Another project started

Call me crazy, but I just couldn't help myself. I'm still do excited about these new needles that I started another project. My mom has wanted this vest for a long time and so I thought I would go ahead and make it for her. I'm using Paton's Shetland Chunky. Now I just started it yesterday and I think I'm doing pretty good in the progress department. I'm almost done with the second Fluted Banister stock and will have pictures of that finished project soon. Wednesday I finished the Irish Hiking Scarf's cousin the Irish Hiking Headband. I'd have pictures of that now but they didn't turn out too good.

Well I'm starting my Friday evening off with paying a $600.00 invoice to get my car out of the shop. Yup, Wednesday it was towed off, because it wouldn't start. So now it has a new starter and a new cable, because the other one fried, and it should be good to go in a couple of hours. So that invoice will put a real damper on any extra spending for awhile. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers because this invoice will really put me in a tight place for a few months. Happy freakin' Holidays.

Ok, enough of that. It will work out, one way or the other and guess what, I'll just have to live with the outcome. LOL. The good thing is that I can get totally distracted by my knitting and that is always a good thing.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend,

Blessed Be

Knit Picks Options Needles

The other day when I got my new needles for my birthday I posted that I would let you all know what I thought of them. Well, the verdict is in. Over the past couple of years I've pretty much used Addi Turbo's , Plymouth Bamboo, or Crystal Palace needles. I do have a pair of Latern Moons that are beautiful, but my heart has strayed. Testing these new needles from Knit Picks has given me an excuse to double my knitting time LOL, but also get the feel of them, and I love them. If you have not all ready got these needles, do it ASAP, put them on your Christmas list, or something but you have to have these needles. They are light weight, comfortable, so smooth it's like you aren't even using circulars, I am totally in love them them. Below I have a couple of pictures of scarves that I'm working on that I switched over to the new needles and I'll give a little explanation of what I found different once I made the change below the picture.

This is a matching headband to go with the Mohair Irish Hiking Scarf that I just finished. When I switched over to the Options, the first thing that got my attention was how that it suddenly didn't feel like I was knitting with a "fuzzy" yarn. Each row was smooth and since I am a Contential knitter now, it felt like my speed had increased a little. Then I laid it out and seen that after about 4 inches of knitting with the new needles I could see that the stitches were even and more uniformed and the cables laid nicely. So switching to the Options gave me much better results. Those sharp little points on the Options became my best friend when it came to working with Mohair.

This is the Here and There Cables from Scarf Style. This time I wanted to test them on a worsted yarn. This is Patons Canadiana yarn in Light Wedgewood. Now I had this scarf on Addi's and what can I say, I love Addi's but again I had a little surprise. It seems that again those pointy Options made knitting a little faster and smoother. I could again see a difference in the cables and in the stitch. Everything was uniformed and consistent. It seems that now I'm not splitting the yarn as much and that is a good thing.

So it's my personal and humble opinion, that theses are wonderful needles. I don't think that there is a yarn that would not knit up nicely with these. I like the case and all that comes with it. The needles connect smoothly to the cables and they don't come undone while knitting. The are so smooth, that the mohair never caught one time. They are pointy so if you don't like fairly sharp points these aren't for you. I am so pleased with these needles that I'm going to purchase the size 1 and 2 circulars for socks, and get another pair of US 5 and 9 with more cables to round out my knitting needle needs after that, my needle buying days are over and I'll spend that money on yarn and coffee. LOL.

I'm a year older now.

Somehow, without me knowing it a year passed. I guess that's a sign of aging or too busy. LOL. (My vote is too busy). But, I woke up Saturday morning a year older. We had a great time though. The Scottish Festival at Stone Mountain Park opened and we were there for a long time. I love it. It's something that I look forward to all year. I can talk with people from the family clans and shop and eat Scottish food and shop some more. There was a lady there spinning and another weaving. The lady spinning had some fantastic Shetland wool there, but you aren't going to believe this. I thought her stuff was a little pricey, so I passed. Yes, I passed on the Shetland only because I know where I can purchase Shetland for about 10.00 cheaper than she was asking. Anyway, other than the sticker shock from the spinner, it was a wonderful day there.

The kids always ask me what is the one thing you really, really, really want for your birthday and this year I told them that I would like to try out the new needles from Knit Picks. I had heard good things about them and thought what the hell, let's try them out. Well, my little sweethearts gathered their funds and got me the needles. (I switched over one of my projects to them all ready and I love them so far I'll do my "review of them in a day or so when I work more with them. LOL. I know you all are sitting on the edge of your seats for that. hahaha) I also got a knitting book that was on my list and 2 Cds. My taste in music is all over the place. As you can see, I like Tool, which is right now music, but then I LOVE Led Zepplin. Out in the Cruiser I have Japanese music in the player. (told you I was all over the place with my music, LOL) I won't tell you about my birthday cards, because I was so touched by their cards that I cried for about 20 minutes, and if I start talking about them I'll start crying again, but they were wonderful.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Ok, I did a dumb thing. Yesterday in the mail I received two hanks of Allhemp6 DK weight, and in my excitement. I unwrapped and started making yarn cakes, before I got pictures of how beautiful the yarn was in the box. The two colors I got was Sapphire and Pumpkin. I have never knitted with hemp before and so I got excited and started right away on the first project. They are little Soap Pouches to give for Christmas. I use soap, lotions and other goodies from Misty Mountain Soap Co (if you have a chance to order something from them, you will not be disappointed.) and plan on using their soap in the pouches.


It's Fall, everyone is doing socks, and so looking at the fantastic socks that you all are making inspired me to get off my butt and get back to the Fluted Banister socks I have on needles. I'm just about to do the toe on this one and hopefully I'll start the second one this weekend. I have to be honest here while I have the chance. (not that I'm dishonest, grin), but I spent a little more money on the sock yarn I am using than I usually do. I was under the impression that this yarn was "something special" because of the company that makes it. Guess what, I'm not that impressed. My only hope with this yarn is that it lasts a long time and is durable. Ok, I feel better with that said. If you want to know what yarn it is, email me personally.


And last but not least. My Here and There Cable scarf. It's coming a long. I mostly work on it here at the computer desk. It is a great pattern and I'm enjoying the whole process of knitting it. If you want some unconventional cables, then this is the scarf for you!

Thank you, Snarky

Today I have to thank Katey for her Georgia inspiration. I've been ill since Thursday and been laying around doing very close to nothing. Well, I had notice a few months back that she has a terrific list of other Georgia knitters on her blog but didn't really have the time to go to all of them. So while laying around today, in between naps, I started my trip to the GA. knitting blogs and added some of them to my sidebar. I think it's a great idea, and I'm so glad that she had the idea post them. I know there must be more out there, so now I'm on a search for more Georgia knitters. Thank's for the inspiration!