Bats In My Belfry

Ordered a Jordana Paige “Bella” from Angel Yarns in the U.K. on 18 December 2007. Finally got it today! Not sure what the delay was but I was happy that it finally shipped. Received a nice gift from Angel Yarns as well, I assume to apologise for the delay. They sent along two cable needles.

First impression. It’s smaller (by a lot) than I expected it to be. Certainly not going to work for a project of any size. Not a big deal, that, because I rarely carry around large projects. What really bothers me though is the short handles. I swear they aren’t as long as they appear to be in the following picture from the Jordana Paige Website.

Notice the length of the handles. Now compare with:

Seem a lot shorter. In fact, the only way I can get the handles longer is to really pull on them to draw the top of the bag closed. Probably just my perception but it’s one that might’ve stopped me from buying the bag. It’s awkward to have to pull those handles hard enough to make them long enough to put over a shoulder.

The inside is rather floppy with thin lining material (polyester). Hard to get things in the various little pockets as the material is so thin and floppy that anything with any weight (gauge, scissors) just rolls right out. Part of the problem seems to be there is little structure to the bag itself. I had planned on using this as my purse/traveling-knitting bag. I’m not so sure about this now as the top of the bag, aside from the strap that goes across the middle of the bag from back to front, is open. This not only worries me with respect to my wallet but all the little knitting do-dads that are in there (stitch holders, measuring tape, needles gauge, Chibi etc.). Looks to me like they could fall out awfully easily.

Tested it by putting the usual stuff in the little pockets along with current sock project (ball of 150g yarn, 4 DPNs). Closed the strap, cinched up the handles. Turned the bag upside down and everything fell out (except for ball of yarn and sock itself), including a DPN that was stuck in the yarn on the current sock project. Didn’t even have to shake the bag, the stuff just plopped out.

That’s definitely not a good thing. I have enough trouble keeping track of gauges and tape measures and scissors without ‘em having free egress from a bag.

Here is Bella with three 50g balls of yarn. This gives a good idea of how “not large” this bag is.

I wasn’t crazy about the material of the bag (polyurethane) when I ordered it but it doesn’t look too bad for that. I suppose making it in leather would have made it all the more expensive. It has a nice enough style to it. Metal feet on the bottom are a nice touch.

I am left to wonder what was in the mind of the designer of this bag?

So, summation:

1. Small. Okay for socks or a scarf but not at all suitable for anything much bigger.

2. Not terribly secure storage for anything except in the two zipped pockets (long centre one and small one on front “wall”). Things falling out all too easily. I suppose it would be fine for someone who was quite careful when carrying a bag. That someone is not me.

3. Not very good for tossing over shoulder. It can be done but it’s awfully short. This could be my prejudice as I prefer rather long straps on a bag.

What I would do to improve it:

1. Complete closure for top.

2. A sturdier lining. The lining is very thin.

3. Longer straps.

4. Leather

5. Slightly larger in width and height, maybe an inch on height and two inches on width. Depth is okay.

Final thoughts: Wouldn’t have bought it had I been able to see it in person. This is the bane of living someplace where you cannot see and handle something before buying. The ‘Net is great for being able to buy anything and have it delivered but you do get bitten at times and this was, in my opinion, one of those times. I don’t think it’s worth the money, especially considering it’s basically plastic. It’ll make an okay handbag but it’s useless for a knitting bag for me.

So. I guess the quest for a good combination purse/knitting bag continues.

Meh.

I’m a relative neophyte when it comes to various types of wool. Not a fan of how a lot of wool feels (Noro Kureyon? Won’t wear it, too rough but does make nice things that don’t need to be worn and whilst I think it would make lovely afghans, I’m not about to spend that kind of money on it. ) but I have fallen in love with Adriafil’s Llama. So many wools feel pretty rough or scratchy ’til washed but this? It’s lovely even pre-washing. It’s 50% wool, 50% Llama.

I bought a skein on a whim from Angel Yarns earlier this year and was intrigued by it. Soft, slightly fuzzy and The Dawg went mad for it. Keep in mind there is yarn all over the place here and he’s never paid the least bit of attention to any of it but when I got the parcel from Angel Yarns as soon as I opened it, he zoomed in on the skein and tried to run off with it.

