Gryffindor Study Halls

As the castle is being prepared for the new term, the new study hall threads have appeared! I know I'll be taking advantage of these threads to reach goals this term, get shiny badges, and feel the love and camaraderie of fellow Gryffindors. If you're interested in a thread, be sure to watch it so you can keep track of it once term starts.

Charity Hat Challenge

Like knitting hats? Like giving to charity? This is the thread for you! There is a fabulous list of charities and free hat patterns to choose from, and a whole bunch of people who have a lot of experience knitting hats for charity. Over the course of Fall 2013 term, the Charity Hat group managed to make 270 hats to donate! Let's all hope they have as much success this winter, and keep the thread in mind if you have a few days and a class that needs a turn in. These were part of adevinelife's Potions OWL last term, all of which she donated.

Destash Study Hall

If you've recently found yourself trying to hide yarn behind the books on your bookcase and pass it off as cushioning to protect the glasses in the kitchen cupboards, the destash study hall might be the place for you. Find stash busting patterns, take a vow to use stash or even go cold sheep, and flash your current stash (for a badge!) here. One participant, mio, has vowed to use stash for her Potions OWL and charity blankets for classes. Not surprising given this is just her charity stash:

Sock Study Hall

Whether you're making your 1st sock or 100th sock, you can show them off here. Free for the taking are links to help a beginner, beloved free sock patterns, not-so-free but highly recommended sock patterns, and badges for honoring three classic Gryffindor classmates. Filled with both new sock knitters and experts, this is the place to come for help with a sock, from actual knitting to fitting it into a class turn in. A favorite of KnitInferno is the Bellatrix socks she knit recently.

Spinning and Dyeing

The spinning and dyeing study hall has links for beginners, as well as for more advanced spinners and dyers. There are also some very nice badges and suggestions to fit spinning and dyeing into classes each month. Gryffindor's resident spinning and dyeing expert, kmroberton dyed yarn and knit it into a Trillian, a good way to make yarn work double for classes!

Break Month Activities

Right now there are several break month activities going on in Gryffindor, and throughout the castle. First, a look at Gryffindor goings on.

Stairway to the TOP

Every week, a new step to prepare for the coming term is posted. First, there are wonderful tips to organize your Ravelry queue to help fit the things you want to make into the cup. Then, you take care of the WIPs floating around (perhaps with the help of the next break month activity). Finally, get a concise overview of advanced studies and how to begin planning for them, even if you can't start knitting or crocheting them just yet!

WIP It!

This is the place to take the WIPs you're working on over break and projects you're getting almost, but not quite, complete to be prepared for WIP the First every month next term. Did you know that last term there were 87 participants for September, 68 participants for October, and 42 participants for November? Having 3 projects waiting with just the ends to be sewn in would be a great way to participate in all 3 months, get 30 easy detention points for Gryffindor, and get 4 cool badges (not to mention the bingo squares!). The waiting projects might be as small as a dishcloth or hat that you don't need right away, or as big as an afghan you've finally finished, but for the seaming. Check out this beautiful afghan from PennyIA(and note that she's broken this project up into 2 NEWTs, an order mission, and 2 panels!):

Advent Scarf

Making the Advent Calendar Scarf by designer Kristin Benecken? Join other Gryffindors working on it in the Advent Scarf thread. It's very close to Christmas, but there's still time to cast on or continue your work with the camaraderie of fellow HPKCHC students! I want to avoid spoiling the designs just in case, but f1bercat was kind enough to share her long, gorgeous scarf from last year.

Gryffindor Movie Nights

Finally, if you want to take a break from crafting or like crafting while watching a movie, there's the Gryffindor Movie Night thread. It offers movies to watch, yummy recipes to try, trivia, and pretty badges for participating. This week the movie is Edward Scissorhands, which is not quite your typical holiday movie. The recipe of the week is for Ambrosia, a particularly topical snack for the movie and one I can vouch for being particularly delicious.

Read Along! HP & the Chamber of Secrets

If you want to venture away from the cozy Seventh Floor, you can always join the read-a-long of the 2nd Harry Potter book taking place in the main castle. They're almost done with the book, and the discussion is delving quite deeply into the books. Just be warned that there might be spoilers for the entire series and tread carefully if you haven't read all of the books and/or seen all of the movies!

Blog Renewal

After taking a little time off, the Gryffindor blog is being relaunched for the Winter 2014 term. Keep an eye on this space for new posts coming soon!

