vanessarama.net

OK, not quite… but close

I haven’t posted much lately because I’ve been busybusybusy, and as a result there hasn’t been much knitting going on. Also I think I’ve hit knitter’s block; I keep half-finishing things and frogging them. However, I have finished sewing up the red cashmere cardigan and have knitted on the bands; all it needs is some ends weaving in, and the perfect buttons. And just in time, as it is getting really cold now, just in time for the official start of winter.

One thing I did lately was to buy some KnitPicks circular needles from Yarns Online - two 2mm and two 2.5mm, since I do all my sock knitting on two circulars. I LOVE these needles. The cables are wonderfully flexible and strong and don’t twist and curl up - they uncurled the instant they came out of the packet! The tips are sharp enough to get into the fine sock stitches and the needle surface is smooth and shiny, very Addi Turbo-like. I only wish they had 2.25mm, which is my preferred size for sock knitting. They are surprisingly difficult to find. Addi don’t make them that size, so I ordered some  expensive bamboo circulars, but they’re virtually unusable because the join of needle to cable is done with a ball-and-socket type arrangement which the stitches catch on. I’m left to my cheap and nasty Lincraft aluminium 2.25s instead.

I’m currently going on some more Trekking socks, but since it’s so cold I’m going to begin on hats and cashmere scarves any time now. Perhaps a woolly headband. The doctor has ordered me to begin exercise for the good of my blood pressure, so I’m walking home from the station at nights, but my poor ears freeze!

Oh, and I’ve discovered a new knitting podcast; Stash and Burn. Two knitters, Nicole and Jenny, with a focus on stash and getting rid of it. They’re lovely podcasters, with a great mix of information and fun, and I adore Jenny’s voice and her laugh.