I’ve done a hat (sorry, no picture, can’t find it just now) in the Adriafil and it knitted up very nicely. Pleasant to work with, nice squishy-factor. A bit fuzzy with a little bit of shedding. Recently made a simple headband from it (2×2 ribbing, done in the round) and it’s cozy warm, feels good on the ears but doesn’t make for sweaty ears. This inspired me to carry on and make a keyhole scarf. Bit disappointed in how the Karaoke scarf is working out…it’s stretching lengthwise something fierce and I am not a fan of long scarves for utilitarian purposes (since ripped out, tired of washing/blocking the thing after two or three wearings). Don’t like that whole flapping about thing. The keyhole ( ribbed keyhole scarf ) I’m making is going to be relatively short and should tuck in nicely and avoid the whole flapping thing. It’s about half done now and it is feeling and looking nice, bit narrow but then again that’s how I like ‘em. Just around the neck, keep it warm, no more material needed. Adriafi’s Llama is going to be great for this.

And since I had 2 skeins of it and it looks like the keyhole and headband are only going to use up one of the skeins, I’m going to make some fingerless gloves/mitts from the other skein (with leftovers likely).

Updated to add: Keyhole scarf, done. It is the scarf that is getting the most wear and it’s a style that I prefer. It tucks under my coat and stays put. Easy on/easy off. Warm and convenient. It’s a winner. Need to add a picture. Has pretty much decided me that long, flappy scarves whilst pretty just don’t work when out in the mud, wind, rain, snow, sleet etc. walking the dog. The keyhole keeps my neck warm, wet out and doesn’t get in the way. Next thing to try (with two new skeins of darker grey Adriafil Llama) is a neckwarmer, moebius or otherwise. Also whipped up a pair of gaunt/mitts with the same stuff as the scarf. Haven’t yet needed them. The weather, of course, went warm soon as I finished ‘em.

Loves my silly sheep “stitch marker” (actually one of those cell phone “charms” but I like it for knitting).

The finished product. Bog simple ribbing all the way. WARM.

I know of only one place to buy this here in the EU, Angel Yarns. It comes in limited natural colours (Llama colours! Browns, grays, natural, black) and I do wish it came in other colours. I suppose one could buy the cream and dye it but I’m unschooled in dying. It’s listed as a “double DK weight” which doesn’t mean much to me yet, I’m still stuck in U.S. weights but it comes in at 8 WPI which lists as “super bulky”. Again, not sure about this as I’ve seen plenty of yarn marked simply “bulky” that makes this stuff look like laceweight. Judge for yourself via the pictures.

The test of time has yet to happen but the initial results are that this is one of my favourite wool yarns. Unlike many wools this does not dry out my already terribly dry hands whilst working with it. It has no odor, doesn’t “crunch” ala Kureyon or Peace Fleece and is a pleasure to work with.

Errand day today so not much knitting accomplished (or anything else, yet, anyway). Hit the grocery, apothecary, what passes for a drugstore here (Muellers) and the Bahnhof (for cigs). Turned out to be a reasonable afternoon to be out after a wet, windy & cold morning.

Found something at the apothecary that might help with the Harmony sock needles. It’s Compeed’s Anti-Blister Stick meant to reduce friction thus preventing blisters. I know these needles are going to rub a hole in my palm. They just hit my right hand every stitch. So I picked up a stick of it. Looks like a mini-deodorant stick. Smells nice! Tried it out for a bit and it does seem to be helping but didn’t get to work all that long yet to be sure. Be nice if it did but if it doesn’t I’ll try to find some moleskin or just use a band-aid.

Had a rough time walking The Dawg this evening. We’re coming up on Fasching here in Germany which is a pre-Lenten celebration akin to Mardi Gras but lasting quite a bit longer than one day. All sorts of parades and events usually to do with scaring the crap out of witches (portrayed by folks wearing gunny-sack brown pant suits with witch masks and what appears to be gourds as their waists…don’t ask me, I don’t get it). Since fireworks apparently are only tolerated at New Year festivities, they rely on what we call “bull whips”, cracked LOUDLY and often. Haven’t seen it but I’m told there is a parade devoted to these whip crackers. So, folks start practising right around the first of the year…standing outside (fair enough, wouldn’t be very wise to practise indoors) cracking these whips. It makes a very loud, distinctive sound, something like a rifle shot. In fact, that’s what I thought it was the first time I heard it. There are smaller versions for the kids to practise with and I’d say those are about five feet long. The adult versions are longer, not sure by how much, at least a foot or two. They take some pretty serious strength to get cracking. It’s a skill.

