I just learned Tuesday that I'd won $136. from Elann.com in their drawing. I was thrilled to win that, especially since I didn't have to do anything to enter, so this came as a complete surprise! I already spent about half of it buying some cotton yarns and a pattern book. If you've never taken a look at Elann, I urge you to do so. They offer huge discounts on great yarns ~ their own and top yarn companies. They offer something called Silken Kydd that I think is even better than Rowan's Kidsilk Haze, and at an amazing price. It's 70/30 Super Kid Mohair/Silk, and 232 yards to 25 grams.

I absolutely love Elann, and have been shopping with them for years. They're a Canadian company, but with a presence in the US, in Washington State. Excellent service, quick shipping, terrific yarns, and wonderful member benefits, too. Membership is free.

School is over, and my classroom is packed up. I have time, now, to do some knitting, but I can't decide what I want to knit.  I picked up some Classic Elite Bamboozle, and they have a couple of patterns for that yarn that are perfect summer knits (which means I can pretty much wear them year round, here in SoCal). I also got two different colors of Silken Kydd the other day, winter white and a deep wine color I can't remember the color name of. I haven't decided what to knit with it, but I'm still thinking about it.

I don't knit scarves or shawls or hats, because there really isn't a need for them in SoCal. I could use a scarf maybe a couple of times a year, if that. Hats would be decorative only, and they really mush my hair, so there's no point in knitting them. Shawls? Never wear them, so no reason to knit those, either.

Baby knits and knitted toys are out, too. No one I know is having, or likely to have, a baby. My nieces and nephews are in high school, and everyone at work is past childbearing age, or nearly so.

Which leaves me with stuff for myself, sweaters or household items. And I'm not really a fan of knitted pillows or other accessories, and I've already knitted or crocheted all the afghans I can use.

So, I'm looking for sweater patterns for me. Cardigans and pullovers. Maybe a tank or two, to go under a blazer or jacket. Maybe knit a jacket, too? Too many patterns, not enough time to sort through all of them, much less keep up with the new ones coming out all the time. And I have a huge stash, as well. (So huge I may need to move to a bigger apartment if I don't stop buying more, now!)

What I have, I guess, is an embarrassment of riches. Too much yarn, too many patterns, no pressing demands on my time (for about a month, anyway).  Heh. I'll probably end up knitting lots of washcloths.