Na,na,na,na,na . . .

Batman! Oh yeah, I has batman in the house! ;)

Batman hat in progress

Now this pattern wasn't too bad (free pattern available here at Portable Knitting) .  Because the colourwork is worked over a small area, your attention is only required for those 16 rows.  Then you're back at plain stockinette stitch--and in the round too (but not the intarsia part.  That has to be worked flat)

Hat with pattern print-off

Now I've worked intarisa before (there's Girlie Skull Hat, Skull Hat, & Monster Vest).  And even though the final item looks lovely, it can be finicky while you're working on it.  I highly recommend making small balls of the necessary colours ahead of time.  Also, a row counter can be your friend as you try to keep track of where you're at on the chart.

Smaller balls needed for intarsia

Sadly some ripping was involved--just like my other projects thus far (is this a test of my perseverance?).  And no, I didn't mess up the colourwork.  Instead I made a newbie mistake: an unwanted yarn over!  Not just one, but two!  Seriously?  I suppose it's my fault for knitting in the dark.

Messy yarn bits inside hat

With school and work, I was just trying to fit in some knit time and naptime is just as a good a time as any.  Besides, it's not like I've never knit in the dark before--with even more complicated patterns.  Not sure what happened . . .

In any case, this hat is well on it's way to being done.  And that makes me happy 'cuz I've got two more to make.     :)

Back to Knitting?

Pile o' Grannies

I have a lovely pile  o' squares waiting to be attached . . .  Alas, they must wait.  The problem is not enough time:  I need to put aside time to pin the grannies into place and then uninterrupted time to seam.  

Grannies

And even though I've got short snippets of time to make more grannies, my motivation is slowly slipping away . . . Seriously, I need a new project--something small and preferably something knit.  I'll admit it.  I miss knitting.

Briggs & Little, Bernat Super Saver and Bernat Roving

So I rummaged through my stash and found some plain, neutral yarns (don't the colours feel like a winter's day?).  For the longest time I have been itching to replace my Faux-Thrum Mittens from Dec 2010/Jan 2011--which honestly seems like eons ago!  One of the mittens was the first prototype, so it never quite looked right with it's wonky thumb.  The second mitt looks and fits better, but I wish I had made the thumb longer.  Besides, they have gone through the dryer so many times and look a little worn (the Bernat Roving has pilled a little).  On top of anything else, I was never terribly pleased with my colour selections.

Screen Capture of Other Mittens from Ravelry

By the way, when I was checking out my notes, I was quite surprised that other knitters had made my mittens too!  Wow!  That's really gratifying. :)

Wanna make some mittens too?  Check out the free mitten pattern here (or you could click the link called "Free Mitten Pattern" at the top of the website).  Hope you'll join me.   ;)

Stitching It

Bits of ends

See the bits of yarn?  Just weaving in some ends.  Not something I enjoy, but I want to "clean up" the back.

Weaving in ends

I couldn't wait for all the squares to be completed.  I needed to see the squares joined together, just to get a sense of how the colours worked together and whether the length and width would work.  

Two rows of squares joined together

Guess what?  It all works!!  I love it!  I'm already working on the next row of colours to add to the bedspread.

It Grows!

Thus far I have managed to add a new square every day.  The pile of squares grows bigger.  Soon I will begin attaching them to each other.

Pile o' Granny Squares

I've capped the total colours to 13--and all in the stash!  Not sure about the amounts, though.  I had initially planned to make my bedspread 10 squares by 10 squares.  This meant that, with the exception of one colour, I only needed to make 8 squares in each colour.  With the addition of a 13th colour, that has changed.  Now the bedspread will be 11 by 11 squares.  The addition of an 11th square in both the width and length will fit better on the bed.  Not sure how this affects my yarn amounts, though.  Time will tell . . . 

More Grannies

Meanwhile, I'm not sure how to tackle the pillows--mainly since I'm not sure how many of the colours will be left over.  I may settle for simple all-white granny rectangles . . . I have time to think about it.

Can't Talk . . .

In the middle of studying for my last exam . . . 

