filled in for all yarns - This just needs to be something, anything, that indicates TO YOU where this yarn is. Bookshelf, blue bin, tucked above the ceiling tile 4 up and 3 over, whatever.

At least 7 yarns tagged “QPlan” with notes in the notes section about what you plan to use it for! - A plan is a plan; "I plan to make myself socks!" is a plan.

At least 1 yarn tagged "QStory" with notes in the notes section about why/how this yarn is special. - This is the yarn someone special gave you, or you won it, or you bought it to make yourself feel better, or it was your first yarn-store-yarn... anything. Everything has a story.

The deadline to be prepared is January 23rd!

Your Inspection Beater is Coribug and her assistant is Juliebug137.

Badgers of the Day January 18

The Badgers of the Day for today are the fabulous pacasha and woodchip! Have a fantastic day!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Thursday Statistic - A Few Days Late

So today's Statistic is all about Divination. We will research the types of projects turned in.

Of 93 projects:

1 is "convertibles" meaning convertible mittens
1 is a cover of some sort (for an ice scraper if I recall)
1 is a cozy
5 are gloves
31 are Mittens
53 are Mitts
1 is a potholder

Clearly, mittens and mitts are the thing to have this term if you're a good Divination student. However, creativity points to Cover, Cozy, & Potholder People!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Technique O' the Week

Short and sweet!
Last term I came across a lovely new friend, BrineyDeep of Ravenclaw. We made a little competition between ourselves to see who could knit the most Ysolda Teague patterns during fall term. She CLOBBERED me. Anyway, one day I was looking through striped projects, trying to inspire myself to use up sock leftovers and I came across this tutorial made by my sweet fellow Housecupper. Coincidence? Fate? Won't you join me in a little Walking Stripes love? Could be a nice Divination project, if you are so inclined.

BTW I never did use up those little nubbins of yarn. But I will. Really.


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Tuesday Statistic

Today's Statistic

So today's Stat is about OWL's. Of the OWL submissions, here are the house %'s, from my spread (and I got caught up! woohoo!)

- 23% Hufflepuff
- 25% Gryffindor
- 24% Ravenclaw
- 29% Slytherin

And, for some variety:

- 8% Ancient Runes
- 10% Arithmancy
- 3% Astronomy
- 8% Charms
- 8% Care of Magical Creatures
- 8% Defense Against the Dark Arts
- 2% Divination
- 8% Herbology
- 8% History of Magic
- 18% Muggle Studies
- 7% Potions
- 10% Transfiguration

(Totals may be +/- 100 due to rounding.)

Never give up!

Dear Roeska touched our hearts by facing her moldy adversities with perseverance and hard work, like a true Hufflepuff. Her heroic DADA homework earned her a well deserved prize. Congratulations, Roeska!

Badgers of the Day January 12

Today's Badgers of the Day are sydwi and richtergasse!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Friday, January 8, 2010

Technique Friday!

Hello lovely Hufflepuffs! What an exciting first week it has been!

One of my favorite things about knitting is learning new ways to make my work more professional looking. Little touches can make or break a project and it's important to utilize the proper technique for the perfect effect.

Nothing can ruin your work like a cast on that is too tight or a sloppy bind off. Here are my favorite methods to start and end ribbed edges.

When I decided to knit Eunny's Endpaper Mitts, I was completely mystified with the Italian tubular cast on. I mean, come on! Like it's that important?!?! What's wrong with a loose long tail? I actually took offense at the suggestion. BUT TRUST ME, this is so much easier than it seems and looks spectacular!

Easy tubular cast on (without waste yarn!!)

Once you get a rhythm going, it's easy peesy!!

Use this cast on for socks and mittens or anytime you start off with 1x1 ribbing. Amaze yourself!

Back to the endpaper mitts... I totally nailed the colorwork. I was so happy with what I had accomplished! It was all even and perfect and I didn't mess up once! What's that? Eunny says to try a different bind off? What?!?! Crap. Another new thing to learn? Ugh. Set up rows? What a pain.

Then I found this

A really cool bind off without set up rows. You know what? I learned this one BEFORE I could even kitchener. It's what got me off my lazy butt to LEARN kitchener stitch, because essentially, that's what it is! Once again, get a rhythm going and it will be done before you know it! Watch your tension though... it might take a few goes to get it perfect.

So there ya have it. My favorite CO and BO. Use them wisely!