Okay, so that all said…took The Dawg out just at sunset for his evening walk. Now The Dawg is no fan of noises like fireworks and he is no fan of these whips either. We turned out of our alley and onto the street and down by the last intersection before the fields were some kids about half of which were quite young, six-ish, and three boys that I would say were around ten. They were practising with their whips. The Dawg got nervous but he was doing okay walking along. Two of the whip-cracking boys headed out of the middle of the street leaving one who was cracking away. When I got within about ten feet, I called out: “Halt ein moment, bitte” (Stop for a moment, please). The Dawg was wary but he was trusting me that it was okay and we proceeded. Just after we got past the boy, he hauled off and cracked the whip a good one. The Dawg panicked. I mean total, full blown panic and dived through a hedge, taking most of me with him. As I was trying to get ‘hold of the dog through the hedge (I didn’t fit), he cracked it twice more (not helpful). A lady who was passing by said something, loudly and abruptly, to the boy and he laughed. I got The Dawg back on my side of the hedge and was trying to get him to move away from the kid. Kid cracked the whip again and The Dawg took off. I knew he was strong but never felt just how strong ’til this evening. It took every bit of my strength to hang onto him.

I got him turned down a sidestreet (hell with trying to get to the fields) and headed back toward home. Poor dog crawled under a parked truck (had to get him out of there), puked twice, peed a couple times, pooped and was shaking like a leaf. I managed to get him home a round-about way and when he realised he was near home he took off at full speed. I had to run or fall on my face.

I was angry. Very, very angry at this kid. It amazes me that people can be so inconsiderate and to laugh at a scared creature. It took about an hour for The Dawg to calm down. Poor thing was completely freaked out. Worse than with the fireworks and that was bad enough. I have no idea why he is so scared of noises like that but he absolutely is. So, it’s going to be rough couple of weeks whilst the neighbourhood is filled with whip practising people. I suppose we’ll have to adjust the walking schedule to times when they won’t be outside practising. Lovely.

I got my Adriafil “Swing” today from Angel Yarns in the U.K. It’s mercerised cotton. I got some blue variegated which’ll become gift towel/dishcloths.

Getting kind of cranky with Angel Yarns again. I ordered a Jordana Paige bag just before Christmas. Wrote ‘em an email on the 11th of January when I hadn’t yet received it. No reply. Tried to use their “contact us” form on their Web site and the form is broken. It gives you an anti-spam code to enter and even after entering it, it complains that you haven’t entered it. Grrrr. So, just sent ‘em another email with return receipt requested and read receipt requested. I cannot call them as I cannot hear very well. This fails, I guess I’ll have to go on their forums and complain. I’d really like to get that bag. Been over a month now with no clue as to when to expect to receive it. I so wish they’d get these issues sorted out.

Still pretty green for winter. I like that about this area.

Also working on a very heavy duty Old Shale made with Wendy Aran. So far, so good…

Oh well, back to…the sock…

Funny how yarn can utterly refuse to work out for something you really think it should. I guess this is an extension of yarn “telling you what it wants to be”.

Case in point. I started an Old Shale wrap with Jaeger Matchmaker. I carried on for about six inches with a niggling feeling the whole time. Colour was fine, gauge was fine, looked…okay-ish but there was something that just wasn’t right about it. Was…blah. Had no real life to it. Now, could be the yarn itself as I have yet to use it for something else but it just wasn’t coming out as I wanted this wrap to come out.

Frogged.

Then I picked up a ginormous 400g ball of Wendy Aran (neutral tweed/flecked) and cast on for the same wrap…with trepidation since this is a much heavier weight yarn. Still, I want this to come out to be something warm, bulky and very “wrapable”. I intend for it to be about five feet long and two feet wide. I’m about four inches into it and I like it far better than the Jaeger. This is a more organic, homey look which is what I was going for despite the “fussiness” of the Old Shale.

I’ve encountered this before. A yarn that I bought for a specific use that turned out to just not want to be that item. Now I’ve tried to explain this to Himself and he gets that “oh gawd, she’s nattering on about knitting and OMG what do I do now” look. I guess it does sound a bit nutty to carry on about how a yarn will “tell you” what it wants to be (or doesn’t want to be) but I’ve encountered it too often now to deny it happens. I’ve also learned to proceed once this happens usually results in a product that lacks or just isn’t right. Like the Karaoke scarf. The scarf that has now doubled in length and quartered in width. That one.

