Which brings me to one of the bargains I picked up at that warehouse sale I was telling you about last time. Among other things, I snagged two deeply discounted balls of Rowan Kid Classic in a creamy café au lait colour, just the right amount to make this:

Specs
Pattern: Hottie by Kim Hargreaves, from Rowan Number 28 (one of my all-time favourite Rowan mags)

Materials: 2 balls of Rowan Kid Classic (76% Lambswool, 26% Kid Mohair, 4% Nylon) in shade # 816.
Mods: I made 2 major changes to the pattern. I skipped the frilly neck edge for a more classic rib. I also knit it in reverse stocking stitch for a more nubbly texture.

This hot-water bottle has not left me all weekend. I just sat around, hugging and petting it like it was my beloved childhood pet. I think my husband was starting to feel neglected and just a little bit jealous. Of the hot-water bottle.
Welcome to my sad, sad life.

(It's not lost on me that while everyone else is blogging about cool summer knits/cotton and linen fibres/daffodils and cherry blossoms, I'm rhapsodizing about a mohair hot-water bottle cover. Seriously, why didn't I knit this in October?)
Not to beleaguer the point, but when I came across this cute but unflattering bit of knitting via this blog , I thought to myself "hmm... could I get away with wearing this to work?". To be fair, I think these belly-warmers look adorable on beanpole japanese models. Needless to say I am not a beanpole japanese model.