This is a great pattern: fun, easy and very striking. Although I like the look of the fo-i-cord along the edges, It does really curl down towards the right-side of the work so vigorous blocking really is recommended. If (when) I do again I’d make these mods:

• use a different stitch at begging and end of each row (garter stitch or a true i-cord)
• make it bigger, at least 20”
• make the gauge looser (US 7 for Bugga!)

This project answers the NW T8.1 Challenge “Encyclopedia: Craft an item that is inspired by the day on which you were born.” Lucky me, I was born on April Fools Day. In Western Civilization, fools are associated with a type of clothing called “Motley”. The first, and most famous, mention of a “motley fool” is in Shakespear’s play As You Like it, Act II, Scene 7:
A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ th’ forest,
A motley fool. A miserable world!
As I do live by food, I met a fool,
Who laid him down and bask’d him in the sun,
And rail’d on Lady Fortune in good terms,
In good set terms- and yet a motley fool.
’Good morrow, fool,’ quoth I; ‘No, sir,’ quoth he,
’Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune.’
And then he drew a dial from his poke,
And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye,
Says very wisely, ‘It is ten o’clock;
Thus we may see,’ quoth he, ‘how the world wags;
’Tis but an hour ago since it was nine;
And after one hour more ‘twill be eleven;
And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe,
And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot;
And thereby hangs a tale.’ When I did hear
The motley fool thus moral on the time,
My lungs began to crow like chanticleer
That fools should be so deep contemplative;
And I did laugh sans intermission
An hour by his dial. O noble fool!
A worthy fool! Motley’s the only wear.

I have always loved this quote because it speaks to the wisdom of the fool. Since my birthday is on April Fools Day, I have spent a lot of time thinking and philosophizing about the fool archetype. I am “A Motley Fool”, indeed.

Precious Team Tie-in and T8.1 Team Unity: Team Unity is Mirkwood. When I saw this SG Bugga! in Atalaya Butterfly it made me think of the woodland elves, who dwell in Mirkwood Forest. As the party is stumbling through the dark forest, tired, lost, hungry and thirsty they see firelight in the distance. As the approach they see and hear a feast and great merriment. However, every time they step into the circle of light the lights go out and the elves disappear in a flash. This mischief seems to me to be in the spirit of April Fools Day. I can just hear the elves laughing “April Fools!” after they’ve cut the lights and disappeared the food, wine, fire and merriment. Poor Bilbo and the dwarves, left alone in the dark - I’m sure they do not appreciate the joke.