Going to be interesting to see how this wrap turns out with the Wendy Aran. I think it’s going to be right and achieve the warm/snuggly/organic goal.

And I’m going to go do another couple pattern repeats right now.

Have been using both the circs and the sock needles for awhile now. Did encounter some issues with the circs. One size (5mm, I think) has a faulty socket so that the cable cannot be completely screwed in. I also noted that the tips turn inside the metal bottom. I’ll be contacting GetKnitted about this. I am still irked that the circ set came with no way to attach two cables together to get a longer cable ala Denise Needles. They are comfortable to use and I am enjoying doing an Old Shale wrap with them. Nice feel and smooth.

The sock needles are feeling fine but the length is just so as to be rubbing a sore spot on the underside of my right hand. Trying to maneuver the rightmost needle as I use it to prevent this but so far, not really working out. And I’m still not enamoured of how the pretty colours in the needles works with darker yarns. I guess I prefer metal/wood/bamboo where all yarns are pretty clearly contrasted against the needles. Unfortunately the socks I’m working on right now happen to be done in a yarn that has colours that pretty much match the needles. Heh. So, I’m going to hold off being bummed about the colour until I’ve used the needles more.

Worst part is the sticking me in the underside of the hand. I guess I’ll find a band-aid or some moleskin and put it where the contact is occurring and see how that goes.

So, not sure I’m thrilled about this purchase. They’re nice, very pretty indeed but I’m wondering if the options and some of the Brittany or  Quill needles might not be better. Time will tell. I’ll finish the current socks on the Harmony needles and then do a couple pair on the Brittany and Quill needles and compare. I know the Brittany needles didn’t poke me in the right hand.

We’re still in the midst of a nice thaw and if one ignores the mud (bit difficult as it’s everywhere) it has been grand. Sun actually out, breeze from the SW and in the low 50s. Almost full moon makes for marvelous night walks. I’ve been taking over most of The Dawg walking because the weather is just so fine and it’s grand to get outside. Tempted to take my camera out tonight and see if I can capture the moon.

Spammers? Give it up. Blog is on comment moderation and your crap will never, ever get displayed here. So, might as well just take it off your lists. And, you guys are scum.

There. Got that off my chest.

On the knitting scene: got sidetracked (surprise!) away from the Old Shale wrap for a couple days. Woefully short on cloths for kitchen. Got a bunch cranked out and am back to the wrap. Makes me a bit nervous because it’s so important but I’m moving along…probably about six inches done and it’s meant to be sixty. So, quite a bit to go. So, aside from mindless knitting when my brain is on strike, I’m focusing on this.

Man…this whole Britney Spears thing? What a complete tragedy. To me it’s obvious the woman is ill. Don’t know enough about the ins-and-outs of the law but I’m to the point where I think she needs to be helped. Intervention time. From what I’m seeing, though, she’ll have none of that. So sad. All I can do is hope that someone gets through to her before it’s too late.

Harmony needles are working out nicely except for the dark colour. Still not happy with that. More excuse to buy the metal ones, I guess. Might do that next week. Or a decent lamp behind me but I don’t like bright lights. They feel grand though and it’s a joy working with them, especially with knitting stitches together, nice points. So far (touch wood) none of the problems I’ve read about so, overall, very happy with them.

January thaw continues here. And it’s incredibly muddy. Clay-ish mud, the kind that once it’s on something sticks and is hard to get off. All over the dog, our shoes, the front hall, our pants, it’s really icky. But it has been nice to see the sun. Fog is back today though, fairly dense. Will probably be spooky on tonight’s walk. Almost wish it’d go back to below freezing to get rid of this mud. It’s pretty annoying.

Himself has a cold again but, so far, I’ve managed to dodge it. This has been quite the season for bugs flying about and I read that the Noro virus is spreading around here. Lovely. DO NOT WANT. I wish people would be more responsible when they’re sick and just stay at home. Employers aren’t doing themselves any favours expecting people to work when sick. Just spreads things around even worse. And schools too. Just stay home for a day or so and I’d bet these bugs wouldn’t get the hold that they are this year.

Been kind of off Ravelry lately. I think I got over-saturated and it was making me want to be bad. Heh. So many things I want to do after browsing there and reading what others are doing and I don’t need any help at being distracted. Conversely have been watching DvDs on my spiffy HP notebook.

