Upcoming Furman Knitting and Crochet Classes!

Looking for knitting and crochet classes in the Greenville, South Carolina area?  Is teaching yourself from You Tube Videos just not working out?  They don't work for most, because about half of those videos do not tell you enough about what they are doing, and/or they are teaching it to you the wrong way.  Plus, they do not provide assistance and feedback that an in-person instructor can provide.  You get what you pay for. :)

Instead, why don't you try taking classes with a Certified Knit and Crochet Instructor?  I have years of experience, and have gone through certification with the Craft Yarn Council of America, which means I have had to prove to master teachers that I am capable of teaching others.  I also have outstanding reviews from past Furman students.

I have both basic knit and crochet classes coming up at Furman this Fall.  Check them out!

Furman Learning For You Fall Schedule

Beginning Crochet   NEW!

Have you always wanted to learn to crochet? Join us to learn the very basics: picking yarn and hook sizes, chaining, single and double crochet, changing colors, finishing and weaving in ends. No experience necessary! The skills taught are enough for the students to be able to complete a basic scarf or washcloth. Materials list online.



Knitting: Beginning   NEW!

How better to spend a cold winter evening than around the fireplace learning to knit? Whether you have little experience or none, join instructor Heather Weber for a fireside knitting class to explore the very basics of knitting: casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, changing colors, and binding off. You will be able to complete a basic scarf. Materials list online.




Knitting: Keep Knitting   NEW!

Continue knitting with Instructor Heather Weber, who will conduct a fireside class to help you increase, decrease, gauge your stitches, choose yarns, and join in the round. You will be able to complete a small project. Materials list online.

Join us! I promise you will have fun.

On Vacation

It is funny how I need to go away in order to get more of my own personal knitting done.  Restarted on my Golden Vintage Sweater, which I believe I last knit on well over one year ago.  I am doing it in Brown Sheep's Cotton in black.  So it is not much to look at picture-wise right now, since black yarn does not photograph well!  Having to go through figuring out whether I added an extra inch or so, or what is going on with it.  Usually I take copious notes on every pattern I knit, but I am not sure about this one!  Need to find some time while the dudes are asleep and I still have the energy to figure it out.  Those moments are getting harder and harder to find!

I also had to frog back 3 rows of my linen sweater.  I know, hard to believe that a knitter with 10 years of experience still makes basic mistakes.  But trust me, we all forget what we are doing and go on knitting cruise control once in awhile.  Next thing you know, you have to frong away!

Did get to visit Yarnworks LYS in Gainesville, FL.  Picked up some Juniper Farms Dappled Findley yarn in the Wisteria colorway.  I hope someday to actually knit one of these with it.

Was sad to see that the Hanks Yarn and Fiber store in Gainesville closed down. Those ladies were so nice to us when we visited years ago.  Haldecraft is on Facebook and Etsy, so you can find her indie dyed yarns there!

Gearing up for Summer!

Just because the weather is getting warmer, it does not mean you have to stop knitting!  I like to switch to knitting with cotton and linen and their blends.  Even some silks.  I have some of my students working on their first sweaters, cotton tank tops.  It is a great way to start tackling shaping without having to worry about sleeves or a complicated collar. Why don't you try it?  Feel free to contact me for pattern suggestions, or if you want to take knitting or crochet classes.

That reminds me.  I am getting a crochet teaching certification, so I am going to start teaching crochet!  I have also published my first crochet pattern, Fluff Flops!  They are really easy, and are another great idea for a quick summer project.  It would be a fun activity for girl scouts or a gift for anyone who is still a girl at heart.

Feel free to join me for the $5 Yarn Night at Michael's on Laurens Rd.  It is on May 30th at 6:30 pm.  How is $5 Yarn Night different than a sit and stitch?  You get more support from a certified teacher! I am there to help you through any problems you are having in understanding a pattern, or doing a technique.  Come join us!

Will be posting again soon on my personal summer projects!

New Beginning Knitting Classes in Greenville

As some of you know, I am teaching beginning knitting classes at Furman and Michael's.  New classes at Furman for the Spring/Summer schedule will be announced on their Learning For You website on March 11th, and published in the Greenville Journal on March 15th.  Classes at Michael's happen every month!  So just take a look at either of these sources and sign up.  They fit all budgets and time needs.

Need Knitting Classes in Greenville SC?