Badgers of the Day January 8

Happy Badger Day to seekerheather and sugarcrystal2002!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Quidditch

Quidditch Knitty-Gritty

- By Jan 16th, we choose a team name for Ravelympics on our Practice Pitch
- By Jan 23rd, photo and update your stash. (Make sure that everything listed in your stash is all purty. The coaches don't know that you have yarn that's not listed, so it's better to be correct with what's there than thorough with what you own.) Check here for the specifics on stash requirements.
- By Jan 23rd, Pretty up your Favorites. Check here for the specifics on favorites requirements.
- By Feb 6th, make your uniform following the directions in this post. Post a picture of you wearing your Uniform to the Quidditch thread.
- By Feb 6th, put on your Quidditch Ravatar. Yet to be posted.
- Feb 12th Ravelympics begin! Visit This Forum for the full Ravelympics info.
- Feb 28th Ravelympics end!
- March 1st Sock Chaser Challenge
- March 6th Crochet Chaser Challenge
- March 13th Square Chaser Challenge (for new knitters)

Dates that aren't relevant to non-primary-team members (beaters, chasers, seeker, keeper) are not listed here for confusionary purposes.

Thursday Statistic

Thursday's Statistic - Arithmancy

43% of turned in homework for Arithmancy, thus far, is some variation of a spiral-y hat.

Badgers of the Day January 7

The Badgers of the Day for today are ajoyce and sandyvern! Drop by and check out their projects!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Tuesday Statistic!

Twice-Weekly Statistics

We'll be doing a random stat twice weekly here on the blog. I decided to start with Transfiguration, since there are over 200 players who have turned in homework. Note this is NOT official statistics, but was compiled by me in my own spreadsheet.

26% - Gryffindor
22% - Hufflepuff
24% - Ravenclaw
27% - Slytherin

Badgers of the Day January 5

Our Badgers of the Day for today are Feederofthepack and deth! Drop by and say hello!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Badgers of the Day January 4

Our Badgers of the Day for today are kell13 and kerryespins! Visit them and show some Badger Love!

Friday, January 1, 2010

New Quidditch Field

Hi everyone, we now have our own practice field. Feel free to look around and make yourself at home. For those who will be participating this term, please get comfortable with the area. For those who will be cheering for us, please make sure the seats are comfortable. I'm sure the house elves can help gather extra pillows and blankets to keep you warm during these cold days.

Darning Techniques

Here are some videos for learning how to darn your knitted socks. These techniques can be used in a variety of ways... Mittens, gloves, leg warmers... well, everything you might need them on!

Darning One
Darning Two
Darning Three

I hope that helps you all with keeping your socks in good shape. Until next time:

Huzzah Hufflepuffs!

Congratulations to...

Congratulations to our JMN who was nominated for a prize for her December Detention project, six fish hats! Take a look!

Potions January 2010

Potions January 2010

The Assignment

(Explanation cut for brevity):

Option 1 - Craft something dangerous. A stuffed chainsaw, a bottle of poison, a whip, a scarf with the Dark Mark, something piratical - there are many options. Be creative! Your professor loves a good story, so use this as a chance to explain why that skein of funfur is a threat to your very existence, or how entrelac weakens the structure of the universe.

Option 2 - Craft something that would delight Dumbledore. A good story is key here - sell it, and sell it hard!

Project Ideas

Dark Mark Illusion Scarf (knit, free)
Monster Chunks (knit, free)
Pocket Potter Puppet Pals (crochet, free)

Completed Hufflepuff Homework

Ajoyce
Aksherry
Anneadeline
Darwinia
Faerie
Feederofthepack
Fluttervale
Hoodlumknit
HollyS7262
Hutchart
Jensleonard
Judejean
Kell13
KnitForBrains
KnittingSheeple
Lalaith
Knitwit
Leesy
Lilleduck
LittleMsContrary
Nanonukie
Nautilus
NicoleJC83
Pacasha
Paganinigirl
Savvy-Stitch
ScarletFever
ShaylaMist
SuperM
TiggersJP
TiggrAng
Treesh
Yarnvista
Yellowraincoat

Divination January 2010

Divination January 2010

The Assignment

(Explanation cut for brevity):

Your project this month is to create an item that protects the palms. Mittens, gloves, fingerless mitts, muffs. That’s “no” on wristlets and armbands. Post should include what type of palm your project is protecting.

