And then I remembered today's date.
You really must check out this link to what I can only, sincerely, hope is a joke posted on the blog written by the peeps who run my cold-pressed juice outfit. It's all the more hilarious because this is the kind of shit that happens in Toronto all the time.
On the plus side, those dogs are spectacular to look at.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
A Little Bit More on Lett-Lopi Yarn - What Does it Feel Like When It's Knitted and Blocked?
There aren't a lot of posts or resources that will tell you what Lett-Lopi (Icelandic yarn) actually feels like when you wear it. And when you feel it on the skein you might be afraid to give it a try because it's very scratchy. It's not a plush ball of softness of the sort we next-generation knitters trend towards. But man, this stuff is never going to pill.
Having worn my new vest yesterday (admittedly only once so far) I can tell you this:
I would use it again, though I won't rush out to buy it. What can I say? You can take the girl out of the worsted-spun but you can't take the worsted-spun out of the girl... (Does that sound weird?)
But enough of my views - what do you think of Lett-Lopi?
Having worn my new vest yesterday (admittedly only once so far) I can tell you this:
- It was incredibly warm but not in the way that some knits tend to overheat one. There was a lot of openness in the fabric so that it trapped warmth but also allowed for circulation. A+ on this account.
- Scratchy does NOT equal itchy. Scratchy is a quality of long and short fibers cohering in an unrefined yarn. Itchy is what happens when you wear mohair or alpaca or acrylic (or something else which your personal ecosystem may not appreciate). So, unless you're sensitive to wool, I don't think you need to worry.
- Scratchy does NOT equal harsh. This yarn - which touched my neck all over, for hours, was actually beautifully soft. Sure, soaking it in hair conditioner didn't hurt - not that it softened the hand more than slightly. I had no reaction. I can imagine that if you wore this and overheated (started sweating) you could get uncomfortable because then the wool halo and the sweat would start to interact. But I had no issues with it and I'm the one who loves cashmere. No, I wouldn't make a fitted sweater out of it - or something which would directly touch a large portion of my skin - because I prefer thinner knits in that context and this might produce a weird sensation against one's entire torso. Mind you, I would make gloves or a scarf out of it without concern. Note: The peeps who wear Icelandic sweaters, made with this yarn, are likely wearing a layer between the non-fitted sweater and their bodies.
I would use it again, though I won't rush out to buy it. What can I say? You can take the girl out of the worsted-spun but you can't take the worsted-spun out of the girl... (Does that sound weird?)
But enough of my views - what do you think of Lett-Lopi?
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Bust the Stash: Finished Object 12 - Circular Vest
I fucking love this one:
Sometimes stash-leads to kismet. Y'all have to make this garment. It takes about 2 weeks (if you're serious) and somewhere around 500 yards of aran-weight yarn. You could easily make one for your best friend for Xmas and totally blow her mind!
Let's Talk About The Pattern: It's not a difficult knit but it is a bit fussy and it does get tedious at the end. Mind you, it's pretty enjoyable, despite that, because the fabric that emerges from one (reasonably) straight-forward pattern 4-row repeat is pretty cool. With a simple flat-knit, short row technique, the waistcoat becomes a circle which is seamed up at the end and into which a back panel is inserted. The armholes are the unsewn space between the sides of the waistcoat circle and the back panel.
Here's the thing, next time, I'd do this differently. Yeah, I know, next time I do everything differently but hear me out. Instead of seaming up the bound-off edges of the circle at the end, which can be a bit messier than necessary, I'd provisionally cast on, at the start, and 3-needle bind off the 2 edges of live stitches at the end. This would take virtually no additional effort. I'd also consider picking up stitches at the bottom of the waistcoat circle, knitting the required number of rows and then seaming it at the top. Mind you, the back panel is inserted width-wise to match the direction of the garter stitch in the waistcoat, so that consistency would be sacrificed for a neater join...