If you are looking for knitting instruction, I am pleased to provide it! I specialize in teaching beginners, and I really enjoy doing so. Just contact me via this blog and we can get started.

I am also pleased to announce I will be teaching a basic Double Knitting Class at Wool Over Your Eyes in January.  I think the Clemson fans will like this headband sample that is the class project, but I have also charted out a big C for the Gamecock Fans, a snowflake, "Ho Ho" for Christmas, and a smiley face.  Be on the lookout for that class announcement.

You can also find me on Facebook at Yarngineer LLC.

Oh my....

Looks like blogger has a new interface, and it is very, very different. I am going to try to muddle my way through this until it becomes better looking.  It is also taking a lot longer to post things!

Going to post a pattern for the Beginning Knitting Part II class. The original inspiration pattern can be found on Raverly, and is linked below. Many thanks to Martina for allowing me to share her pattern. That is an important thing when it comes to intellectual property; be sure to give credit to those that you sourced from or were inspired by.

The Deuce Clutch

Adapted for Teaching Beginners by: Heather Weber

Original Inspiration Design: “Cosmetic Clutch ‘Christina’” by Martina Hees, © 2011, www.tichiro.net

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Techniques Used:

Cast on – Knitted Cast On or Long Tail Cast On

Knit, purl

Garter Stitch (knit or purl every row)

Stockinette Stitch (knit on right side; purl on wrong side)

Seed Stitch (alternating knit and purl stitches)

Two Row Buttonhole

K2TOG (knit two together)

SSK (slip, slip, knit)

PTBL (purl through the back loop)

Bind off

Seaming with Mattress Stitch

Weave in loose ends

Finished Size:

Yarn: 1 Skein of Worsted Weight 100% Wool, 100g/219 yds

Needles: US Size 7 circular, 24” or longer

Notions: Tapestry needle, Stitch markers, Button

Gauge: Horizontal gauge is 5 st/in on US Size 7 needles

Creating the Clutch Body:

CO 50 Stitches using Knitted or Long Tail Cast On.

Rows 1-5 (Garter Stitch rows): Knit.

Rows 6: Purl.

Seed stitch pattern:

Row 7: K1, *K1, P1 repeat from * until the last stitch, K1.

Row 8: P1, *P1, K1 repeat from * until the last stitch, P1.

Repeat seed stitch pattern until piece measures 5 inches from cast on edge (approximately 40 rows), ending in a wrong side row.  Purl one row, then knit one row to create a bottom fold for the purse.  Restart seed stitch pattern for another 5 inches from bottom fold, ending in a wrong side row.  Now purl 5 rows, knit one row.

Creating the Clutch Flap:

Restart your row numbering.  The clutch flap will be in stockinette stitch, with a garter stitch border.

Rows 1, 3, 5: Knit.

Rows 2, 4, 6: K4, Purl until last 4 stitches, K4.

Next row (RS): K4, SSK knitwise, work until 6 stitches remain, K2TOG, K4. (48 stitches)

Next row (WS): K4, Purl until last 4 stitches, K4.

Repeat these two rows for a total of 13 times, ending with 24 stitches total on a WS row.

Button hole:

RS Row: K4, SSK, K5, bind off 3 stitches, work until 6 stitches remain, K2TOG, K4. (19 stitches)

WS Row: K4, P6, PTBL; turn work and using the knitted cast on, CO 3 stitches, twisting the stitch before placing it on the left needle; PTBL, P5, K4.  (22 stitches) You must twist these stitches in order to tighten up the stitches around the cast on.

Next row (RS): K4, SSK knitwise, work until 6 stitches remain, K2TOG, K4. (20 stitches)

Next row (WS): K4, Purl until last 4 stitches, K4.

Knit the next 5 rows.

BO all stitches loosely knitwise. With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, weave in

loose ends, or use them to seam up the sides of the clutch using the mattress stitch.  If desired, tidy the button hole using the button hole stitch.  Block clutch. Sew on Button.

I hope you all enjoy the free pattern!

Stitches, anyone?

If you are going, I hope to see you there! I am busily trying to get ready while also teaching and doing design work. Life is never boring! Please let me know if you are going, and I will try to find you!

Gaining Momentum

Wow, it has been one month since I last posted? Honestly, I meant to get on here sooner. I want to post on what I have learned about teaching lefties to knit. A sort of consolidation of resources on the subject, to help other teachers out there, and for helping lefties. I still have it on my to do list, so it will be coming soon. And I will keep updating it as I learn more on the subject.

