Goodbye Hugo

Dear friends,
Sadly, despite all the vibes and thoughts you kindly sent over, and were well received, my Hugo boy has crossed the bridge this morning, shortly after I left him at the vets to start the fluids therapy.
The diagnosis was the feared enterotoxaemia, an infection with little chance of survival for the bunnies. The vet supposed that the tooth infection had already migrated to the bloodstream, and the antibiotic wasn't enough to keep it at bay, despite the dosage. The other possibility is that the antibiotic, killing some batteria, also got some good bacteria from the guts, creating an imbalance resulting in the enteritis. I guess I will never know, because I am not going to have a postmortem done.
Miss Eve said goodbye to him - I put him in the living room with the carrier, so she could see where he was - and kept returning to see him every now and then. She seemed to have accepted that he was gone, but when I put down the green plastic tube to keep her occupied while I was cleaning the floor of the crate, she rushed in and out sniffing and making a tiny sound that she normally does when thumping, something she does when she's disapproving of me...poor girl, she was looking for him, smelling his scent but not seeing him anywhere as the smell suggested... it was so heartbreaking...
Off now downstairs to keep some company to Miss Eve... sleep tight, my Hugo bunny...

It never rains but it pours

Firstly, thank you so much for all the lovely messages and emails for Hugo and Miss Eve...they worked very well! However, just when I was thinking that everything was going back to normal, and a day after I finished giving the antibiotics injections to Hugo (I think I can give these with more confidence now!), Hugo gets something else. After the playing time yesterday evening, he went back to the cage but did not want any food. He sat hunched at a corner, then stretched flat in the same corner, but wouldn't move and eat.
I thought he was sulking because I put him back in the crate, but no...after half an hour he moved and noticed liquid at the very back of the cage...I thought he peed there to show me, but when I went to wipe it off I noticed that it was diarrhoea :( He then hopped off to leave smeared on the floor of the cage a large dark mass of mushy poo, some very liquid. He was in distress and I did not want to stress him more, so I opted not to wash his backside and feet but wipe them in the cage with a towel, as long as he cooperated. He accepted some water but refused food, so gave him a sprinkle of probiotics in the water. I did a search on Frances Harcourt-Brown's book for possible reasons for the diarrhoea, and while I cannot say if it is really the case, Hugo's symptoms look very similar to those of enterotoxaemia. Whilst it says that it occurs in rabbits kept in colonies, it also says that occasionally it will affect pet bunnies. Sadly, the prognosis given in the book is not very good. The emergency vet is not a specialist for exotics and under the circumstances and previous disastrous esperiences I decided to keep him here and watch him closely.
I picked him up and wrapped in a towel (and it was very easy, which shows that he's really feeling poorly as otherwise he would have put quite a fight), and with the help of Mr D I gave him some metacam to help with the pain, then probiotics and water siringed, as well as a mush of pellets also siringed, as he won't eat by himself. He is showing a bit more activity since the metacam, but he is still having no proper poos. I am hoping he will make it through the night so that he can see Dani first thing tomorrow morning. Please keep my lovely bunny boy in your thoughts and send some healing vibes over the pond! And hopefully I haven't put anyone off their dinner now with my graphic description...if so, I apologise.

The worst is over...let's hope!

Well, we've had a bit of drama and nail biting moments at YowlYY's palace, but now the worst should be over. Let me explain...

