Advanced Studies Update: December Newtlings

While the rest of us took a month off, 7 courageous NEWTlings set off on journeys to investigate many different branches of study. Let's take a closer look!

For all projects, click on the student’s name to see the proposal.

TwistedSticherFGE is attempting to do a spin to knit garment by spinning the yarn for a hitofude and then knitting it! She is combining Astronomy as she studies Saturn's rings and the light lacy yarn for Charms. She has chosen some fiber that will represent Saturn's rings and will spin 12 oz of Polworth into a 2 ply light fingering weight yarn and then use it to knit the hitofude. The colors that she chose to represent Saturn's rings are absolutely gorgeous!

Mrswingnut is going to be valiantly fighting against the cruciatus curse in her studies of Defense against the Dark Arts by consulting her dreams through divination! She will be knitting the challenging Butterfly/Papillon and also Roiling Waters. Making these two patterns are like a dream come true to her. They are similar but very challenging and I can't wait to see them come together!

Cn32 is next with her study of Herbology and Muggle Studies. She will be making a hitofude out of her own handspun, using up as much yarn as she can out of her 2,000 yards. She will also be studying botany by making floral squares. 9 squares will be 9 inches across and one will be bigger to make up a blanket of at least 4 feet square with a border of her own handspun!

SaskiaBr is combining Potions and Muggle Studies to make a beautiful pastel Aphrodite, a big Find Your Fade and as many accessories as she needs to use up about 3,000 yards. She will be using greys and neutrals as the base colors of her Aphrodite and combine the pinks (and maybe whites) to make the stripes. Her Fade will go from pinks to white to grey. If needed, she will make legwarmers, a pair of colorwork mittens or a hat to make up the yardage. These coordinating pastel creations will be amazing when they are finished!

Caranam will be combining Muggles Studies and Potions by making two adult sweaters, Cabeladabra and Enchanted Mesa. Cabeladabra has many complicated cables in it, as you might have guessed from the title and Enchanted Mesa has well over 3 colors in it. Caranam will be adding a delightful twist by using colors from a yarn advent calendar (yes you did hear that right and we're all very, very jealous) to make up Enchanted Mesa.

S2five will be combining Ancient Runes and History of Magic to make a beautiful colorwork cowl possibly worn by Durmstrang students in the mid 1800's. It will study colorwork from this time period through 18 complex charts and over 1800 yards of a very beautiful cream and tonal grey. This is only her third stranded colorwork pattern!

Keres is combining Runes and Potions in a NEWT to make a gorgeous multicolored shawl. It will be knit from 10 charts and she will use both intarsia and stranded colorwork to achieve her final product. She will be using a staggering 2 or 3 dozen colors in this shawl! She will also be using two new to her techniques of splicing and trapping to complete this NEWT!

End of Term AS Round-up

There were many, many spectacular Advanced Studies projects this term, as always in our house! There were so many to choose from that I decided I would focus on two groups of people that really went the distance: Our newest OWL Mistresses and our NEWT finishers!

First off, our illustrious new OWL Mistresses! Eight Ravenclaws achieved this honor this term: knitsNhikes, Hreow, Caranam, SadieLou, llim, keres, lsgarner, and squeaking in at the last minute, senkatnovo!

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Though of course if I really wanted to show off the amount of work they put in I would post the results of all their previous 11 OWLs! I think you can all admire their newest projects and see just how lovely their previous work must have been.

And of course our marvelous NEWTers! This term six Ravenclaws made it to the end of their NEWT projects: kvaustin, leahandthedragon, bchapman1017, knittingIma, xamonster, and soprano1!

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Great work to all our OWL Mistresses and NEWTers and everyone else who turned in Advanced Studies this term!

Advanced Studies Update -- NEWTling Edition, part 2!

Now for the second half of our NEWT proposal showcase!  As before, click on each student’s name to see the proposal.