May I introduce…Mortimer (yes, I name my PCs, hush)

This is in standard notebook mode. He’d be great just this way. Nice display, good size, not very heavy, running Windows Vista Ultimate. But, he can also be…

Tablet PC! (cig box for scale). Operates completely via the stylus and touch screen. I love this. Have wanted a TabletPC for quite awhile but this was the first one that said: BUY ME! It’s wonderful to be able to kick back in a comfortable chair, wireless for ‘Net surfing or watching a DvD. So spoiled, me.

All the usual bells and whistles but one of the big things, for me, is that he has great volume. I can hear things on him. So many notebooks, even PCs, the volume just isn’t loud enough for me. This guy is pretty good that way. Very nice “gimme” and I use him often. I could probably get away with not using the desktop anymore but I’ve got all my software on the desktop and, so far, have been too lazy to migrate it over onto Mortimer. Might do that soon so I can wallow in comfort all the time.

…and I’m not sure what caused it but it’s good. I have stopped being quite so timid with my knitting. I was ultra-cautious about what I took on for the longest time. I avoided purling, I would look at lots of patterns and say to myself: “No can do.”. Of course, I was right. I couldn’t. But not because I couldn’t actually do it, rather because I believed I couldn’t.

This is all very indicative of my tendency to not have much faith in myself. I suppose I could blather on about how I came to be this way but I’d rather consider it moot and just move on.

I’m moving into texture now. Want texture. Want to see lots of texture. This is likely to result in numerous dish-washcloths. Small expenditure of time/money, enjoyment from trying out all sorts of patterns and a usable cloth at the end.

Doing the Old Shale wrap was something that as recently as 2 months ago, I couldn’t wrap (hee) my brain around. No I are doin’ it. Circular lace cloth? Made my head hurt. Did one this morning.

Will I still make mistakes? You damn betcha. Matter of fact, I pulled a real doozy last night. Was at the tail end of a scrap cloth (wanted to get the little balls of red off the desk) and joined up last little ball to finish the cloth. It was late. It was dim lighting (as usual) and I was a cruising along thinking of nothing more than getting this done, clearing off a bit of space on the desk and going to bed when I realised…different yarn! Mercerised instead of combed cotton. I snorted and said: Bugger it. It’s a dishcloth.

This would not have happened last year. I would’ve taken it back to where I joined, actually further back so as to finish off in the combed. Nah. Just left it be. It amuses me. And it goes in the face of my persnickety-ness. There’s a time and place for that and this wasn’t it.

Progress. Gotta love it.

January thaw underway, I guess. Been nearly 50°f for a couple days now although still gets well below freezing at night (and oh have the nights be clear. Stars all the way down to the horizons. Really feels like being in a bowl.). Much nicer especially since the sun has been out for 2 days in a row! Took The Dawg for his late afternoon walk today and it was pure pleasure. Fresh, fresh air, nice to be out walking around in it. Sunset was pretty nice too. Took the camera with me and got some shots.

The Dawg: Pigeon-toed, floppy-eared, hairy-tongued and very patient.

Beautiful light just at sunset. Warm and a nice change from the gray that is so common in winter here.

Nice view for an evening walk. Oddly there weren’t very many people out this evening. Usually this is prime walking time.

I am going to miss this walk when we move up to the top of the “mountain”. I probably won’t miss the aroma of the dairy farm that is silhouetted in this picture. When the wind is from that quarter it is very, very aromatic. Still, pretty and, to me, beats the hell out of any view in a city.

We recently got a printer that can print out very nice copies of photos. Since we don’t have many pictures on the walls to begin with (I rarely find anything I like and what I do like ends up be horrendously expensive…figures) this new printer will help us to “decorate” and, maybe, gift some photos to family/friends. The picture at the top of this post of “The Dawg” got printed out for my office. That shot just tickles me.

Appetite has been slow in returning after being sick but after the walk this evening I found myself really hungry. Happily the grocery store is again stocking the vegetarian entrees they carried before the holidays. I guess with the limited room, they did away with the veggie stuff to have room for the holiday stuff. Sugar vs. veggie? I go with veggie. Anyway, I stocked up on “Cordon Bleu”, “Schnitzel” and the “nuggets” (trying for first time). The nuggets are good! Doesn’t surprise me considering everything I’ve had from this company (name escapes me just now) is excellent. Almost got me over missing my Morningstar Farms Grillers. So, supper tonight is nuggets with a mayo/cilantro/lemon/garlic dip. Himself turned his nose up at the offer to share. Hah! More for me.

