All Hallow's Homework

Like most of the internet, it seems, Halloween is my absolute favourite holiday, so I've been eagerly keeping track of the many wonderful Halloween-themed turn-ins you badgers have been making for classes.  Here are some from September, to start.

ThatTessGirl outfitted her husband with a truly awesome Princess Leia hat, which I believe earned her a nomination (well-deserved!) in the September prizes thread.

krazykt82000 dyed this enviably beautiful roving.  I love a good spooky-monsters type colourway.

bbhatsnstuff knitted an adorably expressive ghost/pumpkin minisock.

Melanthe knitted a perfect candy corn hat.

CraftyShanna created an amazing turn-in for these cute little vampire bats.

KarenRedBaron made an amazing improvised cat's-eye eyepatch.

Moving on to turn-ins from this month, Lea67000 (the World's Fastest Hexipuffer!) made this fantastic jack'o'lantern puff.

 Pumpkins abound this month.  Here's a perfectly-knit specimen from Maylablue.

And LittleFit added a face and limbs to her pumpkin for extra Halloween goodness.

 broknmachin14 made her decorative gourd in hat form to donate to her local NICU.

Kirsts worked some magic that will transform her baby into a carrot!

Rikachet is helping us haunt the Den in the cutest possible way with this little ghost.

Luckynumbers has been sewing up a whole party's worth of super-cool superhero capes.

Wrapping things up with some sweetness, JessiaSott created this delicious-looking little candy corn.

Homework Highlights (Chosen by Random.org)

You excellent Puffs are keeping me on my toes---as I peruse the class threads this month, I'm keeping a text file on my computer with some of my favourite projects, and just from the first ten days of term, I already have so many that I decided to let a random number generator pick which ones to showcase today!

Taking advantage of the non-Ravelry-crafting option at the Magical Menagerie this month, HogwartsKnitting submitted a beautiful sewn tea wallet.

Also at the Magical Menagerie, WAgirl98 made this gorgeous cabled hat, and crafted a very cool story to go with about how its cables resemble the ears of magical shape-shifting rabbits.

I love it when a project/turn-in photo features the crafter's pet, so I'm a big fan of this homework from TinyStitcher, who is keeping her gorgeous feline familiar happy with a crocheted fish.

Tricotjo made this very dashing mustachioed cowl, a most excellent disguise for getting around Knockturn Alley.

In "projects that  you are definitely going to see in the Prize Nominations Thread," ashleybah knitted this completely perfect Care of Magical Creatures charm bracelet.

Please join me in boggling at this turn-in from LadyDragonsinger: her 73rd Molly Weasley sweater.  That isn't a typo!  I'm pretty sure that kind of creative feat requires actual magic.

HazelRose has been turning in a lot of cool woven projects, but I think my favourite is this ingenious way to use practice squares (and this idea could work nicely for knitted or crocheted squares/motifs, too) by turning them into a needlebook.

In the "yarny turn-ins I would like to get on my hooks" category, Maylablue dyed some amazingly vivid yarn in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw colours---the red is even her handspun.

And finally, a selection from Detention at the Leaky Cauldron in the form of a shawl of breathtaking beauty by jpester.

Early Bird Badgers: First Day of Term Turn-Ins

Sunday was the first day of a brand new term at the House Cup, and while there's been a change of scenery for September and we're meeting in the various shops of Diagon Alley, our intrepid badgers were undaunted by this upheaval, and got crafting with lightning speed and enviable skill. 

To begin with, a special cheer for Lea67000, who was not only the first badger to turn in a project (in the form of a charming moon and stars hexipuff) at this month's Detention Classroom, she also swung by the Apothecary,  Quality Quidditch Supplies, and Flourish & Blotts with more!

Lyonette also paid visits to both the Apothecary and Quality Quidditch Supplies with some mini granny square motifs.