Both Hugo and Miss Eve had to have dentals. Dani noticed tiny spurs in Miss Eve's lower molars, and although she wasn't sure if they were causing the soft stool, she thought it would be better to trim these, and put her on probiotics. Hugo showed also a spur, but only when he was under the anaesthetic Dani saw that another molar was moving and there was a discharge around the gum - so another infection. Poor Hugo had had to have that molar removed, and Dani said that that infection was the obvious cause of the continuous sneezing, as well as the cause of the increased water intake. Hugo was drinking far too much in comparison with what he was drinking a week ago, and it just didn't look right to me. While he was under, he had also his tearducts flushed, and since he's back home he sneezes considerably less. Now Hugo is on penicillin injections (3x daily),metacam (1x daily), and metoclopromide (3x daily) together with probiotics, which Miss Eve is also taking for the mushy stool issue.
Again, I have to stick the needles into a bunny... and it is not easy, I have to tell you. You have to grab enough skin (and fur) so that a tent bilds up and you stick the needle at the base of that tent, then you have to pull in the trigger to see if you are drawing blood (and if you do, you need to take the needle out and have another try), if all is well then you push the plunge and... quick massage and it's done with. I think I am over the squeamishness to stick needles, but I find it hard to grab enough skin....somehow I have a subconscious fear to hurt Hugo. I know it is silly, because he couldn't care less...he actually sometimes toothpurrs while I am pulling and repulling his skin (and doing a bit of anti-moult-treatment too, since it is white fur time around here again!), but hey, this is me...!
Now, if only Miss Eve could get her appetite back....she hasn't been very interested in food today, just the odd nibble. I do hope she's back to normal soon, because the vets won't be open until Saturday and it is a looong time!

Off now to check on the two lovebuns, and fix some dinner for us two humans....then there'll be some well deserved knitting time while watching TV.
In the meantime, have a lovely Christmas Eve, and of course a fantastic, relaxing and sparkly Christmas day!

A visit to the vets

Thank you to everyone who commented on my blog last week - buns are making me tell you that I suck big time as bunny mum, as I haven't taken a picture of them in the whole week, but in my defence I have to say that the weather hasn't been brilliant and so the light. Best pics are taken when the sun is shining outside :)
Now about the title of this post...I have kept a close eye at Hugo's sneezing (no, he doesn't have pasturella, the vet assured me)and his eating habits, and he has slowed down a bit, also not eating much of the veggies, which is a warning light for me. Another dental? Has the abscess under the tooth removed come again? I booked him for tomorrow to see Dani, I really do not want to face an emergency over the holidays and with only alternative that horrid animal hospital where Sir Harvey passed away four years ago...
And miss Eve...well, she's been having some outputs that are a bit out of the norm, to put it in a less gross way, and so she is coming for a ride to the vets as well. Miss Eve had a dental a month before she was bonded with Hugo - maybe it is a dental problem again, or maybe she just needs to go on a diet...we will know more tomorrow afternoon!

Surface

The new Knitty Winter has been out for a few days, and I picked up my next project, Surface by...guess who... Norah Gaughan! (again!) There is something about her designs that attracts me and I feel compelled to knit everything she designs. Of course, life gets in the way, so sometimes I forget about her designs, until we meet again.
The jacket looks fantastic - it has a classic shape and the blisters that decorate the sleeves, the collar and the extra stole (fixed to the buttons, very clever!) make it look like a piece of knitwear you'd be happy to spend plenty of money on a first class boutique.
So, what did I do...I thought of using my Rowan 4ply Soft, but it was far too thin to match the gauge...and then I paid a visit to Cucumberpatch, who had plenty of Jaeger Extra Fine Merino in many colours, including a middle grey that just begged to be transformed into Surface. So I ordered it, whole 16 skeins (because you'd better have one left than being one too short, right?).

On Monday, I cast on and as of today I have knitted just past the first decreases on the back piece:

I used needles 3.5mm for the border in 2/2 rib, and 4mm for the main body. The gauge is almost as given. Almost. Did I say that I did not do a swatch with 4mm? The 3.75mm were just too thin for the yarn, so I ignored the swatching. And the swatch police.
I can't wait to knit the blister pattern, so maybe after the back I will have to cast on the sleeves...or the stole even!

Bunnies go boum!

I have discovered Nakisha through Flickr, and on her etsy shop I found a link to this video:



Cute, n'est pas?

Snugglebuns alert!

RG said there's need for more pictures of Hugo and Miss Eve...so I oblige:


What else can you do if you are a bunny, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, while mummy is upstairs working in the office?

Georgene - finished!

Georgene - finished!
Originally uploaded by YowlYY

I promised to post some pictures of FOs, and here's the first. The original pattern on the Berroco website suggested Geode worked doubled, and there's some drapey effect on the snood showed on the model. My version, however, is a more chunky and substantial version, but I quite like it. Right now, with temperatures just around zero Celsius, is it the right piece of kit to walk around at nighttime.