I made the back panel wider than the pattern calls for because I think, as drafted, it looks skinny and strange. I also made it shorter so that the armholes wouldn't be too long for me. What I'd say is that the instructions, from a sizing perspective, are a guideline. I made a modified medium, after starting with a small and realizing that it likely wouldn't be long enough given that I worked with needles 2 sizes smaller than recommended. Strangely, I got gauge with those needles, but gauge is worked in garter and I don't think it translated well to the very nubby blackberry pattern at the edges of the waistcoat circle. Having said that, I like the fabric that the smaller needle size produced so I would definitely use the same needle size again.
Great thing is that every size of this garment starts exactly the same way, by casting on 44 stitches. This allows for easy modification as you go. See my Ravelry notes for more details on what I did to modify the size.
What about that crazy yarn?? As you know, my friend Michael brought me back the Lett-Lopi from Iceland last summer as a gift. He bought it in the grocery store and cheerfully advised that it cost $4.20 CDN per skein. This garment took slightly over 4 skeins so, technically, this garment cost under $20 bucks to make.
BTW, Karen Templer from Fringe Association (a blog you should follow whether you like knitting or not), is a nut for this yarn. She started singing its praises recently (long after it had made its way into my stash) and that gave me confidence to try it out. Part of my issue is that I didn't really have enough to make a sweater and it's not well suited to small accessories that touch the skin.
This yarn is hardcore. It's like wearing a sheep. It's hairy and scratchy (though not as scratchy as it looks - and less scratchy still after blocking, especially if you follow up the wash with a soak in hair conditioner. BTW, don't use a lot of conditioner and don't rinse it out at the end.)
The yarn is unparalleled in its warmth given that shorter and longer wool fibres are carded together to produce a yarn that's spun with a lot of air trapped between these fibres. I mean, this is the stuff the Icelandic fishermen wear. The relatively untreated state of the yarn lends to its waterproof properties (these are somewhat stripped by washing, hence the addition of conditioner at the end. Some prefer to wash with lanolin-enriched Eucalan, but I don't have any and I didn't see how conditioner could hurt.)
This yarn is not my jam but I became increasingly enamoured of it as I went. It unrefinement is quite spectacular, if unappealing, like a harsh landscape. You can feel its durability. Furthermore, it's beautifully dyed to provide a very deep, but clear navy blue. It blocks fantastically, better than any springy yarn. On the flip side, it is barely spun. I mean, whole yards come out like carded fiber, simply held together by the strength of the wool, having disparate texture and gauge. Some bits are aran-weight, other bits like fingering. It's odd.
Now, it doesn't have a lot of drape, unsurprisingly, which is why I thought it would either work perfectly, or horribly, with this pattern. Remember, I didn't have a lot of choice given my yardage and the need to keep this second-layer. I thought that the structure could be good for this garment, as long as it didn't produce a stiff end-result.
As of now, I think it has worked entirely adequately - and time/wearing will tell if I think better or worse of it, in the end. Next time I make this, though, I'll use a drapier yarn (not alpaca, but a smoother worsted-spun) because it's the only way to get length in the garment without bulking up the collar.
What do I mean by that? Well, the bodice (waistcoat) is a circle. Whatever part of it allows for its vertical extension also gathers at the neckline to form the lovely shawl collar. I love a shawl collar but this one doesn't have modifiable dimensions because it is not seamed on. I'm already short with a short torso so this means this version has, arguably, too much collar for my proportions. But, I'd like a bit more length in that circle (than I got this time around) without adding to the bulk at the neck. The only way to achieve that is by using a yarn with more drag (i.e. a softer hand). It won't be as durable or as warm, but it may provide a better drape to suit my needs.
I think it's particularly chic with my wooden shawl pin.
Another plus of this pattern is that it can be made to suit a lot of shapes (though some better than others). I mean, a long or wide person will have better luck given how it's drafted, but it's totally achievable for other shapes. I sense it would be least suitable for a wide, short person who carries most of her weight in the middle but careful yarn choice might mitigate that issue.
So what do you think? Do you like this? Would you make it? Let's talk!
Sometimes stash-leads to kismet. Y'all have to make this garment. It takes about 2 weeks (if you're serious) and somewhere around 500 yards of aran-weight yarn. You could easily make one for your best friend for Xmas and totally blow her mind!