Soprano1 leads off this half of our NEWTlings.  Soprano will be combining Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies in her study of the Mediwitch Paris Geller as depicted in the documentary series Gilmore Girls.  She will  create a set of colorwork accessories (scarf, hat, mittens, fingerless mitts) with the use of charts.  They look to be a lovely set; I’m looking forward to seeing them competed!

Greenheron is up next.  As befitting one of her species, she will be hatching a clutch of eggs, combining Care of Magical Creatures and Potions for her NEWT. Her study of the endangered Occamy, Norwegian Ridgeback, and Fwooper will consist of a shawl and two sweaters.  Can’t wait to see these magical creatures interpreted in fiber!

Astronomy and Transfiguration will be the foci of cjsquiggle’s NEWT.  She will be studying three nebulae, interpreting them through the creation of two twin sized afghans and a hat,  vanishing over 5200 yards of yarn in the process. Even for crochet, that is an amazing undertaking!  The crazypants is strong in this one!

Arithmancy (a very Ravenclaw subject!) features in our next NEWTlings proposal.  knittingIma with be combining it with Muggle Studies as she researches the unknown Muggle who created the decimal system.  To represent this base 10 system, she will be knitting 10 items, i.e. 5 pairs of socks. Which exact patterns she will be knitting is still a bit of a mystery, as 4 of them are from the Tour de Sock and one is yet to be released.  What an adventure!  I’m sure the results will be amazing!

Xamonster is studying MS as well, but in her NEWT, it will be combined with Charms.  She will be studying the applications of the spells Leviosa and Alohomora  in the Muggle world.  Two lace shawls and a mosaic work hat will reflect her studies. I am very curious to see what she can discover about the use of these Charms in Muggle society.

Ancient Runes and Defence Against the Dark Arts are the subjects of deetyblue’s proposal.  She will be spinning yarn for and knitting a Henslowe shawl for the Cruciatus part, and knitting a Danse Macabre shawl for the intricately charted pattern part.  It sounds like a challenge, but I am sure both shawls will be worth the effort!

Alethea is our final Ravenclaw NEWTling for fall term.  She will be studying AR as well, but she will be combining it with Arithmancy.  Her studies will produce five pairs of intricately charted socks in a variety of gorgeous colors.  I’m not a sock knitter myself, but I love to see others’ beautifully hand-knit socks.  I’m looking forward to these!

There you have it, our 14 Ravenclaw NEWTlings for fall 2017.  Good luck to all!  We will be cheering you on in your endeavors!

Advanced Studies Update -- NEWTling Edition, Part 1!

The term has not even started yet, and we have an amazing FOURTEEN NEWTlings busy crafting away at their projects!  A few are still pending approval at this writing, but I am sure they will all come through in the end. There are so many, I am going to divide them into two posts so they each get the attention they deserve!

For all projects, click on the student’s name to see the proposal.

First off is Frithuswith,  who is combining Ancient Runes and Herbology in her study of Bunolagus Boscamagicus,  (the rare and elusive jungle bunny) and its habitat. Her study will consist of two sweaters, a shawl, and three woven tea towels.  Good luck on your expedition, frithsuwith!

LeahandtheDragon is our next intrepid NEWTling.  She will be studying the subjects of Care of Magical Creatures and Potions for her NEWT.  Using only her collection of spindles (check out the link; she has a LOT of spindles!) Leah plans to hatch a number of magical eggs and ply the resulting yarn using a variety of techniques.  I can’t wait to see all the finished yarns!

bchapman1017 is also studying Potions for her NEWT, but she will be pairing it with Defence against the Dark Arts.  Her exploration of the Cruciatus curse will consist of a 4-color intarsia blanket using 2500 - 2800 yards of yarn.  I hope this one does not do you in, bchapman!

Our next NEWTling is kvaustin, who will be hatching some eggs for CoMC by vanishing over 3000 yards of yarn for Transfiguration.   She will be knitting a lace dress in light fingering and and a gorgeous knee-length swing vest (that I have added to my favorites!)  A lovely set of projects; I’m sure they will be spectacular!

