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Summary of OWL Descriptions - Fall '12
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This page provides a summary of OWL Descriptions. Please see the current OWL thread for full details.
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Please refer to current OWL guidelines for Spring 2013. This copy of the requirements is discontinued.
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http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/hp-knitting-crochet-house-cup/topics/2557936#3
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Detention (Beta Test) - Students must display their resolution to complete projects which have been previously set-aside (WIPs)
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Students must complete any number of WIPs which have not been worked on since July 31st 2012. The remaining yardage within the projects proposed for this OWL subject must meet the following minimums. Crafts may be combined in proportion to their required yardage.
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* Knitted projects - 1,800 yds
* Crocheted projects - 2,400 yds
* Machine Knitting & Weaving yardages will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis with the examiner.
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It has been decided that at this time the following project types will be excluded from this subject:
* Blanket Squares - individual squares and modular blankets, including hexipuffs. (The addition of a border around a blanket and blankets of a non-modular construction will be considered on a case by case basis)
* Socks or anything regularly done for a class in a pair (two-at-a-time socks already on the needles will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
* Spinning WIPs
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PLEASE NOTE: Students may choose to swatch if they wish however this is not a requirement for this OWL subject.
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Ancient Runes - Students are expected to decipher obscure markings with ease.
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Option 1: Knit or crochet something using an intricately charted design. Weavers - weave something with an intricate pattern.
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There are two paths to fulfil the requirement for this option. The charts for your project may be of the type that ‘at first glance makes you do a double-take’ (however a single sufficiently complex chart is also acceptable). Alternatively, a relatively simple chart which is worked on smaller needles or hooks may also be accepted if the overall size of your OWL is sufficiently challenging.
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Option 2: Knit or crochet something that contains 5 or more letters and/or symbols. As a general guideline, letters and/or symbols may be repeated however the simpler the symbol, the more will be required for this option.
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Option 3: Create an intricate chart from a complicated written pattern which has not previously been charted and test your chart by crafting the item. To successfully complete this particular option, you must produce both your finished item and your chart.
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Arithmancy - Students will use their mastery of all spells mathematical to tackle one of the following projects:
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Option 1: Re-size and knit or crochet an adult-size garment with sleeves.
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Option 2: Create multiples (at least 8) of the same object. You may vary the size, colors and pattern of the objects, but you must make the same kind of object.e.g. 4 pairs mid-calf adult-size socks = 8 items for this OWL only
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Option 3: Spinners - Spin multiple plies and multiple yarns. Spin 3.5 oz (100g) each of a 2 ply, 3ply, 4 ply and a cabled yarn.
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Option 4: Mathing - This option relates to mathematically derived patterns. For example, exploration of topology, fractals or geometry. Students will need to provide a clear explanation of which element of mathematics their projects relates to in their proposal.
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Spinners -- Spin 16 oz worth of Fractal Spun 2-or-3-ply yarn. Photographs of rovings split prior to each spin are highly encouraged. Students should select for use rovings with distinct colour stripes to fully take advantage of this method of plying.
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Astronomy - Students should demonstrate knowledge of the celestial heavens.
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Option 1: Craft a star chart. Your proposal should explain how the elements of your project (symbols, yarns, beads, etc) portray the different celestial bodies. This is the place to use those sparkly or metallic yarns and/or beads, beads, beads.
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Option 2: Interpret our solar system in fibre.
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Option 3: Pattern Writing - Prove that you are light years ahead of your time and design, create, and produce a pattern of an object that only you can see. To succesfully complete this OWL Exam, you must produce both your finished item and a written pattern in a digital format (pdf, blog entry, etc.).