Let's Talk About The Pattern: It's not a difficult knit but it is a bit fussy and it does get tedious at the end. Mind you, it's pretty enjoyable, despite that, because the fabric that emerges from one (reasonably) straight-forward pattern 4-row repeat is pretty cool. With a simple flat-knit, short row technique, the waistcoat becomes a circle which is seamed up at the end and into which a back panel is inserted. The armholes are the unsewn space between the sides of the waistcoat circle and the back panel.
Here's the thing, next time, I'd do this differently. Yeah, I know, next time I do everything differently but hear me out. Instead of seaming up the bound-off edges of the circle at the end, which can be a bit messier than necessary, I'd provisionally cast on, at the start, and 3-needle bind off the 2 edges of live stitches at the end. This would take virtually no additional effort. I'd also consider picking up stitches at the bottom of the waistcoat circle, knitting the required number of rows and then seaming it at the top. Mind you, the back panel is inserted width-wise to match the direction of the garter stitch in the waistcoat, so that consistency would be sacrificed for a neater join...
I made the back panel wider than the pattern calls for because I think, as drafted, it looks skinny and strange. I also made it shorter so that the armholes wouldn't be too long for me. What I'd say is that the instructions, from a sizing perspective, are a guideline. I made a modified medium, after starting with a small and realizing that it likely wouldn't be long enough given that I worked with needles 2 sizes smaller than recommended. Strangely, I got gauge with those needles, but gauge is worked in garter and I don't think it translated well to the very nubby blackberry pattern at the edges of the waistcoat circle. Having said that, I like the fabric that the smaller needle size produced so I would definitely use the same needle size again.
Great thing is that every size of this garment starts exactly the same way, by casting on 44 stitches. This allows for easy modification as you go. See my Ravelry notes for more details on what I did to modify the size.
What about that crazy yarn?? As you know, my friend Michael brought me back the Lett-Lopi from Iceland last summer as a gift. He bought it in the grocery store and cheerfully advised that it cost $4.20 CDN per skein. This garment took slightly over 4 skeins so, technically, this garment cost under $20 bucks to make.
BTW, Karen Templer from Fringe Association (a blog you should follow whether you like knitting or not), is a nut for this yarn. She started singing its praises recently (long after it had made its way into my stash) and that gave me confidence to try it out. Part of my issue is that I didn't really have enough to make a sweater and it's not well suited to small accessories that touch the skin.
This yarn is hardcore. It's like wearing a sheep. It's hairy and scratchy (though not as scratchy as it looks - and less scratchy still after blocking, especially if you follow up the wash with a soak in hair conditioner. BTW, don't use a lot of conditioner and don't rinse it out at the end.)
The yarn is unparalleled in its warmth given that shorter and longer wool fibres are carded together to produce a yarn that's spun with a lot of air trapped between these fibres. I mean, this is the stuff the Icelandic fishermen wear. The relatively untreated state of the yarn lends to its waterproof properties (these are somewhat stripped by washing, hence the addition of conditioner at the end. Some prefer to wash with lanolin-enriched Eucalan, but I don't have any and I didn't see how conditioner could hurt.)
This yarn is not my jam but I became increasingly enamoured of it as I went. It unrefinement is quite spectacular, if unappealing, like a harsh landscape. You can feel its durability. Furthermore, it's beautifully dyed to provide a very deep, but clear navy blue. It blocks fantastically, better than any springy yarn. On the flip side, it is barely spun. I mean, whole yards come out like carded fiber, simply held together by the strength of the wool, having disparate texture and gauge. Some bits are aran-weight, other bits like fingering. It's odd.
Now, it doesn't have a lot of drape, unsurprisingly, which is why I thought it would either work perfectly, or horribly, with this pattern. Remember, I didn't have a lot of choice given my yardage and the need to keep this second-layer. I thought that the structure could be good for this garment, as long as it didn't produce a stiff end-result.
As of now, I think it has worked entirely adequately - and time/wearing will tell if I think better or worse of it, in the end. Next time I make this, though, I'll use a drapier yarn (not alpaca, but a smoother worsted-spun) because it's the only way to get length in the garment without bulking up the collar.
