I actually managed to make one for myself and one for Eliza. I made hers first, nice sister that I am, and then made a few changes when I made this one. It is blatantly ripped off from those expensive little kids hat I posted about the other day.

It ended up being a little tricky, because I think I may have accidentally placed the thumb opening in the same place on both, making for two right hands. So, I ended up having to rearrange where and how I did my decreases for the mitten top for the left hand, so it would look okay. The yarn is some kind of Peruvian alpaca I bought a wicked long time ago.

Hopefully I'll have it ready for Eliza to try on when she gets here Saturday and I can finish it up by the time she leaves.

The only thing I still really want to do, once it's all knitted, is try and line it a little. You know- yarn, holes, indecency. Plus pierced nipples. Equals I should probably line the bikini for her. Do you all now have too much information about my sister? Sorry, Eliza.

I'm not exactly sure how to go about lining it; I've never lined anything I've knitted before. Any suggestions?

Anyway, just to show that I have been slacking on all my knitting projects, not just this one, I present Works in Progress:

Short-sleeve sweater, started Fall 2003

Here's a close up of the pattern. Complicated! Lots of counting! I'm scared to go back!

Striped knee socks, started Fall/Winter 2004. Intended as a Christmas present:

More Christmas presents. Mittens (2 different pairs), Winter 2004.

The bikini is at the top of my list. I may even try to take it out of the car before Dave heads to SFH practice tonight. Who knows? I could do a couple rows before Eliza gets here...

Anyway, here's a much nicer picture of the knitting machine, which had finished it's project at this time:

I was pleasantly surprised to see the flag still haning outside on the needles; I fully expected it to have been folded up and placed inside. Anyway, with the two rows I completed on Eliza's bikini last week, Dave Cole is way ahead of me.

Yep. I charged the camera batteries and everything and what did I do? I left the camera at home and was forced to use my cell phone to take this picture. Well, Dave thought it was kind of boring, but I definitely enjoyed seeing the three very slow stitches we saw in the ten or so minutes we were outside. As you can see in the photo (or maybe not), there are these two construction vehicles with giant knitting needles attached. The one on the right pretty much stays stationary while the one on the left is maneuvered through the stitch. Then the guy in the hard hat will carry the "yarn" up over the needle and slide the old stitch off. Not bad! Inside there were a few more pieces by Dave Cole and a display of knitting needles throughout different American wars. It was neat. The American flag that was being knitted by the machine is supposed to have been finished now and will be on display in the museum.

As promised, the slutty bikini. It was photographed on my cell phone, since I haven't charged the camera's batteries yet, but I think it shows the cuteness/sluttiness pretty well.