Slytherin Hottie League

We're back again with the SHL. Here are last week's results:

Week 2	Match 1	Score	Match 1	Score	Week 2
	Naya Rivera	8	Sean Bean	7
Pool	Anne Hathaway	24	Hugh Jackman	25	Pit
	Match 2	Score	Match 2	Score
	Kili/Aidan Turner	21	Johnny Depp	19
	Alexander Skarsgard	11	Gina Torres	13
	Match 3	Score	Match 3	Score
	Nathan Fillion	23	David Tennant	21
	Karl Urban	9	Jensen Ackles	11
	Match 4	Score	Match 4	Score
	James McAvoy	13	Mark Harmon	16
	Ryan Gosling	19	Richard Armitage	16
			Pit vs. Pool	Score
			Robert Downey Jr.	15
			Jason Isaacs	17

 

SHL Standings

Pool Division	Wins (3)	Losses (0)	Ties(1)	Total Points
Kili/Aidan Turner	2			6
Anne Hathaway	2			6
Ryan Gosling	1		1	4
Nathan Fillion	1	1		3
Jason Isaacs	1	1		3
Alexander Skarsgard		1	1	1
Naya Rivera		2		0
Karl Urban		2		0
James McAvoy		2		0
Pit Division	Wins (3)	Losses (0)	Ties(1)	Total Points
Johnny Depp	2			6
Hugh Jackman	2			6
David Tennant	2			6
Robert Downey. Jr	1	1		3
Gina Torres	1	1		3
Richard Armitage		1	1	1
Mark Harmon		1	1	1
Sean Bean		2		0
Jensen Ackles		2		0

Looks like Anne Hathaway and Kili/Aidan Turner have jumped out to an early lead in the Pool Division.  While there is a 3 way tie for first in the Pit Division with Depp, Jackman, and Tennant jockeying for position.  There is still lots of time for these early leaders to be upset!

Let's take a look at this week's match ups:

Hotties in the Pool Division:

Nathan Fillion vs. Jason Isaacs

Naya Rivera vs. Karl Urban

Kili/Aidan Turner vs. Anne Hathaway

Alexander Skarsgard vs. James McAvoy

Hotties in the Pit Division:

David Tennant vs. Robert Downey Jr.

Sean Bean vs. Jensen Ackles

Johnny Depp vs. Hugh Jackman

Gina Torres vs. Mark Harmon

 Pit vs. Pool Match-up:

Richard Armitage vs. Ryan Gosling

Cast your votes now!

Voting closes on Wednesday February 6th at 23:59 POT

Make your hottie(s) proud.  Don't be shy, support your hotties loudly in the CR.  Who knows, that one alliance could be all your hottie(s) need to win the match!

Technique Tuesdays: Granny Squares!

Granny Squares are indispensable tools in the crocheter’s arsenal.  Small, fast, easy to whip up they are suitable for beginners and great for using up scrap yarn!

They’re also perfect little projects to fit in for Quidditch or an extra class.

So let’s take a look at how to make one:

First you need to start with a circle to work in to.  You can make this circle with a chain of stitches, work into one stitch or a ‘magic loop’ slipknot that you can pull tight when you are finished.

To make a starting chain, chain 5-8 stitches (6 is normal) and join that small chain into a loop.  Then work your first row of stitches over the chain, into the center of the loop.

This method is shown: HERE

To work into a stitch, chain 1 + your turning chain.  Then work into the very first chain multiple times and join to your first chain.

To make a magic loop you need to hold the yarn backwards and make a slip knot.  By backwards I mean if this is the way you usually hold your yarn to work:

 

You want to hold the yarn with the end going in the opposite direction like this:

 

Make a slip knot and then drop the yarn and pick it back up the normal way.  Make your turning chain.  Work your first row of stitches into the loop:

 

When you are done, join to your turning chain.  You have a loose circle:

 

But!  Because you held your yarn in the opposite direction, the end you have left can be pulled to snug the loop up.  If you forget to hold your yarn in the opposite direction to make the slip know, the end that will tighten the loop will be your working end, and you’ll either end up with a loose sloppy loop you cannot pull tight, or while working the first row you’ll pull your loop out.  So remember to hold it opposite to form the slipknot!

Once you’re done with your first row, follow your pattern for succeeding rows.  

The tutorial link above will walk you through how to do the most basic granny square, but if you're past the basics, check out all the variations! You can even make them with owls!

Just think about it.  You can go the minimum and make one square or go the distance and make an afghan - and anywhere in between!  Granny squares are the perfect project for the busy crafter and the Slytherin on the go!

Single squares can become coasters, or dishcloths if you work them in cotton.  You can double them up to make 

They easily become pillows or purses and you can even make one huge granny square to cover your whole bed 

You can link them all together in a long chain to make a scarf or link them in a circle for a hat.  If you're daring you can make a bracelet or even earrings!

You can even make them into kid sweaters, dog sweaters... and more dog sweaters

Really, you can't get much better for Slytherin domination than the granny square. 

The Remembrall: 28th Jan. - 3rd Feb.

Tuesday 29th is the first deadline day of the week when it's time to hand in any last minute entries for the Quidditch Fruitcake Game.   This game is truly an easy way to grab an easy 15-20 points as the only rule is that your item has to be multicoloured.  Whip up a quick hexipuff or banket square in multi-coloured yarn and claim it is inspired by the many colours of fruitcake ingredients.