Gryffindor Progress!

This month is full of tricky homework prompts, but Gryffindors are rising to the challenge left and right! Here's some inspiration for project ideas you might want to consider for the second half of the month! Today we have projects from COMC and Potions to share!

Care of Magical Creatures:

Name: PatriciaO
House: Gryffindor
Option: 3) Provide a bit of home for the Lethifold by creating something that will remind him of his natural habitat in the tropics.
Project page: Deux Tourbillions
Wand movements (i.e. Yardage): 350 yds
tag: pride sugar quills
At night the tropics have a dusky purple hue with touches of teal and black. And the twisted vines wind around, wrapping the unsuspecting. These socks with a twisting pattern and dark colors should make our little lethifold feel right at home.

Name: pinkleo
House: Gryffindor, Pepper Imps
Option 2: Craft a blanket or blanket square/s to represent the feeding ground of the lethifold
Wand movements: 200yds
I have created a lethifold feeding ground..though I have NO desire to attract this creature anywhere near me. Thank goodness they do not dwell where I live, but just the thought…:::shudder:::

Potions:

Name: GypSee Art
House: Gryffindor, Sugar Quills
Option: Lily Evans
Yardage: 374 yards of single
Project Page: here
Explanation of how your homework fits the prompt:
I have spun a yarn inspired by Lily Evans. It contains a lot of yellow and orange colors inspired by Lily’s beautiful hair. Also with orange color I wanted to show Lily’s passion for life. My yarn also contains pink and purple colors to show Lily’s gentle and kind nature and loving character.


Name: PinkLemons
House: Gryffindor, Pride Pepper Imps
Option: Lily
Yardage: 75.3 yards
Project Page: Blooming Twilight
Tag: S13Potter
Thank you for the once in a lifetime opportunity to talk to these three great legends. I spent most of my time chatting with Lily, because she was so warm and friendly.
In response to a question I asked about her most memorable moment with James, she told me of the time they had taken a boat ride down a river while watching the sunset. As she said this, I thought about how much like the sunset Lily herself was – beautiful, vibrant, widely appreciated and admired – and how the sun had set on Lily’s life far too early.

Stop and Shop

Summer and vacation season has officially begun.

Part of summer tends to include trips whether near or far. Perhaps, you could consider include visiting a LYS at your destination. See what other locals have to offer in the way of fiber. You might find a gem that is not available in your area.

When you visit these LYS, let them know you are visiting. It's possible you might be able to join in some knitting fun that is not available in your locale. For instance, in our area, a visitor entered a LYS and let us know she was visiting. We invited her to an evening of knitting at a coffee shop that had a special event (music and poetry). Our visitor joined us and had a "BLAST".

It is easy to find local yarn shops, just google "yarn shops (name of the area)". Poof, you will find a wealth of information. Take your crafting with you, because you might have the chance to sit and knit awhile. I did this last year, and I learned new knitting information and ideas.

Take pictures of your new friends and share pictures of your knitting friends from the land in which you hail. People love to see pictures. Take pictures of some of your projects with you so you can share your treasure trove. Sort of a brag book can be a conversation starter.

Ask your new buddies information about sites, good restaurants, upcoming events, etc. You are likely to learn more intimate information about the locale that is not in the travel guides or your trip planner. It is a good way to learn what to do and what not to do in the area.

Taking these little side trip can take an hour or half a day. Either way, you will learn something different about your vocation spot. I have found that LYS people are very welcoming and more than willing to help.

Take some time this summer to explore new territory. Most of all, enjoy. Share some of your tales here with us about visiting LYS in new areas.

Last-Minute Class Ideas: Squares!

There are just a few days left in June, which means just a few more days to turn in a class project! Thankfully, there are plenty of places to turn in a quick square - perfect to donate to charity, and the perfect way to earn an extra 15 points for Gryffindor!

Potions - what would you do with your perfect day? Maybe you'd snuggle under a blanket (where this square features prominently), or maybe you'd spend your day snuggling babies (wrapped tight in a blanket made from this square and others)?

Charms - "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." I'm pretty sure a blanket that uses the gorgeous square you've just worked up would definitely make someone look good!

History Of Magic - Squares actually fit into two of the options for this class! Under option 1, you can make a square in colors that remind you of Damara's robes, full of blues and silvers and greys. For option 2, your blanket square could be added to either a blanket for the coming baby, or for the mother herself!

