Kollage Yarns square needles

Recently I bought two different circular needles and two sets of dpns, both produced by Kollage Yarns. They were intriguing because they are square. Square!

I thought it was a little bizarre, but since two local yarn shops were carrying them, someone must know something, and they must be good. Their claim to fame is that they are an ergonomically correct construction and people with arthritis or other complaints can use these without any problems.

The other reason they are supposed to be wonderful is the super even stitches that they produce. As well, the cable in the circular needles is anti-knotting or curling, according to Kollage.

The reason that I bought their needles doesn’t have much to do with ergonomics or with some measure of stitch evenness. I can’t vouch for whether the needles prevent knitting pain, and I think I’m a fairly even knitter. To be fair, though, my knitting does seem pretty even and my metacarpals feel fine.

I bought the needles because I was looking for sock dpns that don’t bend, and I’m not willing to spring for those really expensive ones from the company that won’t tell you how they do it. You know the ones. I saw them at MDS&W and had to keep walking.

So – back to the square needles! I like them. They feel nice. The yarn doesn’t stick but they are also not super slippery. For dpns, I’m pretty convinced – they haven’t bent that much but I can feel that they may end up a little bent. At least I feel more secure than I do about my bamboo needles that are super bendy and not so resistant and I feel like at any moment they may just snap in half.

The only reservation I have about the circular needles is the join. The cable is fine, although I’m used to a more substantial cable with Addi Turbos or a more resistant plastic cable. This one feels a bit floppier, which isn’t necessarily a problem. But the yarn that I was using, Elsebeth Lavold’s Hempathy, was a little splitty, and the not-very-smooth join on the circulars exacerbated the problem. I feel like I’m exerting a lot of force to shove the stitches back onto the needle from the cable.

One yarn store owner at one of the spots I made a purchase said that she didn’t really like the circulars either and decided to carry only the dpns. I know that I would buy more dpns. I’ll have to work more with the circulars to see if I come around.

So what, I’m a crotchety spinster

I know, I know, bad form coming out of hiding to be crotchety. Skip this entry if you don’t want to read bitching and moaning. [Disclaimer: This is not about any one person or anyone I know.]

The past couple of years I have tried to curb my consumerist tendencies, including in the way of yarn and fiber. Recently I fell off the wagon a bit, including adding two spindles to the collection. I’m enjoying them a lot, and I really enjoy sharing photos and purchases with my friends, so you might see them up here soon. And I skim through some knitting blogs via Bloglines, and I love photos, yarn pr0n, whatever, I like the colors and the photography skills, etc.

What bothers me, though, is the wholesale Christmas-morning-style show-and-tell in blogland (e.g. post MDS&W). LOOK WHAT I GOT! LOOK AT MY HUGE PILE! LOOK HOW MUCH STUFF I BOUGHT! It makes me really uncomfortable. I’m not sure exactly why. Partly it is the consumerism, and partly it’s the egotism perhaps. Partly it’s finding myself looking at other people’s stuff for no apparent reason: it’s not connected to a project, you didn’t talk about why it’s so great or what you’re going to use it for. And partly it’s my self-consciousness about my own stash, because don’t we react most violently to tendencies in others that we in fact share?

So, I will follow my own advice and stay away from gratuitous stash photos. I’m going to photograph yarn, and I’m going to post it on my blog, but I want it to be part of a process (whether it is knitting or photography) and part of creation, not all about LOOK WHAT I GOT!

Handspun

I just posted these to my Ravelry stash over the weekend.

[Clockwise from top left] 1. Black Navajo Churro from Rising Meadows Farm; 2. Top in 2 colors from the Elegant Ewe, I forget what kind; 3. Merino tencel blend; 4. BFL top plied with Superwash Colonial wool.

Knitting update and thoughts for 2009

Recently I’ve been frustrated at myself for not finishing more large projects. There are several laying about, either with ends dragging around or buttonless. I’ve worn three sweaters this week that don’t have a fastening, two I closed with a dpn and one I wore with a pin. But it’s getting a bit silly, I think.

I haven’t done a formal taking stock since I am still jetlagged, but this weekend this is on my agenda. At least one sweater needs to be completely frogged. One requires minor finishing.

And this one, I finally picked out of the bag again and started working on the second sleeve. It is quite a bit of work, with two yarn ends and four circular ends to get tangled.

The sad part about this sweater is that as soon as I finish the second sleeve, I will ravel the first, because I misunderstood the directions and picked up 12 stitches fewer than intended.

After sleeves, this sweater requires steeking and finishing. It might take me till 2010…

Other thoughts about knitting and 2009: I want to do something more imbued with meaning than rainbow colored squares or spring green bobbles or self-striping socks.