If your square is for charity, mention that in your turn-in and use the CharityQ14 tag for 5 bonus points.


All class projects need to be in on Thursday 31st, and don't forget that you can hand in any unfinished items for partial credit.  Thursday is also the last date for any NEWT alterations and your 50% NEWT progress.  For anyone still wanting to do an OWL who hasn't handed in their proposal yet, Thursday is your last chance to submit proposals so get swatching and writing.

If you have everything handed in already you might want to think about starting next month's Detention or preparing your January Slytherin Quest Collage.

Finally, the Quidditch Shades Challenge begins on Sunday 3rd so it's time to get plotting.  As always, visit the Slytherin Locker Room for ideas and pattern suggestions.

Evil’s Cheat Sheet of Total Domination, Jan 19-25

Snakes came out on top again this week! Way to craftily craft Noble Slytherins.

Homework count this week:
1. Slytherin with 99
2. Hufflepuff with 95
3. Ravenclaw with 90 and a half
4. Gryffindor (barely) with 90

Posting rates are high and these are the last few days of the month, so turn in your homework – even if it’s only a partial.

Potions was the favorite class of the week, but otherwise homework was spread pretty evenly – the professors made it hard to only choose 6 this month.

Overall this month the Lions still have the lead, but we’re closing the gap.

Let’s take back the cup. Go Snakes, go!

Diminuendo The Rest

We are coming to the end of January. How are those classes going?

Spinning Lounge

Things have been hopping in the Spinning Lounge. We discussed points and spinning and that since Quidditch doesn't give yardage bonuses it makes more sense to spin for class unless you are spinning a smaller amount. Quidditch can be perfect for playing with a new technique - core spinning, faux lags, etc.

StarKnits showed this lovely green yarn for Charms:

and later had this Core Spun for Quidditch:

Alrischa added some angelina to some Jacob with wonderful results:

and then spun some faux lags up for Quidditch:

Seashelly had some gorgeous Pixies for more OWL spinning:

I really love this bfl and tees water that Ruthjw spun up together:

Eurekas had these wonderful spins to get 50% of her singles for her NEWT:

Hypercycloid showed off her first wheel spun yarn from class and this then led to a discussion of scotch vs irish tension and single vs double drive for wheels:

Joseybug has this Mad Eye Moody NEWT spinning:

Cattiekins spun this lovely Alpaca for class:

TriskaidekaMania: 13 Socks in 2013

 Do you like socks? Go check out the TriskaidekaMania thread. Some snakes are doing 13 socks and some are doing 13 pairs of socks - it's all good. Just stop by and talk socks.

Misselle has finished some Laughing Yaffle socks:

Panad made these fun Hexagon socks:

Cattiekins showed off this fun sock:

Hope you have a great week of crafting! Time to get those classes and Quidditch done!

Slytherin Hottie League!!!

What a great turn out for the first set of matches!

Here's this week's Scoreboard

 

Week 1	Match 1	Score	Match 1	Score	Week 1
	James McAvoy	15	Mark Harmon	12
Pool	Kili/Aidan Turner	23	Johnny Depp	26	Pit
	Match 2	Score	Match 2	Score
	Anne Hathaway	27	Hugh Jackman	28
	Karl Urban	11	Jensen Ackles	10
	Match 3	Score	Match 3	Score
	Alexander Skarsgard	19	Gina Torres	24
	Ryan Gosling	19	Richard Armitage	14
	Match 4	Score	Match 4	Score
	Naya Rivera	14	Sean Bean	8
	Jason Isaacs	24	Robert Downey. Jr	30
			Pit vs. Pool	Score
			David Tennant	20
			Nathan Fillion	18

The bolded names have won the match.

Our league standings are pretty tight right now, but there has only been one week of competition.

Pool Division	Wins (3)	Losses (0)	Ties(1)	Total Points
Anne Hathaway	1			3
Jason Isaacs	1			3
Kili/Aidan Turner	1			3
Alexander Skarsgard			1	1
Ryan Gosling			1	1
James McAvoy		1		0
Karl Urban		1		0
Nathan Fillion		1		0
Naya Rivera		1		0

Pit Division	Wins (3)	Losses (0)	Ties(1)	Total Points
David Tennant	1			3
Gina Torres	1			3
Hugh Jackman	1			3
Johnny Depp	1			3
Robert Downey. Jr	1			3
Jensen Ackles		1		0
Mark Harmon		1		0
Richard Armitage		1		0
Sean Bean		1		0

Another week, another set of intriguing match-ups!

First up, the Pool Division;

Naya Rivera vs. Anne Hathaway

Kili/Aidan Turner vs. Alexander Skarsgard

Nathan Fillion vs. Karl Urban

James McAvoy vs. Ryan Gosling

and now for the Pit Division;

Sean Bean vs. Hugh Jackman

Johnny Depp vs. Gina Torres

David Tennant vs. Jensen Ackles

Mark Harmon vs. Richard Armitage

 and this week's Pit vs. Pool match up;

Robert Downey Jr. vs. Jason Isaacs

Cast your votes now!

Each vote is a point scored for our SHL hotties.  The more people who vote the more points scored.  Team Lucius hit the CR this past week in support of their hottie Jason Isaacs.  What have you done for your hottie lately?

Voting closes at 23:59 POT on Wednesday January 30th!