We are in the midst of switching schools for Ryan, so I need to find other therapy options for him. He will be attending a typical school full time, as he is doing so much more there than his special needs school. And he is much happier there. That is keeping me pretty busy, with all of the appointments involved in making the switch. And I taught my first Beginning Knitting Class at Wool Over Your Eyes. I had so much fun teaching two new knitters, and I look forward to teaching the second installment of the class this weekend. A long with that, I am having to write some lesson plans and designs for future classes, so I am really tied up! Fitting in half an hour here, 15 minutes there. It is not easy being a working mom!

Watch for future classes on Knitting and Purling Back Backwards, and a Reversible Cable Receiving Blanket. I also plan on teaching Continental Knitting (making the switch from English), and a Top Down Sock in the Fall. If you have any class requests, please let me know!

Resurrection?

Just the word reminds me of home, Resurrection Bay. Anyway, such a beautiful sounding word and concept.

(noun) 3. The act of bringing back to practice, notice, or use; revival.

I hope to experience a revival of my soul, my joy and spirit in 2012. I am an optimist by nature; but even optimists get weighed down and can lose sight of the light when continually pummeled by life. It has been a crazy few years, and I am hoping to get back into some of my interests. To bring about a sense of balance and productivity. To find what else makes me happy again, and to move past some negative experiences of the last few years. To leave all that junk behind, I believe one needs to focus on being true to themselves, their values and principles, and extend the hand of love and friendship to those who deserve it. And to transcend those people and circumstances that try to pull you down.

My son Ryan went through genetic testing, and we were given a "suggested" diagnosis of Soto's Syndrome. Right now, he is the only one in the world with his specific genetic change, so the experts don't really know what the prognosis is. We have "fired" the doctors who are negative, because there is no room for "can't" or "won't" in our lives. I believe he is already proving them wrong. He has gone from barely talking this summer to speaking in 8 word long sentences this month. He is only 3 1/2, and has already been on the receiving end of discrimination from parents, kids, teachers, doctors, and strangers. So sad the way some people are. He is also severely allergic to peanuts, so we have to make several trips to the ER every year when he is exposed to it at school (despite the no nuts policies). Fortunately, he remains a sweet, smart, and kind child who posses the silliest, funniest little personality that I know. We expect that he will live a very full and productive life, graduating from school and picking a career that he loves. We will overcome any challenges, together.

On the knitting side of things, I have been too busy to knit much for myself, as having a special needs child consumes a lot of time, driving to therapies, schools, and endless appointments. At the end of the day it is a challenge just to keep a household running, and get my own physical therapy and exercise done. Many nights I just don't have the energy to knit. However, I have been teaching mommies to knit on and off for about three years. It has been a lot of fun teaching others, and to see some of them stay with and have it bring a sense of balance to their lives. Having a goal of teaching them has kept me involved, and I learn a lot through teaching others.

I have also been fortunate enough to be offered the chance to teach at Greenville's newest yarn store, Wool Over Your Eyes. I am so excited at this opportunity, and hope that I can rise to the challenge and do a great job. I will be teaching beginning knitting and first baby sweater classes this Spring. If you are interested, refer to their website or message me for more information.

I will be heading to Stitches South this Spring? What about you? Will I see you there? What have you been up to? Please leave a comment and let Ryan and I know!

Ryan's First

Here is a pic from Ryan's first birthday. You can see he is doing well and is growing up nicely! Still has some torticolis that gets worse and better, but not yet completely away yet.

Thanks to Jen for the nice comment on my last post. It is great to hear good stories. Our neurologist is such a piece of work. You would think Ryan has two years to live due to the hypotonia. Jen, is your friend's hypotonia a symptom of any larger disorder, or is that the only problem her son has? I keep praying this is a stand alone condition for him. Ryan is very kinesthetic, so I don't imagine he won't be able to keep up with the other boys, either.

Yesterday, I died some sock yarn at Northwoods. It turned out beautifully, and I received many compliments on it. When I can bring it in from drying, I will take pics and post. Who knows, maybe someday I will let out my color sense and become an indie dyer, too.

The latest...

(As you can see, I originally started writing this post in May! I am only getting back to posting it now. Thanks to Ryan's busy medical and birthday schedule, and lack of internet.)

Stitches South was great. I took classes with JC Briar of STR fame, and Beth Brown-Reinsel.