Yarn: Patons Shadow Tweed, used 1 and 3/4 skeins
Needles: no.6

Monday Bunday

Miss Eve and Hugo Bun movie stars!

- this for the many bunny fans around :)

Knitting pictures of recently finished objects to follow soon...maybe tomorrow?

On knitting and bunnies...

Where have I been? Away, of course, once again... and I can tell you bunnies weren't the least pleased about it. Apparently, Mr D is very strict with his "basic bunny maintenance" regime, and they aren't so happy. Too little pets and ear rubs, no singing, no extra treats...Oh well, my travelling should be over for this year and they will be seeing a lot of me until January.

Yes, yes, mum... promises again...

At least, I have some knitting being finished...pictures tomorrow, promised!
Thank you again to all of you who commented in the last two weeks :) I have now some serious catching up to do with all the bunny blogs!

Happy birthday Hugo!

It's Hugo's birthday today, or rather his "gotcha day"!

One year ago, Mr D and I drove all the way to Rugby to visit a rescue centre and have a closer look at a lovely REW bunny that had been there for 13 months already. Those of you who have been reading this blog since the start will remember Nik and BillieBun, who left me suddenly at the end of September last year...I thought then that opening my house to another rescue bunny would be the best way to honour their life and celebrate all things bunny. There were 12 bunnies looking for a home, and we kept on going from hutch to hutch, only to return to Flopsy - as Hugo was then called. Whenever you reached for his head to pet him, he would squish himself to the floor in the perfect petting position, and he would even kick his hind legs sideways while enjoying the pets :)
So, it was not a long pondered decision... Flopsy was our bun!And then we moved on to chose a name that showed more dignity, as he made us clear that Flopsy was no name for him! Mr D came up with Hugo...and it stuck to perfection.


Unfortunately, I had to leave this early morning to Germany, so Hugo had to celebrate his gotcha day with Miss Eve only (and Mr D, but he is not so high up in the bunny hierarchy, we know...)

This is ok, though...she gives mightly nice ear washes...

even if sometimes she plays the cleaning a little bit roughly...









But Hugo doesn't seem to mind!





Happy birthday Hugo! :)

SP13 Questionnaire

Finally, here my answers:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like soft alpaca and merino, the non scratchy type, a lot, but I also have a fondness for the Noro wool yarns (they will be the death of my credit card!). Eyelash yarn and ribbon, artificial yarns are not my cup of tea.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a Namaste storage bag with some of my long needles, but sadly is no use for some Italian and German knitting needles that I bought in the past, so I keep them in a self-sewn cotton cozy. The circular ones are all kept in the original package, and stored in a zipped cosmetic bag. I keep the DPNs in a large pens and pencil holder, but I may sew a cozy for them too.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
My mum taught me the basics of knitting when I was 12, and then I learnt about different techniques, more complex cables, lace etc. from the Burda and Carina magazines (we are talking the 80s here…!) I’d say I am an intermediate knitter with advanced potential.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, I have one on Amazon (look for yowlyy) and one on my bookcrossing profile.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I love citrus, neroli, grapefruit, also oriental spices, green tea, but my favourite ever scent must be freshly baked bread. Yum!

