The Elder Wand

I'm a geek.  I dressed up to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1).  I brought along my trusty verson of the Elder Wand (one of the three Deathly Hallows themselves!)  Here's how I made it, so you can have your own as well!

Begin with a 14" dowel (I used a 1/4" diameter)

Attach a small ball of polymer clay approximately every 2 inches.  Make one end ball slightly smaller, and use the removed clay to enlarge the ball second from the other end.  Use a ball-ended tool to create indentations in each ball to add texture.  Add a glob of clay to one end.  Stand the wand upright to flatten this glob of clay.  Again using the ball-end tool, draw a line downward from where the clay attaches, increasing pressure as you go down to create a decorative texture.  Bake according to the clay's instructions.
I suggest making two small stands and using those to hold the wand sideways to bake.

Sand thoroughly and sand extra on the unadorned end to create a slight taper.  Add a base coat of off-white or cream colored paint.  Add a second coat if needed.

Create a wash of dark brown paint, 2 parts water to one part paint.  Paint the whole wand, allowing the paint to pool in each indentation.  Paint a silver band two balls from the base end to serve as a handle.  Coat the entire wand with a gloss coating. 

There you have it!  Your very own Elder Wand!  14", Elder, with a Thestral Tail Hair core.

House Scarves

I hate working with DPNs.  I am endlessly frustrated by the variation in tension where the needles meet.  I prefer to work in the round on short circulars (<3 my Boye Needlemaster).  I do use DPNs for things too small to knit with even a 18" circular.  This is precisely why I have not tested the small and medium sizes of the tube-knit scarf.  While the patterns are listed for Gryffindor scarves, they are just as useful for any other Hogwarts House, with a color substitution. 
Sizes are as follows:
Small: Toddler (3')
Medium: Child (5')
Large: Adult (7')

Pattern written for size L(S, M)

size 10.5 needles
Worsted weight yarn (I used Red Heart in Ranch Red (MC) and Gold (CC).)

Tube-Knit trapped bar Gryffindor Scarf:
gauge: 4sts and 5 rows per inch

Using MC, Cast on 60 (20, 40) sts.
Join, being careful not to twist
Knit in the round for 15 (8, 10) rows
*change to CC, knit 3 (2, 2) rows
change to MC, knit 4 (2, 3) rows
change to CC, knit 3 (2, 2) rows
change to MC, knit 25 (15, 20) rows
repeat from * until scarf measures 7 (3, 5) feet
change to MC, knit 15 (8, 10) rows
cut 120 (40, 80) pieces of 4" yarn in MC
Lay edge flat, attach to both sides of scarf in 2-strand bundles to each pair of stitches, sealing the end of the scarf.

Double Knit Gryffindor Scarf:
Using MC, Cast on 60 (20, 40) sts.

Knit a 1x1 rib (K1, P1) across, slipping the first stitch of each row knitwise.
Repeat for 15 (8, 10) rows
*change to CC, work in established pattern for 3 (2, 2) rows
change to MC, work in established pattern for 4 (2, 3) rows

change to CC, work in established pattern for 3 (2, 2) rows

change to MC, work in established pattern for 25 (15, 20) rows

repeat from * until scarf measures 7 (3, 5) feet
change to MC, work in established pattern for 15 (8, 10) rows
cut 120 (40, 80) pieces of 4" yarn in MC
Lay edge flat, attach to both sides of scarf in 2-strand bundles to each pair of stitches, sealing the end of the scarf.

*Note*
For either pattern, to switch to a first- or second-year scarf (even stripes), ignore the color changes in the pattern, and instead make 4" (2", 3") stripes of each color, beginning and ending with MC.  The tassels should alternate colors, requiring 60 (20, 40) 6" strands in each of MC and CC.

House Unity Blanket

Hello, folks!  In preparation for Part I of the Deathly Hallows movie(s), I decided to make a house unity blanket!  If you don't know, that just means that instead of choosing one Hogwarts school house, you use all four main colors.  This is a fairly quick knit on large needles, and can easily be completed in a weekend.  I used 15mm needles and two strands of worsted weight yarn held together.  (As per usual, I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn)  For colors, I used "Black" as my main color, "Bright Yellow" for Hufflepuff, "Paddy Green" for Slytherin, "Ranch Red" for Gryffindor, and "Blue" for Ravenclaw.  This is a very simple pattern.  Finished piece measures approximately 4'x4'

The basic blanket is worked as follows:
Use wither a super bulky yarn, or two strands of worsted weight held together.
With black, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: K1, YO, Knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 84 times. (87 sts)  (This is 4 rows past the second red stripe)
Row 2: K2tog, YO, Knit to last 2 sts, K2tog
Repeat Row 3 until 3 sts remain, bind off

At the same time, work the following color pattern:
8 rows black
2 rows yellow
8 rows black
2 rows green
8 rows black
2 rows blue
8 rows black
2 rows red

If you'd rather have a pattern matching the Prisoner of Azkaban style scarves, work the following color pattern:
10 rows MC
2 rows CC
2 rows MC
2 rows CC

For Gryffindor, use Ranch Red and Gold,
For Slytherin, use Paddy Green and Light Gray,
For Ravenclaw, use Blue and Light Gray or Warm Brown,
For Hufflepuff, use Bright Yellow and Black.

Make 4 tassels, one in each color (or all MC for single-house blankets) and attach to the corners.

I make tassels by wrapping the double-stranded yarn around a DVD case about 25 times, tying across one end, and cutting the other end, then tying around the whole bundle about 1.5" from the tied end.

Dumbledore!

