2 days left!

There's only two days left to finish up any of my HPKCHC classes that I can before the end of the month. I should be able to finish four, but not the 5 I'd planned on. If I can only get this much done without NaNo, how am I ever going to get anything done in November?

Charms: turned in
Herbology: turned in
Transfiguration: ends need weaving in and then pictures
Potions: 30% and going to try hard to finish
DADA: Sitting at the 30% mark. Won't finish this month.

Still.. I did get a lot done compared to how slow I normally knit. Haha.

The thing about knitting for others

I think I've figured out why sometimes I have such a hard time knitting for others. Its only really one big reason.

Fitting. I can measure what I'm making all I want against my own arm/head/foot/etc. but it does no good when I'm not exactly sure how much bigger to make it for whoever I'm making it for. If I'm making it for me, I don't mind taking forever to keep redoing it until it fits. But if its someone else, how am I supposed to know when its just right for them? I have no way of knowing. All I can do is guess and hope I'm right.

It's starting to be the time of year when everyone starts thinking presents. I'm making mine this year and probably every year after this. But I always fear that what I make won't fit.

HPKCHC OWL Proposal

So.. My fellow Ravenclaws convinced me that there's no harm in trying to do an O.W.L., even if I don't think I have time for it. We're natural overachievers so of course I agreed. XD I'm submitting my proposal later in a few minute but I decided I'd also post it here.

therealkarity of Ravenclaw submitting her Arithmancy O.W.L. proposal.

1. Identify the pattern(s) you will be using (original designs encouraged).

Lace Beanie by Lion Brand x2
Rosalie by megi x2*
Hermione's Cable and Eyelet Hat by Jackie Lauseng x1
Watch Cap by Lion Brand x2
Ellen's Knit Hat by Ellen Harpin x1
Kitty Hat by fluffyhelen x1
Slouched Tuva Hat by Turvid x1

*Ravelry link

2. Photograph of the yarn(s)/needles/materials involved.

Yarn:
Needles:
3. Two or three sentences describing the planned crafting sequence and analyzing any areas of potential difficulty or new skills learned.

I am normally a slow knitter. To complete 10 hats in two months will be a great accomplishment for me. Some of the hat patterns have stitches I'm not completely used to yet, like cables. I'm hoping it will help me get used to cabling a bit more.

4. Photograph of your swatch or explanation of why a swatch is not needed. Please note that "I never swatch" will not be accepted as an explanation.

I have swatched for the first hat. My gauge is about half an inch off and I will fit the gauge before I start knitting. If I need to include swatches for the others, let me know.

Thank you so much for considering me!

Charms completed!

I have now completed my September Charms assignment for HPKCHC. For the month of September, the Charms assignment was to make an item using the Water Charm Aguamenti. You can see Harry using this in the HBP movie when he and Dumbledore are in the cave.


Pattern: Fetching
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Brites in Berry Blue
Needles: US size 6
Mods: 6 sts in waste yarn instead of 7.

Blocking success!

I'm excited! I've been working on my project for transfiguration and since it needs to be blocked, I tried steam blocking a swatch of the same yarn. And it made all the difference! Being able to see the difference in it makes me so happy! I love being able to accomplish new knitting skills. Next on my list is going to be learning how to knit continental.

HPKCHC Fall Classes: Updated!

Potions: Slytherin Gloves - for Nova
Charms: Fetching - for Leslie but I may make myself another pair of the same color later. COMPLETED
Herbology: Ravenclaw Gloves - a test pair to figure out the correct pattern. COMPLETED
DADA: Bella's Mittens - for Ashley
Transfiguration: Lace Headband - for me.

I should have probably posted this awhile ago when I finally decided, officially, on what I'm doing for each class. I also had to drop Care of Magical Creatures because I just won't have enough time to do a sweater for Emmy before the month is over. I'm still going to make it for her before Christmas so she can wear it this winter.

If I can do mostly presents next month too, most of them will be done!

Herbology: Finished!