What do I mean by that? Well, the bodice (waistcoat) is a circle. Whatever part of it allows for its vertical extension also gathers at the neckline to form the lovely shawl collar. I love a shawl collar but this one doesn't have modifiable dimensions because it is not seamed on. I'm already short with a short torso so this means this version has, arguably, too much collar for my proportions. But, I'd like a bit more length in that circle (than I got this time around) without adding to the bulk at the neck. The only way to achieve that is by using a yarn with more drag (i.e. a softer hand). It won't be as durable or as warm, but it may provide a better drape to suit my needs.
I think it's particularly chic with my wooden shawl pin.
Another plus of this pattern is that it can be made to suit a lot of shapes (though some better than others). I mean, a long or wide person will have better luck given how it's drafted, but it's totally achievable for other shapes. I sense it would be least suitable for a wide, short person who carries most of her weight in the middle but careful yarn choice might mitigate that issue.
So what do you think? Do you like this? Would you make it? Let's talk!
Friday, March 25, 2016
The Five Ds
Nothing like being woken to the crash of ice falling from your roof. It actually sounds like part of the house is disconnecting which, given the reason for my upcoming reno, is off putting. (Note: the back of the house is in no imminent danger of falling down - but homeowners woken to crashing noise are apt to freak out for a second or two.)
The elephant in the post is that there's freakin' ice falling off my roof and it's practically April. I wish I could say this is unlikely. I wish I could say that we didn't just have a stupid fucking ice storm (not severe) wherein it was dangerous to walk to the streetcar, never mind to work. I wish I could say that the phone lines were up again - in only because we have IP television that totally doesn't work going into the weekend. I wish I could say that we've seen something other than dull grey and brown in the last week and a half. I wish I could say that when we saw sun a week and a half ago, it was for longer than a day.
I realize these posts are ubiquitous at this time of the year, but honestly, late winter weather in Toronto - alright, most of Southern Ontario - is hideous. It has all the detractors of English weather (trust me, I know, I lived there) - horrible damp that cuts to the bones, and encourages many kinds of pain. It has all the detractors of northern weather, if intermittently: snow, ice, consistently frozen temps. But it loves to hover at a temperature that combines the utter worst of both. Toronto sits at the nexus of several competing weather forces which results in weather patterns stalling overhead - the occluded front, as they say. The result is constant dull, dank, dark, damp and DEPRESSING. Sure, we're protected from many extremes, but the price we pay is weather "solitary".
If you live in Winnipeg, God help you in winter, but at least you have a lot of sun. If you live in Vancouver, you've never seen the sun so you don't know what you're missing - but you can wear your cute yoga outfits year round (and they're waterproof) - not to mention that it's freakin' urban-nature at its best. If you live in Montreal, you live in Montreal, so stop gloating and eat a bagel. If you live in NYC, you're bound to get a hurricane now and again but your spring starts a month before ours and you see the sun. If you live in North Carolina, it's been nice since late February.
Right about now I hate-envy everyone who doesn't have to go through this, which I realize makes me small.
So - peeps who also live in places where the weather sucks for long stretches: How do you handle this? Moreover, where do you live (cuz I want to stay the hell away)? How do you justify slogging through year after year. FYI, I never book winter vacations to warm places because the idea of returning to Toronto, only to go back into weather misery, is too wretched to consider. Let's talk!
PS: This isn't the time to tell me about your crocuses. :-)
The elephant in the post is that there's freakin' ice falling off my roof and it's practically April. I wish I could say this is unlikely. I wish I could say that we didn't just have a stupid fucking ice storm (not severe) wherein it was dangerous to walk to the streetcar, never mind to work. I wish I could say that the phone lines were up again - in only because we have IP television that totally doesn't work going into the weekend. I wish I could say that we've seen something other than dull grey and brown in the last week and a half. I wish I could say that when we saw sun a week and a half ago, it was for longer than a day.
