After church, I went to lunch with friends from my old church. It was wonderful to see them, and we had long, interesting conversations. I must do that again soon.

At one point, the talk turned to Intelligent Design (it wasn’t my fault, as it happens; the librarian had perversely taken up listening to the Phyllis Schlafly Hour on the radio, and it had come up there). Someone mentioned the favorite ID argument: living creatures are too complicated for evolution to account for.

One of the chemists then offered his favorite argument against ID. The chimpanzee genome project was recently completed. Using the number of harmful mutations found in the human genome project, a mathematical projection was done of the number of harmful mutations that should — based on evolutionary theory — be found in the chimpanzee genome. The prediction was right on. “How many harmful mutations,” the chemist asked, “Would you anticipate finding, based on the theory of Intelligent Design?”

Now, here’s an Intelligent Design: the bawk. I asked the designer where she got the name, but I have not had an answer yet. This example of a bawk is from Rebecca Home #7. The free online pattern linked above is simpler, but essentially the same idea. I made one from that pattern, but added ribs all around for a better fit.

Here is a tutorial for making up your own bawk pattern (I have gotten used to the name, though, so I’ll still call it a bawk).

The online pattern bawk is the striped one — I made it in a variegated Wool-Ease. The others are all the Rebecca pattern, the gray in Wool-Ease and the others in Peruvian wool. The pink one is chubby because it actually contains a hot water bottle, while the others are empty husks. Well, maybe not husks. Maybe sweaters. In fact, Algielerept (speaking of names, I know I have that wrong, and will probably never get it right, but you know who you are) points out that a bawk, with strategically-placed holes for the legs, would make an excellent dog sweater.

This could be the next evolutionary step for the bawk.

Toby is not amused, but we have to admit that he has just the figure for it.

 

 

 

 

Imagine Nadia in it. Or your own hapless pet. Are all the animals getting nervous?

Mine have nothing to worry about — I must make three more for humans, and I think that is going to be my limit. But if anyone else makes these into dog sweaters, I totally want to see the pictures.

 

 

Here is the first foot of the second pair of Fuzzy Feet. Vital statistics: Hollyberry Wool of the Andes, 10.5 circular needles with a “Magic Loop.”

No adjustments this time — I’m just following the pattern. #2 daughter reports that hers (the first pair I made) are cozy and keeping her toes toasty as she plots dreadful comeuppances for her advisor and the person who is supposed to be in charge of fundraising for the choir tour.