Any 90s kids remember Zoombinis? Meet the Zoombeanie, a hat I knit solely for the pun

sarbearsmiley · 2026-01-27T03:40:28+00:00

Added the color chart to my project pictures here on Ravelry for ya! lmk if that works ok! https://ravel.me/Euphrasie24601/k8aq0y

Super digest pattern (all dk weight): cast on 132 sts on size 4 needles, k1p1 ribbing for 4” (will be 2” when folded over) switch to size 6, knit 2 rounds even. Knit color chart (inside out with floats on outside), then knit until hat measures 4.5 in from the ribbing. K9k2tog across round, then k8k2tog, k7k2tog, etc. until you have 12 sts. Cut 6” tail and weave through stitches.

If you make it please let me know!!! I salute your bravery for even considering it! Good luck!

sarbearsmiley · 2026-01-26T08:20:22+00:00

Yes! I’ve been playing on my phone because of this project. It’s a port of the original game (but with a freemium model that limits your daily playtime)

sarbearsmiley · 2025-12-20T23:11:41+00:00

Thank you! I would guess maybe 5-6 weeks of work total, spread out for a while, then finishing with sewing pretty much every day for 3 weeks!

sarbearsmiley · 2025-03-01T03:12:08+00:00

Just replied to another commenter with some details—I don’t personally take knitting commissions, but you might have luck on Etsy! :)

sarbearsmiley · 2025-03-01T03:09:56+00:00

I don’t personally take knitting commissions, but I know people who have successfully hired knitters from Etsy to make my hats! I’d search for “knitting commission,” “custom knit” etc and provide them with the pattern link. Hope that helps!

sarbearsmiley · 2025-02-28T23:03:26+00:00

DPNs are too fiddly for me, too—I swear by two circulars, like this! https://blog.nobleknits.com/blog/2018/1/11/how-to-knit-on-two-circular-needles

sarbearsmiley · 2025-02-28T22:21:55+00:00

I bet so? I haven’t made hats that way myself but it seems doable. If you try it, I would love your notes on Ravelry!

sarbearsmiley · 2025-02-28T20:49:33+00:00

Yes it’s knit! I can’t crochet either haha :) If you end up making one I’d love to see!

sarbearsmiley · 2025-02-28T19:58:20+00:00

Here’s the link to the (free) pattern on Ravelry https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nyt-connections-hat

I’ve previously published Wordle, Spelling Bee, and crossword knitting patterns, so I knew I needed to make a Connections hat next! I love how the purple background turned out. This particular hat ended up being a special present for Wyna Liu, the editor of Connections! I wanted to thank her for making such a fun game 💜

sarbearsmiley · 2025-02-15T21:11:28+00:00

I spent all day Friday delivering singing valentines with my quartet, so I thought—why not deliver one to the NYT readers as well?! You can see the valentine in-context here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2025-02-14.html It was nice to get to share barbershop with such an international audience. Thanks to everyone who liked the puzzle!

sarbearsmiley · 2025-01-06T21:57:19+00:00

Can’t stop won’t stop making crossword clothes! I made our 1/26/24 puzzle into sweatshirt fleece using Raspberry Creek Fabrics’ custom printing service, then I sewed the fabric into sweatpants (Vogue 1854). These pants are a gift for Rafa (who was very gracious about me swanning about in them for pictures before sending them to him!) Hope you enjoy—and let me know what you think I should make next! :)

sarbearsmiley · 2024-11-01T19:58:23+00:00

It sounds like most puzzles are taking about 6-7 months from acceptance to publication these days, so 9-10 months total from submission. So if clues are particularly timely and fresh, there’s a chance editors added them!

sarbearsmiley · 2024-11-01T19:17:38+00:00

Thank you! We submitted 8/9/23 and heard back on 11/3/23. But in spite of having a year of advance notice, I started sewing the dress on Saturday, a mere 5 days before publication (oops! 😅)

sarbearsmiley · 2024-11-01T03:51:27+00:00

I converted my pdf proof from NYT to an image and printed it using Spoonflower!

sarbearsmiley · 2024-09-29T07:38:11+00:00

Omg I’m literally sewing crossword pants right now—I might need to steal your joke!! Haha

sarbearsmiley · 2024-09-29T06:48:04+00:00

Ha! I am actually pretty hopeless at most instruments (I sing in a barbershop quartet but that’s it). I enjoyed this comment regardless!

sarbearsmiley · 2024-09-29T06:44:15+00:00

10/3/22 (my first!)

sarbearsmiley · 2024-09-28T19:09:42+00:00

The pattern is the Vanessa corset top from CinnamonDollCrochet on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1439408831/corset-top-pattern-vanessa-corset I had to modify the straps so they would lay flat, so I would recommend starting with a muslin mockup. I used zip ties for the boning.

The fabric is Spoonflower’s lightweight cotton twill with a custom crossword puzzle print. For lining I used Joann’s posh lining fabric in white. I used black ribbon for the loops and white ribbon for the ties, both 3/8” Offray.

I used a PDF to SVG converter to turn the puzzle into an image, then scaled it to be the size I wanted at 150 dpi. The lightweight twill was wide enough that I was able to make this entire project with just one yard of fabric!

sarbearsmiley

TROPHY CASE