Modifications:  Not being a fan of mohair, and because I'm working from my stash, I used Red Heart Symphony (only 1 skein!)

The stitch gauge was correct, but my row gauge was tighter, so I made several more dc rows in the yoke, then a few more of lace rows, also to make it longer than the pattern.  Instead of attaching the ties directly to the collar, I just crocheted a long chain and weaved it through the dc stitches at the base.  Though I added another row on the collar, it still seems skimpy, so I will add a few more.

Though I completed this in April, I'm still pondering over pom-poms or beads on the ties.  That's why I didn't post it sooner, and why I'm covering those unfinished ends.

Since the yarn was so light, I worried about the drape, so with the help of Lily Chin's Knit and Crochet with Beads, I ventured into my first experience with bead crochet.

I teach crafts and creative design at a summer camp.  I'm helping to produce the next generation of future craftsters.  Anyway, one of our projects is m&p soapmaking.  I noticed there was a lot of waste left in the mixing cups, and I hate to throw away anything useable, so I had them chop up the scraps, spread them in an oiled jellyroll pan, then poured what was left in the melting pot over it.  It turned out to be our favorite, and they call it Community Soap.

I couldn't resist sharing these....



With whole wheat batter, I poured little dots for the eyes & nose first, let them cook for like 30 seconds, then poured the face, head, then ears.  For the bone, I poured 4 little joint dots, then a strip in the middle.

This was an easy project, and now all it needs are some crochet flowers. I used Peaches & Cream cotton instead, as it's nearly identical to Lion Cotton.

I found plastic bamboo handles on Ebay that look almost like the real thing, so it's totally washable. I have 3 more pairs, so that means 3 more Fat Bottoms!

I made a minor adjustment, er, mistake. I skimmed the pattern so quickly that I didn't notice the first "h" for "heringbone" until I was nearly done, so the entire bag is just "hdc" (half-double crochet), and then "hhdc" on the handle flaps. Though she's a close twin, and probably easier & faster to hook, I'm making another one properly, in something colorful.