Intallcotton is next in the line up. She will be studying COMC as well, but in this case, it will be combined with the History of Magic. In her examination of the interactions between humans and magical creatures, cotton will be creating three dimensional representations of two of the creatures as well as crafting some socks, mitts, and shawls representing the creatures and the humans who interacted with them.  With such a well researched beginning, I am sure she will very successful in her studies!

You would think our new Head Girl would be too busy to NEWT, but that is not stopping gwenschweitzer!  Her NEWT will be combining Astronomy and Potions through the study of the constellation Cassiopeia and a pair of mythological women.  Her two wraps should be a fitting representation of what she has learned for this, her very first NEWT.

Last for today is fricknfrack, who will be studying Ancient Runes and Charms. She will be knitting from patterns that use 31 unique symbols over 92 charts (!!) to create 6 lace scarves.  I’ve knitted several sampler scarves, and I am floored by this proposal.  It sounds like a huge challenge, but tremendous fun at the same time.  Looking forward to seeing them all!

That’s the first half of our Ravenclaw NEWT proposals.  Be sure to check back tomorrow to see the other half!

Advanced Studies Update -- NEWTling Edition!

Once again, Ravenclaws are showing off their mad science skills! Our eleven NEWTlings have set themselves some very interesting and intriguing challenges this term.  

First up, bijou3owl has decided to use up yarn by hatching three dragon eggs and crafting three beautiful sweaters to disguise herself with in the Muggle world. But not just any yarn, no. For this CoMC/ DADA NEWT, she’s going to focus solely on using yarn frogged from previous projects that have misbehaved. Hopefully, the yarns will have settled down and don’t really turn dragon on her! Good luck, Bijou3owl!

Next, electronjam is also going for a CoMC/DADA combo, although hatching her eggs is going to be much more of a Cruciatus curse than a disguise. She’s chosen to repeat a scarf pattern in dark yarn, a magic not-dropped-stitch stole, and create her own pattern of stripey goodness fingerless mitts. That’s quite a menagerie of eggs, EJ! We hope you can safely work all of them out of their shells!

Greenheron has chosen to recreate an outfit worn by Luna Lovegood for her Potions/Transfiguration NEWT.  She’ll be making a cardigan, bag, boots, and a scarf/hat combination.  Check out the cool knitting-as-warp technique she will be using on her cardigan -- the garment is first knitted loosely, then yarn is woven through the fabric to form a pattern! We can’t wait to see the finished product!

JessiaSott is heading in a completely different direction. She is applying her knowledge of Muggle Studies to Potions and hoping to end up with a pair of brightly colored shawls and a lovely sweater! If there’s one thing Muggles and magic folk can agree on, it’s bright, fun colors in spring time! Craft like the wind, JessiaSott!

Muggle Studies and HoM have led kaypendragon down a path of dragon discovery. How does that work? Well, she’s doing an in-depth dissertation on the use and influence of dragons in historic wizarding and Muggle fashion by crafting a sweater with a lacy dragon on it, dragon scale mitts, and a DK hat/mitts set featuring charted dragons. (She does know there are no dragons allowed in the Tower, right?) Can’t wait to see the results of your studies, kaypendragon!

And, speaking of dragons, LeahandtheDragon has decided to show off her mad skillz in spinning and design by turning two Astronomy-inspired batts into a ridiculous amount of 3-ply laceweight yarn, and then knitting it up in a pattern she has published. That is quite the Charm work there, Leah! Your explorations are always something exciting!

MissJaneJetson will be combining Astronomy and Potions for her study of the Appleby Arrows Quidditch team.  She will highlight the history of the team by knitting a pullover sweater in the colors of a sparkly sky, an arrow-shaped shawl, and a second shawl that commemorate an epic Arrows victory (the match lasted 16 days!)  Looking forward to seeing those arrows fly, MJJ!

