Mantacora's Knitting

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Trip to Hogsmead

Well, I was going to go with Violent, ......uh.....I meann Violet, but she got caught sneeking in yesterday and had to go to detention. So, I wandered around most of the shops on my own. Honeydukes was ok, but crowded and I really don't like to much in the way of sweets anyway. But I did want to get one of the chocolate frog trading cards, I hear they have a new one for Dumbledor.

I found a magical artifacts shop, and it's great to look, but we can't take anything back to the school, it's against the rules, like they think we could get in trouble with that kind of stuff.

So, I found a yarn shop. Mostly I'm trying to figure out what kind of sweater I want to make this year. Violent had some ideas, but I think I'm just going to have to put a spell on some needles and figure it out myself.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

My dueling mitts arrived!


Whhoooo Hoooo, my dueling partner (Deana Lockheart) sent me her mitts, and they are great! Perfect color! She also sent along some nice gifts that I'll be wearing to work! And even stitch markers in black and gold! Very cool!

She liked sea colors, so here are the ones I did for her:

Quiditch Round one

Quiditch round One



1. What momentous event was the reason that the members of the Order of the Phoenix felt it necessary to move Harry out of the Dursley’s house?

d. Harry’s upcoming birthday

2. Who revealed the actual date of Harry’s transfer to Voldemort, despite the misinformation the Order had been spreading around that the move would occur on the eve of his actual birthday?

b. Snape


3. With the use of Polyjuice Potion (and to confuse any possible attack by Death Eaters), six member of the Order were disguised as Harry and escorted out of Privet Drive, along with the real Harry. Which member of the order did not survive that night?

a. Mad-Eye Moody


4. Who informed Harry, Ron and Hermione of the bequests left to them in Dumbledore’s will?

d. Rufus Scimgeour

5. During the wedding celebration for Bill and Fleur, Kingley Shacklebolt sent a Patronus to tell the guests that the Ministry had fallen, Scrimgeour (the Minister) was dead and the wedding celebration was about to be attacked by Death Eaters. What form did the Patronus take?

a. A lynx

6. Escaping from the wedding to London, our three friends found themselves confronted by a pair of Death Eaters, disguised as workmen. This close brush impressed on them the need to find someplace to hide. Where did they decide to go?

b. Sirius Black’s house


7. Kreacher’s animosity towards Harry, Ron and especially Hermione (a Mudblood) was well documented in book five, “The Order of the Phoenix.” His initial interaction with them showed that his attitude had not changed. How did they win him over?

d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket

8. Who did they eventually find was in possession of the locket/Horcrux?

d. Dolores Umbridge

9. What did Harry find embedded in the door of Umbrdige’s office?

a. Moody’s magical eye

10. After retrieving the Horcrux, they tried to return to their safe place but they were pursued (actually Yaxley tagged along when they disapparated). This meant that the Death Eaters knew their hiding place and they had to go somewhere else. Where did Hermione take them?

d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup

Picture Scavenger Hunt


Mad-Eye Moody


George Weasley

The Dursley's House
Kreacher

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Violent, yup

Well, now I know why the Prefect is called Violent.......wow, she went to quidich practice and whacked lots of people.

On other news, turns out my dueling partner got the package! I'm so happy she decided to finish the ones she was working on for me. No one has ever knit something for me, and I'm so excited about it.

Monday, February 16, 2009

I found this really cool thing

In the upper left of the blog here I have a yardage counter for my knitting. The cool thing is that I just plug in what I'm working on and it automatically updates. You can even select the colors! Fun stuff, click the meter and it will take you there to make your own.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Violent?

OK, the new Prefect moved in, and her name is Violet......but everyone keeps calling her Violent instead. Hope this is not a sign of things to come.

At least she is neat and picks up after herself......amazing that everyone here does, and without elves!

I'm going back to knitting my spoilee bad.......

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Sent off My Duel

OK, so I've never dueled before, but that was fun. My schedule is normally just so hectic, with trvavels, quiditch practice and study, I'm just never sure I can participate. However, I did manage to get the assignment in the mail!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Topic of the day....


Well, the topic of the day is dueling. However, they have not published the pattern and even if they did, I'm not at home to print it.

My dueling partner is Diana Lockheart, which is fun because Gilderoy comes over to model sweaters occasionally for me, really, just look..... here he is in the sweater.... http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbeck/blue-sweater-for-steve here he is:

Wonder if they are related....

Thursday, February 12, 2009

A partner in Slytherin.

Ohhh, I have a dueling partner. Unfortunately, my parents took me away for a trip. Hope I can get back in time to do this. I seem to be working alot with Slytherin this year.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I LOVE the floo network!

So there I am and I need to get to KALAMAZOO. The port key was fine, but I wanted to show my friend the floo network. We ended up in downtown KALAMAZOO and I'll be here for the next couple of days.

I'll probably get a late start on the duel, but I'm looking forward to it.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Just in from practice

Ugh......practice. Now, while I like Quiditch, and in general truely enjoy playing, I don't actually like practicing. I'm not fast enough to be a seeker, but as a Chaser I'm no slouch. The problem is that the Beaters on our team are REALLY good, so I end up taking a smacking.

So there we are above the pitch and Marvin Melrose whacks the beater smack into me and nearly knocks me off entierly. I am *so* glad dad made me put that sticky spell on my gloves for practice, I would have taken a tumble for sure. I'm so tierd, I'm glad we don't have any more homework tonight.

