Pattern: A rough interpretation of circular shawl knitting (from Knitting Rules ) and a vague understanding of how to make a cat bed.
Yarn: Noro Kureyon colour #164
Yardage: 3 skeins
Needles: 6,00 mm dpn's and circular

This is Zeke's Christmas present, finally finished and ready for him to snooze on. The knitting was nice and uncomplicated and I only messed up the math once. I pretty much just knit in circular shawl fashion until I figured the circle was a little bigger than I needed and then did a few decrease rounds and plain rounds to make sides that wouldn't flare out too much. I did the felting in the sink and blocked the bed on our ottoman - it was the only thing the right size and I wasn't worried about any colour bleeding. It took me two tries to get it the size I wanted but I'm very please with it.

After taking pictures of my apron yesterday I just wore it all day. It's so handy to have a pocket right where you need it and just great to never worry about spilling anything on yourself because you're already wearing an apron. It made me feel kind of industrious and domestic too - like I was going to be getting things done (like posting a whole bunch of back entries; only 12 left!).

I realized something though. I was missing something. An apron this cute needed a matching headband. So I made one up this morning. It took a bit more planning than I originally expected but I didn't want to make a mock up for a headband and I didn't have enough fabric to really mess up so planning was important. It's nice and wide with little darts to help it fit. I think I'll be making another one soon - my hair is getting long and the headband is perfect. I might even put up a pattern if anyone is interested.

In related news, I've signed up for the spring Sassy Apron Swap. I can't wait to start and apron for someone and then get one in the mail. I've got some ideas working already but I don't want to start in on anything until I know who it will be going to.

Here is my entry for the February Tie One On - a pretty pink and brown polka dotted apron with one big pink polka dot for the pocket. I used most of the apron pattern from In Stitches (Amy Butler) but made the pocket according to the "apple pocket" directions in Bend the Rules Sewing (Amy Karol). I made the bottom trim a little wider than the pattern called for, to show more of my polka dots, and I made the ties extra long for a big bow. I also hand finished the bottom trim and the waistband instead of topstitching since I didn't think it would looks as nice on the polka dots. Zeke joined in the photo shoot - that's his tail sticking out from under my elbow.