I've never had this happen to me -- altho' I've certainly buried enough pets in my day! I imagine modern fabric may fade slowly underground, so the remains may be less 'fresh' than you fear. I'd be tempted to leave it there, and simply put a special plant on the spot so you don't run into it again. Maybe bulbs, or a shallow rooted plant that marks the spot. Maybe a little sculpture -- or a bird bath. (The bird's revenge!) If it's a really awkward spot, or you have your heart set on gardening in that spot, I'd bribe your boyfriend to do it. Dig carefully around the edges, and use a large shovel, so you can get the whole body up in one load. Before you bring up the body, prepare a hole somewhere else in the yard, so you can re-inter the body. (If it was an animal somebody loved enough to bury with its toys, you wouldn't want to just dump it in the trash.) You might want to plant something special over the new site, like a small shrub or something, so the next gardener doesn't have the same surprise. Because we all know how cats dislike being disturbed when they're sleeping!

Alright, I sat down with my needles and yarn and the pattern works with a variation or two. Also, the wording is a bit odd on the second row, which may be why it isn't working for some of you. I am changing the wording just a bit. See if this helps: Cast on 5 stitches. Round 1: Knit around. Place a marker to mark the beginning of the round. Round 2: Knit into the front and back of each stitch around (10 stitches). Round 3 (and all odd numbered rounds): Knit around. Round 4: *K1, YO*, repeat between * * around to marker (20 stitches). Round 6: *K2, YO*, repeat between * * around to marker (30 stitches). Round 8: *K3, YO*, repeat between * * around to marker (40 stitches). Round 10: *K4, YO*, repeat between * * around to marker (50 stitches). And so on, until you've reached the size you wish the blanket to be. It's really very simple, albeit awkward for the first few rounds. I would like to offer a couple of tips. When I am making something circular, I like to place markers at the beginning of each section (in this case there are 10). I make the beginning of the round a different color or type of marker. Also, once you get to the point that you have a substantial number of stitches on the needles, I suggest you move them around the needles so that you never have a YO at the end of a needle, as you do in the beginning, because it is very easy for this to either slip off the needle accidentally, or you may even think you have made a mistake (because it just looks weird hanging there at the end of the needle) and you slip it off on purpose.

acraftylady, Thank you for checking, but that is "Award Winning KNIT Afghans." The pattern I want is in "Award Winning BABY Afghans." calicokitty, Thank you for the info. I found the seller you mentioned, and there certainly are two books available. Unfortunately, I have been unemployed since May, so I can't really justify over $13 (including shipping) when I only want one pattern. I already have the perfect yarn in my stash. I will have to wait and hope the book is available when I have a little extra cash again if no one is willing and able to share it.

Thanks again, Larri. You’ve given me a lot of good ideas and fuel for thought. Just the idea of turning a simple rolled hem, has given me room to think more broadly on this binding task. I haven’t yet purchased any wooly nylon, but I think it will/can work in a sewing machine. I looked into decorative stitches with just a sewing maching — my serger only does a (forgot name again) ~ overcast likestitch, overlock stitch. But I remembered that Aside from machines with fancy “embroidery” stitches, I also have a Distinctive(r) Braiding Foot. And as I thought more about the hem/binding, I appreciated that since there is a lot going on with the colorful floral pattern, anything fancy on the hem might just get lost. So I may just make a 3/4th inch hem (or 1/2 inch) then just stitch something like a machined feather or Greek key, duck or tulip stitch atop it. I saw a video of an Indian sewist using a very inexpensive plastic Sm (sewing machine) to create a simple binding design of two opposing scallop pattern that made an oval. like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qeQft7ZBiA (Near end of video) Thanks to you, I am more confident that I can come up with something nice. At least I can just do something reasonable and get it finished. Quilters have a saying, something like “finished is better than unfinished ‘perfect’.” I will try to post a photo of the end result. Thanks again for helping me get unstuck.