EXTREME HEDONISM!!!
An Herbal Neck Cuddle pattern by Geanie Helfrich
Materials:
Yarn: 1 hank Berroco Ultra Alpaca, or 200 yards of any worsted weight yarn you find pleasurable near your face. Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge Filling Materials: One 1.5" NON-metal button (no metal shank, either), small bottle of your favorite essential/aromatherapy oil drops. i.e., lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, balsam, etc. One pair of clean pantyhose with no runs. (One could also use knee highs, but filling is a bit futzy-er) One pound bag of fresh, whole flax seeds, one pie plate, a few rubber bands, large spoon or spatula, funnel or scoop. Gauge: 20 stitches = 4" in Stockinette Stitch Knitting Instructions: (in the flat) 20 stitches and work Garter stitch (knit every stitch every row) for 1.5 (Work Buttonhole) Knit 8, Cast off 4, knit to end of row. Turn, knit to cast off stitches, Cable Cast on 4 St, Knit to end of row. Continue to work in Garter stitch (knit every row) for another 1.5" ending after a Right Side row. (All stitches will be on your right hand needle) Turn and Cable cast on 20 more stitches (40 stitches). Purl this row (WS) to the end. Next row (Right Side) Knit all stitches. Slipping the first stitch of every row purl wise, continue to work in Stockinette Stitch (Knit RS rows, Purl WS rows) for another 25". Loosely cast off all 40 stitches leaving a 12" tail for seaming. Finishing: Wet block finished piece with a soak in mild soap or unscented Eucalan. Roll in a towel and press with hands to remove most of the water. On a dry towel or blocking mat, placing T pins every inch or so along all sides, pin flat to 25" x 8". (The half with 3" of garter stitch flap will measure 28") Allow to dry fully. Fold bind off edge so that right sides are facing each other. Use tail yarn to back stitch this end together. Secure and darn in yarn end. Turn this end right side out and with a very long piece of yarn (25"-30") mattress stitch long edges together (right sides facing out) from the bottom to the top. Secure top of seam and darn in yarn end. Sew button onto Stockinette stitch section corresponding with buttonhole.
FILLING INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare filling: Pour of your flax seeds into a pie plate. Shake several drops of your favorite essential oil on seeds, then mix well to distribute. Cut the legs off the pantyhose where they meet the panty. Discard panty. Drop one "leg" hose toe-down into a tall vase or Mason jar, securing the hose open over the top of the rim of the jar with rubber
bands. IScoop or Tunnel seeas into Tne opening. kepeat with the other of flax seeds after mixing in more oil as above. Being careful not to make a mess, remove the hose from the jar. Tie a knot (or 2) in the open end of the hose at about 25". Manipulate seeds so they are evenly distributed.
Feed seed filled hose knots first into second leg of hose and knot the open end. Feed the whole thing knots first into your knitted tube. Fold garter stitch flap over and button up. Microwave for a short time (experiment to find your preferred temperature) and enjoy! Hand wash knitted wrap when necessary (with seed-filled tube removed) in mild soap or unscented Eucalan Wool Wash and lay flat to dry. One can certainly change the scent at any point by making a new seed tube and using different oils. Best to wash knitted section before changing scent tubes to remove previous scent.
Knitting instructions: (in the round)
Yarn: as above Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) dpns (or 7" circular) or size needed to obtain gauge as above Work 20 st in garter stitch as above, and follow flat directions through the casting on of additional 20 stitches. (3" of garter stitch including buttonhole halfway.) Being careful not to twist, join into a round. Place marker, and work Stockinette stitch in the round for 25". I recommend a 3 needle bind off for this end. Turn work wrong side out and bind off starting at the beginning of the round. (20 stitches to 20 stitches.) Darn in end. Sew on button and follow Filling Instructions as above.
Many thanks to our blissed out model Tia Rowe! If you have any questions concerning the knitting of this design, please contact me at Mailgeane@gmail.com. I'm happy to hear from you! Copyright 2015 by Geanie Helfrich Copyright notice: United States Copyright laws apply to this pattern. It is a Federal Offense to photocopy or redistribute in any way without the expressed permission of the author. Items knit from this pattern are not to be made for resale. If you are confused about Copyright issues, please visit the following website: http: //www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