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I used to have a sweet tooth, but with the ageing process I guess this has now gone. However, I am partial to good chocolate: I am member of the Chocolate Tasting Club and receive a box of chocolates to test and evaluate every other month. I also tend to shop for chocolate at their shop in the city centre, so I am never short of good dark stuff. Since I have met their chocolate I have stopped buying other commercial chocolate, apart from the Green&Black special sorts and some Lindt every now and then. Yes, I guess I am now spoiled forever!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do some sewing (I used to sew my own clothes, but time is never enough these days!), and I used to do patchwork quilts – that I learnt during my stay in Germany by a lovely lady who owned a LYS and taught me the A to Z of quilting and how to deal with a cutting board. I started spinning three years ago, but I haven’t indulged in it for two years now. I can do drop spindle only, however I got a wheel from a fellow freecycler a while ago, and one day I must look for someone living nearby to show me how to use it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love music, and my tastes are…eclectic to say the least! I have a large collection of mediaeval, baroque and classical music on CD and a few LPs, same for hardcore punk of the 90s (and some punk of the 70s), and a good selection of modern classical stuff like minimalist music, Philip Glass, Kronos Quartett, Michael Nyman, Goran Bregovic… and then of course some dance music (Moby) and dark wave of the 80s – 90s…. I can play music on my PCs.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Right now I have a fixation with greens and browns, but I am known to love all sorts of purples, especially strong ones, variegated or not. "Autumn" colours are among my favourites too, and neutral ones… creamy whites, grey tones...
Probably, my least favourite colour has to be pastels on their own, and neon (the type you will find on cheap acrylic yarn)

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my partner/boyfriend/driver/bunnymobile driver and am owned by two houserabbits, Hugo (a red-eye white rescued bunny from Rugby) and his girlfriend Miss Eve, a Dutch b/w with the personality and attitude of a lioness. They are my babies, and as you can see they own my blog too…almost!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear everything…apart from ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting scarves, but I love knitting in general.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I have a few WIPs, a lace scarf, a cowl, a vest and a cape/coat. All on Ravelry, of course! The ones I am most enjoying now are the vest and the cowl.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
It depends on the type of work… I am faster with straight needles, but some work can only be done with circulars, including the odd project on the go when I am travelling. When it comes to the material, I chose it in relationship to the yarn and how it glides on it. I even use plastic – my Denise needles, that have proved so useful in many cases :)

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes to both. The swift is in my possession since I started knitting, while I only recently got hold of a yarn winder. When I have the time and I feel so inclined, though, I love winding my yarn with the nostepinne.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
1 year and 3 months old.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
My favourite holiday is when I have time off – seriously, I love the winter holidays (Christmas and New Year) because of the smells in the air, the cold, the pretty shop windows and displays, but I don’t have a favourite one. All holidays are good if I can stay at home with my bunnies and knit and read

19. Is there anything that you collect? Apart from yarn?
Books about bunnies and knitting books – I have quite a collection here….

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I recently found out about Wisdom Yarns and their yarn Sonnet, which is so similar to the variegated Noro – this is one I wouldn’t mind to try. Also, I’d love to try on some Berroco Ultra Alpaca and the light version, also Berroco Inca Gold and Malabrigo Silky Merino. It is very difficult to get hold of anything Berroco in the UK, but luckily I have now found a shop in London that is importing for me some of their booklets without me spending a fortune in postage. I subscribe to Interweave Knit, and I am member of Rowan International. I buy regularly Verena in Germany, and sometimes Rebecca as well, also in the German version.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Steaking is something I have never tried and it might be a long time before I try it out. I would like to improve my fair isle technique, and learn to knit two colours using both hands - I have seen videos online and it looks a bit tricky! One day I will learn to crochet properly too…

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I do knit socks, yes! I am a European 38/UK5/US 7.5

23. When is your birthday?
5th of December

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Yes, I am YowlYY there as everywhere else. Just keep it simple.

Award time again!!

This time, we thank Mats at bunny.nu for this shiny award card:



Thank you so much...the bunnies are thrilled, although they disapproved as soon as they heard that you cannot buy a bunny castle with it. Bunnies, huh!

If you haven't seen the sunday flopped bunny and little Helge yet, go and visit Mats' blog. Now!

Mum, I am waiting!

It is like a staring competition. Hugo hopes that I will put in some pellets, even if it is still 5 hours until pellet time. Miss Eve, in the meantime, is doing the bunny loaf and dozing...she knows that pellets won't drop in before 6pm!

Tilted Duster is finished!

Finally, buttons found, approved of, sewn on and ...voila'!



After much thought, I opted for non-green buttons. These, which I found at John Lewis, were just right - and they were reduced in price as well!
Shame about the quality of the picture...the yarn is a nice green, but my camera seems to have an adversion to green. I might try and take a picture of the jacket outdoors, but in order to do that I must wait for this strong wind that is visiting Nottingham to stop.