Its taken me awhile to complete, but I've finished my September herbology assignment for HPKCHC. I've already cast on and made a bit of progress in Charms. For the month of September, the herbology assignment was to use a yarn at least 50% from plant origin (ie. cotton or bamboo). I used Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Planetarium and Silver Sage. It's 75% cotton, 25% acrylic. I know I've already showed you these gloves when I posted my free pattern, but here they are again so you can see my completed herbology assignment.

Free Pattern: HP House Gloves

I've finished my third pair of gloves in house colors. This time its Ravenclaw. (although in the book its blue and bronze..) I've finally figured out the pattern enough to be able to share it with everyone!

Needles: size US 6 or 7. 7 if you want them a bit loose.
Yarn: Worsted. There's no specific kind of yarn you need. You'll need two different colors.
Other items: Stitch marker, tapestry needle.

Blue & Silver or Blue & Bronze for Ravenclaw
Scarlet & Gold for Gryffindor
Green & Silver for Slytherin
Black & Orange for Hufflepuff

Color A is the darker color, color B is the lighter.

CO 32 sts in color A.
Join round and place marker.

Knit 15 rows in color A
Change to color B and knit 15 rows.
Change back to color A and knit 15 rows.
Change back to color B and knit 15 rows.
Change to color A for the last color change. Knit 7 rows.

Knit with waste yarn for 6 sts. Slip the sts back to the left needle and knit them with the working yarn.
Finish the stripe so it has 15 rows of color A.
Bind off.

Thumb: Remove waste yarn and place live stiches on needles. Knit the stitches on the bottom needle. M2. Then knit the stitches on the top needle. M2.
Knit 4 rows.
Bind off thumb loosely.

Weave in all ends and enjoy!



If you make these gloves, let me know! I'd love to see what you come up with!

HPKCHC Fall Classes

I've finally figured out a project to do for all 6 of the classes. I don't have to do something for all six, but it just ended up being that way. Which means I probably won't do an O.W.L this year because it would be way more than I can handle with this plus school and possibly a job soon.

Charms - Nightingale Gloves*
Potions - Basketweave Scarf
Transfiguration - Ridged Lace Cowl
Herbology - Ravenclaw Gloves
Defense Against the Dark Arts - Bella's Mittens
Care of Magical Creatures - Easy Dog Sweaters

* means that its a Ravelry link.

Most of these are for me. XD Only my projects for CoMC and DADA are for someone else. I'm making Bella's Mittens for my brother's girlfriend Ashley who loves Twilight and Emmy needs a sweater for the winter.

Fetching KAL

I'm sure most people know of the FGF group on ravelry for the many people who loves to knit fingerless gloves. Myself included. Right now through the end of September there is a KAL for the Fetching pattern. Its one of my favorites. If you remember, I made Alli a pair in pink for her birthday. Well, I finished a pair of my own, in black.

Now that they're done, I'm very happy with them. The thumbs aren't perfect but they fit me better than the ones I did on Alli's. Simply because my thumb isn't big enough to need 7 sts in waste yarn. It turns out to be too big.

Pattern: Fetching
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Black
Needles: US 6/4.0 mm
Mods: 5 waste yarn sts instead of 7.

I can proudly say that this is now one of my favorite fingerless glove patterns.

HPKCHC's Fall term

On ravelry, there's a group called HPKCHC (Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup). Its a lot like actually going to Hogwarts along with the characters of the series. You're sorted into houses of your choice or if you choose so, it can be random. Then you have 6 classes plus an O.W.L., all of which you can choose to do or not. I think you have to at least do one assignment from a class. But you get to choose the pattern, materials, etc. for the assignments and which ones you do. You can also do an O.W.L., even first years like myself. There's even Quidditch. I don't know too much about that because I've got assignments for all six classes and as soon as I figure out yarnage, I'll be attempting to do O.W.L.

Its all very exciting and I'm glad I found it! Sign ups for the fall term are over, but we have a common room titled NQFYs - Not Quite First Years. I do believe you can still do all the assignments and such but you just can't help earn points for houses. Myself, I'm in Ravenclaw. If anyone wants to join this group, do so! You'll make loads of friends. There are a bunch of people I like already and its only been a couple days. I tend to hang out in the Ravenclaw common room so that's where you'll find me.