Divination - another very open prompt! You can "craft the flame" for option 1 by either making your square in the colors of flame, or knitting/crocheting a flame into the square. Or maybe you saw a symbol in the flame (option 3) that you can represent on your square?

Herbology - for option 2, wouldn't a nice squishy square cushion a pot quite nicely?

Care Of Magical Creatures - Craft something that reminds you of the Ashwinder. Maybe your square is green and grey/silver to remind you of the serpent's colors? Maybe your square protects from heat/fire? Or maybe your square has the Ashwinder herself knitted/crocheted into the square's pattern?

Transfiguration - craft your animagus. This is the perfect time to whip up an intarsia square with an owl or dog in it!
DADA - study the boggart. Maybe you believe the boggart's natural form is just a flat square? Or maybe your square is so funny and happy that it will help defeat the boggart?

Remember -- story is key here! These are ideas, so you must take them and shape them and make them your own! Roar Gryffindor!

One More Week!

There's just over a week left in the term, Gryffs! It's time to start finishing up bigger projects, and maybe start  some quick ones to earn the house a few more points. Here, for your inspiration, are some of the amazing projects that Gryffindors have been turning in this month:

Transfiguration:
Dobarah


newknitter64


rklover


Potions:

Sheepspyjamas


ninasherry


knitwit685


Helliecreed


lilja-julia


Charms:

Fuzziekit


tacolove


Rivercameron


Rachejm


History of Magic:

jogswithneedles


LadyJennifer


isgarner


Divination:

pinklemons


cindiknits


pinkleo

Stupendous Sock Study

I don't know if you've been checking in with our study halls this term, Gryffs, but they've been producing some amazing work! There are study halls for many interests, and they are there to help you challenge yourself and improve your skills. Here are some of the beautiful projects being worked on in the Study Halls this month!!

Sock Study Hall:

Amy PC: Love the lace!


Jkauder: What beautiful, intricate work!


notjustar0w: Love these colors!


kmroberton: The beadwork in these socks is perfect!

These look perfect for a cozy rainy day!


minsue: The cables on these look lovely in this yarn!


This self striping yarn is so fun!



kbowman123: I love these little blue anklets!


What's on your needles, Gryffindors? Do you feel the sock knitting bug, or do you get stuck with second sock syndrome?

June Class Ideas: Giving Away Hats

If making hats and giving them away fuels your needles, then this little guide should just about hit the spot! I've compiled a way you can knit a hat for every single class this month!

Charms - option 2 says to make something that embellishes hair or covers dirty hair. HAT!

COMC - create something that reminds you of the Ashwinder. I would go color here - the Ashwinder is pale grey, but her eggs are bright red. make a hat that’s one (or both!) of these colors! alternately, if you can make a hat in an hour or so, you can say that reminds you of the Ashwinder’s life span!

DADA - option 2 says to create something that provokes laughter. so you could make a “funny” hat - maybe a jester’s hat (like this one or this one or this one)?

Divination - this one is a pretty open prompt. I plan to use option 2, asking the flame what thing I most wish my son would want from me. The answer? A handmade hat! He hates wearing handmade hats, much to my chagrin! You can ask the flame a question where the answer is ‘a hat’ … like, what do babies in Ghana need from me? or what can i do with this skein of yarn?

Herbology - I’m asking if we can use option 1 to make something purple, even if it’s not necessarily large. but even if we can’t do that, option 2 asks us to create a container for the bulb. a hat can easily stand in as a container in a pinch … maybe photograph it with a bulb (light or flower or other)?

History Of Magic - option 2 asks for a baby item. BABY HATS!

Potions - this is another open prompt, asking you to craft something related to your perfect day. For me, a perfect day would involve knitting hats, all day every day. HATS!

Transfiguration - craft your animagus. At first I was stuck here, but there are tons of animal-themed hats out there! Maybe your animagus is a horse or a raccoon or an owl? a panda, a fox, a penquin or a dinosaur? Sweet Kiwi Crochet has like a billion different animal hat patterns, and while they’re not free, they are so fun, well written, and fit perfectly with this prompt! we’re talking monkeys and monsters and puppies and ducks and giraffes and zebras and frogs and …. wow!

I'll be back later today with some ideas for knitting squares for charity (think Gryffindor babies or Knit-A-Square)!

World Knit in Public Days June 8th and 15th 2013

World Knit In Public Days June 8th and 15th 2013

Check your local yarn shops, they might be having special events. Perhaps, you could offer to help out or create an event.