Project Ideas

Fetching (Free, Mitts, Knit)
Ladybug Mittens (Free, Children's Mittens, Knit)
Boy's Ninja Gloves (Free, Gloves, Crochet)
Crochet Fingerless Gloves (Free, Gloves, Children's, Crochet)
Potluck Mittens (Free, Mitts, Knit)

Completed Hufflepuff Homework

Aksherry
Banklady6
Binako
Darwinia
DelphineGarnier
Feederofthepack
Fluttervale
Hollys7284
Jensleonard
JMN
JTCandy
Ladypinky
Kell13
KnittingSheeple
KnitWit685
Lilleduck
Pacasha
Sandy62
ScarletFever
SeekerHeather
ShaylaMist
StitchingMagic
SuperM
TiggrAng
Yarnvista

DADA January 2010

DADA January 2010


The Assignment

(Explanation cut for brevity):

This month, I want you all to fight back against the guilt-producing Resolution by making something that represents a resolution you know you can keep. My resolution is “Be More Fabulous.” Now, clearly this is actually a pretty difficult task, because I am already pretty darn fabulous, but I could make a boa, or one of the pretty beaded necklaces DevonC makes, or a dramatic shawl, or a luxe little cashmere clutch purse. That’s my attainable resolution.

Completed Hufflepuff Homework

101Mystic
Alitacasey
Ajoyce
Anneadeline
Bijou3Owl
Cindiknits
CuriousKate
Debbi-AI
Feederofthepack
Fluttervale
Hutchart
JMN
Jtcandy
Judejean
Kell13
KnitWit685
Ladypinky
Leesy
Lilleduck
NicoleJC83
Pacasha
Paganinigirl
Roeska
SuzanneOswald
TiggersJP
Treesh
YellowRainCoat
Yarnvista

Charms January 2010

Charms January 2010

The Assignment

(Explanation cut for brevity):

So to cheer others up this January
either
a) create something to tickle another person with (if what you’re thinking is a little adult or may cause someone offence please PM me with it and post here that you have done so.)

or
b) create something that makes the Professor laugh – I’m fairly easy to make laugh (think scarlettb like), amuse me, tell me why I should be amused by your project, remember I’m a Slytherin and we Slytherins love schadenfreude/epicaricacy.

Project Ideas

Toys & Amigurumi

Completed Hufflepuff Homework

Aksherry
Clarinet88Band
CuriousKate
Darwinia
Hutchart
Ishy
JMN
Kell13
Kerryespins
KnitWit685
LadyPinky
Lilleduck
MrsMama
NicoleJC83
Savvy-stitch
Treesh
Yarnvista

Arithmancy January 2010

Arithmancy January 2010

The Assignment

(Explanation cut for brevity):

Knit/Crochet:

An image inside the same image (for example: triangles inside of triangles, circles inside of circles…) BE CREATIVE!!! If you manage to knit socks that have little socks inside, I would totally love that. Spirals. Need more info? Check out these projects for an idea of what I’m looking for:

Spinners:

Spin a skein with at least 2 or 3 different colors.

Project Ideas

Fetching (Free, Mitts, Knit)
Ladybug Mittens (Free, Children's Mittens, Knit)
Boy's Ninja Gloves (Free, Gloves, Crochet)
Crochet Fingerless Gloves (Free, Gloves, Children's, Crochet)

Completed Hufflepuff Homework

Aksherry
angel101580
Anneadeline
Faerie
Feederofthepack
Jayamaree
JMN
Jtcandy
Judejean
kell13
Kerryespins
Knitforbrains
KnitWit685
Lalaith
Lilleduck
LittleMsContrary
Maelee
Mrsmama
Nanonukie
Pacasha
Springbound
SuperM
Treesh

Transfiguration January 2010

Transfiguration January 2010

The Assignment

(Edited for brevity)

To ::ahem:: continue your recuperative transition back to school, all you have to do this month is Transfigure your sloppy mess of a queue into a nice, neat, organized one.

Completed Homework

101Mystic
Ajoyce
Aksherry
Angel101580
Anneadeline
Anthrogirl17
Banklady6
Binako
Clarinet88Band
Curiouskate
Darwinia
DelphineGarnier
Faerie
Fluttervale
Hopesclan
Hutchart
Ishy
Jayamarie
Jensleonard
JMN
JTCandy
Judejean
K29ptoo
Lalaith
Luckynumbers
Katskills29
Lilleduck
Maelee
Melissa13
Kell13
Kerryespins
Klio82
Knitforbrains
Knitsinclass
KnittingRose
Knittingsheeple
Knitwit685
LaurieE
LittleMsContrary
MCatherineBlack
Mlochk22
MrsMama
Nanonukie
Needlesnswiffers
NicoleJC
Pacasha
Paganinigirl
Rainbowdarling
Richtergasse
Roeska
Sandy62
Sexycanadiangirl
ShaylaMyst
Sofaknitter
Stitchingmagic
SuperM
Suzanneoswald
TiggersJP
TiggrAng
Treadmillknitter
Treesh
Woodchip
Yarnvista
Yellowraincoat