Last Christmas I made my canine sibling (i.e. mom's dog) Jack a doggie sweater. It was black with white edging and had "Spoilt Rotten" embroidered on the back over a little pocket just big enough to hold a tiny bone. Not that you would ever put a bone into a pocket on the back of dog sweater where they couldn't reach it - that would just be cruel. Oh heck - who am I kidding - we put a little bone in there but it was just to take a picture I swear. Anyway, imagine my surprise when on my last visit home said super-cute sweater came out of the closet for winter use and it was practically threadbare. Apparently, he wears it everyday when it's cold out and what with all the washing, it's started to come undone. Finally a family member who truly appreciates my handknits. For wearing out the first sweater, Jack is getting a brand spanking new one in a thicker and more durable wool to keep him toasty on those cold winter walks. Good boy Jackie - GOOD BOY!!
Doesn't Bigsy look thrilled to be modeling a dog sweater...he actually took it much better than I had expected. There was a period of laying down limply (passive resistance?) and then I think he was trying to kick it off but eventually he accepted his fate and I was able to get a couple of shots.
There are also a couple of new babies to knit for this year and they all seem to be little girls. I made this popsicle pink Debbie Bliss Poppy Baby Bolero for little Elise. I hope she will be cute in it - it matches the pattern measurements but I'm a bit worried that the arms are too long - maybe they just look that way because it is cropped - messes up the expected proportions or something. Anyhow, it was super-fast and will be darling (I hope).
Is it weird that I keep mistyping Poppy as Poopy?? Must be the whole baby thing...
Oh! And before I forget, I got a big yarn order from knitpicks yesterday - expect photos soon - I can finally get the rest of my Christmas knitting underway - hoot!
Project Specs:Good Boy Sweater!Pattern: Patons Another Dogs Life Booklet
Yarn: Briggs and Little Tuffy (80% wool 20% nylon) - approx. 1 skein
Comments: If I were to make this sweater again, I would be more careful on the duplicate stitch - I did it a bit too tightly and it puckers ever so slightly. Hard to tell when Bigsy is wearing it like a sausage casing though.
Poopy...er...Poppy Baby BoleroPattern: Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora Booklet - Poppy
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora (used about 2 1/2 balls - pattern calls for 4 - the sizing and gauge are correct so I have to ask why does DB always overestimate yardage in her patterns??)
Comments: This was a super fast knit. I tried out a new technique from Vogue Knitting for binding off K2XP2 rib with a yarn needle and loved the outcome. No curling or puckering on the ribbing bind off and it doesn't have that straight edge look which really works out on the curvy Bolero edging. It took a few minutes to get the hang of it but I will definitely be using that bind off again.
