Ready to Start Sahara

My KnitPicks replacement needles came in the mail on Monday. I'm going to try to swatch for the Sahara soon, but I haven't decided if I want to finish Green Gable before I actually start another project. I've taken the sleeves off the needles and just finished one of them (so I can see how it looks the next time I try it on). I'm sure it will go much faster now since I only have 180 stitches going.

We've had a huge cool off weather wise and will be having temps in the mid to upper twenties for the next few nights. Guess it's a good thing I've been busy knitting and haven't had time to plant anything yet. I'm trying to decide if I'll actually have a garden this year. Maybe just tomatoes. H has decided that he loves cucumbers now. He even tried some lettuce and said he liked it. He's always loved veggies and fruits, but those are two things that he's never liked. Guess turning 4 changes things (he keeps telling me he can do "XXXX" now that he's four.) He knows his ABC's, can count to 50 (he still misses 15 sometimes) and can spell and write his first name.

Does anyone have any suggestions for teaching kids to knit? My neighbor's daughter is 5 and she wants to learn. I've got yarn and needles for her, but need a little help on the best way to approach this. I've had some adults that have trouble with a slip knot for the long tail cast on (I pulled up a video link for the LTCO and they didn't use a slip knot. Was I taught something weird?)

I had 4 kids in the house (4 mo, 1 yo, and 2 4 yos) for part of the day yesterday. I'm hoping the two little ones take coinciding naps again (2 hours Tuesday, but the littlest slept for 3 hours.) I was able to clean up the house a bit, start laundry and still had some time to knit.

Jenn

No Swatches Here

My patterns came in the mail on Wednesday. I got my Frog Tree and KnitPicks Options out yesterday and prepared to cast on for my swatch for Sahara... Then I realized that one of my #6 needles wouldn't tighten down. I tried it on a different cable, but, apparently, it's stripped. I called them and they're sending another set out right away. Great customer service!

Instead, I started on the Green Gable sweater from Zephyr. I think I can probably finish it before my needles arrive. I'm using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Rue (not quite as bright as it shows here). I only need 3 skeins. $24 for a cute summer sweater? Not bad! I'm using up stash, so the diet has begun. I did order a couple of other patterns from kpixie.com... Wicked by Zephyr and the Little Lacy Top. And the Allhemp3 yarn in Aubergine for the Little Lacy Top. This sweater will be for our trip to New Orleans in May, so I don't really count it towards stash (just buying a sweater that I'll knit versus buying pre-made.)

They'll probably be here today or tomorrow. No late night knitting tonight. I've got to turn in early so that I'm not too tired on our trip to St. Louis tomorrow. We're going to go visit some friends, maybe drop by the Zoo (depending on the weather) or the Science Center and go by Trader Joe's on our way home. We need a little trip to break up our weekend without Doug.

Jenn

Birthday Presents Arrived

My birthday presents to me are here! I got my yarn from Brooks Farm on Friday. It's just as gorgeous as I thought it would be! It's so soft and the colors are wonderful.
It's going to become a Clapotis (never got around to making one when the pattern first came out on Knitty.) I ordered 4 skeins (1080 yards) which should be more than enough. I'm hoping to knit up a scarf as well.

I also got my Knit Picks Options needles. The binder at the top is my current storage system for circulars and DPNs. I'm hoping to hit the office supply store and see if I can find a few more of the storage pages for the KP binder. It's smaller and zips so everything stays in.

I'm working on the second Wine and Roses mitt and I've got a quick pair of Fetchings in DB Cashmerino Aran to finish up. Then I'll get to try out my new needles on my Clapotis. I'm headed to New Orleans (the French Quarter) with Hubby for a work related meeting in May and thought this might come in handy at night while we're walking around.

I also won a 7 oz Cherry Tree Hill Mill ends skein and ordered three skeins of Lorna's Laces sock yarn on ebay from Birds n Yarn . Just got it and it's beautiful as well! Can't wait to make some socks with the Cherry Hill, but I bought the Lorna's Laces with L in mind. Something little girlie... I'll have to give it some thought! (But, it's all sock yarn and doesn't count for stash.)

I guess I'm not doing so well at my knitting from stash resolution. Can I try again starting April 1?? No jokes! Do birthday presents count? As of April 1st I'm on the wagon and will attend all Yarn Anonymous meetings I can!!!

Here's a picture of my recently catalogued stash closet. The drawers aren't all full, but since I got a couple more drawer units I can open them all. A lot of my yarn is left from other projects. It looks like a lot, but I'm sure it's not as much as some. Right? (I do not need to buy any more yarn! I could knit for a very long time without it and will stick to the Knit from Stash rules.)

Here are a few other pictures of my rearranged and straightened knitting/guest/play room. Hubby has a room set aside for his band to use for practicing. I figured that if he was deserving of a whole room that I should AT LEAST get to share one. We enjoy spending time down there.

We're having absolutely balmy weather here (70 today). I hope everyone gets a taste of this sometime soon!

Jenn

PS. I was just checking out Larissa's website and she has the blanket together from the KAL that I joined (my first.) I clicked on the photo to see whose squares were being used for the book... check out the square in the bottom right corner! I think I scared Doug when I started squealing! Thanks Larissa!