Step Into My Thimble

I have finally got Kyoto on the needles, correctly! It took three cast-ons to get the 180 stitches right. Even after counting them once with someone to help.

I like the greenish color, and the Sierra yarn seems to be really nice to work with so far.

And the back of Banff almost got done at the KIP last night. I’ll have it done today for sure.

Other goals for the weekend include getting my stitch markers ready to be sold here, and (maybe) adding more stuff to my finished object gallery. Because there is more to add from 2003!

Due to weather conditions, Brother of Boyfriend (Marty) will not be coming tonight after all. He was going to show up at 3 a.m. or something, because he likes that drive time, between here and Detroit, better than daytime. It makes sense because I-94 can get outta control. Frankly I didn’t care about the arrival in the wee hours as much as I was dreading cleaning the house tonight after work! What a bad hostess I am. The house is our total January Bear Cave right now…

But anyway, maybe there will be another audition for an NBC comedy show, Marty! You are welcome any time, and Eugene at Trader Vic’s said he’s been waiting for you. Oh and while I am addressing you directly here, when are you going to put a commenting feature on your web page?

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Lately I have noticed that my hair has grown some kind of unusual, inexplicable dent. Yes, a dent in my hair! What’s up with that? I have theorized that maybe it’s because that is where I tuck the end of the towel after I get out of the shower–but I paid attention this morning and it’s not. It is just there on the left side, FOR NO GOOD REASON. And by the way, the right side does not have this.

And in other news, my future mother in law gave me a tiny baby off her giant 17-year-old cactus last Christmas. What do you know, it’s had babies of its own! There are six of them. I am tempted to re-pot, but I am going to try to let them get a little bigger before doing so. With the radiator heat in our place, the cacti are very happy!

That’s all. Must…knit…now…

Some stuff from ebay got here yesterday. I was really taking a chance on it–only about $30 (with shipping!) for nine skeins of hand-spun, hand-dyed 100% wool. And it’s actually quite nice, AND it doesn’t smell weird!

Here’s a swatch:

It’s kind of a purpley-blue with some gray, white, and pink. Really dense, two-ply…who knows what it will become!

Banff update: I’m about to start the decreases on the back. If that Crystal Palace needle would lay flat, you might be able to tell (but it is getting better).

Oh yeah, and I made a pile of stitch markers. I’m bringing these to the KIP this week if anybody wants one. Then, maybe they’ll be for sale on this web page. There’s one with a little giraffe on it!

Bonus image: My cat breaking in the new yarn.

Banff is on the needles.

I figured I could start it first because I’ll get bored of it in a few days and want to start another thing…and that will be Kyoto! So what you see is three rows in Wildflowers, and the rest in the Bing Cherry. That was about three hours of knitting, with breaks, so I think this will go pretty fast. Oh and I decided to use US10 needles, but they are new Crystal Palace brand, and if the kinks don’t work out eventually I might have to switch.

Also I finally made it to Penzeys Spices this morning, so look out Mariko, some good stuff is coming your way! (Note: we tried it and it’s a lot like this but BETTER!)

Now it’s off to the Field Museum, in the pretty snow. We’ve lived here 1 1/2 years and have done no museum-going yet. For shame!

Phew! Thanks to Carolyn I got all my yarn wound up last night. It took forever, due to my ball-winder-&-swift incapability. Someday I’ll learn how to do it right.

Anyway this means I can cast on for either Banff, Kyoto, or…a flower washcloth? Or a Koigu little scarf thingy?! Which one???