Okay, this thread is amazing (great work errrybody!), so I am moving my pics here. I was skinny little Nancy Calahan from Sin City. At first I was VERY self-concious, since I usually dress pretty conservatively, but. . . after a while (and a couple cups of Halloween punch) I was feelin' more comfortable. . .

And how does little Nancy stay skinny? Thighmaster, of course!
ps-- how do I make my pictures less huge?

One of these days I will get the nerve to wear my latest creation around town. It's just so. . . so much. Based on catladysarah's petticoat and april_cocaine's circle skirts, I have made this:



It is rather short (16" or so) and incredibly fluffy, so you can see why it is going to be an act of courage to wear it outside my dorm room! 

My practice dress, Cut on Thursday night, sewn on Friday night!


Now the real one will be way awesomer because it will not scrunch on my stomach. Instead it will have a zipper and I will not have to hold it together with my hand. Also, the neck will be less ridiculous because it will be nice drapey satin or something instead of $1/yd stuff from Walmart. Also I will learn how to make darts that do not look like nipples. . . anybody want to help me with that one?
 
Also, I still can't decide if I want to make my real dress just like this one (view C), or with the front drapes (view D). My pattern is New Look 6455-------> http://simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=wnlook.cfm

:

Yesterday at 7:10: "Ummm, I think I will try making earwarmers. . ."
7:25:"Hey these look okay! I will wear them to the broomball game."
7:27: "I am going to look so ladylike and demure at the game, in my cute li'l earwarmers!"
7:30: "Yaaaaaay team! Go for the jugular! Play for blood! Rrrrrip their throats oooouuuuuutttt!!!!"

I kid you not.

ps This is a great picture of me. I especially like the red eye.

I used a K hook and Red Heart yarn (so cheap!) in med thyme. Oh, and I had it doubled over, you know? I was working with a double strand of the same yarn. OH- and a tapestry needle (but you can make these without one)

 Pattern!CH=chain SC=single crochet Rnd=round ST=stich  Do the whole thing with a double strand of yarn- unless you don't want to.
First, chain 3 and join into a ring (that was round one).
Rnd 2: SC in first CH, CH 1, SC in second CH, CH 1, SC in third CH, CH 1-- you have just doubled the size of your piece- from 3 sts to 6!
Rnd 3: Double the size again in the same way (SC, CH, SC, CH. . .) so you now have a 12 st round.
Rnd 4: Increase your 12 sts to 24 in the same way.
Now: SC for 12 sts (halfway around the circle) then CH 22 sts. SC back along the chain (21 sts, I think) til you get back to the circle, then continue SC along the circle (like 12 more sts), then CH  30 and fasten off.

Half done! Now make another piece, following the pattern (assuming I wrote it correctly). Use your tapestry needle (or crochet hook)  and a piece of the yarn to sew together the thick 21 CH arms. This seam goes over/across your head and the 30 CH tails tie under your hair.

I need to improve the tails, I think, to make them a little more secure. They are okay but not perfect.
I have thought of a couple of variations such as, stringing a ribbon through the whole thing so the ends dangle out the ends of the tails, or making some flowers to go on the ears. A butterfly on top? I like the fleece idea- is chilly Vermont a lot like freezing Upper Peninsula Michigan? That is where I live.

Are you afraid of round or double pointed needles? Afraid of tricky patterns and complicated stitches? Are you too lazy for that sort of thing? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you are a breathing bi-ped with minimal knowledge of knitting, you can make these arm warmers!


Underneath, I am just wearing those super cheap stretchy gloves. Please pay special attention to the messy dormroom!

I have never read or written a pattern so, uh, this might be embarrassing. Let me know which parts don't make sense, I'll try to clarify!

I used #5 needles and cheap red heart yarn (college girl special).
I made them flat, but you could just as easily work on DPN's.

CO 30 sts
Row 1-3: Stockinette stitch
Row 4-30: 3/3 ribbing (you can make this part- the arm part- as long as your li'l
               heart desires).
Row 31: decrease every 3rd st
Row 32: Um. . . work according to stitches in row 31. (No decreasing, just knit
             on top of knitted sts and purl on top of purled sts)
Row 33: decrease 1 more st from the "stripes" you decreased from in row 31.
Row 34: This row=20 sts. . .right? Right! Now work Row 34 in Garter Stitch.
Row 35-40: Work in garter stitch.
Row41: Still garter stitch, increasing 1 st every 4 sts
Row 42: Again, work in garter stitch, increasing 1 st every 4 sts
Row 43-55: Garter stitch.
Row 56: Garter for 24 sts, then BO sts 25-29. Do 30th st in garter.
Row 57: After 1st st (still in garter), CO 5 sts, continue rest of row in garter.
Row 58-63: (or as long as you'd like this part) in garter. When your satisfied bind off!
If you were able to follow my nonsense, you are done! If not, just let me know!