For my Secret Pal

Ravelry, the online knitting community where I spend a lot of my internet time, has different interest groups that members can join. One of my favorite groups, ADHD Knitting, is sponsoring a "pill bottle swap." We have been assigned random partners, and our mission is to decorate and fill an empty pill bottle with treats for our secret pal.

My recipient is "Lotusburger," and she lives in Utah. I made a felted lotus flower pill bottle cover, and stuffed it with beef jerky (one of her favorite snacks) and a few little knitting supplies.

Being a little bit of a rebel, I added some things that didn't fit into the bottle. Hopefully, she likes flip flops, because I made her the AZ flip flop socks and got her some purple flip flops, and matching purple nail polish! She also has a pet turtle, so I knitted her up one of Alan Dart's tortoises from his Noah's Ark pattern booklet.

I hope she likes her surprise!

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Miss Brewer, my first grade teacher at Cedar Brook Elementary School in Seattle, would have us stand and sing the "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" song, you know the one where you point to your body parts, and each additional time you sing it, you replace a body part word with "Hmmmm"?

Miss Brewer was tall, thin, young, and wore her blond hair in a French twist. I thought she was so elegant. And she got married, and invited the whole class to her wedding. That was probably the first wedding I ever went to!

In honor of Miss Brewer, one of my all time favorite teachers, here are pictures of accessories that cover or adorn various body parts. . .


For the Head:


Pattern: Basketweave Headband by Carissa Browning (Carissa Knits)
Yarn: Linen/Cotton mix?






Pattern: Lace Headband by Minty Fresh (Pepperknit.com)
Yarn: Panda Cotton Sock Yarn




Pattern: Crepe Paper Crown by Leigh Radford (Alterknits)

The first version below was done in stockinette, as per the instructions, substituting ribbon for the crepe paper.

Happy Birthday, Gloria!

This next one is a smaller version, done all in garter stitch, which made it a little more sturdy. Sent to Addy for her 4th birthday.

For the Shoulders:


Pattern: Two Tone Shrug by Stephanie Japel (Fitted Knits)
Yarn: Berrocco Love It!
Recipient: Mercedes
This shrug is identical to the one I made and posted last year, but in a larger size.

For the (Knees and) Toes, (Knees and) Toes

Pattern: Knit Boots by Mary Ann Hammes

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky

Pattern: Arizona Flip Flop Socks by Catherine Hall (L G Stitched)

Yarn: Cascade Fixation

Whew, covered from head to foot!

Eucalyptus for Dinner!

When we were little, living in Seattle, my sister and I got stuffed toy koala bears for Christmas. She named hers Sydney, and mine was named Tamba. They were made out of kangaroo fur, which now, as an adult (vegetarian for 12 years) is slightly disturbing to me, but at the time, they were our favorite toys. About 10 years ago, I was going through my leftover childhood possessions in my parents' attic, and found Tamba. She was in a disgusting state of disintegration, and was disposed of. . . but the memories are still there, and to honor our childhood friends, I made this little Sydney #2 (100% genuine acryclic!) for my sister.

Pattern: "Cocoa Koala," from Toys to Crochet by Claire Garland.

Yarn: Red Heart Worted Acrylic for the body and stash stuff for dress.

Notions: 2 black beads for the eyes, black embroidery floss for the nose and mouth, button for the dress.

Comments: I didn't really like this pattern. . . it seemed to have too many steps. For example, the body was done in two parts -- you make 2 half globes, and then sew them together. Why? I think it would have been faster and easier to just decrease back down the other half as in most amigurumi patterns.

Also the dress was problematic -- I had to make the bodice part back and forth (in the round wouldn't fit over koala's head) and then from the skirt down I did it in the round. I put a little button on the back rather than sewing it shut, in case my sister's kids think they need to undress her!

Anyway, the finished product is cute in a wierd way. Sydney II was sent to my sister today!