I've been enjoying writing amigurumi patterns lately.  Without further ado, here's the first pattern that I've successfully written:

Materials:

small amounts of the following colors of Red Heart Super Saver yarn:
dark orchid (MC)
buff (SC)
country blue (CC)
Caron Super Soft off-white
metallic gold crochet or embroidery thread
size F crochet hook
small amount of poly-fill
yarn needle

Instructions:
NOTE: This pattern is worked in a spiral; do not join rounds

Abbreviations used:
sc – single crochet st - stitch
dec – decrease inc - increase

Body (make one):
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 8 stitches
Round 2: sc twice in each st (16 sts)
Round 3: *sc, sc twice in next st, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 4: *sc, sc, sc twice in next st, repeat from * to end of round (32)
Rounds 5-12: sc around
Round 13: *sc 6, dec, repeat from * to end of round (28)
Round 14: using MC, sc around
Round 15: sc through back loop only to end of round
Round 16: sc around
Round 17: *dec, sc 5, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 18, 19: sc around
Round 20: *sc 4, dec, repeat from * to end of round (20)
Round 21: sc around
Round 22: *dec, sc 3, repeat from * to end of round (16)
Tip: Stuffing before the last decrease round make it easier to stuff!
Round 23: dec around (8)

Robe Bottom:
Round 1: using MC, sc in front loops of Round 15 of body (28)
Round 2: *sc 6, inc, repeat from * to end of round (32)
Rounds 3, 4: sc around
Round 5: *sc 7, inc, repeat from * to end of round (36)
Rounds 6, 7: sc around
Round 8: *sc 8, inc, repeat from * to end of round (40)
Tie off.

Arms (make two):
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 6 stitches
Round 2: sc twice in each st (12)
Rounds 3-5: sc around
Round 6: *dec, sc 4, repeat from * (10)
Round 7: using MC, sc around
Round 8: sc through back loops only to end of round
Stuff
Round 9: dec, sc 3, dec, sc 3 (8)
Rounds 10, 11: sc around
Round 12: dec, sc 2, dec, sc 2 (6)
Stuff
Round 13: sc around, tie off

Sleeves:
Round 1: using MC, sc around front loops of Round 8 of arm (10)
Round 2: sc, *inc, sc 2, repeat from * to end of round (13)
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: sc, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2 (16)
Round 5: sc around, tie off

Head:
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 6 sts
Round 2: sc twice in ea st (12)
Round 3: *sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (18)
Round 4: *sc, sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 5: *sc, sc, sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (30)
Rounds 6-11: sc around
Round 12: *sc, sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 13: *sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (18)
Round 14: *sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (12)
stuff
Round 15: dec around (16)
Tie off
Thread yarn tail through all stitches and tie off, draw tail inside head and trim.

Hat:
Pick up 25 sts in a circle around top of head
Sc around twice
Working through back loops only, *sc, sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
Working both loops, *sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
Working both loops, *sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
dec around last round, tie off
Thread yarn tail through all stitches and tie off, draw tail inside hat and trim.

Assembly:
Flatten top edge of arms and attach to each side of the body
Stitch head to top of body, forming neck
Using CC, sl st or embroider a decorative edge around base of hat, tie a small tassel to center of hat, trim to 1-1/4” in length. Tie around waist, leaving uneven ends. In loose ends, tie a knot approximately 3/4” from trimmed ends and fray.  Embroider eyes.
Using Off-White yarn, attach approximately 70 8” strands (folded in half) to the head to form moustache and beard, and a double line along hair line and hat brim.  Once attached, use a blunt needle to unravel each strand of yarn.  Trim hair and beard evenly, and moustache to approximately 1/2”  Embroider eyebrows.  Embroider a small stitch in each eye as a catch-light.
Using gold thread, tie beard approximately halfway down.  Embroider half-moon glasses under eyes.

Also available as a pdf HERE.

Scarfie the rainbow-colored Scarf of Sexual Preference

I was recently turned on to A Very Potter Musical, and its sequel, A Very Potter Sequel.  If you're a Harry Potter fan and have a sense of humor, you should check them out.  In addition to the Sorting Hat, this parody musical adds the Scarf of Sexual Preference - a rainbow scarf.  Having wanted a rainbow-colored scarf for some time, needing a scarf for the impending winter weather, and having a propensity for silliness, I made this quick pattern:

Scarfie, the Scarf of Sexual Preference
Materials:
approx. 1/3 skein of worsted weight yarn in each of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple
US size 11 circular needle – 32” or as large as you can find.
Size G-6 crochet hook (optional - for alternate cast-on and cast-off)

gauge: 3sts and 6 rows per inch in garter stitch

Instructions given are for adult (child) sizes
Finished scarf is 6 (4) feet in length and 6 (4) inches wide

Instructions:
Cast on 216 (144) stitches using purple yarn.
Knit 6 rows using purple yarn
Repeat for blue, green, yellow, orange, and red yarn.
Bind off loosely.
Attach 6” tassels or fringe to ether end, being sure to keep the color order
Optional methods:
I used a modified crochet cast on for this. I wrapped the yarn around the knitting needle, ch2, and repeated until I had 215 (143) sts on the needle. I then slipped the last loop from the crochet hook onto the needle, completing the cast on.

I used a similar cast-off for this. I slipped the last stitch from the knitting needle onto the crochet hook, ch2, * sc through the next st, slipping it off of the needle, ch1, and repeat from * until one st remained. Then I sl st into the last st before tying off.

To make the scarf look more like the puppet Scarfie from A Very Potter Sequel, embroider or attach a happy black felt face to one end.

 
I hope you enjoy!
 
Harry Potter copyright J. K. Rowling, A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter sequel copyright Team Starkid, pattern copyright Ganon's Mom, feel free to share with credit, do not sell this pattern.