When proposing a design OWL a student needs to provide a sufficient level of detail that their examiner is able to visualise it. If the student is concerned regarding confidentiality of their design, this information may be shared by email or PM.
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Charms - Students are expected to have total mastery over the charms Leviosa (levitation) and Alohomora (opening and closing).
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Option 1: Knit or crochet either a single item in a lace pattern using a minimum of 800 yards of yarn OR two items in a lace pattern each of which use a minimum of 600 yards of yarn.
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Option 2: Spinners - Spin at least 1600 yards of a finished yarn. The finished yarn may be of any structure, so long as the finished yarn is laceweight. (approx 20 WPI)
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Option 3: Spin 500+ yards of a finished laceweight (approx 20+ WPI ) yarn and knit at least 450+ yards of your handspun into a lace item (pattern to be declared at proposal).
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Care of Magical Creatures (CoMC)
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Option 1: Craft a CoMC zoo. Go into the paddock and bring out at least 4 different creatures found in the magical world: dragons, hippogriffs, blast-ended screwts, unicorns etc. These creatures can be stuffed toys OR a design element/yarn in an item such as socks, scarves, mittens, etc OR yarns (minimum 1.5 lbs (0.68kg) of fiber). Amigurumi will be considered for this option, but you must make many, many of them.
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Option 2: Hatch an Egg. Identify your egg (dragon, phoenix, etc.) and knit or crochet an object inspired by your creature. If you make a physical creature it must be a minimum of 12 inches in at least one dimension.
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Option 3: Groom a Hippogriff. Create an item with at least 3 distinct parts or patterns.
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Option 4: Bowtruckles. These wood guardians have exceptionally pointy fingers and toes which can do great damage to unwary witches and wizards. To prove you know how to handle pointy objects, create an item (or items) using an unfamiliar craft. If you usually knit, you must crochet. If you usually crochet, you must knit. If you usually use a spindle, you must use a wheel and vice versa. Simply using a new-to-you fiber or stitch pattern unfortunately does not qualify a project for the Bowtruckles option.
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Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA)
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Option 1: Produce a corporeal Patronus. Your patronus must measure a minimum of 12 inches in at least one dimension.
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Please note that for this option, your project must be a 3 dimensional representation of your patronus. That is, if your patronus is a dragon, your project must be a dragon (toy/stuffie/ etc.) rather than a different item inspired by a dragon.
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Option 2: Produce an Invisibility Cloak. Cloaks reach from neck to knee (on an adult). Afghans and blankets are not cloaks.
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Option 3: Practice repelling the Cruciatus Curse – create an object that is incredibly fiddly and difficult to do OR a large item you have to make that is excruciatingly painful due to the pattern, color, or yarn selected.
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Option 4: Declare your Horcruxes! What 5 objects would you need to create to make yourself invincible?
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Divination - Students should demonstrate an ability to see the future
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Option 1: Interpret a divination reading by creating an object or series of objects interpreting a reading. You must identify the divination method used (Tarot, tea leaves, runes, etc.).
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Option 2: Create at least 4 items you’ll need for a successful divination reading, such as a tablerunner, a Prof. Trelawny inspired scarf, etc. Identify the divination method.
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Option 3: Astrology – Create a zodiac OR an item that interprets someone’s horoscope. Your proposal should explain how the elements of your project (symbols, colors, patterns, beads) reflect the zodiac or particular horoscope.
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Option 4: Dreams - Here is your chance to create a dream item. This item needs to be something that does not easily fall into one of the other O.W.L. categories. Supply details convincing the Examiners of the validity of your dream (a pattern, special yarn, etc.) and how crafting your dream will affect your future.
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Herbology – Students should be able to easily manipulate organic materials.
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Option 1: Demonstrate your dexterity with multiple cables using knitting or crochet
Students selecting this option must use at least 1,200 yards.

Cabling Requirements

* Complex cabling covering at least 33.3% of items.
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* Simple cabling covering at least 75% of items.
If a pattern contains both simple and complex cabling, the percentages for each should be combined.
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See here for an information regarding simple vs complex cables
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See here for some examples
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a) Large Item
Create an adult sized garment or afghan which demonstrates your ability to track multiple cables. If the adult sized garment or afghan made in the appropriate size will not meet the minimum yardage requirement, students may add additional smaller items to make up the yardage difference however the cabling requirements must still be met when averaged out over all components
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b) Small items
Craft multiple accessories (each at least 300 yards) which demonstrate your ability to track multiple cables. The cabling requirements above must be met when averaged out over all components
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Option 2: Floral Art:
Use knitting or crochet to capture a field of flowers or other plants within your crafted items to display their beauty to others. These may be motifs or design elements however they must be clearly visible to others and must be a prominent design feature rather than an accent within the object(s).
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Option 3: Spinning.
a) Plant fiber - Spin plant fiber into a yarn which is spun and finished in ways appropriate to the medium (meaning no drifting apart cotton singles, no stiff-as-sticks linen, etc.) producing a minimum of 600 yds final yarn.
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b) Cabled yarn – Spin at least 8 oz of fiber into a cabled yarn.
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c) Natural dyeing - Using natural dyes, dye and spin 1 lb of fibre.
Students must use at least 5 dyeing variants which are fully documented (form will be supplied)

Dyes used for this option **must** be natural however fibre, mordants and other additives need not be.

