Gryffindor Crazy Train

Hello!

I know I have said this before, but one of the things I like about participating in the HPKCHC is that I have to actually finish a lot of projects every month.  Well, really just 1 each month, but I get a bit carried away with being a good team member, and try to CRAFT ALL THE THINGS.

In Gryffindor, my house for this term, we have an award called "The Crazy Train."  There are actually a few awards associated with this idea, but the main two are:

Hermione's Challenge:  Complete detention and one class and turn both in on the first day of the month. 

Monthly Challenge:  Turn in four classes by the 10th of the month.

This month, I finished both challenges.  I am definitely riding the Crazy Train.

For detention, I finished one of my squares, In Treble designed by the talented Julie Yeager (JulieAnny),  for the 2012BAMCAL group.   I had made my first version early in October,

but I didn't really like the way I did the color changes, so I put off making my second square.  I finally hooked it at the end of the month, saving the weaving in for November 1, so it could be my detention turn in.  I have learned to get one project a-l-m-o-s-t finished, so I can quickly bind off, or weave in, or whatever, on the first day of the new month to get detention out of the way.  Anyway, I like this version of the square much better:

Ancient Runes

The prompt for Ancient Runes this month was really easy for me.  One of the 3 choices given was to craft with yarn or fiber containing a minimum of 50% cellulose based fiber (plant fiber).  Cotton!  I simply knit up a quick washcloth for my Christmas gift collection,

and presto, I was officially on the train with Hermione's Challenge completed.

The prompts for the classes are usually pretty broad, so if you think a bit, you can usually fit what you wanted to make anyway into a class.  Since I am hooking blocks every month for my two afghans, I try to fit these into the class assignments.  This is the easiest way for me to finish classes.  I am still a slow knitter, so I try to knit some of the assignments, but I can usually finish crocheted projects faster.

Herbology

Our Herbology class all Fall has dealt with the subjet of Wands and Wandwood.  This month we studied the idea that since wands have a core, there is something "hidden" inside them, and the prompt dealt with crafting something with a hidden picture or image using 2 or more yarns.  I think the idea was to do illusion knitting, which I want to try, but I doubt I could finish anything in 1 month.  I decided to hook a 4-square of the Diagonal Box Square by SmoothFox.

The hidden picture is the square in the center which is only revealed when all four squares are sewn together.

History of Magic

The HoM prompt dealt with spirit animals.  One suggestion was to find a way to incorporate leftover yarn in a project.  I thought of hooking a square with lots of color changes, and turning it in for this choice.  But, instead I chose the third idea:  Embrace a Power Animal.  Open yourself to nature and look for signs that a power animal is trying to make itself known to you.  Craft something to A. Represent this animal or B. Represent how you might follow the guidance this animal is trying to impart.  I looked up spirit and power animals, and decided that I could use the Orca.  I turned in my Red, White, Blue Shining Star Square ,  designed by Amelia Beebe, with this explanation (or something close to this): 

"The Orca is the Creator of the cosmos  having the ability to convert raw matter into stars, planets, etc.  The orca also can seal soul fissures and energy leaks.  The star in the center represents the cosmos that the Orca created, with the color changes showing the brilliance of the star in the cosmos.  The square will be a part of a blanket that will seal in heat, or energy loss."

Potions

The final project I turned in on November 10, firmly securing my seat on the Crazy Train, was another Shining Star Square, this one in Blue, Blue and White (for the afghan for Pookie).

The Potions Class prompt dealt with color, asking us to either 1. craft something using two colors opposite each other on the color wheel, or black and white.  2. craft something using different shades of a single color, creating something monochromatic. or 3. craft something using a split complementary color scheme, a color and the two colors beside the color opposite the original. 

See, right there... I had no idea what a "split complementary color scheme" was.  So cool.  But, I decided that my Blue, Blue, White shining star square fit option 2, so that is what I turned in.

There you have it, 4 completed classes and detention all turned in.

That's all for tonight.
Stay safe and well.
Yours,

f1bercat
shaping the planet from the Crazy Train.