I have a few ideas in mind, one of which is the sort of thing that will involve somewhat brainless knitting for a long time till I have a large wall hanging or similar object, whose meaning will be more like a statement on a placard next to where it is hung. The actual knitted object result doesn’t matter too much, though I have some ideas of how to visually represent my idea.

The other main idea is a statement involving developing small graphics and knitting them into mundane objects like socks and mittens. You’ll hear from me if/when either of these ideas turns into something tangible…

Idea: Use knitting to animate your music video!

In French, by a group called “Tricot Machine.”

[via]

Do you think someone will knit this?

Thanks to everyone who got out to vote and got out the vote to make this happen.  Moveon.org is sending out stickers with this new image on it, and is actually also making available 5,000 posters to those who donate a minimum of $80 to MoveOn.org.  I’m waiting to see who knits the first sweater, to match the one in my previous post…

Yes We Did

Hope

Oh this is just amazing.

There’s even a free pattern.

Ancient spindle found in Iceland

I received a link to this article through my local spinning guild and thought it was pretty interesting! Here’s the text of the article for those that don’t want to click through:

20/10/2008 | 11:42

Ancient Spindle with Runes Discovered in Reykjavík

A fracture of a spindle with a runic inscription was discovered in an archeological excavation near the Althingi parliament building in Reykjavík last week. It is believed to date back to the 11th century and may be the oldest runic inscription in Iceland.

Archeologist Vala Gardarsdóttir, who is in control of the excavation, told Fréttabladid that the discovery is of great significance. “What makes it so special is that it is the only runic inscription from that time that has been found in Iceland.”

“This find could tell us a lot about the development of runes in Iceland because it can prove to be an important piece of the puzzle. One could even say that we’ve discovered the missing link,” Gardarsdóttir said.

Thórgunnur Snaedal, a professor with expertise in runes, has examined the spindle and decoded the inscription. “The female name Thórunn is probably inscribed to the fraction and the words ‘owns me’.”

The spindle is made from green sandstone which indicates that it was made from a stone from Esja, the mountain which towers over Reykjavík.

Relics of the oldest inhabitation in Reykjavík have been discovered near the Althingi building, the most important of which is the settlement lodge on Adalstraeti 16.

Gardarsdóttir said various objects have been discovered which indicate that during the settlement era this was an industrial area and such operations were probably undertaken inside or next to the lodge.

Oh socks, how do I love thee, let me count the ways.

All I ever finish these days is socks. They are easy, portable, variable or not, and you can’t have too many; or, you can give them away.

I finished one pair that I’m not going to show you just yet. I’m wondering if I should maybe submit it somewhere, or just write it up and offer the .pdf for sale? Of course, it takes me ages these days to finish anything, so maybe next year I’ll have a follow-up post about that.

In the mean time, here are two ways in which I love socks.

1. Ribbed, yellow, fake fair-isle, cotton blend socks with Plymouth Sockotta. Only one shown here, but second one about 75% done.

[click photo to embiggen...]

2. Again, only one sock, but second one about 50% done, this with fatter yarn on fatter needles (#4) but the same concept. Made with Art Yarns merino sport weight, but only ~104 yds/skein, so guess what, I ran out! And now have a blue-green toe, and soon will have two.

[no embiggen option offered because it looks blurry!]

However, I will say that there has been progress on these two projects, a cable vest that still needs back shoulders and edging, and my Kimono Shawl, which has around 15 of 25 repeats knitted.

But… I’m heading off to Kinshasa again, so I may finish a sock or two (three more skeins of Sockotta await) but I don’t have big ambitions at the moment.

What’s so great about Musk Ox?

I know it’s wonderful, and the price shows it, but can someone explain why?

Amber is in Alaska right now and sent me a text that a tiny skein costs $69.00. I’m not sure how tiny tiny actually is, in weight or yardage, but I cannot think of one skein of anything that has cost me $69.00

Here is a photo for you of musk ox on the snowy tundra, in case you haven’t seen one before.

And here’s a whole group of ‘em.

I did find this description of the fiber on the website of Windy Valley Muskox, based in Palmer, Alaska, who, incidentally, Amber, will be representing at Stitches East in Baltimore this November (6-9)!

Eight times warmer than wool and finer than cashmere, qiviut is hypoallergenic and will not shrink. Extremely rare, it is one of the most luxurious fibers you can choose for a garment. In contrast to wool, qiviut is soft, non-irritating to the skin, and is very durable. Qiviut garments are worn for years and can be hand washed in mild detergent. It does not shed, is odorless and retains warmth even when wet. It is an extremely warm, yet lightweight fiber that preserves heat in the winter, while also providing cool, breathable comfort in warmer weather.

Well, sure, OK, but at $90/oz or 218 yards, I don’t think I can afford even a scarf to ward off the cold and wet while still breathing. Hmmm.