Students may choose to use earth (e.g. clay) or bug-based (e.g. cochineal) dyes for this option. If you are able to link your dyestuff directly to plants, it will be permitted within this option.

Students may choose to explore different dyes or variations within the same dyestuff (e.g.. different results from the same dye depending on mordant or modifiers used / different colours obtained from same dyebath /different plant parts)
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History of Magic (HoM) – Students must produce evidence that they did not sleep through all of Prof. Binn’s lectures.
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Option 1: Knit or crochet something using an heirloom/antique pattern that hasn’t been translated into modern terminology. (Patterns used for this option should be at least 25 years old.)
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Option 2: Craft an object or objects that interpret at least 3 characters or historically significant places from the Harry Potter stories. Spinners may create a yarn for each character. There should be enough yarn to make an adult-size pair of socks or mittens using each character’s yarn.
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Option 3: Demonstrate an awareness of wizardly fashions through time by knitting or crocheting a wearable item, such as a House sweater. Weavers - weave enough fabric for a garment and then make the garment. Your proposal must identify the time period and provenance of the garment you intend to make (ex: a 15th century Beauxbaton’s quidditch sweater).
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Option 4: Four Houses – create 4 different items, one item for each of the four Houses. These items should exemplify the distinctive characteristics Houses. In other words, you cannot make the same hat in 4 different colors; make 4 very different kinds of hats or a hat, a pair of socks, oven mitts and a microscope cozy. Spinners – spin 4 yarns with different structures.
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Muggle Studies - Produce clothing and/or outer wear to use as a disguise when dealing with muggles.
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Option 1: Knit or crochet an adult long sleeved sweater OR two children’s (age 6 yr and up) long sleeved sweaters OR four toddler items (to keep the crafting time about the same).
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Option 2: Create a ‘coordinated’ (according to the wizarding world) set of at least 3 adult-size accesories (hat, scarf, mittens, bag, socks, etc.).
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Potions – Students should exhibit a dab hand at mixing complex potions.
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A Potions OWL must demonstrate the potion-maker’s ability to harmonize multiple colors, yarns, and/or textures in a pattern. (If you are considering only experimenting with different textures, consider other OWLs that may fit your pattern better.) All Potions OWLs must continue to use at least 3 colors. Note: A multi-colored or variegated yarn is considered a single yarn that just happens to have more than one color in it.
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Option 1: Create something using multiple strands of yarn or fiber in the same object. The intent of this exam is to demonstrate an ability to work with color and value.
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Knitters, this is an opportunity to go wild with stranded designs, double knitting, intarsia, etc. Crocheters, since it is more difficult to strand in crochet, make a large, colorful something. Spinners and weavers, go crazy and show the Examiners your stuff. Note: A multi-colored or variegated yarn is considered a single yarn that just happens to have more than one color in it. Please remember, Potions projects need to have at least 3 different yarns in them to be approved.
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Option 2: Spinners – Prep a minimum of 1 lb of raw-off-the-sheep fiber, skirt it, scour it, flick or comb or card or otherwise prep it for spinning, dye it if desired, and then spin at least 4 ounces.
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Transfiguration
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Option 1: Knit or crochet and then full (felt) something large, such as a carpet bag, a skirt, a rug.
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Option 2: Knit a large item (adult vest, sweater, large bag) that must be steeked.
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Option 3: Dye and spin enough fiber to produce sufficient yarn to craft a small adult garment.
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Option 4: Demonstrate proficiency with Vanishing and Conjuring Spells by vanishing a large quantity of yarn or fiber and conjuring one or more finished items using the vanished yarns.

- Knitters must vanish a minimum of 1,800 yds
- Crocheters must vanish a minimum of 2,400 yds
- Spinners must spin a minimum of 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) of fiber Machine Knitting & Weaving yardages will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis with the examiner.
In line with the House Cup as a whole if a yarn is held double while crafting, it counts as a single yardage (i.e. if you use up a total of 360 yards while knitting a hat holding your yarn doubled throughout, it counts as 180 yards towards stash vanishing).

In addition to vanishing a large quantity of yarn or fibre, students will explore the boundaries of their crafting comfort zone by either

using one new-to-you technique OR
revisiting an advanced technique you have used in the past to update, practice and/or extend your skills
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