Featured HPKCHC Podcast - The Knit Girllls

We have a great podcast to tell you about this week!  It's called The Knit Girllls and you can find it on iTunes, their blog, blip and YouTube.  It's hosted by our fellow HPKCHC member, Laura (aka LaLa), and Leslie (aka udontcallmeles).

The show is a lot of fun and both Laura and Leslie provide their viewers with all sorts of useful advice and information.  It's a great podcast to watch while crafting since they are very good at keeping their audience entertained and you may be inspired by them to try a new technique or pattern.

We asked Laura if she was willing to do an interview with us for the blog and, luckily for us, she agreed!  Here are the questions we asked her and her responses ...

When did you start this podcast and what motivated you to start it? 

We started the podcast back in April of 2010. At that point the knitting video podcast world had one other video podcast (Round the Twist) and we thought we could offer a different perspective.

What types of topics do you discuss in your podcast? Do you have a format you usually follow or just go with the flow? 

We have segments, but they tend to flow into one another versus being very structured. In our podcast you can find what knitting we are working on, what we have finished, what we are spinning, a viewer q and a segment, a book review, what we are reading, and our favorite things. We also tend to do a weekly giveaway.

What type(s) of crafting do you normally do and how long have you been doing them? What are your favorite colors and fibers to work with?

I’ve been knitting since I was 8 and spinning on a wheel for around 6 years. I love working with natural fibers and exploring new breed specific yarn. Purple is by far my favorite color while Leslie’s is red.

Which HPKCHC house are you in and what year are you? Have you ever been part of one of the other houses? If so, when and for how long? 

I always forget what year I am, so terrible. I think this is at least my 7th term. All terms prior to this one were with Gryffindor and now I’m with Slytherin.

Are you working on an OWL, NEWT or a mission this term? How’s it going? 

I’m currently working on a potions OWL and processing a 3 pound Cormo fleece. It’s going well, and I hope to make my 50% mark by the end of this week. [Note: this was a few weeks ago] I’ve never been able to hit the 50% mark on any of the other OWLs I attempted and failed.

Which of the projects that you’ve turned in for something HPKCHC-related was your favorite to work on and why? 

I always love Quiddy. It allows me to pick out some smaller projects that I may not have thought to make. The world cup prompts this term have been really fun and motivational!

What’s your favorite part about being in HPKCHC? 

I find HPKCHC a very inspiring place to be. It allows me to see patterns I may have glazed over in a new light. Members of the group (no matter what house) are always so helpful and kind.

Head Girls Interview Series Part 4- Slytherin

Hi, and welcome to the last in our series of Head Girl interviews. Every Thursday for the last three weeks we we have sat down with one of the Head Girls in the Cup. One of the most wonderful things about the Cup is that we get to have fun and get to know others that are as crazy about crafting and Harry Potter as we are. We hope that these interviews provide you with a way to get to know other players and hopefully enhance the connections and friendships we all share.

This week we are sitting down with Slytherin Head Girl, peanutzmom. So grab a cup of tea and your latest project and get cozy while we talk to her about how she found the Cup, what she jobs she has held, what it feels like to be second in command, her favorite past projects and more.

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KMNash: How did you find the Cup?

peanutzmom: I had only been on Ravelry a few months when I joined the Odd Ducks Swap group. During a Magical Creature Swap, I noticed one of the swappers had a Slytherin Ravatar. I’ve always been a huge HP fan, so I post stalked her and discovered the House Cup!


KMNash: How long have you been playing the Cup?

peanutzmom: Forvere! No, really, I had to go look it up and saw that I discovered it in July 2009, and the Fall 2009 Term was my first one as a Sorted player. I think that makes this my 15th Term?


KMNash: What year were you when you joined staff, what jobs have you held?

peanutzmom: I had been playing about a year when I joined the staff. My Mama Snake left during the Event That Shall Not Be Named, and I volunteered to fill in. Since then, I’ve been a Mama Snake, Prefect, and Head Girl on Slytherin Staff, and I’ve been an OWL Assistant and a Professor for several different classes on House Cup Staff.


KMNash: What is a Head Girl, what are some of your jobs and things that are expected of you?

peanutzmom: I feel that Head Girl is the HOH’s support person. I keep an eye on the Common Room and certain Threads, head up the Sunshine Committee, and pretty much do whatever else suenosdejmi asks me to do!


KMNash: What are some of the unexpected trials and joys of your current position? (things that are harder to deal with then you thought, and things that are even more fun then you thought)

peanutzmom: Hmmm, I think the hardest thing is having to mediate when people inadvertently or accidentally hurt each other’s feelings. I like all of my Snakes to get along, and it makes me sad when they don’t! Interacting with all of the new Snakelets each Term is super-fun, and I always look forward to it!


KMNash: You are kinda next in line for the “throne” as it were, do you think that you would take on Head of House if asked or do you think you would prefer to stay Second in Command?

peanutzmom: If it became necessary, I would gladly step up to the HOH position.


KMNash: What would you say is the greatest change to your crafting since joining the cup, what have you improved on the most, be it style or a specific craft or time management etc?

peanutzmom: I try bigger and more challenging things, thanks to the House Cup! I doubt I would have ever attempted lace, beads, short rows, Magic Loop, socks, and about a dozen other things if it weren’t for the support I’ve found in the House Cup!


KMNash: How active are you with OWLS and NEWTS and other Advanced Studies options?

peanutzmom: I love OWLs and Missions, but NEWTS still scare me…..


