The pool of blood didn't frighten Kate anymore. Tentatively, she extended her leg. gently dipping her toe into the edge of the thick red liquid, and was surprised to find that it was still warm. The blood lapped against her foot, blown into animation by the biting cold wind. Kate pulled the borrowed flannel shirt more tightly around her shoulders. The cement wall behind her was icy as well, and she wondered how she had managed to lose her shoes. Something about the heat of the blood seemed to draw her in like flypaper, and soon she plunged her feet into it, soaking up the warmth of someone else's heart. She knew it would harden soon, crust over and grow as cold as the tall brick buildings that sat stagnating in the autumn frost, but Kate managed to shove those thoughts aside. Basking in the warm blood, she felt an eerie comfort, which surrounded her like a lullaby. The wind didn't feel quite as harsh, nor did the pain of memory. Semiconsciously, she contracted into the fetal position. She closed her eyes and tried to forget the dying city full of zombie ghouls. She sat in the grandmother's lap, watching a yellow dress click into existence on Oma's knitting needles. Outside the rain fell down in sheets against the little four-pained windows, but her grandmother's old-fashioned woodstove kept Kate toasty warm as she sipped her hot cider. Oma sang softly to Kate in Dutch, and it didn't matter what the words were, Kate knew that Oma was here to keep her safe from the thunder-wolves who howled in vain, trying to shake the little house. She could remember the cinnamon smell of her hot apple cider and the friendlly yellow glow from an oil lamp. Kate began to hum along to Oma's song as she drifted off to sleep, Her eyelids getting heavy as it somehow got harder to follow the rhythmic clicking of Oma's knitting needlles. Waking up was hard, but Kate was so cold that the goose bumps on her legs refused to let her stay still any longer. It was difficult to open her eyes, but even more so to take in the harshness of the world around her. The pool of blood had scabbed over and it was painful for Kate to unfurl her legs. Her hair was a matted, crusty clump of brown and red and Nita's flannel shirt was plastered to her bodly. I designed this skirt for Kate, a character in the novel I'm writing. currently under the working title Killing Zombies..and Stuff Kate is the fearless, and somewhat insane zombie hunter who's stuck in the middle of an apocalypse and is still trying to be sexy, stylish and vegan. This miniskirt is knit with bamboo yarn and the waistband is recycled from a cheap thrift store sweater. Maybe not the best garment to wear while actually killing zombies, but certainly perfect for showing off those zombie-fighter legs.
Yarn:
·Around 4 to 7 skeins of Chrystal Palace Yarns Bamboozle, exact amount varies
Needles:
1 set size Us8/5mm circular needles 1 set of sharp double-pointed needles, under 5mm
Gauge:
5 stitches = 1 inch
Other Materials:
1 pullover sweater which fits snugly around the bottom and has a ribbed hem, only necessary if you are doing Option 1 to start out ·Scissors ·Stitch marker
2 x 2 Ribbing:
Round 1: \*K2, p2, rep from \* to end of round. Repeat this round.
Starting Out:
The way the pattern is set up, you have the option of making it 1oo% knitted or there are instructions explaining how to start the skirt with a recycled waistband from a sweater. If you are doing the recycled waistband version you may need an additional set of size US2/2.75mm needles for picking up stitches from the cut waistband, especially if it is machineknitted. Option 1: Cut the sweater 6 inches from the hem so you are left with a good-sized waistband. Now you will be picking up a multiple of 24 stitches around the cut edge. Use your circular needles, but if they are too blunt, then pick up a few stitches with your double-points and then transfer them to your circular needles. Also, make that you pick up stitches from the right side of the sweater's waistband so your skirt doesn't come out inside out! Once you have evenly-spaced stitches all the way around. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of your first round. Now go to Continuing. Option 2: Measure the distance around your hips at the place where you usually wear waistbands. Multiply your waist number by 5. Cast on the nearest number of stitches to what you get as a result that is a multiple of 24. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning spot and join in the round. Work for 2 inches in 2 x 2 Ribbing.
Continuing:
Work in Stockinette Stitch until the skirt is almost as long as you want it to be-the next part will be the ruffles around the edge. (To measure how long you want the skirt, hold the waistband at the waistline where you normally wear skirts and see how far down your legs the skirt falls.)
Shape skirt:
Round 1: \*K23, m1, k1, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 2: Knit. Round 3: \*K23, m1, k3, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 4: Knit. Round 5: \*K23, m1, k5, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 6: Knit. Round 7: \*K23, m1, k7, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 8: Knit. Round 9: \*K23, m1, k9, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 10: Knit. Round 11: \*K23, m1, k11, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 12: Knit. Round 13: \*K23, m1, k13, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 14: Knit. Round 15: \*K23, m1, k15, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 16: Knit. Round 17: \*K23, m1, k17, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 18: Knit. Round 19: \*K23, m1, k19, m1, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 2o: Knit. Round 21: Purl. Round 22: Knit. Round 23: Purl. Round 24: Knit. Round 25: Purl. Loosely bind off all stitches.
Finishing:
Weave in any loose ends. Before wearing, rinse the skirt in cold water and do some basic blocking.
