Friday Knitting Blog (03/02/2012)

Here we are again, Friday night, and time for Knitting blog. 

First up knitting. These are what I'm working on right now. They are hats. I'm not generally much for charity knitting, but this project I like. I'm part of a group on Ravelry that makes Hats for Sailors (that's the name of the group). It started a couple of years ago with this blog post and kept on going. This year, I think we're hoping to outfit 2 ships with hats. First deadline is Memorial Day, and I'll send at least these two and maybe a couple of others. The yarn has to be 100% washable wool (color and pattern choices are up to the knitter, but the fiber is non-negotiable), and I don't have a lot of that on hand, so I work with what I can. As a matter of fact, the turquoise yarn was a donation to the group by someone who fell out of love with the color (which I cannot imagine; it's gorgeous). I paid the postage, and she sent it to me. By the way, the hats are free patterns I got on Ravelry. The Turquoise is the Amanda Hat, and the Chocolate is the Armando Hat both by Gina House. Fun, quick knits and really nice looking end products. 

And now for my presents to myself. First up this book (which weighs about 7 lbs; I kid you not). It's pretty daunting. So far I just open it up to random pages and read for a while. I've learned a lot just doing that a few times. The tone takes a bit of getting used to. She's a know-it-all, and I'm a know-it-all, and sometimes those of us who are know-it-alls grate on each other's nerves, but that's OK. 

This is the back of the book. It's very serious. But this book was out of print since sometime in the early 1990s and second hand copies in shitty shape were being sold for around $200 until the author finally came out with an updated edition. The seriousness is justified. The knitting world was (and still is) all aflutter that it's finally out. It's been in the works for a decade or so.

And my other present. A new set of interchangeable needles. These are Hiya Hiyas. My choice was small, steel, sharp, and short. Someday there will be large, steel, sharp, and short to join them (when the large steel  sharp sets become available). This is the inside of the case with the protective flap shut. 

This is a sample of one of the things I love about these needles. The size is imprinted onto every one. I'll grant that it's pretty damn small writing, and if I'm not wearing my glasses and don't have good light, I can't read it, but it's there. They're also stainless steel and not nickel plated (like my Knit Picks needles which don't have size markings) so they don't have the same amount of glare issues. Another plus for my eyes. 

This is the back of the case. There's a nice large zipper pocket. 

In which I keep the 4 cords that came in the set (16 inches, 24 inches, 32 inches, and 40 inches for the shorts). 

The front of the case, closed, with my Knit Picks needle gauge on it to show scale. It's about 7 inches square and very light. 

The needles sitting in the pockets. The small set has 7 sets of tips, US sizes 2-8. The large set has 6 sets of tips, US sizes 9-15. I'll get that one of these days. I chose the "short" option of 4 inch tips rather than the "long" option of 5 inch tips so that I can make 16 inch circular needles, which is my preferred size to knit hats on. A lot of knitters don't like the short tips because they say that the small size causes hand cramps. I don't hold the needles with my whole hands, so this is not an issue for me. Everyone's different. 

There is enough room in this case to store extra needle tips, and the back pocket is large enough for extra cord storage, so this is a set I can add to. The tips are just what I like, super pointy and with a nice taper. During my playtime with this, I was able to purl 2 together through the back loop with no fuss. That's my mark of a pointy needle with a sufficient taper.

I didn't take pictures of them (because I'm fucking sick and tired of my fucking camera which I fucking hate ~ whew that felt good), but there are also a couple of rubber grips included in the package. You use them when you tighten the cords to the needles so they don't come loose.

Last point about this set is the cables. I'm really impressed with them. They're pliable but not floppy, and the cable swivels in the connector. I was noodling around with the US 6 tips on the 40-inch cable earlier playing with some yarn using Magic Loop and I didn't noticed the swivel at all. Which is great, because that meant it was working. Not once did I have to grab the cable and give it a twist to get it to go where I wanted; it was just where I wanted it without any manipulation. Lovely.

If only everything was just there where I wanted it without any manipulation.