I made my crew superhero costumes for last Summer Solstice. They were such a hit I gave them to all my nieces and nephews for Christmas as well. The capes were super easy - I got the idea from a cape tutorial I saw on Pinterest, but I didn't bother with the velcro necks. I cut initials out of polar fleece or felt for each child, and sewed them on.
To go with, I made matching masks and cuffs.

For the cuffs, chain 21. Ss into first ch (join 2nd colour) and chain up 2. DC around (x5 rows)At the end of row 5, ss and change yarn. Ch 1, and sc around. Ss to join, FO.

I used the masquerade mask pattern from Priscilla's Crochet for the masks.

I didn’t like the tie straps for young children so instead of ss and chains on the final row of the masks, I sc around until half way down the side, chained 45, attached at matching stitch on other side. Sc once on mask, turn and DC across chain, attaching with a sc under the start of the chain, continue sc around.

When you get to the other end of the strap, ss in the sc that attached the strap, pass your yarn skein through the mask/strap, ss in the second sc, and then sc to the end. Join with ss and FO.

Hopefully I've shared this in time to help some people out with late notice Halloween costumes, or early bird Xmas presents. (For reference, every child love them except the 10yo. My 8yo still plays with his, but less than the other kids - I'd say you should probably stick to 7 or under for this one, unless you have a huge superhero fan on your hands)

I'm running rather late with last night's post! Is anyone else feeling bogged down by the school holidays? Ah well, fear not, they are almost over. But I have had a few moments here and there to whip a few little somethings, for some imaginative play.

Firstly, for 'Little', Miss Six's doll, a little princess crown.

It's a free pattern that I modified by leaving off the ties, and sewing the ends together.

Then I had to make a wizard hat for Master Eight's teddy dragon, Ra. He'd been asking for it since last month, so it was high time I obliged.

I didn't really bother looking for a pattern, a cone shape is pretty simple, but I'll share it for you here in case the holidays have fried your brain ;)

(Now is a very good time to practise the staggered increasing method I shared on Monday. You don't have to, but your rounded cone shape will end up more triangular if you don't)

Simple toy wizard's hat
Make 3 sc in a magic circle (3)
Increase around (6)
Sc around (6)
*Sc 1, increase 1* around (9)
Sc around (9)
*Sc 2, increase 1* around (12)
Sc around (12)
*Sc 3, increase 1* around (15)
Sc around (15)
*Sc 4, increase 1* around (18)
Sc around (18)
*Sc 5, increase 1* around (21)
Sc around (21)
*Sc 6, increase 1* around (24)
Sc around (24)
*Sc 7, increase 1* around (27)
Sc around (27)
*Sc 8, increase 1* around (30)
Sc around (30)
*Sc 9, increase 1* around (33)
Sc around (33)
*Sc 10, increase 1* around (36)
Sc around (36)
*Sc 11, increase 1* around (39)
Sc around, ss to end, finish off. (39)

I made this bracelet for a Dr Who fan on Craftster recently for the Aussie Wish Swap (also known as the Meet a Craftster swap). They are really simple little ovals with popcorn stitch arms and legs. I stitched them together with embroidery thread, along with a few clear beads and finished with a lobster clasp. All very simple, but highly effective looking!

Adipose
Round 1: 6sc in magic circle.
R2: inc around (12)
R3: 12 sc.
R4: [Inc 2, 5 sc] around (14 st).
R5: (with arms) 4 dc popcorn st, 6 sc, 4 dc popcorn st, 6 sc.
R6: 14 sc.
R7: [Inc 2, 6 sc] around (16 st)
R8: 16 sc
R9: Dec 2 around (8 sc)
R10: (with legs) 4 dc popcorn st, 3 sc, 4 dc popcorn st, 3 sc.

Stuff and stitch closed.

See? Nothing to it! I used 8ply yarn, and a 3mm hook to make these, and they are slightly over 1.5" high.

I made this sweetie for the Be Awesome Again swap on Craftster. My partner was a big HP fan, so my mind did jump back to the Dobby I made my friend for Christmas. I wanted Dobby to stay unique though, so I made an unclothed elf, complete with cleaning accessories. I made a little mop, out of a pipe cleaner and embroidery floss, a little crocheted feather duster, and a bucket to go with the mop. I forgot to take photos of the mop and duster (and they had little loops, to hook over her thumbs too, so she could "hold" them by herself), but I did remember to take a photo of the bucket, and I wrote down my pattern while I did it too, so here it is!

Bucket
1. Make 5 sc in a magic ring with silver/grey (5)
2. Inc around (10)
3. *Sc, Inc* around (15)
4. IN BACK LOOPS ONLY: Sc around (15)
5-6. BACK TO NORMAL STITCHES: Sc around (15)
7. *Sc, sc, inc* around (20)
8. Sc around (20)
9. *Sc, sc, sc, inc* around (25)
10-11. Sc around (25) Finish with a ss, fasten off.

Chain 15 with brown.
Sc into grey bucket.
Tie tail end of chain to the opposite side of the bucket.
Sc along brown chain, remembering to work over ends. Finish with a sc in the grey bucket, and then a ss back in the handle.

I also made her a little tea cosy she could wear as a hat, so she wouldn't catch a cold, going from the Australian Summer, to a snowy American Winter. It is strictly a tea cosy mind, and not a hat - the elf (named Dusty by her new owner) was a very proud elf who would not have survived clothes. She's a respectable elf thank you very much!

This was initially based on the pattern supplied here, but as that did not work at all for me, I modified it heavily as I went. I also made it an all-in-one piece, instead of sewing the windows etc on later.
I used a 4mm hook, and this fits both an iPhone and iPod, and also (since I sized it to fit my phone) an LG Renoir.

4mm hook
deep blue yarn, (I used all 8ply, but you can resize accordingly)
black yarn
white yarn


Chain 31 in Blue yarn.
Row 1-15: Starting in second chain from hook, SC 30. Chain 1, turn

16: Make 5 SC in blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 6 sc blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 1sc blue, chain 1, turn
17: 1Sc blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 6sc blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 5sc blue, chain 1, turn
18: Make 5 SC in blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 6 sc blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 1sc blue, chain, 1 turn
19: 1Sc blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 6sc blue, 4sc in white, 1sc blue, 4sc white, 5sc blue, chain 1, turn (Cut white, leave a small tail weave in as you do the next line in blue)

20-21: 30Sc in blue, chain 1, turn
21: 30Sc in blue, change colour to black in final stitch, before chaining up. Chain 2 in black
22: SC in second loop from hook, 30sc in FLO, chain 2, turn
23: SC in second loop from hook, 31SC in black, both loops, change colour to blue in final stitch, before chaining up. Don't chain up.
24: 30sc in BLO, finish off.


Light

Chain 4 in white yarn
Row 1-6: Starting in second chain from hook, SC 3. Chain 1, turn

Fold it down in half and sew to the top piece of the TARDIS

Directly opposite the light, attach a loop of white yarn long enough to hook over the light when your phone is in the cover, and attach firmly at the other side of the light. This way you don't need a separate button, and the closure doesn't detract from the tardisness of it all.

I made this little purple flower as one of my 43 things to hide, and it worked up so nicely, I made one out of wool to match a hat I'd made (which I'll be showing you in its entirety next week).