Good Stuff

So, behind the scenes this week, there's been some fun blogger/knitter related interactions.

First ~ the Lady Knits nominated me for the You Make My Day award. Thanks, I'm so honored! *and blushing* This is just a little award that's been floating around the blog world. If you're nominated, you feel good and you pass on the good karma to other bloggers by nominating 10 that make your day!
And the bloggers making my day are::

the Lady Knits - she's in Berkeley, I'm in Boston, but we may get to meet this week!
Veghead Designs/Schwartz Family Files - I'm 27, I've known Nik for 27 years. Following her blogs are such a great way to feel like we're still right next door even though we're hours away.
Mamieknits - Rockin the world with twin boys and still finding time to knit!
Angry Chicken - Inspiring me to put down my knitting needles once in a while and try out some new crafts.
Posie Gets Cozy - Ditto & did you see the new dish towels she just designed?!
Port2Port - great photography and amazing goods from her little press.
SouleMama - more good stuff, and makes me want to take a drive up to Portland, Maine.
Knitting Philistine - amazing sock knitting here, and she makes me miss Philly.
Grumperina - she brought us jaywalkers and is always good at the methodical/scientific approach to knitting, whereas I'm all about finishing one project so I can start another!
Chocolate & Zucchini - a food blog! in Paris! yum.


Next up ~

I received a few requests for my lamb washcloth pattern. Here you go!

EDIT - I've added a PDF version of the pattern in the left side-bar - if you click on it, the PDF should automatically download. (the PDF version contains a picture of the final washcloth)


This gentle lamb of a washcloth which was inspired by the ferocious Roar that was published in the Summer 2007 edition of Knitty. So if you’re looking for a compliment to your lamb washcloth, knit a lion too!

Materials:
Blue Sky Organic Cotton, in your choice of color. 1 skein (this would be plenty for at few washcloths)
Blue Sky Organic Cotton, in a complimentary color for embroidering the lambs’ eyes and nose.

1 pair US 7/4.5mm straight needles
2 US 7/4.5 mm double-pointed needles (for I-cord)
Embroidery needle


Pattern Notes:
ML – make loop. K1, but don’t drop stitch from the left needle. Bring yarn between needles to front of your work. Hold your left thumb in front of work, and wrap yarn around your thumb to create a loop that is approximately 1 inch long. Take yarn between needles to the back of your work and knit into same stitch, dropping stitch from left needle as usual. Again bring the yarn forward, this time over the right needle, then between the needles to the back of your work, creating a loop around the right needle. Pass the 2 stitches just worked over this loop.

You can adjust the loop size to your liking, shorter is better for a fluffier lamb, while longer loops will give you a lamb with a bit of a shagJ


Pattern:
CO 32 stitches.

Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1, *k1, ML* repeat to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, knit to end of row.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl 1, *ML, k1* repeat to last stitch, k1.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl 1, knit to end of row.
Repeat rows 1-4 6 times (for a total of 24 rows).

Row 25 [RS]: Sl 1, k9, *ML, k1* repeat to end of row (you’ll have made 11 loops on this row).
Row 26 [WS]: Sl 1, k22, p7, k2.
Row 27 [RS]: Sl 1, k9, *k1, ML* repeat to last stitch, k1 (you’ll have made 10 loops on this row).
Row 28 [WS]: repeat Row 26.
Rows 29-36: repeat rows 24-27 2 more times.
Row 37 [RS]: repeat Row 25.
Row 38 [WS]: Sl 1, knit to end of row.
Row 39 [RS]: BO 29 stitches. Slip remaining 3 stitches to a double-pointed needle. With these 3 stitches, work I-cord until it measures 4 inches. Keep RS facing you at all times while working the I-cord.

Ears:
The ears are little squares knit onto the side of the face. Please look at the picture above to get a better sense of how they are positioned before you start picking up stitches.

The [RS] of the ears are the sides of the ears facing the face area.

Right Ear:
With RS facing you, start at the top right corner of the face area, and pick up 3 stitches on the side of the face where you want the ears to be located.
Row 1 [RS]: knit all stitches
Row 2 [WS]: purl all stitches
Row 3 [RS]: bind off all stitches.

Left Ear:
With RS facing you, pick up 3 stitches on the left side of the face area, but this time start at the bottom of the ear.
Row 1 [RS]: knit all stitches
Row 2 [WS]: purl all stitches
Row 3 [RS]: bind off all stitches

Face:
Use complimentary yarn to embroider eyes and a nose on your sheep.



Enjoy!