http://www.amitymama.com/vb/amity-mama-market/311258-help-my-best-friend.html#post2242645

And, can I use Lion wool, the natural stuff in the big skein?

Yes, you can use that wool and you can dye it with food grade dyes and koolaid if you like. I have a knit in the round, Pickypants pattern from little turtle Knits that is great. It's shorts or pants and gives all kinds of options for finishing. The first thing I ever knit was shorts from this pattern and they came out nicely. Now, the fishermans wool is "thinner" than what the pattern called for so I should have done a gauge swatch. However, I just went with the stitches used for the next size up and it worked out fine for us.

Thanks. I am using fisherman's wool for the first one. I am using punk knitters pattern. I would love to get LTK's pattern but since I am not planning more kids, best friend is not and my sister is not, I can't see investing in a pattern for two or three soakers. I am eyeing a couple of the other patterns, particularly the sweater pattern. I love knitting sweaters.

There is a free pattern for pants by Danielle of Doodles jewles. I can't recall where it's linked though. Maybe TinyBird which also has a free soaker pattern. Then there is the Curly Purly soaker pattern.