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There's no feeling like getting it right with your crafting is there? :) I have a show off story to tell you.

My nephew Seb loves bright colours and Batman. So when I finished my Two Of A Kind Shawl he was blown away by having his very own rainbow batcape! Here is is very busy batmanning towards Martin's Pond to feed the ducks.

But... the yarn is far too nice to be dragged around ponds and castles anymore, and, as Seb quite rightly pointed out, it doesn't have ears. So a proper batman cape had to be made. I made up my mind to do it on Sunday and I used 200g of of leftover black Grousemoor Chunky from the SkillMeOnline lessons (remember them!??!) and a massive 8mm hook.

 And here it is:

The batcape rushing to get shown off to Grandma.

The batcape having a dance. 

The batcape casually sitting in a lion reading a book about recycling. 

The batcape working out which footprints go with which animals. 

The batcape making friends with a gorilla.

I am dead dead dead pleased because he genuinely loves it and it was an extra layer of warmth in the pouring rain we had yesterday (...it's sunny now I'm back in the shop... natch...).

I thought I might do a little guide to how to make it yourself. I haven't time at the minute to write an actual pattern but if you've done a bit of crochet (like on our Crochet Number One and Two lessons) then you should be fine.




Batcape

200g chunky yarn and an 8mm hook - don't worry too much about gauge, it's v. adjustable.
Seb's a biggish three year old and it fits him fine, this version would fit up to a six year old I reckon but you might need to add some length and therefore you might want to buy another ball as I used up every single last scrap. 

Ears (Make Two):

Leaving a longish tail (about four inches), ch11, work a treble into the fourth stitch from the hook, then a half treble, double crochet, sl-st, double crochet, half treble, and a double treble into the remaining stitches (one stitch into one chain, like normal). Break yarn leaving another longish tail. Fold the ear in half so that the sl-st is the point and use one of the ends to sew up the sides.

Cape:

Hat Part:

• Begin with a magic ring, or however you want to start and make 10 trebles into it (include the turning chain in that), join in a circle.
• Work another three rounds doing circle increases. 
• Work five rounds plain.  

Neck Part:

• Begin the next row in the same manner but stop about two thirds of the way round and turn. Work back and forth on these stitches for four more rows. 

Ties:

• Ch21, dc all across the chain, turn, dc back over the chain and neck stitches, ch21, turn work over all of the stitches for two rows, turn. Work to the beginning of the second set of 21 sts, turn.

Cape Bit: 

• Working in trebles do an increase and a plain stitch across the neck stitches, stopping at the beginning of the second tie, turn. Working in trebles throughout, do an increase then two plain stitches across, turn. Do an increase then three plain stitche across, turn. Do an increase then four plain stitches across, turn.
• Working back and forth and in trebles, carry on until you've pretty much used up your yarn, work a couple of rows of double crochets to finish it off (don't worry about this bit too much, I just like it).

Finishing:

• Attach the ears towards the front of the hat part just above where the kid's eyes will be using the tails from the making of them.
• Sew in your ends. 
• Who blocks things for kids!?

I'm sure you can do it. And if you can't then I might just be writing up a proper pattern because so many people love it. We'll see.

Love Eleanor. :)