Torsparkles made the Magical Menagerie much more adorable with her sweet knitted fish and beautiful cat.

littlefit christened Potage's Cauldron Shop with this pleasingly coloured dishcloth.

Meanwhile, back in Detention (currently being held in the Leaky Cauldron)...

 Another very pretty hexipuff, this time from thatgirl1225.  I love that yarn.

And our first Sock Turn-In of the term by Jenstc2003, Monkey socks that are causing me more yarn envy.

 

There were plenty of other garment projects, too.  A gorgeous baby sweater by Chococupcake, a hat in amazing yarn by texaninalaska, some clothes for a bunny by Suseknits (click the link for extra cute), a crocheted baby sweater that made me think ooh, I have to try that pattern! by vtgirl, and a hat in swoonworthy colourwork by PatriciaO.

There's nothing like a little Detention to nudge one into some limb-attaching on an unfinished toy.  Webschaf submitted this mischievous monkey, and Twirlymom delighted me with the lovely Sheldon the turtle.

We are off to an amazing start, fellow Puffs, and I can't wait to see what you all make this term, and share some of my favourites on the HuffleBlog.  And if you're stuck, the Room of Requirement is there to help you find the right place for your projects.

As The End Draws Near

Wow! Can you believe how fast this month has flown by.  But don't worry, we still have a few days left of frantic crafting to get our homework assignments in before the final bell chimes.

Some of our Den Mates have been working hard all month long.  And truly lifted the bar on crafting.  Let's see what they've been up too and be inspired in the process.

DIVINATION
For the class this month you may:
Option 1: Craft the flame.
Option 2: Craft something that represents the question you asked of the flame.
Option 3: Craft something inspired by a symbol you saw in the flame (this does not have to be an Ancient Egyptian symbol but you may use that for inspiration if you wish), explaining what you think it means.
Non Rav Crafts are allowed if pre-approved, see post 1 for details.

 Skrewkat dared to stare into the flames and asked her questions and the answer the flames gave her is this awesome convertible lattice worked hat/cowl 

 Jen2291 saw spots when she looked into the flames. Disneyland spots!

 Kimanneberly looked into the flame and saw symbols found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. She then crafted these stitch markers to depict these symbols. Nice work.

DADA
option 1.) Study the natural form of the boggart. No-one has yet identified what the boggart actually looks like. Eliminate your fears from your heart and craft something that you believe would represent a boggart, when it has no fears to shape shift into.

Option 2.) humour is known to defeat a boggart. Practice the riddikulus charm to eliminate a boggart by crafting something that provokes laughter and gaiety.”

JillinSingapore practiced her riddikulus charm and crafted a ninja robot for option 2 for DADA. I love this little guy!

Vspringer searched out the true nature of the boggart and found it's true form.

TheWindWraith had good luck practicing the riddikulus charm.  She conjured up a boggart wearing this awesomely funny hat!

CHARMS
Option 1: “Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git.”
Knitting/Crochet/Weaving: Fight ugliness. Celebrate beauty. Make an item that makes someone look good. You define what “looks good” is but it must be for a human being.

Option 2: “Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slime-ball.”
Knitting/Crochet/Weaving: Make an item either to embellish someone’s hair or that covers dirty hair.

Option 3: “Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people’s business.”
Spinning: A spindle looks like a long nose. Spin some yarn using a drop spindle.

Option 4: “Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a Professor.”
Dyeing: Show that Snape was a great Potions Professor. Dye some yarn in colors inspired by a potion ingredient. Identify the ingredient and explain how it inspired you.

Nutmegandmia showed off how great a Potions Professor was with her homework assignment.  Lovely colors.  A true master.

 Froggie3ds crafted an item to make someone look good with multi-uses. Brilliant!

 Neptunesmoon decided to fight ugliness for her homework assignment and crafted this gorgeous top!

CARE of MAGICAL CREATURES
Craft something that reminds you of the ashwinder. Consider its physical properties: how it is born, something to protect from heat/fire, something to help clean up from the dust that it leaves in its wake. These are just some ideas! We look forward to see how you study the ashwinder!

