Dear AB,

I know that you won’t make this face forever, but for awhile, maybe even for a little while longer, it is the face that you make when you want to play and want to see if someone will play with you. According to your folks, this is because your grandmother plays with you very enthusiastically and makes piggie snorty sounds to you, to which you make that adorable face in return. Because we love this face so much, your uncle and I make it to each other and at random on a pretty regular basis, complete with piggie sounds. I hope that you make this face forever; but when you’re 16 you may not see the humor in it, so I promise that we won’t pester you about it. When I saw this pattern, it just seemed so fitting. Her name is ChiChi Piggie, and I hope you enjoy her nearly as much as I enjoyed making her. You are dearly loved, and we are dearly blessed to have you in our lives. We can’t wait to see you again, hopefully sometime over the summer.

Love, Aunt Mel

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Dear readers,

ChiChi was incredibly fun (and incredibly QUICK) to knit! Tanya at IndigoMuse bills this as a great skill-builder pattern, and she is right on the money - it utilizes a provisional cast on, shortrows, I-cord, a three-needle bind off, etc. and it took me no more than an hour and a half to knit, sight unseen - I didn’t even read the pattern before I started. It is very clear and well written, and Tanya was very accesible and supportive via email both when I had trouble with the download and when I had trouble felting. For some unknown and unexplainable reason, I really wanted to felt ChiChi by hand - which didn’t work out so hot! I even boiled her on the stovetop (boiled ham - yuck!) and had a stupid moment when I dumped a bit of baking soda into the boiling water - which promptly exploded all over my stovetop - oops. I came to my senses after talking to Tanya and threw her in the wash, upon which she promptly felted
Pattern: ChiChi, By IndigoMuse

Benefits: Heifer International - a GREAT pattern, for a GREAT cause, go buy it!!

Yarn: Manos Del Uraguay in Pink - She faded a great deal on the stovetop, but not in the wash. I’m not sure if this was due to the baking soda or due to the high heat, but something to note if you are working with Manos.

Needles: US10.5 Bamboo DPNs (note, I didn’t need any other needles, even for the portion that was knit straight. Because she is so small, she fit nicely on the DPNs)

Gauge: Didn’t bother checking - woo-hoo!

Time to completion: 1 week, but only because of timing. Time to knit was about an hour - an hour and a half, finishing would take an hour or two after she dries. Very quick project - instant gratification!!

Verdict: Love her! I hope the recipient does as well!