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January 29, 2006
Cool tones for winter blues
Before we ever thought of getting a cat, I started a Kitty Pi for my friend. We set up a trade: cat bed for cloth menstrual pads. How can it get better than that? Of course, life being what it is, we both got busy and probably over a year later, I am finally done with my end of the bargain. This was a quick but painful knit, as I discovered that I am somewhat allergic to Lamb's Pride and it sheds, well, more than my cat (or my rabbits, for that matter). So this cat bed took a long time to be realized, unlike MiMi's moebius bed, which Omar whipped out within a week of her arrival.
Here is the unfelted bed. I knit about 5 extra rounds and didn't do any decreases. To compensate, I bound off tightly with one strand of worsted Lamb's Pride. I'm really happy with the resulting shape. Unfelted, the bed fits eerily well over our Ikea ottoman. I'd love to knit a cover for it, but not in Lamb's Pride! MiMi, however, loves the fuzz.
Inspected by: Mimsy.
We couldn't find anything that was big enough to stretch the felted bed across, so we blocked it with a vented pizza pan stacked with books under a towel to soak up any remaining moisture. It worked like a charm! I love the result. After blocking, I turned it so that the "right" side was the inside, the most visible side. I also like how reverse blocking gave it an even more prominent bowl shape.
Also, notice the sunburst shape the stitches made in the "bullseye." I like that too. Wow, I like this project infinitely better finished than I did as a UFO.Also recently completed, a simple Seaman's Cap for my mom in an old color of Malabrigo that I ordered online before they made it big. Oh yes, I have my finger on the pulse of the knitting world.
I've been on a finishing kick, there's one more FO to show (also in blues), but the recipient has not delivered her promised photos, ahem!
Posted by Betsy at January 29, 2006 09:59 AM
Comments
There are terrific! I love how the cat bed turned out, it was worth the Sheddy McSheddy pride. I also like the hat - I have such a hard time getting my decreases to do anything other than make no sense at all. I have tried to make a simple hat for myself like 3 times this weekend already and yanked each one out.
Posted by: Michelle at January 29, 2006 01:15 PM
It came out so beautiful! I would have never imagined it would bring so much happiness... especially with all the mohair flying everywhere. Anyway, it looks absolutely fabulous, and it felted so nicely!
Posted by: grumperina at January 29, 2006 02:38 PM
That cat bed is pretty darn cute! And I love the description of the top of your mom's hat. It does look like an undisturbed butter tub!
Posted by: diana at January 29, 2006 03:00 PM
Great great kitty bed. The colors look really great and the sunburst effect is very cool.
Posted by: Danielle at January 29, 2006 06:43 PM