Traditional Knitted Gansey - Beth Brown-Reinsel

Great class and instructor. Friendly, works the room well, shows you all of the techniques needed to do your own gansey and makes sure you can do them before you leave (as long as you are willing to try). Would take a class from her again. Good handouts.
Sock Design - JC Briar

JC has a dry sense of humor, but I think we all joked around enough to where we felt more comfortable. She is a great instructor also, showing you new techniques and making sure you can do them as well. She is really good at building up your confidence so that you feel that you can be a designer, too. She is a self-proclaimed tech junkie, and loves sharing her knowledge with others, so she is a great instructor for those who aren’t afraid to take on the technical side of knitting. Good handouts.



I have waited to post until I had the latest good news about the last round of testing on Ryan. All of his bloodwork, urine tests, MRI and CT Scans show that he has no known disorders. The neurologist says we just hope now that he grows and develops well despite his hypotonia. So far, he has done just that, meeting milestones on time or ahead of time. He is quite a determined little guy, so happy and smart. I just pray that he continues to have a great life. It is just a shame that we have had to wait 8 months to find out that he is probably fine. It has been a huge emotional rollercoaster this entire year, and I would not wish it on anyone. However, the next step is to visit the geneticist for more testing. When will this end? I just ask that my friends who pray to please include Ryan in their prayers. We keep praying that he is healthy and will live a productive life. That his challenges won't be too great that he can't overcome them.

Hello? Is anyone there?

I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted. I have been pretty busy. I spent a couple of weekends teaching mommies in my mommies group how to knit. That was interesting, but good. I have such a demand for the class that I will probably be teaching knitting for the rest of the year! It is a little tough of a schedule though, as I host it in my home. So it keeps me busy with the weekly freak out of, "OMG! People are coming!" cleaning.

We are on an emotional rollercoaster with Ryan's medical status for months now. Whether there is something serious going on with him or not. Some doctors and therapists think he is fine; others do not. Every time we think he is okay, we get news that we might have to worry. He seems fine and normal, but the doctors want to do more testing. Granted, it took us six freakin' months to even get in to see a Neurologist. Now we have to wait another 6 weeks for an MRI? My husband flipped. Please don't ask what it is about, because even we don't really know until testing is done.

Leaving for Stitches South today. I hope I see you all there.

I know, I know...

...it has been forever since I have posted. I have been sick since Thanksgiving. I have had colds and viruses that have really kicked my butt. So, I apologize. Life gets in the way sometimes.

My prince is now 6 months old. I love him so much.

I have been trying to clean and organize my office and other parts of the house again. I seem to go through cycles where certain rooms get neglected. Other rooms get more daily pickings up and all. I hope to try to stop doing this (the neglecting of rooms for 2-3 months, piles of filing, ugh). I now have all of my knitting stash in the office. Except for two baskets that have yarn in the living room, so they are serving a decorative function as well. I need someplace to hide some of this sock yarn so my DH does not get overwhelmed by the sheer quantity. Actually, I think he already was yesterday. I showed him my new queue in Ravelry which is now something like 40 projects, not including all of my sock yarn, today. He was like, "Jesus.". I probably have at least 50-60 pairs worth of sock yarn right now. At least he knows we will have plenty of socks when the economic apocalypse comes. I am seriously squashing my purchasing, even at Stitches South. Spending money on baby formula has made that easy. Some people are fairweather friends and don't understand being economically constrained. They can get over it. I am not such a person. My friendship is not conditional. (Well, unless your condition is that you are a beeyotch.)



Now is the time of year to review our knitting resolutions, and make new ones.



2008 Resolutions:

1. Design and publish two of my own patterns. --> Ah, no. I have been a little busy.
2. Complete another Morehouse Farm Sweater kit (from Stash). --> See #1.
3. Restart fair isle projects and finish them, with good gage. --> See #1.
4. Start and complete a project in continental. This should be combined with resolution #3. --> Do dishcloths count?
5. Dye on my own. --> See #1. (I see a sickening trend here.)
6. Use of some of my insane sock yarn stash by knitting baby items. --> You know, I really did try. But when I had to frog a single EZ Baby Surprise Sweater for the 20th time, I decided to stop banging my head against the wall. Seriously, pregnancy hormones made me a mental fruitloop in the knitting department.
7. Put more of my stash and projects on Ravelry. --> OMG. I just did some of this today. I did the project queue. Don't hold your breath for the yarn stash.
8. Knit and/or quilt two baby blankets. One for stroller and carseat, one full sized. --> See #1 and #6.
9. Avoid Christmas knitting requests. This year, I will just say no. The only knitted Christmas presents will be surprises. --> Yay! SUCCESS!



