My cat Phoenix managed to knock one of my roborovski hamster's cage off the dresser on Friday, so this weekend my boyfriend Matt and his parents endeavored to make a shelving unit that would allow the hamsters to be visible yet inaccessible to my cat.  I think it's cat-proof, but we shall see when I bring him home this evening.

The hamsters are all moved in to their new cages. Ender, the one who was almost killed on Friday, is on the top.  Bean, the one we just moved into his new cage this morning, is on the bottom.  (FYI, each cage consists of two small units connected together with tubes and attachments.)


Close-up of the doors.  The top one swings up, the second door opens downwards.  They close on the sides.


The whole unit before the hamster cages were in their final set-up.


It took a lot of time and money, but I am so pleased with it!

Details:
-Graco baby changing table
-Attached plastic mesh to the sides with staples
-Made doors out of poplar frames, mesh, brass joiners in the corners, hinges, hook and eye latches on the sides and brass handles

Yeah, I might do another swatch on 6s.  I still have to finish another sweater I'm working on, so I have some time to figure it out.  Anyone else out there who've knitted this sweater?  I looked in the pattern and it didn't say which needles w/which to swatch.

Well, was I supposed to swatch with the 4s or the 6s?  My swatch is still drying and I used the reccomended yarn, size 4 needles.

I'm confused. I wet it to block it, stretched out the swatch and pinned it out to dry.

For those who've swatched for this sweater, what size needles did you use?  I swatched with the 4s, not the 6s, and while my row gauge is right on, the width is not wide enough, even stretched. That brings me to my next question: did you stretch out the ribbing when measuring the swatch?

Thanks in advance.

I just ordered my yarn this evening, and my needles arrived this afternoon.  Now let's hope I get gauge!

I so need a new project; everything I'm knitting is boring me right now. (plain stockinette socks, striped stockinette cardigan, you get my drift...)

I've been saving a little per month for the bamboo yarn and will probably order it early April.

I'm trying to decide between using the SWTC Bamboo yarn in Fiery Red or the hemp yarn used in the pattern.  The hemp yarn is slightly less money, but I really like the color of the bamboo yarn.  None of the hemp yarn colors really grab me.  Should I just go with the recommended yarn?  I haven't ordered the yarn yet because I'm still saving up for it.

Dec 1 st at each end?  I thought as much, but I didn't question the pattern. I read the pattern as decreasing once at the end of the row, not twice.  My mistake.  I'll rip back and do it right.

Thanks!

[78]

I just finished decreasing one stitch at the end of every alternate row 10 times, and I'm supposed to have 78 stitches on the needle, but I have 88.  I'm now supposed to work even until the armhole measures 7.75 inches, but I have too many stitches.  I started the decreasing with 108 stitches.

Anyone else have this problem?  Is there errata for this pattern or did I misread something?