KMNash: Do you have an OWL or NEWT that was especially hard for you to complete?

peanutzmom: Hahaha! I’ve had a lot of incomplete OWLs! My biggest challenge (which, unfortunately, is still a WIP) was my As You Wish blanket. It was only my second or third attempt reading lace charts, I snapped my wooden circulars THREE times, dropping random stitches each time, and there weren’t any completed FOs on Ravelry for me to look at when I got stuck on something. Hopefully, I’ll be more successful when I pick it back up for a Detention OWL the next time that option rolls around…


KMNash: Of all your turn ins to the cup, this term and past, what are some of the ones you are most proud of and what were they turned in for? (providing links to project page or picture would be wonderful)

peanutzmom: Hmmm, I think that would be my Charms OWL! It was my first attempt using laceweight yarn, only my second or third attempt at lace stitches, and my first attempt reading a chart. On top of that, I hand dyed the whole thing when I finished. It’s still my favorite shawl!


KMNash: When you tell others about the cup what are some of your funnest memories to talk about?

peanutzmom: Oh, we Slytherins can be wacky! I love our spontaneous -alongs (the fun fur thong-along was classic), and we have a tendency to egg each other on to do crazy things!


KMNash: Do you have any pointers or comments you would like to say to everyone about anything?

peanutzmom: Just enjoy, relax, and have fun! You can be as laid-back or as crazy as you choose to be. Remember, in the bigger scheme of things, this is just a game for Imaginary Points!

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And that ends our series on the Head Girls. I hope that you all enjoyed getting to know them better. Remember if you need help getting an idea for a class or working something you made into a class the Knight Bus is ready to help. Also if you are one of the Proud 65, remember you have till the 27th to get out on the Quidditch pitch and score for Gryffindor.

Head Girls Interview Series Part 3- Hufflepuff

Hi, and welcome to the third in our series of Head Girl interviews. Every Thursday for the last three weeks we we have sat down with one of the Head Girls in the Cup. One of the most wonderful things about the Cup is that we get to have fun and get to know others that are as crazy about crafting and Harry Potter as we are. We hope that these interviews provide you with a way to get to know other players and hopefully enhance the connections and friendships we all share.

This week we are sitting down with Hufflepuff Head Girl, Chellbelle. So grab a cup of tea and your latest project and get cozy while we talk to her about how she found the Cup, what she jobs she has held, what it feels like to be second in command, her favorite past projects and more.

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KMNash: How did you find the Cup? 

Chellbelle: MY LYS friends were playing and I’m a huge HP fan and it sounded like a lot of fun.


KMNash: How long have you been playing the Cup? 

Chellbelle: Since Fall 2011.


KMNash: What year were you when you joined staff, what jobs have you held? 

Chellbelle: I joined staff in a small role before my third year. I have held several jobs including a HuffleCleaner thread, HECKmistress (helping fit projects to classes), Academic Prefect (in charge of all Advanced Studies), and currently Head Girl.


KMNash: What is a Head Girl, what are some of your jobs and things that are expected of you? 

Chellbelle: Head Girl is the second in command. I am generally the right hand to the Head of House as well as overseeing Quidditch, Puffopoly, and our Badge Badgers. I also keep a check on our students to see that they are meeting their minimum requirements for sorting priority.


KMNash: What are some of the unexpected trials and joys of your current position? (things that are harder to deal with then you thought, and things that are even more fun then you thought) 

Chellbelle: I’m not sure that I had any particular expectations for the role so nothing jumps out as out of the ordinary. It just feels like a continuation of helping out my fellow staff and students in Hufflepuff. The behind the scenes in the House Cup staff room gives me greater insight to many things regarding how things operate which I think gives me an ever greater understanding when advising our staff and fellow students.


KMNash: You are kinda next in line for the “throne” as it were, do you think that you would take on Head of House if asked or do you think you would prefer to stay Second in Command? 

Chellbelle: There is generally a succession plan in Hufflepuff and as such when the Head of House steps down I will step into that role.


KMNash: What would you say is the greatest change to your crafting since joining the cup, what have you improved on the most, be it style or a specific craft or time management etc?

Chellbelle: I definitely have a better sense of how long something will take me complete. I’m also more likely to finish things although I didn’t have a huge WIP list when I started in the Cup. I’m always game for trying something new or that I haven’t tried so that hasn’t changed too much since joining the Cup. I do feel that I get exposed to a lot more variety so that means that I want to try more things than I may have without the Cup environment.


KMNash: How active are you with OWLS and NEWTS and other Advanced Studies options? 

Chellbelle: I am active personally and in our threads helping other students. I have worked on some form of Advanced Studies in each of my terms and generally attempt to do a Mission along with an OWL/NEWT.


KMNash: Do you have an OWL or NEWT that was especially hard for you to complete? 

Chellbelle: Most of my OWLs and NEWTs that were completed were challenging but not to the point of killing myself. I have had two unsuccessful OWLs of which one was stopped due to a pattern not working out after the old change deadline and one where RL just made it impossible to work on. That OWL is planned as part of a detention OWL in the upcoming Winter term.


KMNash: Of all your turn ins to the cup, this term and past, what are some of the ones you are most proud of and what were they turned in for? (providing links to project page or picture would be wonderful) 

Chellbelle: I’m proud of how well the Digger Jacket came out for my son who wore it for two seasons. I’m also pretty proud of my spindle spinning OWL as well.

KMNash: When you tell others about the cup what are some of your funnest memories to talk about? 

Chellbelle: Nothing comes to me off the top of my head but that’s probably because there have been many.


KMNash: Do you have any pointers or comments you would like to say to everyone about anything? 

Chellbelle: Have fun and challenge yourself.

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And here is where we will end till next weeks interview. Remember if you need help getting an idea for a class or working something you made into a class the Knight Bus is ready to help. Also if you are one of the Proud 65, remember you have till the 27th to get out on the Quidditch pitch and score for Gryffindor.

ROAR