You gotta love it when things go even better than expected.
Whiskey, my foster dog since early December, went to his new home on Friday. Here he is with his new sister, Domino, a beautiful Basenji/Border Collie Mix. The weather was perfect, so the dogs got to tear around the backyard to get acquainted.
Whiskey’s new mama, Patty, has been looking for a new friend for both herself and Domino. She lost her Jack Russel Terrier a few months back, and Domino has missed him terribly. Some dogs were never meant to be only-dogs. Whiskey is the same way.
Whiskey has a lot to learn from Domino. Because she’s half Border Collie, she is much more responsive to commands than any purebred Basenji I’ve ever seen. This is also because Patty is really good with dogs. She adores them, but she also doesn’t take any BS. I like her style.
Letting go of a foster is tough, but it’s so much easier when I know the placement is good, and the dog is going to get all of the love and guidance they need and deserve.
Patty said to Whiskey that day, “You’re moving from Basenji Disneyland (aka my house) to Basenji Disneyworld!”. Perfect.
I spoke with Patty on the phone yesterday, and Whiskey has settled into her home faster than we ever expected. He and Domino have very similar energy levels, so they play and play until they both pass out on the sofa. Patty said that Domino has broken out of her depression, and is finally a happy dog again.
Whiskey is a lucky dog to have his two new ladies, Patty and Domino, so in love with him. I’m a lucky foster mom to watch my little guy start such a happy new life.
Best of luck and XOXO to Patty, Domino, and Whiskey!
Wendy H. is a Basenji Rescue coordinator here in Austin. I went to her house yesterday to drop off some extra doggie supplies I had here. And to smell some puppies.
Wendy is fostering this mama Basenji, named Basil, and her puppies. When Wendy picked up Basil to start fostering her, Basil was very pregnant, and actually started having puppies IN THE CAR, on the way home. She had 6 puppies total, and all six survived! They are now just over 5 weeks old.
Basil has turned out to be a great mama, and a sweet Basenji. Wendy has already found a forever home for Basil once she’s finished feeding and training her babies.
I’m sure this goes without saying. They are insanely cute.
These puppies are half Basenji, half some other breed. I don’t think paternity has been 100% determined. It’s hard to say how they will look yet, since they’re still in that flop-eared piglet stage. Regardless, they will be available for adoption once they are old enough to go to their forever homes.
If you’re interested in adopting a puppy (especially if you live in Texas), let me know, and I can get you in touch with Wendy. Or you can watch the Basenji Rescue website for more information.
I got Ike when he was still a puppy, which means we have a long history together. He has a lot of responsibility here at Verypink Headquarters, as he’s the Alpha Dog and in charge of keeping the other dogs in-line. Unfortunately, he’s the laziest Alpha EVER, and he’s cool with allowing a lot of shenanigans to go on under his watchful eye.
I believe he plans to spend his birthday the same way he has spent the morning so far –
One long nap, with breaks to eat and go for walkies.
Interesting note about Basenjis – because they are primitive dogs, the females only go into heat once a year, all at about the same time. The result is that Basenjis are born in December and January, with few exceptions. Ike’s birthday is one of the last Basenji birthdays of the season.
(The deal says “Austin”, but I’ve seen on Facebook that people are buying it all over the US.) Since Amazon sells almost everything, it’s like FREE MONEY. You can also use it to buy my eBook with $10 left over.
Learn by watching! 1. Get your pattern – $8.00 US via PayPal
2. Get your yarn and needles – worsted weight yarn and size 5 US double-pointed needles.
3. Get your knit on – the pattern references the videos below to get you through the tricky parts. (You must have an internet connection to view the videos.)
Video 1 – Working with double-pointed needles and starting the cuff.
Video 2 – Dividing for the heel flap and knitting the heel flap.
Learn the tricks of working fair isle colorwork in this quick-knit cap; including using circular needles, chart reading, keeping good tension, and using double-pointed needles. Pattern includes links to three instructional videos to get you through the tricky parts.
Sizes: Baby size – about 14” around (stretches to about 16”), Adult size – about 18” around (stretches to about 22”)
Materials Needed:
• Yarn: Two colors of worsted-weight yarn, Cascade 220 or Cascade 220 Superwash are perfect. Less than 60 grams of main color for either size hat, and less than 15 of contrasting color.
• Needles: Size 7 US 16” circular needles and size 7 US double-pointed needles
• Additional Materials: stitch marker, tapestry needle
• Gauge: 5.5 sts/inch
Pattern + links to three instructional videos is $6.00 via PayPal.