You might sit outside the shop and knit and have competitions for prizes or a scavenger hunt in your yarn bag.

Take a lawn chair, a treat, and a friend and sit outside and knit, spin, crochet, weave or just gab.

Go to a coffee house, get your favorite beverage, plop down and knit away by yourself or with friends. When, I do this, someone inevitably stops and asks a question or just admires the hobby.

Knit in a library, bookstore, at a park, at the zoo, in the food court at the mall, in a restaurant,

For more ideas, check out the Facebook page for "World Knit In Public Day-the official site" I has the logo above.

Let us know what you do to pass on our craft. SHARE your ideas and plans with us.

Class Prompt Round-up, June 2013

Welcome to June, Gryffindors! A new month gives us new opportunities to do our best and bring the House Cup back to the lions! To make this a little easier, here's a quick list of this month's class prompts for you to refer back to as you start your craft planning:

Transfiguration:
Craft your animagus!

Potions:
Craft something related to a Felix Felicis-created perfect day.

History of Magic:
Option 1: Craft something inspired by the night sky
Option 2: Baby Items
Option 3: Craft something inspired by love or romance

COMC:
Something inspired by the Ashwinder

DADA:
Option 1: represent the natural form of the boggart
Option 2: Craft something that makes you laugh

Herbology:
Option 1: Something large, purple, cumbersome, or bouncy
Option 2: Craft a container or basket

Charms:
Option 1: Craft something that celebrates beauty
Option 2: Craft something that embellishes someone's hair
Option 3: Spin yarn with a spindle.

Divination:
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



What are you planning this month, Gryffindors?

Welcome To Charity Chat!

Good morning Gryffindors! My name is Robyn, although most of you know me as "adevinelife". Or "that crazy hat lady". I answer to either.

I'm excited to be joining the Gryffindor blog this term, sharing a weekly update on charity knitting around the prides, in our common room, and all over the House Cup! There's so many opportunities to give this term, and so many of you folks are already on board!

To kick things off, I wanted to remind you of a few on-going ways you can give back this term and ROAR for Gryffindor!

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Squares For Gryffindor Babies! There seems to be something in the water at all times in the Gryffindor Tower, as more and more Lions are having babies! I love that we band together as a team to ensure each of these babes is wrapped in some handmade love - I know that when my son Owen was born, he loved snuggling up in his Gryffindor blanket!

The group is always looking for squares to add to blankets, and will definitely help you find a class to turn it in for points if you need the assistance, so pop on by and lend a hand!

Hats For Ghana Babies! New this term, a group of us Lions (myself included) have been whipping up baby hats as fast as we can find classes and Quidditch prompts to fit them into! This fall, our own Dejapup's niece will be headed to Accra, Ghana for a semester abroad, and is bringing baby hats with her for a maternity clinic!

We still have a few details to flush out, but there's tons of patterns being passed around, help finding places for your hats in classes, Quidditch, OWLs and Brooms, and with a few super passionate folks this group is a fun place to stop and visit!

KAS Memoriam Collection! In memory of fellow Lion dumelaisuzu, who lost her battle with cancer this past winter term, we have banded together to send squares to Knit-A-Square in Sue's honor. She was an avid crafter for the group and her presence has been greatly missed. In honor of her devotion to the babes of South Africa and the amazing KAS organization, we are sending squares to them all year to honor Sue's memory.

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We've got tons of great charity ideas cropping up on a regular basis, and bunches of amazing Gryffindors dedicating many of their projects to others -- I can't wait to share some of these stories with you as the term continues. For now, if you're looking for ways to craft for others, these are three good ways to start!

See you next week with some ways you can craft for charity that fit into June class prompts!

Project Inspirations: Quick Progress

Do you ever have trouble coming up with something to submit for that one extra class? With less than a week left in the month, turning in one more project can make the difference for bringing the cup home for our house! Here are some great ideas for quick projects that Gryffs have been turning in. I hope these inspire you to cast on one last project for the term!

Divination:

Barknknit-


Nicolana111-


COMC:

AmyPC


Lindseyluz-


History of Magic:

KnitandFiber- (winning the SQUEE!! of the day award)


bbhatsNstuff-


Transfiguration:

nicolana111-


ellyol-


Arielle-


Denbren-



DADA:

knitandfiber-


Knittingima-


Herbology:

cmoris-


puffygriffinclaw-


Potions:

Simoncat4711-


Charms:

Knitwit685-