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.     :)

Something New

I had meant to post about a new project last weekend.  But you know how it is when life throws you a couple of curves.  Between finishing my last project, helping my son with his project and getting started on my taxes . . . well, you can just imagine how much time or energy I had left.  Nil to be exact.

New project using a mega ball of Red Heart Super Saver

So I'm posting this now to let you know you that yes, I have been knitting.  I just have no updated progress photos to share.  

Pattern Detail

The project is the Baby Sophisticate (Ravelry link).  It's a lovely pattern knit from the top down.  And it looks . . . well, it looks sophisticated for a baby sweater.

I've made this before as a gift for one of my nephews many moons ago (check out my blog posts from 2009 or see my  Ravelry entry  for more details).  I remember it being an enjoyable knit and the finished sweater was rather cute.  Thus far I've cast on and worked most of the body.  With such good progress, here's hoping the project gets completed soon.

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! ;)

Toy Plans

Okay you yarnies out there who shudder at the thought of acrylic: take a deep breath and brace yourself (or maybe just shield your eyes).  Behold acrylic colours of bold:

Big Balls of Acrylic

Couldn't resist buying up the yarn I need for my next project: good ol' stand-by Red Heart SuperSaver and Bernat Supervalu (at a little over $3 a ball, it's hard to pass up for toy-making).

What will I make?  Take a gander at these stills and then take a guess.

SuperMario Games Galore

Yeah, we own all those games, accumulated over the course of the past few years.  I've got big-time SuperMario fans at my house.  So during my searches on Ravelry, I came across some Mario patterns--free patterns all available from Linda Potts at Wolfdreamer's blog .

Toad and Toadette pattern

WolfDreamer has loads of SuperMario and Pokeman patterns for free, as well as many patterns for purchase.  I cannot imagine all the work that went into the creation of such lovely plushies.

These patterns, my dear readers, are the real reason I started crocheting again.  My boys wanted the Mario & friends plushies.  How could I say no?  Besides, the characters are just so darn cute. 

Mario and Friends

Happy crafting!