BunSpace contest...has your bun entered yet?

Hugo and Miss Eve have just entered the competition "I love my litterbox" with this photo - they are asking for your vote, but they are aware that there are other bunnies out there on BunSpace and say that if you vote for them, I will have to vote for your bunnies. Fair is fair!

I won!

Can it really be that comfy under Miss Eve? It may be warm, but...she's no lightweight!

Shortly after Miss Eve finished grooming her paws, still resting on Hugo, this followed:


"I can disapprove of this empty food bowl even in my sleep!"

Celebrations and congratulations

It isn't about bunnies, needles or books, but it fits in nicely:



And if you want to see more cartoons, go to Harold's blog and visit Harold's Planet website.

Tudor Grace

I decided to join in a Anne Hanson knitalong on Ravelry, organised by the Posh Yarn fans, and this is the project I've chosen:



I am using a lone skein of Posh Yarn Lei (4ply sock weight 65% supermerino, 20% bamboo, 15% silk and supersoft!). I've done just 2" so far, and it looks rather untidy:



Nothing that a good blocking cannot sort out!

Boo to you too!

Halloween is something we do not celebrate in our house. When I was younger I thought it would be quite fun to dress up and go to a Halloween party, but then again back then life was a Halloween party every day! (and back in those days, there was no Halloween in Italy).


Hugo heard of Halloween, dressing up, and such, and decided to give it a go.

I think he wanted to play the zombie in the hay! He must have heard on the radio that today at the Old Market Square in Nottingham there was going to be the attempt to break a world record: the largest gathering of zombies in one place, all dancing to the tunes of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson together. Here's an article where it says it all.

I passed through the square shortly after half five, and indeed it was full of zombies! Shame that it was already too dark, or I would have shot a few pictures!

While Hugo was busy in trying out his outfit, Miss Eve was not so impressed by the whole dressing up thing...

After a few scary moments, in which Hugo got lost in the hay,



it was time to get some beauty treatments and relax:





And what did your buns do for Halloween?

Nosey Wednesday

I cannot hold a contest with the title "Guess whose nose this is?" as it is pretty obvious... take out the camera and she must see what I am up to!
She is back to normal with me, enjoying cuddles and running like the wind when there's the smell of banana in the air. Recently, I was on the floor winding up a ball of yarn, and she could not have cared less. I am glad to see that she doesn't plan to shred my knitted work!

Talking of knitting, I have almost finished the Tilted Duster for my youngest sister, while the DROPS jacket for my other sister is ready to be mailed:



I particularly like the buttons, which I found in a haberdashery shop in Cagliari:



All the details of the jacket are on Ravelry if you are a registered raveller, otherwise you can find the pattern here.
And now, if you excuse me, I am going to prepare the dinner for the bunnies, and then cast on for the sleeves of the Tilted Duster...

Blog Award!!

We got this lovely award from furrybutts...thank you so much!!

Now, apparently we have to follow the rules and The rules are:

* Put the logo on your blog;

* Add a link to the person who awarded you;

* Nominate other blogs;

* Add links to those blogs on yours; and

* Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

I think we are now so late that the quest for a blog that hasn't been nominated is going to be long and labourious, so we will be lazy (also in theme with my previous post) and nominate all those who are reading this and who haven't been awarded already. Thanks again, and now I am off to cook some dinner for us humans, as the bunnies are already digging in some curly kale, spring greens, celery and carrot sticks. :)

Tuesday (lazy) Bunday

This is of course only true for the buns, not me! I am busy doing all sorts of things, mostly work related, as I have been away last week once again.
Mr D said that Hugo and Miss Eve weren't very happy about the arrangements, as he is on "bunny duty" when I am away. He has time only for what he calls "basic bunny maintenance scheme", which means not as much cuddle time and slaves'interaction with buns. Obviously, they weren't very impressed. On my return, Hugo was the one to forgive the quickest... banana does the trick! Miss Eve, however, was fast with the banana, but not with the return of her favours to me. No fingers grooming for 36 hours. She can hold a grudge, the lady!



