Random Coaster

I haven't felted since I made the French Press slippers and since that was the ONLY time I have ever felted, I wanted to play with it a bit more.  Can't go wrong with making a quick coaster!  I think it turned out pretty good.  I used scrap worsted wool yarn, using double strands of each color.

Using size 15 straight knitting needles CO 12
Row 1-Knit across with brown
Row 2- Purl across with brown
Row 3-Knit across with brown
Row 4-Purl across with yellow
Row 5-Knit across with yellow
Row 6- Purl across with yellow
Row 7- Knit across with yellow
Row 8-Purl across with brown
Row 9-Knit across with brown
Row 10-Purl across with brown
Row 11-Knit across with brown
Row 12-Purl across with yellow
Row 13- Knit across with yellow
Row 14-Purl across with yellow
Row 15-Knit across with yellow
Row 16-Purl across with brown
Row 17-Knit across with brown
Row 18-Purl across with brown
Row 19-BO

To felt put the coaster in a pillow case and tie off and run through the hot wash until felted.  Every machine is different but mine took about 15 minutes to felt.

Copywrite Material: This pattern may be used to make gifts or donations but you cannot sell items made from this pattern.  You cannot sell this pattern.  This pattern cannot be reproduced, rewritten, or reposted anywhere.  Feel free to link to this pattern if you would like to share it. Happy knitting!

Martian Lovie

Some friends of mine are having a baby in March. Both of them were a huge help when I was on bed rest for 10 weeks while pregnant with my daughter so I wanted to make something really special for them. This is what I came up with...a martian lovie!

He's only half original pattern. The head was made using the head of this Zozo doll pattern which is available here through knitty.com. If you'd like to make this lovie just copy the head for the Zozo. The only thing I did different from that pattern is add 4 rows of stockinette stitch in with rows 12-15 to make the head a bit bigger. For the blanket part I used size 15 straight needles and cast on 42 stitches with two strands of yarn. The gray is a worsted acrylic and the green is a very soft baby yarn (sorry I didn't the type). Then I did 46 rows doing k2, p2 and cast off. You may have to adjust this but that is easily done since you are aiming to make a perfect square. The martian head should be sewn to the center of the small blanket. The blanket is very soft, stretchy and has a great texture which babies LOVE! This lovie got passed around the baby shower and people were asking where to buy him! Here's the pattern...have at it!

I have a confession. Even though this lovie came out fantastic, I secretly had higher hopes for him but was restricted by time constraints. With ideas to make this martian 5 times more awesome, I vow to make it again, 5 times better! Stay tuned....