Since yarn doesn’t count if it’s not going into my stash, I can still buy yarn without feeling like I’m breaking the rules, right?
Nicole has been doing such a great job with her knitting. There’s a Hobby Lobby and a JoAnn’s in Joplin so I think every trip there, she buys more yarn. She’s made hats and gloves and scarves for Christmas presents and they all look so good. Yesterday I was talking to her and asked if she was ready to try a sweater. Oh, yes! That’s one thing I love about that girl – she’ll try anything, and she tries it with great enthusiasm and she sticks with it til she succeeds.
Off the knitting subject for a second . . Nicole had no interest in cooking. Chad loves to cook so it wasn’t a problem for him to do the cooking but sometimes he works 12, 13 or even 14 hours but cooking is a hobby for him and he seemed always happy to do it. A couple of years ago, I asked Nicole if she would use a crockpot, trying to generate some interest in cooking. She wanted one of those Ninja cookers so I got that and several cookbooks and she’s used it quite a bit. Then I asked her if she wanted a Cuisinart pressure cooker and she said “sure”. She has cooked almost every night they’re home and she’s made several recipes that I want to try. She was the first to make the chicken wings (but she used legs) and they loved it. Last night she made the Chicken Enchilada Pasta. I’ve been wanting to make that and Nicole said it was delicious! I think I’ve tricked her into liking to cook! 🙂
Back to knitting .. I found a couple of patterns that I thought might be good to start with. First, was a sweater for Addie – Walton Pullover.
Walton Pullover
Making child size sweaters is a good idea for a first sweater. First, they’re small but not so small that they’re hard to work with, and if you make a few mistakes, kids don’t care and they outgrow them quickly enough so you don’t have to keep looking at it and remembering your mistake. Nicole chose purple and gold yarns for Walton Pullover. Those folks can’t get enough purple and gold. Chad loves LSU.
Then I sent her a link to Tea with Jam and Bread and she loved that so I ordered yarn for that too.
Tea with Jam and Bread
This is the sweater she’s going to make for herself. She chose a grayish tan, a coral and a turquoise for her sweater. I ordered a bit more yarn for a gift but nothing for me to keep. It will be fun receiving a “Box of Fun” from The Loopy Ewe, even if I don’t get to keep any of it. In fact, it’s probably more fun seeing Nicole loving to knit than it would ever be to get yarn for myself.
Tracy says
There are two things that you have encouraged me to do recently. I made your pork loin with saurkraut in the slow cooker yesterday and it was a big hit. And it seems that my family was looking at my Amazon wish list for gift ideas. As a result I will be receiving two yogurt makers tomorrow. I figure one can go back to Amazon and turn into the electric pressure cooker. Thanks for all your encouragement this year!
Judy Laquidara says
You’re going to love the yogurt maker but you’re going to love the pressure cooker too. Merry Christmas to you!
Erin says
Love the patterns and love the fact that Nicole is so creative! She is a wonderful DIL! So happy for you as well as she, having a great MIL!
As far as yarn what’s a good one that will go in washer and dryer, so no worries In shrinking, for sweaters! I just might try one of these patterns but also like your January sweater pattern! I have never made a sweater!
Merry Christmas to you, Vince, your pets and entire family!
Judy Laquidara says
You can do it! I don’t feel real qualified to answer your question about wash and wear because I have the same questions. I’ve about decided that any sweater with wool, even Superwash wool, will need special care. Maybe some more experienced knitters will jump in and answer the question.
Bev Gunn says
Judy, it counts as in your stash until you give it to Nicole! Mayhaps you like it and decide to get her something else (or more) and knit that up for her-has been known to happen! Love the new quilt pattern-still want to do last year’s QAL, but with foot surgery next week, everything will be either hand sewing, knitting, reading or crochet for the the next several weeks.
Haven’t been able to get access to Laura Aylor’s QAL yet, just guess I will give up-didn’t know I had to be a member of Ravelry first….Hint, hint. Do have the first 4 rows done and then decided to get rid of the stocking cap I was working on-hope to finish it tonight. (goes with a scarf my daughter started ??? years ago and the scarf was too far along to pull out, so finished it and had enough yarn left over for a stocking cap-then that yarn is history!)
My pressure cooker came today, the books yesterday, so guess I have no excuse for not fixing food “because it takes too long”. Thanks for all you insight and advise!
A Blessed Christmas to you and yours. God is good!
Bev
Judy Laquidara says
It will get mailed off to her the next day after it arrives here. She chose the colors so it’s her yarn. Except that I ordered some for someone else, and I have other things to send to them, I would have had it sent directly to her.
Bev Gunn says
Wow! Great self control! I may need lessons after the 2 big boxes I got last week! (Enough yarn to overflow the storage area aloted to yarn! Guess I will just have to knit some of it up after foot surgery!
Quilterbee says
Merry Christmas Judy and Vince.
I loved the chicken mittens and can’t wait to see pictures of Addie wearing them.