Apparently, HoH PickleMommy is planning to go into hiding when she retires at the end of this term, as she will be knitting an invisibility cloak for her NEWT!  Her DADA/History of Magic project will be an update of the cloaks worn by Beauxbatons students in the 1300s.  With its cabled panels and softly draped hood, PM’s cloak is sure to be a beauty. The only question is whether there will be minutes or seconds left in the term when it gets turned in!

Potions and History of Magic are featured in Roocmc’s NEWT.  Wizard Wear of the 80s will be the focus, particularly those wizards of pop music, Duran Duran, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper.  The colorful hair and clothes sported by these magical pop icons are the inspiration for roocmc’s cowl and shawls.  We're sure your true colors will be shining through, roocmc!

An in-depth study of the patterns of Romi Hill is the subject of TriGirlJ’s NEWT.  She will demonstrate her mastery of Charms and Ancient Runes as she deciphers the charts for a trio of lacy shawls -- a Honeysweet in luscious lavender silk, a mystery shawl in shades of green, and Darkest Before the Dawn in a fiery gradient.  A beautiful variety of yarns and a lovely set of patterns; the finished projects should be spectacular!

And last, but most certainly not least, we have Xamonster! Xa is declaring her horcruxes with an Arithmancy/DADA NEWT.  Five of the horcruxes will be spinning projects with a variety of fibers and ply structures, one will be a wrap top, and the final one will be a shawl. She will be practicing constant vigilance as she studies the underlying structure of all things.  We wish you all the best as you embark on this most involving endeavor!

So there you have it;  these Claws are Crazy In A Good Way!  We’ll be cheering them on this term as they strive for their goals!  

Thank you to Kadiddly for your help with this update on our Spring NEWTlings!

Wednesday Showcase -- NEWTlings edition!

Update from the Study Hall - Tower, we have TWELVE NEWTlings to cheer on this term!

Mrswingnut is braving the Cruciatus Curse in DADA and working on her Vanishing spells in Transfiguration by crocheting a blanket for her friend’s shop. A worthy endeavor for a worthy friend, but a TON of work! She is pushing for 108 rows completed by the end of this month!

Akasha111182 has chosen to focus on lighter things, such as Charms and History of Magic. Two 1000+ yard shawls will evoke the ancestry of the veela and the heritage of the infamous Lestrange family. She’d like to get shawl for Fleur Delacour’s grandmother done for her 50%! Flit, I mean, knit like the wind!

SaskiaBr was super excited to begin her studies for splicing, er, steeking in Transfiguration, while creating a lovely field of flowers for Herbology. She is attempting a beautiful colorwork shawl in multiple colors, and is hoping to have all but the last row of flowers done this month!

SarahAldersign is going to attempt to Vanish and explore the solar system for her NEWT this term. She’s hoping to craft a sweater, a cowl, a hat and a throw all in four months! Let’s cheer her on as she tries to complete her journey to Neptune, Mars, and Saturn in January!

LeahandtheDragon decided to actually do NEWT-level work in a NEWT-level time frame, and is self-designing not one, but TWO cabled entrelac garments for Herbology and Muggle Studies this term. She is attempting to have her poncho complete this month, so let’s not burn the library down in the meantime.

Our own HoH, PickleMommy, is also attempting to advance her knowledge in Herbology, based on a Divination dream of being warm. She is working on two heavily cabled sweaters this term, and should be done with her first one by 31 Jan.

Bacs also felt the prompting of the fates to turn dreams into reality, although in her case, it involves practicing the Cruciatus Curse for DADA, too. She is working on a hat, a shawl, and a sweater this term, all with multiple colors and with various repetitive elements that could turn painful. She wants to have the hat and parts of the sweater and shawl done this month, so go go go!

Hypercycloid picked Potions and DADA for her twin-sized crocheted sock yarn bedspread. It’s a very complicated potion, with lots of different ingredients, and is sure to be a challenge. It will look great and be warm when it’s done, though! She wants to have the blanket at 148 stitches wide by the end of the month, so please share a cauldron fire with her if you get a chance!