X or "Gebo" is the Ancient Rune meaning "Gift"

6:00 am Friday, September 14, 2012

Hello!

Stitching

I have been working like a dog this week.  As I said in my post yesterday, the HPKCHC (Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup) Group on Ravelry, has me really hopping to complete classes.  It's not that I am making anything different from what I would already be stitching, but there is a big push to get stuff in early.  I assume that is so people actually finish things.  So I am honestly stitching from 6 am until I fall asleep at the needles at around 10 or 11 pm.  Last night I stayed up to post my blog, which I had been neglecting from lack of sleep, and that meant I went to bed around 1 am. EEEEK!

I wanted to tell you about my Ancient Runes class.

This class prompt was super confusing to me.  At first I did not see at all how I could make anything for the class, much less turn in something I had already planned to make.  Let me quote some of the prompt:

“With the return of Ancient Runes to this Term’s study, we are going to begin by studying the origin of runes from a historical perspective. Whereas some use Runes for divination purposes, we will be studying the runes as a form of writing only. For mystical applications, please see Professor Trelawney and her Divination class.” “There are different opinions regarding when and where the pre-Christianity Germanic runic alphabet began, but some Muggle scholars believe it to have originated in Sweden.....

Her wand flashes in the air as if conducting a symphony and unfamiliar letter like figures begin to dance and swirl around the room:
Your assignment this month is to study and craft an item, spin, or dye yarn inspired by the runes themselves, by the Norse & Germanic cultures from which they arose, or inspired by your own heritage. Be sure to share a summary of your research and explain how it is reflected in your class project.
When completing your homework, please refer to the Project Standards and General Rules of Conduct and Crafting pages for further information on how to turn in projects for the cup and additional information. Also, please the use the standard header, below, when turning in your homework."

Honestly, at first I was like... Whaaaaaat?

So, like a chicken, I worked on other classes, and figured that I wouldn't try to turn in for this one.  But then, I decided to check out what HAD been turned in.  People were talking a bit about the runes,



their meanings, and then showing how the shape of the rune was in their project.  Like how a stitch or pattern formed a rune.  I could do that! I did some quick research on wikipedia, and discovered that 2 of the runes have nice shapes that regularly appear in crocheted squares:  X and I.

The X and the I were perfect for the Ribbed Square that I had already made for the 2012BAMCAL.

HPKCHC has a size requirement for blanket squares of about 8" x 8", so I would need to make more than one of these 6 in squares.  Part of the turn in is the "story" or selling your project to the professors.

I hooked 3 more squares, and in 2 of them alternated blue and white, with the white on the fpdc (front post double crochet) so they stood out.

Then I sewed them all together and added a crocheted border.   I just need to turn in my explanation of how the square fits the prompt and a photo with measurements of the finished object.

"Inspired by the rune X gebo or "gift"  (this square is for a blanket that is a gift),  and the rune I isaz or "ice."  The isaz rune is repeated on almost every round of the square, and is a reminder of the warmth the finished blanket will bring, protecting the recipient from the cold.  Also, the Rune X (gebo) is in each quadrant of the square."

Whether or not it is accepted for the Ancient Runes homework, I really love how this square came out.

Gryffindor Gym
So I am working my way through the various Gryffindor threads, and I found 2 that were new to me.  One of them is the Gryffindor Gym.  In this thread, you state a fitness goal, then post regularly how you are doing.  People are working on everything from losing weight to running a 5K.  Some people are very specific, others vague.  The moderator must be either a trainer or dietician in real life, because she gives great advice to help work towards the goals.  For instance, one member has broken her foot.  So the moderator suggested all kinds of exercises she could do with weights at the gym, or at home, to stay in shape.  Very cool.

I plan to get back on my bike trip and post about it in the Gym thread.  I haven't been to the Y since before I left for California back in July.  I need to get back on it.  Hopefully, posting on the Gym thread will help me find the motivation.

Stay safe and well.
Yours,
f1bercat
Shaping the planet one ancient rune at a time.

6:30 am September 14, 2012