Okay, so I did not get far. The pregnancy hormones squashed my knitting desire (I was too tired) and also made me so horrible at keeping track of where I was in a pattern, so that I made too many mistakes. So I think we will keep the resolutions simple this year.



2009 Resolutions:

1. Reduce Ravelry Queue by 5 projects (this is quite ambitious, considering I don't remember completing anything but a pair of socks this last year).

2. Knit something(!) finally for my son. Please don't give me the bad mother award.

3. Maybe glance at and fondle my fair isle, in hopes of learning better two-stranded tension by osmosis.

4. Avoid Christmas Knitting requests again. I really hate deadline knitting. It brings out the knitting procrastinator in me.

5. Teach others to knit. I am already setting this up for one of my mommies groups, based on another's request. I never even thought of it before. How brilliant! I can make my contribution to the mommies group Mom's Night Ins (MNIs) in an inexpensive way. And I hope to make it fun with nibblies and wine. Because, like Patsy and Edina, everything is better with a drink and nibbly bits.

It's that time of year...

...where we all migrate to SAFF. I hope to see you guys there. If Ryan cooperates, I will be heading up with my husband on Friday. Now, my husband said he is going with me, and I hope he does but you all know how guys are.

Here are some of the latest pics. He already has his first tooth! I swear to God he will be starting college tomorrow at the rate he is going. :) He is also in a growth spurt.

Isn't he dreamy? Too cute for words. I am just all a-squish.

I have started knitting. It is only a hat for my husband, but at least it is something that I can manage. Ryan is funny as he likes to watch me knit. He stares as if he is trying to figure it out. I let him touch the yarn and the knitted fabric. But not the needles! He is at the grabby stage, and I do not need him poking his own eyes!

Gloriously Delinquent...

...is how I would describe myself. My mom just left town from her first visit to see her grandson. I have also been sooo busy running around to Doctors and therapy appointments for Ryan. We are still seeing an OT for eating (though we have started practicing spoon feeding to get ready for the next step) and a PT to address his development. He has challenges because he is hypotonic and has reflux. But he has made amazing progress in the last two weeks. He has already rolled over many times, is feeling and grabbing things with his index finger and thumb, and so many other things I can't remember them all. So he is really catching up.

As you can see, he is really a character. He is quiet, observant, and social. Every day, I am more and more convinced that babies are a miracle. Each and every one.

Every now and then I get to see a few knitters. I have to avoid one knitting group because people have shingles in it, and I can't risk exposing Ryan to the chicken pox at such a young age. If I can get my yarn out of storage, I hope to start knitting a hat for my husband in his school colors.

Things are getting better...

...the little guy is finally managing his acid reflux, thanks to Prevacid and formula with rice cereal in it. He is finally sleeping better, and is smiling alot! I think he was delayed on smiling because the acid reflux put him in so much pain that he did not feel like smiling. Now he smiles all the time! He gets his 2 month old shots tomorrow morning. I am so proud of him and I am looking forward to getting out more after he has the shots. Maybe I can finally start making it to some of my old knitting groups once in awhile!

Here is an old picture of him smiling. It is hard to catch him smiling on film, as he gets serious anytime a camera is near.

And here is a picture of his chubbier self, rockin' the faux hawk.

Of course, I still don't have time to knit. But maybe I will try to work on that. It is hard to do when you know you need to play with your baby and still get chores done. It is funny that he is so big (already 14 lbs and at least 25 inches), that he would never fit into anything I would have knit for him for this winter, even with all of my best guesses as to how big to make it. So it is a good think I did not finish knitting anything!

I am ecstatic! I found out today that someone finally bought my shirt design on zazzle.com (there is a link on the bottom of my page). I think that means I need to finally get off my butt and design some more. It is the tshirt that I wore to Stitches East last year. I know you all know how tough it is to wear or display your art and receive zero positive comments on it. It is almost as bad as getting negative criticsm. Well, that is what had happened to me. So it feels so nice that someone actually liked it enough to buy it! Thank you whoever you are! You made my day. :)

Don't mind while I do...

...take a break from regular blog posting. The little guy now has acid reflux, and every day is a new adventure with what and how much medication, what to feed and how much, and whether he is sleeping or playing enough. Yes, you can tell this is my first child and he is one grand science experiment (as my mom says).

