Just like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books, the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup divides all students into four different Houses. These Houses have the same names as in the books: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. There are approximately equal numbers of students in each House, and the Houses compete to earn points and win the House Cup for their House each term. Since our players are all over the world, we can't place an actual hat on your head to sort you here. We use a Sorting Form instead to find out where you should be placed! Every student must apply to sort every single term.
When Sorting opens, the SortingHat will post a thread which includes the Sorting Song, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and a link to the Sorting Form. Be sure to read the FAQ, as it includes questions other students like you have frequently asked. Once you have submitted your form, you will receive a Confirmation Ravelry private message (PM) from the SortingHat. The SortingHat sends out a Confirmation PM within 48 hours for every Sorting Form that is received. If you do not receive the PM, please contact the SortingHat (via PM) right away, as it means the Hat has likely not received your form. Please note that everyone wishing to sort must apply to sort every term. Once Sorting closes, the SortingHat will sort everyone. The sorting results are finalized and double-checked. The results are posted before the end of Break Month in the Sorting Ceremony thread.
Sorting occurs during Break Months between terms—April, August, and December. Look for a Sorting thread to be posted around the middle of the month. Sorting is generally open for 10 days. Sorting is not done on a first come, first served basis, so it often takes a few days to get the results finalized. Sorting results are posted before the end of break month. Everyone who applies to sort will be earburned to the Sorting Ceremony.
We have a cap on enrollment to keep the workload manageable for our all-volunteer staff. If we have too many applicants and not enough space, then applicants with Sorting Priority will be first to get sorted.
Students (including NQFYs and SOS) earn Sorting Priority by turning in one partial or completed class each month of the term. If you are a sorted student and will not be able to get a partial or completed class in due to life circumstances, please contact your Head of House.
Please note that Detention, Quidditch, Advanced Studies, and the Headmistress Challenge do not count for Sorting Priority.
Students maintain Sorting Priority by turning in at least one partial or completed class each month of the term. Students on Sabbatical cannot lower their priority but they can raise their priority by turning in a class each month of a term.
Here are some example students:
“Hermione” has turned in a class every month of every term she has played. She has Sorting Priority.
“Harry” tried his best to complete one class per month, but due to an attack by Voldemort was unable to attend the last month of classes. However, he contacted his Head of House before the end of the month and received an excused notice, so he has Sorting Priority.
“Luna” has been an excellent student, turning in a class every month in previous terms, but elected to spend last term on Sabbatical to focus on her hunt for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. She sent a few postcards to her housemates but did not attend classes. Now that she has returned, she retains her Sorting Priority from her last sorted term.
“Neville” was unable to complete his one class per month during the term before last and lost Sorting Priority. He was asked to play as an SOS last term because space in Gryffindor filled up. However, he worked very hard this term with the help of his housemates and was able to turn in one class each month even though he did not earn official points. He has Sorting Priority.
“Ginny” played along as an NQFY last term, completing at least one class per month and even spent some time visiting Houses. She has Sorting Priority.
“Colin” has only just now found our game and so did not have an opportunity to play as a NQFY. The Hat will do his best to find a place for Colin, but might ask him to take a NQFY term if there isn't enough room for everyone because he does not have Sorting Priority.
If you know you will be away for much of break month, you can ask someone else to sign up in your name. The Sorting Form is a Google Form and does work on mobile devices in addition to desktops and laptops. The SortingHat will send a confirmation PM within 48 hours to confirm you have applied to sort. You can change your Ravelry settings so that your private messages are sent to your email to make it easier to check that you receive this message.
If you are asked to play along as a Not-Quite-First-Year or Student On Sabbatical, you can participate in almost all Cup and House activities, but you will not earn official points for your House. Many unsorted students remain beloved and active members of their House social scene, and deciding not to Sort can be a very wise decision if you are facing a busy or difficult few months in your life. Students who have just found the House Cup often find that spending their first term as a NQFY helps them learn about the game and make the best possible choice of House as a First Year. Turning in one class each month of term will ensure that you have top sorting priority for next Sorting.
Yes. Definitely. Houses welcome visitors from both sorted and unsorted students. Generally, you will want to stop by the Common Room first to introduce yourself. Many houses have various special interest threads which welcome visitors too like socks, shawls, spinning, fountain pens, etc. There is also the Great Hall (in the House Cup group) which is a great place to meet up.
As well as getting your one class in for the month for sorting priority, another very important thing to do as a NQFY is to explore the Houses and get a feel for which House you would like to sort to. We have four fabulous Houses in the House Cup. They have many similarities but also some differences, and different people resonate with different things in each of the Houses. Our Houses are not just like the canon Houses you find in the books/movies. So even though a Sorting quiz says you have always been House X does not necessarily mean that is your House Cup house. Also, you can request to change to a different house in a following term. Some students take house tours and others like to visit between a couple of houses.
Here are the links to the House Cup Groups. Feel free to explore them, sorted or not!
Be sure to tell the SortingHat what your first choice of House is and why! The SortingHat will not know if you do not tell him.
Sometimes the SortingHat reads things in your words that you did not intend, but also sometimes your first choice may have simply filled up and the SortingHat found a suitable alternate placement for you. Once Sorting assignments are announced, they are final.
However, unlike in Harry Potter, students can always request a change of House in a later term, either because they do not feel their current house is a good fit or simply because they wish for a change of scene. Play along honorably for your House this term, and the SortingHat will do his very best to find you a transfer opportunity.
Taking a term on Sabbatical is a very good choice when you need a break or feel you will be unable to meet the one class a month minimum. Students on Sabbatical cannot hurt their sorting priority while on sabbatical, but they can improve it by turning in a class each month of the term. OWLs do not improve Sorting Priority; however, unsorted students are welcome to do OWLs. Please note that if you were asked to take a term on Sabbatical, turning in a class each month of the term will raise your Sorting Priority.
Once the Sorting Results are posted, the results are final. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes tracking and recording that occurs, so we cannot just swap someone else in. By signing up for Sorting, you are committing to the minimum of one partial or complete class each month of term. However, if extenuating circumstances have developed that will prevent you from participating, you can contact your Head of House to ask for an excuse.
No! Please PM SortingHat or note this on your application so we can update the House Cup student registry appropriately. Please note that changing your name during the term is discouraged—you will need to write the name you sorted with on all turn-in posts. If you wish to change your name during Sorting, let SortingHat know immediately, especially if you are a new student; otherwise, his loyal minions will go to investigate you and discover that you do not exist.