I realize these posts are ubiquitous at this time of the year, but honestly, late winter weather in Toronto - alright, most of Southern Ontario - is hideous. It has all the detractors of English weather (trust me, I know, I lived there) - horrible damp that cuts to the bones, and encourages many kinds of pain. It has all the detractors of northern weather, if intermittently: snow, ice, consistently frozen temps. But it loves to hover at a temperature that combines the utter worst of both. Toronto sits at the nexus of several competing weather forces which results in weather patterns stalling overhead - the occluded front, as they say. The result is constant dull, dank, dark, damp and DEPRESSING. Sure, we're protected from many extremes, but the price we pay is weather "solitary".
If you live in Winnipeg, God help you in winter, but at least you have a lot of sun. If you live in Vancouver, you've never seen the sun so you don't know what you're missing - but you can wear your cute yoga outfits year round (and they're waterproof) - not to mention that it's freakin' urban-nature at its best. If you live in Montreal, you live in Montreal, so stop gloating and eat a bagel. If you live in NYC, you're bound to get a hurricane now and again but your spring starts a month before ours and you see the sun. If you live in North Carolina, it's been nice since late February.
Right about now I hate-envy everyone who doesn't have to go through this, which I realize makes me small.
So - peeps who also live in places where the weather sucks for long stretches: How do you handle this? Moreover, where do you live (cuz I want to stay the hell away)? How do you justify slogging through year after year. FYI, I never book winter vacations to warm places because the idea of returning to Toronto, only to go back into weather misery, is too wretched to consider. Let's talk!
PS: This isn't the time to tell me about your crocuses. :-)
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Time Travel
I'm taking a break from my late evening stress coma to urge you to watch this unbelievable piece of history. (Amazingly, it was filmed in 1978. With the exception of some clothing, it looks as if it could have been shot in 1950.):
Honestly, spend the 26 minutes transfixed by how a sheep turns into dyed, plied yarn - old-school-like. You will marvel at the skill of these people. Word to the wise: It gets off to a very slow start but don't give up on. It goes from boring documentary period piece to fascinating a little after 5 minutes.
Damn, I've turned into one of those crazy spinning-ladies-to-be. But I can actually feel peace emanating from the celluloid. Those women are tripping.
(I found this clip on KnittyBlog today, a site which I recommend you support, if that's your thing.)
I was transported. Do tell me what you think.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Adventures and Hard Work
I've moved into a super nova busy time at work. In some ways, the next 6 weeks is likely to hold the most complex and challenging professional adventure I've been on yet. I'm stressed out about it. I dwell on the difficult moments; I scarcely take a minute to reflect on the praise. (Admittedly, there's more difficult than praise.) But I wonder why it is that I am hardwired to ruminate on the unpleasant, the moments of tension, while I let the (equally effusive) positives fly by.
This is not phase that I will allow to compel me. I've spent 45 years getting ready to apply my life experience intelligently. But I may be absent more frequently if this pace continues. I work long hours straight, these days. Seriously, no time to get a tea in the kitchen or to find healthy food or to pee. And yes, I realize it's not healthy. But sometimes we have to stretch ourselves. Friday, I managed to eat a donut and chips for lunch, while I negotiated with a worried client. OK, don't cry for me. It was a crema catalana beignet from Bar Raval (which I picked up on my way into work, pretty sure it would be a batshit crazy day) and the chips were overpriced, jalapeno kettle cut things. These foods were strangely well-paired.
The other day my mentor came into my office and, after listening to me fast-talk with agitation for 5 minutes, inquired as to whether I was secretly pleased to be working on something so intellectually and interpersonally challenging. Way to put things into context. I guess that's why they tell you to find a mentor.
But in the quiet moments between the crazy days, I knit. (You'll note how much I've been knitting lately.)
I mentioned recently that I'd bought 2 interchangeable needle kits by Knitter's Pride, a brand I don't know much about though I do own a couple of KP bamboo circulars. This company produces numerous styles of needles and, while I'm not one to be tied down by one brand of needles - I cast my lot with Addis, pretty early on, and I don't love them in the end - I do like to mix and match. Furthermore, I'm thrilled by the idea that 6 needles, with detachable cables, can produce a zillion different options.