Anyhoo, here is the picture I used for his birth announcement. I hope you like it. I took it myself. :) I had to take like 80 pictures to get 2 good ones.

Ta daa!

May I introduce to you, my new son, Ryan?!

He was born after 17 hours of hard labor, and a C-section. He was 8 lbs, 12 ounces, 22 inches long, head circumference 14 inches, and feet over 3 inches long. He is a big boy! In addition to his size, my sacral region was shaped slightly flatter such that a vaginal birth would not have been possible. But this is something the doctors don't know until they go in. That is why after the induction we waited so long before doing the C-section. No amount of picotin made my body progress with the labor (though the doctors, nurses and doula DEFINITELY tried), and he would never have been able to make it through anyway. All I can say is that modern medicine is a miracle, that we are able to have babies under difficult physical circumstances and have both the baby and the mom survive. It is a blessing. I wish this was the case in every country. And I don't feel any less of a mother for not having a vaginal birth. It was just not meant to be. I guess our combined family genetics leads to huge babies! :)

All of his nurses thought he was the cutest. And he really is.

I am healing well, but I really should rest more than I do. I am going to try to force myself to rest more today. My feet are swelling so huge that they are scary looking.

He has feeding problems, so we are working with training him to eat faster, more aggressively, stronger. All I can say is, moms, trust your instincts. Even when the doctors and some nurses think nothing is wrong with your baby, pursue it. I ended up eliminating sources of fussiness until I got down to the fact he was probably not taking in enough milk...so back to the lactation center I went. Fortunately, there I found a nurse who figured it out right away and helped us with a concrete plan. I highly recommend using lactation specialists, especially those who support both breast and bottle feeding. The ones I use are wonderful nurses, some with master's degrees, and IBCLC certifications and experience. Their knowledge of breastfeeding led to the diagnosis of his problem (which extends to both breast and bottle feeding). Even if you don't think you need help, chances are that YOU WILL. So try to reach out for these resources in your community. My lactation center understands that we have to use a bottle as part of the baby's therapy to become stronger. Because if we don't use a bottle, he would take so long to eat enough that the feedings would blur into each other and we would never sleep! He may never fully take to breast feeding, but we will try a little every day. But all of this is okay, as we are doing what we can and what is best for him to grow and thrive.

Okay, enough gabbing. I really need to get ready to feed him again and get back to sleeping. I have only slept about 5 hours. And I still need to catch up from missing sleep for about 5 days! Ah, well one more thing. My husband can't handle the sleep deprivation as well as I. It is really quite funny. All of that GREEAAT Arrrr-my training in sleep deprivation has finally paid off in my personal life. I didn't hallucinate once. I have not fallen asleep on the job (though you ladies who breastfeed know that breastfeeding and pumping do their best to make you fall asleep while you are doing it). And I would let my husband sleep whenever he could while we were in the hospital and at home. He is better at powernaps than I. And since I can't drive, we have to keep him in the best shape we can.

Okay, that is all for now. I really must go.... :)

Still preggo....

The baby is nearly a week past his due date. If the hospital has a bed available, we will induce tomorrow.

Wish us luck. :)

On the crafty front, I finished my hooter hider. Yay!

Driving for the hoop....

That is what the baby is doing. I have exactly two weeks until my due date, and the last few days he has been so active, trying to push down that it is kind of funny and scary at the same time. It is endearing, but then you don't want him to come too early. Again, he kicked where the ultrasound monitor was placed on my belly. He always makes the nurses and doctors laugh. My son will have the protective instinct from the womb. :)

One of the things that is so frustrating right now is finding baby products that do not contain bisphenol-A (BPA). Baby bottles are easy, it is the teething rings and other gifts people gave me that are hard to tell. Some you just have to check with manufacturers or guess by how soft or hard the plastic is. For those of you in the same predicament, this link is good to use. Between this and lead paint in everything from China, what the heck are parents supposed to do nowadays? You are basically left with cloth items being the safest toys to use. I guess that is good for a knitter.

I have worked a little farther along on the Baby Surprise Jacket, but not much farther. My back has really acted up this week, so I have been focusing on chores and getting my back better. I was so happy to hear my husband say this morning that he feels this weekend is "...going to be a nesting weekend. I feel like I need to nest." Yay! Hopefully I won't have to remind him 10 times to do the chores we need to get done! :)