The same pattern as the lovely Rainbow Divine hat I posted last week, this little firey one was dropped off at our local chemist to go to KOGO

The newsletter I got said they needed winter clothes for babies, so it was a great excuse to stashbust.

I needed to make a "manly" donation to charity last month for Nerd Wars, and also something food related for team unity. The two didn't have to be in the same project, and unity is optional anyway, but I thought I really did have to use this pattern, since our unity theme was chosen because of National Fudge Day last month. You see, this pattern is called Hot Fudge Brownie. How could I resist?

Here is Master Four modelling it, to prove it really is "man sized" and then a proof of donation shot -

the hands of the pharmacist where I dropped it off. I gave this hat to Knit one, Give one, an agency that redistributes hand knit (or crocheted) goodies to various charities. I like that they give to a variety of groups, and also that they have drop off spots in locations all across Victoria. Odds are, if you live in Victoria, there is a pharmacy near you that will accept KOGO donations. Which is awfully convenient and money saving for me, not having to post things or make a trek up to Melbourne.

I made this little bunny blanket back in November, pictured above with Master Three's Tiny Bunny. It is a free Lion Brand pattern (requires free site registration), and this particular one ended up being donated to the Special Care nursery at my local hospital, along with a bunch of other blankets.

Just a little custom job I made for the winner of a charity auction being run for the World's Greatest Shave. I really love this dragon pattern, because each turns out so individually and full of personality, but seriously, 16 pieces? Truly a labour of love, every single time. (This one had 18, because of the rose). I guess that's why I don't do customs of this pattern very often, and what makes them so special.

Here's a quick gift you can knock out with a day or so notice. The pattern comes from Bubble Leg Monster on Craftbits. I did not design this, but I did read a few comments from people having trouble with the pattern, and thought I'd rewrite it to be a little easier to read. I've also tried to cut down on some of the sewing as well.

HORNS (make 2)

1. 6 sc in magic circle
2. Sc around. Finish with long tail to sew to head later

ARMS (make 2)

1. 6 sc in magic circle (6)
2. Inc around (12)
3. *Inc, 2 sc* around (16st)
4. - 8. Sc around (16)
9. *Dec, 6sc* around (14)
10. - 12. Sc around (14)
13. *Dec, 5sc* around (12)
14. - 18. Sc around (12) Finish and end with long tail to sew to body later. Only stuff tips of hands.

EYE CIRCLE (make one in secondary colour)

1. Chain 4, ss into first chain to make a loop.
2. Chain 3 and make 13 tc into circle. SS into 3rd st of the chain to join. End with long thread to sew to face later.

LEGS (make 2)

1. 6 sc in magic circle with secondary colour (6)
2. Inc around (12)
3. Inc around (24)
4. - 6. Sc around (24)
7. Change colour to main colour, Sc around (24) (alternate colour every round)
8. Sc around (24)
9. *Dec, 4sc* around (20)
10. -12. Sc around (20)
13. *Dec, 3sc* around (16) Stuff feet
14. - 17. Sc around (16)
18. *Dec, 2sc* around (12)
19. - 22. Sc around (12)
23. Switch to main colour only for these last two rounds Sc around (12)
24. Sc around (12) FO (first leg only)

Hide ends inside leg. Leave the last inch of the leg unstuffed. Do not cut yarn on second leg!

JOINING LEGS AND CONTINUING BODY
Arrange legs how you want them to sit.

1. Ch 1. Crochet 3 sc on the second leg where yarn is still attached, in the direction of the first leg (turn first if you need to). Ch 1, turn.
2. 3 sc. Ch 1, turn.
3. Align legs together.
4. 3sc through the loops of the row you just made and the corresponding sc on the first leg, joining the two.
5. Place marker and sc around the outside of both legs (including the edges of the 3 sc you just did). (24)

If all that is too complicated, you'll need to make a gusset piece before crocheting the second leg. Using your main colour, chain 4, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc across (3). Ch 1, sc aross. (3). Leave long tails to sew onto legs. Continue from step 5 above.

6. *Inc, 3sc* around (30)
7. *Inc, 2sc* around (40)
8. - 12. Sc around (40)
13. *Dec, 8sc* around (36)
    
14. - 18. Sc around (36) Add face. Take eye circle and poke safety eye through middle and then poke the safety eye through the body before fixing on the back. Fix on other safety eye and sew a straight line for the mouth. Stuff body.
19. *Dec, 4sc* around (30)
    
20. *Dec, 4sc* around (25)
21. *Dec, 3sc* around (20)
    
22. Dec around (10)
23. Dec around (5) FO, hide ends in body.

I skipped the horns for mine, but used my "special" yarn, as it was a gift for under Kmart's Wishing Tree.

So, I did a crazy thing and signed up for Nerd Wars, a three month long yarny things tournament over at the Ravelry forums. There are several challenge categories, each of which issues a new challenge each month of the tournament. One of the categories is Giving Geeks, a charity based challenge. For October, we were challenged to "think beyond pink" and do something charitable for cancer. Either directly or indirectly, with donations of time, money or goodies all being appropriate. Because the other categories had me making things I was sure my family/friends had a use for, or need for, I decided I'd try and make a hat to fit each other challenge, and then donate the lot to the oncology ward at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

Sadly, that picture doesn't show off many of the cute designs, or the true awesomeness that is the batman hat/mask:

I'll try not to add too many pictures to this post, but there are just two more I needed to share, to give you a truer feel for the hat.

Of course, if you are on Ravelry, you can see all my work, including these hats, on my projects page, but be warned, I post photos as soon as a project is finished, so there are swap spoilers, which you won't ever find on this blog.