Tikabelle has chosen to delve into historical literature, as she interprets stories from “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” for History of Magic and Transfiguration Vanishing. She has chosen to knit or spin from five different tales, and is trying to get 7 oz. of fiber spun AND over a thousand yards knit for her 50% this month!

PorcupineSnuggles decided that hexipuffs are just not enough for classes. She is working on her Arithmancy and Divination skills to create 250 of the things this term to fulfill her dream of having a warm blanket! She’s planned to have 125 of them completed this month, so if you see her wandering the Tower and muttering mathematical formulae under her breath, please give her an encouraging word!

Kaos127 is headed outside for her very first NEWT attempt! She’s going to converse with the merfolk and hatch a pair of eggs for Care of Magical Creatures, while dodging the Cruciatus Curse like she learned in DADA. She’s working on two mermaid tails, plus a pair of socks! One of each pair should be done this month, so any odd screechings you hear this month are probably due to those conversations.

Finally, xamonster has chosen five different historical people, places, and things near and dear to Hogwarts to study for History of Magic, as well as Vanishing yarn for Transfiguration. Not only is she spinning fiber for each item, but she is knitting something to represent it, as well! That’s some crazy Vanishing skills! She wants to have 14 oz spun and plied, plus progress on at least three of the knit pieces completed by the end of January! Flying wheels!

Good luck to all of our Ravenclaw NEWTlings and may your needles, hooks, and wheels fly fast!

Thanks, Kadiddly for that look at this term's Ravenclaw NEWTlings!

Wednesday Showcase: AS Midterms Edition!

So we had 74 OWLets turn in their 50% marks by Halloween! That means 70% of the Tower’s OWL students are at least halfway done with their exams! We’d love to show off every single turn in, but we’d be here ogling for hours instead of crafting, so let’s focus on some highlights.

Dontpokeme’s gorgeous double-knit koi:

DrusillaWormwood’s stacked stole:

MrsWingnut’s Police Box Blanket

PoodleParade’s weaving

Tikabelle’s gorgeous fall-colored yarn:

TShaya’s impressively cabled sweater:

And PinkLemon’s cheerfully colored Tunisian blanket:

Not to be outdone, a full 50% of our NEWTlings have hit their 75% marks! Here are their newest accomplishments:

PickleMommy’s third shawl:

KhenaSanskula’s new hat and expanded blanket:

Bijou3owl’s Ice Cream:

And finally, MissJaneJetson’s awe-inspiring and bobbin-crazy finished sweater:

WOW, just wow, Tower! Congrats to everyone who has turned in their October marks, and keep plugging away for November! Soar, Ravenclaw!

Thanks to Kadiddly for that update!  I can't wait to see everone's finished projects at the end of the term!

Wednesday Showcase -- NEWT 50% edition!

NEWT NEWT NEWT!

A full 50% of our NEWTlings turned in their own 50% benchmarks by the end of September!! 300 points to Ravenclaw for these beauties!

Bijou3owl’s Flower and Garden shawl:

That gradient is perfect for the pattern!

MissJaneJetson’s eye-popping intarsia sweater:

I don’t even want to think about the number of bobbins and yarn cutting involved to not only do each block, but get them to match front and back, but the end result is pretty astounding!

Our own HoH is continuing her quest for four shawls in four months:

There is a reason she is qualified to give out Pickle of Sanity badges, but these are great uses of color!

KhenaSanskula not only got her 50% turned in, but got it turned in EARLY, by making on these very eye-catching socks:

As well as making significant progress on a very fun colorwork hat, and what looks like will turn into a rather large blanket, if this is only halfway done!

Congratulations to all of our 50% NEWTlings and keep on crafting to the rest! 75% and 100% are still worth points!

Thanks for that update, Kadiddly! I can't wait to see everyone's finished NEWTs!