I want to go back and finish some of the experimenting I'm doing with the bag I'm working on, but *woof* I'm tierd.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Homework!

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?
Knit - I've really only been knitting for 4 years and only avidly for the last year.

2. Do you spin? What type of spinning do you do?
Yes - though not much lately. I learned when I learned to weave as sort of an understanding on how to do all aspects of the craft. Hand spinning as well as wheel.

3. Are there any other crafts that you participate in?
Yes - I sew, make glass beads, pewter cast, stained glass, pottery, some silver work, weaving, some woodworking, gardening, bone carving, silk banners/flags, right now though, mostly knitting.

4.What are your favorite yarns/fibers?
Wool. Without a doubt. Easiest to teach with, most versitile, and great natural fiber!

5. What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers?
Acrylic - it's an oil petrolium based icky man made fiber of little comfort to me.

6. Are there any types/brands of yarn that you are dying to work with but haven’t gotten a chance?
I'm always ready to try something new. There are some geat bamboo and silks out there! Wool and silk blends are great too. Ohhhhh, and I LOVE Alpaca! SUPER soft!

7. What are you currently working on?
Duh! My Kit stuff, my spoilee is indeed getting spoiled!

8. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn?
There is something called a 'twisted stitch' that I have not had time to look up how to do. I've seen a project with it...... Like this .... but I don't know how yet.

9. Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift?
I do now - brand new.......My husband's arms were getting tierd.

10. Where/how to you keep you needles/hooks?
Oh, dear......that I'm bad at, they are a little bit of all over the place.

11. Do you like sweets? What are your favorites?
Sometimes. When I do I like carmels or chocolate and carmel.

12. Are you having a birthday during this swap?
Nope, not this time.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Who would have thought to look at home....

So there I was, bummed that I could not find the right shade of fiber for my project, when one of the house Prefects walks by......well, actually turns out she was moving in next to me. She asked what was wrong and lo and behold, turns out that she had exactly what I was looking for in her stash. (Either that, or she conjured it up.) I'll have to find out how to do that spell in the future.

Happy me, I've made some swatches and now know exactly what I want to do on this project!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Trip to Hogsmead

OK, so this is just not fair. I go all the way to Hogsmead and can't find the fiber I was looking for......annoying. I must have gone to a dozen stores looking for just the right thing.

Well, at least I know what I want to do for my spoilee! I found exactly what I was looking for on that account.

Friday, February 6, 2009

OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH a dueling club!

OK, this sounds fun. Not sure I'm fast enough to keep up, but I can try!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Who's Who

Wow! I just found the list of who has Ravelry code names........I'm putting it here so I won't loose it. The head girl gave it to us, so I'm sure it's right.......hope they don't mind if I track them down.

Antonio dela Weasley—yarnguy716
Bernadette Hobsworth–Olliesmomknits
Chrysta the Cursed–Terese
Cliodna Trewlaney–celticangel
Elanor Cadogan–setembrina
Elladora Madley–mknit
Felula Pinkstone–Dreamwalker
Kaae–Kaae
Lily May Clearwater–lemonblondie
Mafalda Grubbly-Plank–bluesapphire
Mantacora Crimson–tbeck
Mona Ravenscroft–mintrain
Selena Starfire–VeryBadDogs
Sian Doge–SianHuws
Suzie Weasley–SueCraine
Ursula Longbotton–Mortiana27
Violet Starfire–Gidgetgirl82
Violette Black–Knitknot
Winifred Hornswaggle –angel101580
Winnifred Wartbobble–misswartbobble

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Homework

when did you first learn to knit - who taught you, how did you learn, what was your first project?

I'm not sure when I learned......I do know that I wanted to learn and a few weeks later, I woke up one day and knew that I knew how. I know, weird, and fits in here well at Hogwarts I suppose, but it is the truth of the matter. I did find out much later that I learned a very old style.....

As for a first project, it was as most of my projects, way beyond my skill. It was a set of thick boot socks in red and black, I still don't think I've finished them......in fact I know I haven't. I was attracted to them for what I thought they would look like. There was of course no actual pattern, just a vague description on sock basics and how to measure what I needed. I'll see if I can't make a picture of it, well, if I can even find the things.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Got in Late today

I got in late to the common room today, I had to go to practice.......unfortunately, everyone left already. Oh well, I'll catch up with my classmates later.

Making new friends

I just found that Ursula Longbottom, has my spoiler as her spoilee.......Since she is also in HufflePuff, I might be able to get some information for her.

Now I just have to figure out where she is....... This place is still very confusing, I'm sure I'll stop getting lost eventually.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Mondays!

Mondays are always so busy.......can't we start the week later.......I'm sure there is a time turner we can adapt for the purpose.

I've met some great friends, even if some are in Slytherin, I don't know why some people say such awful things about them, they were quite nice actually.

Today was filled with classes, finding my way around, ripping out my knitting and restarting....annoying. This would not be so bad if I did not like the original pattern the self striping yarn gave me the first time.

Let's see......after being struck by lightening awhile back, some things just don't want to work right, and I spent the better part of the evening getting the mailer daemons to do my bidding.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Homework already!

Well, I got my first homework assignment done......not surprising we would get one even before the welcoming dinner......hope I can keep up here.