Trapeze12 followed an ashwinder and was sure glad she'd crafted this lovely cowl to save her from the ash when it's egg exploded on her.

Froggie3ds preformed an experiment and feed an ashwinder skittles.  Just look at the rainbow... Er, I mean results!

Quiltyone crafted this dress the color of the flame and matching ashwinder scarf!  I think it deserves three cheers!

 Hope you all as inspired as I am after looking at everyone's homework assignments!

Hufflepuff's in Action

Wow! The Hufflepuff's are already on fire this month.  There are so many great, great homework assignments being turned. I'm going to take us on walk through of just a few classes and some of the awesomenesss of your fellow Den mates!

TRANSFIGURATION Option: Craft your animagus! A purple wombat? A technicolor caterpillar? Show us in fibery goodness your representation of what your animagus would be if you were of an age to transform, and tell us why if you want.
Non-Ravelry crafts will be accepted, with prior approval. WIPs will not be accepted, those are best taken to Detention.

 Sandy62 found out her animagus form is an adorable chicken!

Check out Costumer47's adorable puppy dog animagus.

Lea67000's a bunny in her animagus form.

LadyDragonsinger's name says it all.  Check out her dragon animagus!

POTIONS Assignment: Craft something related to a Felix Felicis-created perfect day.
Imagine you are in one of Slughorn’s classes with Lily, James, Severus and their classmates (or further back in time with Tom Riddle, Arthur Weasley, Frank Longbottom or Narcissa, Bellatrix, and Andromeda Black). You’ve won the Felix Felicis! What will you do with your perfect day? Would you cut your first steek, try a tricky technique, or enjoy your favourite fiber/pattern/colour? Or craft something you would use during your perfect day, or to represent something you would do once everything was going your way.

MollyOMali's perfect day would include a sunny sky with puffy, white clouds, lilacs in bloom and hanging out on her farm with her wonderful array of animals. To represent this day she crafted this beautiful Gaptastic Cowl.

MidwestAliceAnn's perfect day would include someone else doing her dishes with this lovely dishcloth.

LumosKP's perfect day would include a day full of dyeing.  Lovely colors!

HISTORY of MAGIC Option 1: The Night Sky. Use an aspect of Damara’s robes in a project -- moons, blue and silver, the night sky…
Option 2: Baby items and expectant mothers. Historians speculate that Damara is tired and hungry because her portrait was painted while she was pregnant. Present your findings along with a baby item or an item an expecting mother would need. This includes the food she is always begging for!
Option 3: Romance. Since being painted, Damara has developed quite a crush on Sir Cadogan. Craft something she could give him to coax him into her frame for a date.

Twistetsister was inspired by the sparkling stars when she knit this gorgeous shawl.

Namihn was also inspired by the night sky when she worked up these lovely night sky blue socks.

PprmntMochaMama crafted this lovely tissue box cover for baby and mother.

HERBOLOGY 1) Craft something large, purple, bouncy, or cumbersome. Using any rav-sanctioned craft, create something akin to the great bouncing bulb and craft something abnormally large or at least noticeably, disproportionately larger than normal. A RIDICULOUSLY large hat perhaps? Like the bouncing bulb, make sure this item seems to stand out.

2) GOBLIN……POTTERY? The large bulb is accustomed to making strong, quaking movements above and below its soil. No, don’t create an actual ceramic pot, but instead create a (or cushion an already existing) container in which your bulb will feel comfy. Use any rav-sanctioned craft. In the case of weaving, remember that several materials can be woven, OR a very yarn-friendly method such as coiled yarn basketry.

RedNu crafted this large hat using lovely bulky yarn.

Knitbunnie made this lovely container to cushion her bulb. Lovely blue.

Yarnvista went large, purple, bouncy and cumbersome with her totally awesome bath sponge!

Stay tuned for more Hufflepuff's in action.