Emergency Babe Done

Here she is. Done and ready to be shipped off tomorrow for the auction.

Pattern: Babe from Knitted Babes by Claire Garland
Yarn: RYC Cashsoft 4-ply for Babe; SWTC TOFUtsies for sundress
Needles: Inox 40" 2.5mm for Babe; some old aluminum #3s for sundress
Other: felt, embroidery floss
Mods: Let's see: knit the Babe in the round (will never knit one flat again) with Kitchenered scalp; legs and arms are picked up from the body and knit in i-cord; dress is an improvised pattern (see below).

Oh, and to keep her neck from flopping, I came up with a great solution: I put a short emery board (the kind you use for your nails) in her. It's abrasive enough that it won't move around in the stuffing, stiff enough to keep her neck from flopping, and still soft enough that it will break or bend before causing any harm. Also, if it does break or bend, there aren't any splinters like you'd get with a craft stick.

In other knitting news, I delivered the piano scarf this morning. It was a hit. When I left Marilyn with it in the choir loft, it was draped across the organ console, and she was moving her head all around watching the keyboard appear and disappear. When I took her daughter (who wanted to know what the scarf's "magic" was) up to see it later, she, too, was entertained. So glad when people are as delighted with things as I am. It was meant to tickle and amuse, and so it did.

Tidal Wave sock #1 is just about ready for Dr. Kitchener, but my next "big" project (that would be "big" as in it's my at home project, not big as in it has any size to it) is a Swiffer Cover. Yipeee! Two of my favorite things: knitting and reducing trash. With any luck, this one'll be done before it's time to clean the floors on Tuesday.

Pattern for Babe Sundress

Yarn: SWTC TOFUtsies
Needle: US3
Gauge: approx 8sts=1" in stockinette

Cast on 70 stitches. Knit 4 rows. Switch to stockinette (starting with a K row) and work even for 3", ending with a WS row.

The remainder of the dress is worked in garter stitch (knit every row).

Decrease row: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * until 1 stitch remains, K1 (47 stitches)
Next row: K
Decrease row: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * until 2 stitches remain, K2 (32 stitches)
Knit 9 rows even, ending with a WS row
Cast off 6 stitches at beginning of next two rows (20 stitches)
Cast off 3 stitches at beginning of next two rows (14 stitches)
(these two rows form back waist)
Work 10 rows garter stitch, ending with a WS row
K4, bind off middle 6 stitches, K4

Continuing to work only on last 4 stitches, work 11 more ridges garter stitch and bind off.

Rejoin yarn to 4 remaining stitches and work 11 ridges garter stitch, bind off.

Finishing: sew back seam; sew straps to back waist; weave in ends; block if desired