Hand knit Christmas Stockings are perfectly awesome on their own…but when you think about it, they’re just big socks, right? When you learn the techniques of making a stocking, you’re also learning what you need to know to follow any cuff-down sock pattern! That’s why I’m offering this as a video lesson.
In this lesson, you will learn:
• working in-the-round on circular and double-pointed needles
• changing yarn colors
• sock basics, like working a heel flap, turning the heel, gusset decreases
• duplicate stitch embroidery on your finished stocking
Materials Needed:
• About 200 yards of worsted weight yarn (the samples are knit with Wool-Ease in green and cream or red and cream)
• Size 7 US needles 16” circular needles, size 7 US double-pointed needles
• 3 stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Scrap yarn for embroidery (optional)
• Gauge – 4.5 stitches/1 inch
Pattern + links to seven instructional videos $8.00 via PayPal.
Fingerless GLOVES, not mittens – don’t be fooled! Fingerless gloves are a much better fit. They lovingly wrap and cuddle each finger, so that there is no unfortunate gaping around the hand.
There are some tricky bits to gloves, so I’ve made this pattern available two ways – either as a pattern with instructional videos, or as a pattern only. For these gloves you’ll need about 200 yards of worsted-weight yarn (in stripes colors of your choosing) and size US 7 double-pointed needles.
The pattern + links to five instructional videos is $8.00 via PayPal.
The pattern alone is $3.00 via PayPal.
Here is the first video of the instructional series, as a preview:
Magic loop knitting is a way of knitting socks (or any tiny tube) with a long circular needle instead of double-pointed needles.
In this pattern you will see links to seven instructional videos that will explain each section in detail, and help get you through the tricky parts. All you need is less than 200 yards of worsted-weight yarn and size US 5 circular needle with at least a 24″ cord. (A longer cord is even better.)
This pattern is for a worsted-weight anklet sock. We’re using heavier yarn and bigger needles than most knitted socks, so that you can quickly learn and work through the elements of Magic Loop sock knitting. The techniques you learn here will set you up for working with all kinds of other sock patterns.
Funny thing…I’ve taught hundreds of people to knit in person, and I always get them going on a first scarf project when I do. I’ve also taught thousands of people to knit online through videos, but I’ve never before offered a good first project! Time to remedy that.
This series of seven videos is made to accompany the Learn to Knit Your First Scarf pattern. I recommend this pattern as a good first project for all beginning knitters. We learn slip knot, casting-on, knit stitch, purl stitch, binding off, pattern reading, and how to alternate knits and purls in the same row.
Materials Needed:
• one skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted (widely available at craft stores)
• size 10.5 US needles (preferably wooden ones)
• a tapestry needle for weaving in your ends
Pattern + links to 7 instructional videos is $8.00 US via PayPal.
Part 7 of the video series is a private video, and the link is provided within the pattern.
In this pattern you will see links to four instructional videos that will explain each section in detail, and help get you through the tricky parts.
This pattern is for a worsted-weight anklet sock. We’re using heavier yarn and bigger needles than most knitted socks, so that you can quickly learn and work through the elements of toe-up sock knitting. The techniques you learn here will set you up for working with all kinds of other sock patterns.
For this pattern you’ll need less than 200 yards of worsted-weight yarn, size US 5 double-pointed needles, and a size G or H crochet hook (for the provisional cast-on).
In this pattern you will see links to five instructional videos that will explain each section in detail, and help get you through the tricky parts of knitting a raglan sweater.
Sizes: 6 mo, 12 mo, 18 mo, and 24 mo Needles: size US 8 circular needles, 16″ or 24″, size US 8 double-pointed needles Yarn: about 440 yards of Cascade 220 or Cascade 220 Superwash Additional Materials: tapestry needle
My great-great aunt Ida used to knit up something to this for me and my sisters when we were kids. She was on to something – a little wool around your neck makes a huge difference in how warm you feel throughout the day. Cute, quick knit in bulky yarn with size 13 needles. Can be knit up in an afternoon, and will be keeping your neck warm by evening!
Even though this is is a quick-knit, there are a few tricky techniques that are clearly explained in the video tutorial.
Materials Needed:
• 70 yards of bulky yarn; or 100 yards of worsted, held double stranded
• Size 13 needles
• Tapestry needle
Pattern + links to 3 instructional videos $6 US via PayPal
We’re currently working on updating verypink to make the site easier to navigate, and to allow me to separate the blogging part from the videos and patterns.
If you’re here from YouTube and you’re looking for the patterns used in the videos, please visit “Designs and Free Patterns“. That will take you to all of the patterns available, including video tutorials.
If you’re here to see a cute Basenji, here you go.