Here's what I got:
Tips are 4.5" long.
The cost for both sets, including shipping, purchased online from the US, was 69 bucks CDN. Very well-priced IMO, given that I get to try a many new things - even if I'd have preferred needle sizes at either extreme of the gauge range because I use really small needles most often and I don't have all the large needle sizes in my cache already. Of course, you're only going to find the steady middle in a sample kit, to suit the largest demographic. No, I don't need these sets but I want them. How will I ever learn about different needle shapes and composite materials, applied to different fibers, if I don't explore? It's not like they take up any space. Or like I'm merely an occasional knitter.
In the past, I've been staunchly monogamous. I pick up a project, I knit a project, I finish a project - and then I move on. Sure, I plan the next project while I'm knitting the current one, but I'm compulsive about completing things so I don't want to impede that process. Having said this, my Bust the Stash initiative has shown me how, when you're planning is impeccable, you can do a few things at once (esp. if they're simple and small). I haven't gone down this road yet, but I do love that I can utilize needles, with different cables, as necessary to make 2 or more things, requiring the same needle gauge, simulaneously. Yeah, I already own all of these needle sizes, and most in multiples (with different, static i.e. non-detachable cord lengths), so I probably wouldn't ever have to go to that extent. But it's fun to have all the options!
This is how they came packaged (minus the labels):
Sure, it's tidy and functional but that plastic off-gassing is nasty and, let's face it, this presentation is not chic. Who wants to reach into their sticky plastic see-through envelope to search out needles? Not to mention, in the way that all of my other needles (not interchangeables) are housed their own portfolio, these deserve an attractive home.
Which is where the (arguably overpriced, but appreciable) Addi Interchangeable case comes in:
Note that my case did not include the needles. Of course, the Addi kits come with both but, like I've said before, I hate Addi cables and, durability notwithstanding, I find most of their needle tips to be too blunt (even the lace ones) and the needles themselves to be too slippery or too sticky. Mind you, I've always loved this case and I was thrilled to learn that it's sold independently of the needles. It cost me 54 bucks CDN, all in, purchased from the UK.
Now, you might be thinking to yourself: Kristin, you just spent $125 CDN on a self-curated interchangeable needle set with far fewer needles than you'd have got if you bought a complete, ready-made kit. And they're not in the most useful-to-you sizes. And you know nothing about whether you'll like them or if they'll last. Not to mention that the case says Addi and the needles are a dog's breakfast of different shapes and materials - which is just kind of off.
What can I say? I'm happy. It was an adventure - the likes of which I experienced last night at Enoteca when, so exhausted that I couldn't even string together a sentence, I asked James (our server and friend) to bring me any beverage of his choice, other than beer (which I hate). I like living on the edge - especially when the thing that's over the edge is, let's face it, totally safe. Hilariously, he brought me one of my old standards (an Italian La Crema). I think he could see where I was at.
I love the case. The needles all fit (and there's room for others if I find a new sample kit to buy). They all seem to join well and easily to the cables. Some of the tips are more my speed than others but, you know, you can't tell what needles will work with what yarn until you're in a particular situation. Sometimes you need slippery, sometimes square, sometimes wood etc.
So there you go, a small book on a few needles.
But how about you? Are you an interchangeable needle person? Did you buy all of your needles independently - as you were learning - only to find now that nothing matches and you wish you'd gone for the modularity of interchangeables? Do you actually like Addis or did you just buy the hype? What do you think of Knitter's Pride? Do you have a fave KP style? Have you tried these sample kits? How do you store your interchangeables? Let's talk!
This is not phase that I will allow to compel me. I've spent 45 years getting ready to apply my life experience intelligently. But I may be absent more frequently if this pace continues. I work long hours straight, these days. Seriously, no time to get a tea in the kitchen or to find healthy food or to pee. And yes, I realize it's not healthy. But sometimes we have to stretch ourselves. Friday, I managed to eat a donut and chips for lunch, while I negotiated with a worried client. OK, don't cry for me. It was a crema catalana beignet from Bar Raval (which I picked up on my way into work, pretty sure it would be a batshit crazy day) and the chips were overpriced, jalapeno kettle cut things. These foods were strangely well-paired.
