Friday Knitting Blog (01/06/2012)

So, there's not a lot going on this week in my knitting life. I did start the Sheep Heid, but quickly came to realize 2 things. The first was that I had not subbed the colors precisely the way I wanted in order to get a close approximation to the original hat. For a while, I thought I needed to swap out several different colors. The second was that I was looking at the charts to determine color substitutions (i.e. Mist in place of Shaela) and the colors on the chart don't match the actual yarn (they have more contrast). I reconfigured what I had and figured out that I only really made color 1 mistake when I ordered the yarn instead of the potentially 4. Anyway, I have to order yarn.  

I did buy a second new needle for the hat. The pattern actually calls for needles of 2.75 mm and 3 mm (which is not a lot of difference; both are actually US size 2 depending on who makes them). I have the 3 mm needle, and I needed the 2.75, so I stopped in my local yarn shop to see if I could find one. I did find one, but I'm not a fan. It's by Prym, and there are little bends at the bottom of the needle, which I'm not crazy about but could live with for the 12 rounds or so that I needed it. However, the bigger problem is the join between the needle tips and the cable. There's what looks and feels like a crimp in the cable right at the join, and the yarn catches on it every time. It was an exercise in frustration (before I realized that my colors had no contrast) to try to use that needle and I actually developed some pain at the base of my right thumb using it. 

Long story short(ish), I'm going to order the 1 skein that I need from KnitPicks (Palette in Silver) and probably a couple of other things while I'm at it in order not to spend more on the shipping than I do on the yarn, and I'm just going to use the 3 mm needle (Addi Lace, very nice). 

My Sheep Heid failure annoyed me so that I wound up some cashmere-containing sock yarn. After winding and petting it for a while, I feel much better. You would, too. 

Smooshy with Cashmere by Dream in Color. The color for this is Global Mix, and it's delightful. I did have a fancy-pants pattern in mind for this, but I may end up with just plain vanilla type socks so I can enjoy the feel. I did start a little bit of a sock a couple of days ago with this, but my thumb was just achy enough to make it uncomfortable, so I put it aside and decided to wait. I keep experimenting with picking up dinner plates with my right hand. Once that's not uncomfortable anymore, I figure I can knit again. Probably tonight, actually. 

Still working on goals for this year and the picture collage from last year, but both are coming.