Pile o' Squares

Just popped in so I could share my progress so far:

Rainbow colours

Seven squares and all different.  There are twelve different colours in total (possibly 13), and all in the stash!  This should be a stash buster, right?

Just the beginning

Only 93 more squares to go . . .

Later,

Is It Wrong?

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My Improvised Square

Is it wrong to crave colour?  Bright, springy, summery shades that evoke warmth and flowers and sun-shiny happiness? I had barely finished the baby sock (And it was close, but yay to storm days!) when inspiration hit.   Over on the Crochet Crowd Fan page on Facebook, a crocheter (Sandy Crochets) posted her finished creation (You can also find a wonderful photo on Instagram).  Isn't it purty?!  I just loved it!

My Rainbow Stash

And I had to make it!  I looked through my Red Heart Super Saver and Bernat Super Value stash and found enough suitable colours--although I may be missing the odd skein. 

Colour Plan

With graph paper and colouring pencils, I worked a workable colour chart for my bedspread.  This will look cheerful and summery in the bedroom.  I'm so excited!!

Reference Patterns

Since there was no pattern link to be found, I scrounged the internet and found a couple of similar granny square patterns.  A regular large granny would work and so would a granny sunburst pattern.  The one I used was from here (also called a sunburst granny but the centre is worked differently than others I've seen).  You could also use this sunburst granny square pdf from Priscilla's Crochet.  Both are free patterns (And You-Tube probably has lots of how-to videos as well--if you need the visual aid.  I know I often need it).  I modified the first pattern by adding a few extra rounds before working the last 2 single crochet edgings.  

I'll keep you posted! ;)

A Winter's Tam . . .

It's still winter in my part of the world (honestly, I cannot begin to tell you how sick I am of winter.  If I see another snowflake, I swear I'm gonna scream!!).  The only good part about the chilly weather is the necessity for winter gear.  That's right!  I've got a lovely tam--a colourful tam!

Finished Tam

I just love the colours!  It's cheery and looks great with my coat (I still can't believe how well the hat colours match up with the coat).  My only complaint is that the hat is a wee bit loose--that may be the fault of the corrugated ribbing.   If I make another version (and I may very well try another), I may have to substitute with real ribbing that's more stretchy or subtract a few repeats for a snugger fit.

Wearing the Tam

I must confess that my fondness for the pattern has inspired me to use the chart for a matching cowl.  I cast on but have yet to start the colour portion.  

Beginning of Matching Cowl

Maybe winter is waiting for me to finish and then spring will start in earnest?  Ha!  Maybe not . . . 

Two Stitches

Tam Progress

That's the number I was off by in my stitch count.  Two measly stitches.  So even though I love my hat, there's a section that's a tad messy.

Notice the "messy seam"?

Where the rounds change, there's a bit a mess.  How does it look?  I asked my hubby and the boys and none of them could see it.  Most people won't see it.  

Close-up of "the mess"

Only other knitters will see my mistake--and I don't know too many knitters in my neck of the woods.  I think I'll be safe . . . Besides, a few duplicate stitches and a good wash should tidy things up a bit--I hope.

More Colour

That's what I need: more colour!

So for Christmas I got a new winter coat--more of a ski jacket in bright teal with neon lime trim.  How to accessorize?  I had been using white, but it couldn't compete with the flashy teal.  Then a happy accident occurred.  While shopping, I tried on a pair of inexpensive purple gloves--whilst wearing my coat.  Viola!  I was in love!  Teal and purple looked awesome together.  Throw in some neon lime and it still works.

Vibrant Colour Combo

Now that I had the perfect colour combo, I had to find an equally awesome pattern to showcase the colours.    Knitty to the rescue!  The free pattern (Three Tams by Angela Sixian Wu) is a beret-like hat with a deceptively easy two-colour pattern.  My only mod was to alternate the second colour with the third while keeping purple as my main colour. 

Start of Colourful Tam

What do ya think?  Nice?  I love it. The vibrancy and vividness is just what this girl needs in the middle of the dull, grey days that accompany February's wintery blasts.

Hat Details

I just hope there'll be enough yarn leftover to make a matching cowl ('cuz a scarf might be too boring).  And maybe even some mittens?  Now that would be nice.