August 7, 2004

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

I'd planned this lovely goodbye, something so funny and clever that it would amuse you to no end while I am gone. Maybe a quiz or a game or something.
Alas, I underestimated the depth and breadth of the packing nightmare, and lost a fair amount of sleep finishing the work thing, (Hear that? Finished. Hallelujah.) had to repair a therm-a-rest after wrestling it in a bathtub to find the damn leak...and all the joy has gone out of me for today - leaving me only with this for you. A Poncho Pattern. Use it in good health

A very Harlot Poncho.

harlotponcho

Materials
5 balls Mission Falls 1824 wool (I am short. If you are tall, you might want to add a ball)
9mm, 60cm circular.

Cast on 64 stitches.
Knit one round
Purl one round.

Round 1: YO, K1(mark this stitch), YO, K31, YO, K1(mark this stitch), YO, K31.
Round 2. knit plain
Round 3. knit, doing a YO before and after your marked stitch.

Repeat the last two rounds, alternating a plain round with a round where you increase either side of your marked centre stitch, and either side of your marked centre back stitch. After a couple of rounds you won't even need the markers, it will be pretty obvious.

Continue until you have used four balls of your yarn (or five, if you are tall) then cast off. I used the crochet cast off, but the world is your oyster. Do as pleases you.

Cut the remaining ball of yarn into 15" lengths. Not co-incidentally, this is the exact length you will get if you wrap the yarn the long way around the DVD case from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and then cut at the bottom, though I suppose you could use any DVD.

fringe2

Fringe at will. I put two strands in every other cast off stitch.

Everybody (except those who hate ponchos) should knit one while I am gone.
I'll look forward to seeing them, and I'll post from the road. I think I've got the technology together. (This is not strictly true. Ken thinks I have the technology together. I'm grateful that he has faith in me.) I have packed the fleece artist poncho, the Dublin Bay sock, and yarn for two more pairs in a pinch. (I have also packed Megan's poncho, which is so close that it hurts. I'll knit it while she's sleeping.) I have left lots of room for souvenir yarn in our bags, and have a plan to mail it back home if my wooly love is too big for my suitcase.

Next update, St. John's, Newfoundland.

(PS. Look at the time on this post. Now know that the cab to the airport comes at 6:30 am. Pity me.)

Posted by Stephanie at August 7, 2004 3:45 AM