Kind of nervous about the shawl I am making Sandra. I got 8 balls of Jaeger Matchmaker in a lavender/periwinkle (shade 626) which should have been enough but even though I’m on gauge, I’m thinking it’s not going to be.

I emailed Angel Yarns to see if they had any more in the same colour/lot but then I remembered it was on sale (gnah! I see that it’s being discontinued. Why oh why is it that when I find a yarn I like…discontinued…meh!). I think I might be screwed here. I ordered another batch of the Jaeger but in a loden green and enough to be absolutely sure that I have enough. Worst that’ll happen is that I’ll end up with 2 shawls and that wouldn’t be the worst thing. It is very pretty though. And I am actually enjoying doing the pattern. Bit nervous given my concentration issues but I think I’m just psyching myself out. In any case I’m chugging along. Going to take awhile.

Also have cranked out a couple of towels for the kitchen. Needed ‘em. Going to get stocked back up so I have a week’s worth again. Doing a very basic but pretty “interrupted rib” (did a scarf in this pattern last week too) and then edging with a round of single crochet and then a quick loop for hanging. Nice ‘n’ squishy, dries things pretty quickly and look nice. Need pictures I guess.

Ah well, back to the shawl.

I admit it, I’m a River John needle freak. I love ‘em. I love the feel of them, I love how they work with almost all yarns (not so good with Rowan Kidsilk Haze). I love the ability to get them in short lengths. Most of mine are 7″ which works for a great deal of the common knitting I do and I have been known to cram too many stitches on ‘em just to use the RJ needles.

They are made of Birch and are very smooth and very light. The large ball on the end precludes any stiches sliding off which does come in handy when I’m pushing my luck with lots of stitches on a 7″ needles. I find that I knit very quickly with these needles, just as quickly as with Addi Turbos and I prefer natural over metal any day.

My latest haul which arrived this morning. That’s the two sets of cable needles (3.5mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm and 10mm) and one pair of 7″ 3.5mm straights and one pair of 7″ 4mm straights.

My only complaint is that River John will NOT ship to the EU. Yes, we can get some of the needles here via Kangaroo and GetKnitted but they only carry the “swing” and “commuter” (7″ size) and there are a LOT more plus (waaaah) a drop spindle. Well that’s not entirely true, I got my hands on their cable needles (2 sets) here. Otherwise I cannot find any of the others: 5″, 6″, 9″, 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″ or 19″ in the straights. Pity because I’d buy the lot of ‘em, I’m sure. I’m THAT fond of ‘em. And crochet hooks too! I need to get a new set of crochet hooks anyway, mine are very old and getting beaten up.

These needles are great for “desk knitting” which is my main place to knit. Short so that I can have my elbows resting on the desk and not have needles catching on sleeves or banging into the desk itself. Perfect for scarves, most dishcloths and flat-knitted hats, mitts, baby booties etc. Sturdy too. And they are very smooth.

Love these things and wish I could get more of them. Might try begging the folks at the home site.

I love people who ask what you want for gifts. I especially love it when they say…how about a gift certificate? That’s what my wonderful MIL did this year for Christmas. So I got one from GetKnitted in the U.K. and I used it to buy the Harmony circs. and sock needles (plus a tension-gauge). Got ‘em today.

Very uhm…colourful. Not sure about this. They are pretty no doubt and unique amongst all my needles but I’m not sure about the busy-ness of all the colours whilst knitting. Right now I have one pair in use with white cotton, working on a knitted towel. No problem there but not sure how they’ll be with darker yarn.

I was a bit concerned having heard how some folks had problems with the joins (where the wood bit goes into the metal bit) or the needles coming unscrewed from the cables. I examined mine quickly and didn’t see any sign of problems. Everything looked well glued in. Guess time will tell on whether I have problems like some folks have. Hope not.

Very smooth and the cables are nice and flexible. I think I might give sock knitting on circs a try with these. That’ll be down the road a bit since I insist on learning the “hard way” using DPNs. Happily I got a bundle offer from GetKnitted that also included the Harmony Sock Needles.

They are six inches long (good length, I dislike the longer ones intensely, too much flopping about for my taste) in sizes 2.00mm, 2.25mm, 2.50mm, 2.75mm, 3mm and 3.25mm. Quick examination shows them to be smooth, not too flexible and light. Nicely contained in a plastic envelope (let’s see how long I manage to keep ‘em in that nice envelope.).

