Awww.... Quidditch in Real Life!

So, finished Ancient Runes, where we were studying some actual Icelandic Staves - magic sigils. Kinda scary, those ancient Icelanders... but I managed to find a fun way to interpret one of the staves, and get some double-knitting practice in at the same time.

I chose to craft a representation of the stave for Opening Hills. Now, anyone who travels Underhill is probably really really going to want a way BACK OUT at some point - so I opted to double-knit my stave so it’s two-sided. The dark side gets you IN; the light side lets you OUT. Just slap it on a wall, hit it with a stick (your wand will work), and viola - instant gateway! It can also be used as a hotpad, to protect tables and such, but be sure not to tap it with a wooden spoon or somesuch while a hot cup of tea is on it - someone on the Other Side will not appreciate being doused with soup or boiling water!

It's also useful for quick exits by those who tend to wander in caves and/or underground corridors and/or kitchens - although be careful. Being returned "to the light" without the proper amount of concentration can result in things like that regrettable incident with the food dye and the artichokes atop Ravenclaw Tower yesterday. (Sorry about that.)

In other news, I'm so proud of my alma matter!

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BROOM progress, or lack thereof

I haven't actually started my BROOM (the Rogue hoodie) just yet. But I did manage to get the four skeins of Miss Babs Yowza! (in the Russet colorway) wound into seven balls. (Yes, seven. It was supposed to be eight, but I got distracted, so there's one megaball.)


It's going to be very pretty, and I'm going to start it as soon as I finish a few more classes for October!

Nuts!

For transfiguration, we're supposed to make something that has something to do with what one's animal form would be, if one were an animagus. As much as I'd like to think I'd pull something cool like a puma or lioness, I know I'll probably wind up being a squirrel. Therefore, I knit myself an acorn. Again, I totally winged the pattern; there is a double-thick cardboard circle holding the acorn cap in proper shape. Also, the cap is knitted with worsted; the nut-part is knit out of sock yarn.


Yay for i-cord, since that let me knit the whole thing in one piece!


So, that's three classes down so far!

Unplanned Peacock Yarn!

I'm trying to be good, and use up yarn as I buy it now. Yes, there's going to be a *wee* spot of trouble doing that since I went a little overboard at the TKGA Yarn market, but I'm off to a good start. I got a skein of yarn from Unplanned Peacock - I think the colorway was Tortiseshell (since it's the colors of a cat of that coloring), but I'm not certain, and the ball band ran away at some point, never to be seen again. The yarn is very soft, and I was able to get two classes (and two items) from the single skein!

The first thing I made was a hat, pretty much winging it as I went. I WAS GOOD AND SWATCHED FIRST. Seriously - I don't think I've ever bothered to swatch for a hat before, and, well, I have some pretty wonky-fitting hats. This one, though, fits perfectly:


Then I also made a lovely little neckwarmer with what was left. The actual pattern calls for 10 4-row repeats; I ran out of yarn at 7, so the actual pattern is a bit more elegant. I love mine, though, and it hits just right under my chin. The buttons are from Di Irvine; they're fused glass, and the photo doesn't begin to do them justice.




I'm turning these in for Care of Magical Creatures (the hat) and Defense Against the Dark Arts (the neckwarmer). Yay!

September Wrap-Up

September Wrap-Up: Astronomy O.W.L. (Evenstar Shawl), propsed post 84, approved post 162, September 1; Detention, Birch Leaf Dobby's Sunset Shawl, post 451, September 7; Charms, Feather and Fan Neck Cozy, post 171, marked complete post ?, September 7; Muggle Studies, iCozy, post 155, marked complete post 257, September 8; DADA, Pumpkin Beanie, post 191, marked complete post 200, September 8; Herbology, STOP SOCK Project Tote, post 122, marked complete post 140, September 8; BROOM Mission request, post 363, assigned post 654, September 14; Quidditch Task #1 - Baby Phoenix toy, post 1239, goal recorded post 1273, September 21; Astronomy, Cactus for Uranus, post 427, marked complete post 688, September 25; Potions, Kitty Head Double Knit Coaster/Hotpad, post 622, marked completed post 671, September 26; Yule Ball - Choose your Parner Tulip Preemie Caps, post 2261, September 26; Care of Magical Creatures, Rocket Ship, post 166 (complete with The Secret of Shimbly-Shambly Wood, marked complete post 1281, September 30.