And just if you were wondering...these are not "muffin tops", it is just Hugo's lush long fur spilling over!! (and Miss Eve's stern disapproval)

Secret Pal 13 - swap time again!

Not that I haven't been participating in swaps recently (in fact, there's one going on right now for which I am going to mail my packages shortly, but I'll tell you later about this!), but it is now extremely urgent for me to tell you that I have signed up for the Secret Pal 13 swap. This is, of course, a knitters and crocheters swap, maybe the more famous of all. I have always wanted to join in one of the previous ones, but fate always made me find out about them when it was too late to sign up. The number 13, which is a lucky number in Italy, must have brought me luck!

Some stats for the swap:
Sign ups: Oct 15-31
Matches out by: Nov 15
Swap starts: Nov 15
swap ends: Feb 28

It is still summer...

...or at least it feels like it, down in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, where I went with mr D to see my family.

(click on pics to see them larger)

these were all taken at the spiaggia del Poetto (Poetto Beach).







Nice, isn't it?

Hugo and Miss Eve were in the meantime at Amy's bunny hotel. I don't think they were very impressed to be left behind, but Ryanair does not accept pets on board.

More pics and news later today.

Guest bunnies

I got mail while I was away in London, slaving away to pay for bunny prime salads and Science Selective pellets:



Isn't it beautiful?? Diana the bunny slave at Qi Papers does these, and you can buy them in her Etsy shop. Go ahead, get one before they're all gone!

Mine is going to be hung in my office.
And then there's a secret, but I am not going to say what it is right now ;-)

What kind of bookcrosser are you?

Apparently, I am

What kind of bookcrosser are you Your Result: ring in bundles   They come and come. Ringbooks come in herds, that's what you say! You made a basket on your mail box, otherwise the frontdoor woldn't open when you return from work. You know your postman by christian name.
Playfull RBACKer
Obsessive releaser
Thematic dropper
Love to meet
Talk of the toy
lucky lurker
strange looking bystander
What kind of bookcrosser are you Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Pretty good, I daresay!
Talking about books and reading material, I am at the final leg of Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich and thoroughly enjoying it. I love this series, it has me in stitches and wish it will never end. *sigh*

For those of you who do not know Stephanie Plum, the heroine of these novels, let me tell you that she is a bounty hunter of a special sort... so, although someone would qualify these as chick lit, I disagree...they're so humourous and funny, and there's always also the mystery element when Stephanie is at work. She has a very disfunctional family, a granny, Grandma Mazur, who likes to dress in neon spandex and do her hairs in strange colourings, a father who cannot wait to see granny bite the dust or move out of their home, and a mum who does compulsive ironing whenever she is stressed, i.e. when the neighbourhood reports that Stephanie has been shooting people, or blowing up her car again, or similar disasters. There is much more, but why spoil it for you? Grab a copy or even check my bookshelf and see if there is something available for you :)

Some WIPs and stash flashing

While the bunnies are happy and comfy in their crate, dozing off until the next rattling of pellets is to be heard, I take advantage of the peace and quiet to upload a few pics of yarn bought in the last few months, or received in swaps...

There's some sock yarn from Posh Yarn I purchased from another knitter nearby...

and some lace yarn to chase away the blues of rainy days....




In the meantime, I finished knitting the Hypotheneuse shawl for my sister with this yarn:

The shawl is currently soaking to be blocked soon, but you can see here what it was looking like when it was 3/4 finished:

...and yes, I am using the roof of the run of the bunnies to display my work :)

Because I cannot finish a work without starting a new one, here is what I am working on:



it is going to be a Clapotis for my sister Tiziana. Like the one I did last year for a friend, I am using again Noro Silk Garden

- I am thinking of knitting one for myself as well, but I cannot decide which colourway... and maybe I should knit a sweater again, it's been ages!! I am thinking of doing something with cables like Wisteria, or Jaali... or something completely different, like Aamu. I have a long list of things I plan to knit on Ravelry, but not many sweaters..any suggestions?