Going to reserve judgment ’til I’ve used the circs and the sock-needles for a bit but initial examination looks good. I really do like the cables, they are much thinner and more flexible than my other set (Denise). They stow away nicely and don’t stay crimped like so many circ cables. Specifically one set of Addis that I have that will not un-crimp. I’ve tried all the usual tricks and they sproing right back into a tight “pretzel”. Kind of annoying when working with them.

**Update** Just occured to me that these needles are missing something I consider crucial. There is no way (that I can find) to connect two or more cables ala Denise needles. I checked a couple of sites (including KnitPicks) and unless I’m blind, I don’t see how it can be done. That was a very good option with the Denise needles and I guess I was expecting the same functionality with the Harmony Circs. Bummer. On the plus side, they knit like a dream, smoothness of metal but warm and the points are great. Am doing a feather ‘n’ fan shawl for a neighbour and quite enjoying the 4mm circs.

Been working on the shawl for a bit. The needles are nice, so smooth and light but they are not very good in my standard knitting environment. I knit at my desk, with low light. I was concerned about the darkness of the needles and it is a bit of a problem at night especially with darker yarn. If I would have proper lighting, I don’t suppose this would be much of an issue. Guess I should consider not being such a mole and having a bit more light on my knitting. Maybe after I finally get my office rearranged this will change.

So, happy as can be that I got my hands on some of these. I truly didn’t think I would for awhile yet given the backorder situation for these here in the EU.

Thanks, Christa. You rock!

Found some Sophie (Peterle Wolle) wool/poly. blend in the stash in a green tweed colour. No clue why I bought it, wasn’t enough of it to do much of anything except a scarf. That probably was my thinking. My lighter weight winter coat is a green polar fleece so perhaps that’s what I had in mind. So, in an effort to de-stash and come up with a scarf that works with the green polar fleece I decided to do it up in a pattern that I saw on a dishcloth somewhere (probably Ravelry). Pretty basic stuff but looked surprisingly nice with this yarn.

Bog simple it was, a bit tedious toward the end but many scarves are.

And so…

4 50g. balls of Sophie

7mm River John Needles

CO 20

Rows 1 & 2: Knit across

Rows 3 & 4: K2, K1, P1 to last 2 stitches, K2

Repeat four row pattern ’til out of yarn ending with rows 1 & 2 and then cast off.

Scarf achieved.

With close-up (complete with mystery shadow!)…

Of course, the weather is warming up. Well, during the day anyway. Getting pretty chilly tonight. Already 28°f and going down. This scarf won’t go at all with my heavy coat which is kind of a blue/gray plaid. Ah well, since the Karaoke scarf I made to go with that one is a complete and utter washout, I guess I need to come up with something else. Although I do now have the complete Adriafil Llama set.

Sorta.

We’re sitting here, me at the top of the house and Himself on the ground floor, dealing with completely freaked out critters. Y’see, here in Germany, the traditional way to welcome the New Year is via light off fireworks. Yes, anyone can (well of age) and they go all out. So all day on the 31st they set ‘em off but the big crescendo is, of course, at midnight. It’s loud, bright and smells of the explosives. I usually love watching the fireworks but not so much this year. The Dawg is terrified. Flat out terrified. He’s a quivering mess. He’s been nervous and clingy all day what with the sporadic lighting off of fireworks but when everyone lit ‘em off a midnight he just went mental. So sad to see. The cats pretty much dived under the bed and whilst not happy they’re nowhere near as freaked out as The Neem. Hopefully this will end soon so the poor critters can relax. It’s just gone half past midnight and it does sound like it’s slowing down finally.

Was watching Helen Mirren in Elizabeth I before all this started. I’m a sucker for historical, costume dramas. This one is pretty good. Jeremy Irons as Leicester is also good. About half way through the movie and will watch the rest after things calm down. I wanted to see this before I watched Mirren in “Queen”. It’s soon going to be on satellite here.

Nothing else exciting going on, chugging away on my Voodoo fingerless gloves, about half done with the first one. Then I’ll have a full set of Llama/wool anti-cold things. Love this Adriafil yarn. Just wonderful stuff.

Well, off to peel critters off the ceiling.

Hopefully 2008 is a good year for us all.