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It's well in to the dry season here in Thailand. A dry hot wind is making this old house creak and groan tonight. It's a good house to be in in this hot humid weather, windows all around to let in the wind, and high ceilings so the air can circulate. My grandfather built this house and 5 generations have walked it's rooms so far. I've never written down how much I love this house with it's ancient shutters and teakwood floors polished with generations of footsteps. Everywhere I go I know that this house is waiting for me with it's ageless shadows, waiting for me to come home.

Mini Bikini

Mari's bikini, originally uploaded by dumplingrrl.

Forgive the ratty couch sofa. We're going to the beach this month and I wanted to make Mari something to wear while she lounges by the pool. I had a bit of cotton yarn left over so I decided to make her an itty bitty bikini. This sassy little number features and triangular granny square top and stretchy knit bottoms. Great for lying around on the beach or nursing by the pool. Alas, it is not poop proof.

Mini Bikini

Yarn: Any worsted weight cotton yarn. 2 colors.
Gauge: 16 st. to 4 inch
Hook: 6/0 in Japan size (I’m not so sure how that works out in US size though. It measures about 3mm)
Needle: US no. 5
It's sized for a six month old baby. To make it bigger use bigger yarn and hook/needle and add a few st to the cast on for the bottom, dec to only maybe 15 st and inc until it covers your babe's but. It's knitted flat so you can try it on as you go along.)

Bikini Top.

Using Main color Ch 3. sl st into first ch to make loop.

Rnd 1: ch 3, 2 dc in to center loop, ch 2, (3 dc in to center loop, 2 ch) rep once more. Join with sl st to last chain on first ch column.

Rnd 2: sl st to first 2 ch space. Ch 3. 2 dc into the 2 ch space. Ch 2. 3 dc in to same 2 ch space. Ch 1. (3 dc in to the next 2 ch space. Ch 2. 3 dc into same 2 ch space. Ch 1) rep once. Join with sl st to top of first chain column.

Rnd 3: sl st to next ch 2 space. Change to contrast color. work 3 sc in to ch 2 space. (Sc in to each st until next ch 2 space, work 3 sc in to ch 2 space) Repeat once. Sc to end of rnd. sl st to join.

Rnd 4: (Sc, dc, sc in to next st. sl st in to next st) repeat until you’ve edged 2 sides of the triangle. (About 10 scallops.)
Break yarn and bind off.

Now I sl st back to the middle of the last scallop and chain st a cord of about 10 in. (This is just a long string of chain stitches.)

Make another one like the first but instead of making a chain cord break the yarn leaving a 6 in. tail. Use the tail to sew the new triangle to the last one. Attach the yarn to the right bottom edge of second triangle and chain a 10 in. cord. Break yarn

Attach the yarn to the top of one triangle and chain a neck chain. Try it on and check if it’s the right length. Attach to top of other triangle. Weave in ends.

Bikini bottom

(This is knitted to provide stretch and then edged with crochet. It’s started from the front and decreased for the crotch area and increased for the back. Then the crochet edge is worked for back and then you come back and do the front edge.)
Using Main color CO 20.
Row 1: k2, p to 2 st from end, k2
Row 2: k2, k2tog, k to 4 st from end, k2tog through back loop, k2
Repeat last 2 rows until 10 st left on needle.
Finish on wrong side.
Next row: k to end.
Next row: k2, p to 2 st from end, k2
Continue until piece measures 6 in. finish on wrong side.
Next row: k2, inc1, k to 2 st from end, inc1, k2
Next row: k2, p to 2 st from end, k2
Continue until 34 st on needle. Finish on wrong side.

Hold with right side facing you. Change to Contrast color and using crochet hook sc into each st on needle. When you get to the end make a chain cord that measures 10 in. break yarn and weave in end.

Make a 10 in. chain cord. Hold the piece with right side facing you. Attach the cord to the beginning of the last row of sc. (Sc, dc, sc in to next st. sl st in to next st) repeat to end. Break off yarn and weave in ends.

Repeat for the front edge. Hold with right side facing you. Using contrast color and crochet hook sc in to each st of the CO edge. When you get to the end make a chain cord that measures 10 in. break yarn and weave in end.

Make a 10 in. chain cord. Hold the piece with right side facing you. Attach the cord to the beginning of the last row of sc. (Sc, dc, sc in to next st. sl st in to next st) repeat to end. Break off yarn and weave in ends.