The other day my mentor came into my office and, after listening to me fast-talk with agitation for 5 minutes, inquired as to whether I was secretly pleased to be working on something so intellectually and interpersonally challenging. Way to put things into context. I guess that's why they tell you to find a mentor.
But in the quiet moments between the crazy days, I knit. (You'll note how much I've been knitting lately.)
I mentioned recently that I'd bought 2 interchangeable needle kits by Knitter's Pride, a brand I don't know much about though I do own a couple of KP bamboo circulars. This company produces numerous styles of needles and, while I'm not one to be tied down by one brand of needles - I cast my lot with Addis, pretty early on, and I don't love them in the end - I do like to mix and match. Furthermore, I'm thrilled by the idea that 6 needles, with detachable cables, can produce a zillion different options.
Here's what I got:
Knitter's Pride Comby Interchangeable Sampler Set
1 pair Symfonie Dreamz (distinctively colored wood) (US 6 / 4.0 mm)
1 pair Cubics (cube-shaped wood) (US 7 / 4.5 mm)
1 pair Nova (nickel-plated brass) (US 8 / 5.0 mm)
1 24" cable
1 40" cable
4
end caps
2 cord keys
Tips are 4.5" long. (That's the actual length of the needles that attach to the cords and join.)
Knitter's Pride Comby Interchangeable Sampler Set II:
1 pair Karbonz (US 2.5/ 3.00mm) tips
1 pair Bamboo (US 4/ 3.5mm) tips
1 pair Nova Cubics Platina (US 6/ 4.00mm) tips
1 24" cable
1 40" cable
4
end caps
2 cord keys
The cost for both sets, including shipping, purchased online from the US, was 69 bucks CDN. Very well-priced IMO, given that I get to try a many new things - even if I'd have preferred needle sizes at either extreme of the gauge range because I use really small needles most often and I don't have all the large needle sizes in my cache already. Of course, you're only going to find the steady middle in a sample kit, to suit the largest demographic. No, I don't need these sets but I want them. How will I ever learn about different needle shapes and composite materials, applied to different fibers, if I don't explore? It's not like they take up any space. Or like I'm merely an occasional knitter.
In the past, I've been staunchly monogamous. I pick up a project, I knit a project, I finish a project - and then I move on. Sure, I plan the next project while I'm knitting the current one, but I'm compulsive about completing things so I don't want to impede that process. Having said this, my Bust the Stash initiative has shown me how, when you're planning is impeccable, you can do a few things at once (esp. if they're simple and small). I haven't gone down this road yet, but I do love that I can utilize needles, with different cables, as necessary to make 2 or more things, requiring the same needle gauge, simulaneously. Yeah, I already own all of these needle sizes, and most in multiples (with different, static i.e. non-detachable cord lengths), so I probably wouldn't ever have to go to that extent. But it's fun to have all the options!
This is how they came packaged (minus the labels):
 |
Sure, it's tidy and functional but that plastic off-gassing is nasty and, let's face it, this presentation is not chic. Who wants to reach into their sticky plastic see-through envelope to search out needles? Not to mention, in the way that all of my other needles (not interchangeables) are housed their own portfolio, these deserve an attractive home.
Which is where the (arguably overpriced, but appreciable) Addi Interchangeable case comes in:
Note that my case did not include the needles. Of course, the Addi kits come with both but, like I've said before, I hate Addi cables and, durability notwithstanding, I find most of their needle tips to be too blunt (even the lace ones) and the needles themselves to be too slippery or too sticky. Mind you, I've always loved this case and I was thrilled to learn that it's sold independently of the needles. It cost me 54 bucks CDN, all in, purchased from the UK.
Now, you might be thinking to yourself: Kristin, you just spent $125 CDN on a self-curated interchangeable needle set with far fewer needles than you'd have got if you bought a complete, ready-made kit. And they're not in the most useful-to-you sizes. And you know nothing about whether you'll like them or if they'll last. Not to mention that the case says Addi and the needles are a dog's breakfast of different shapes and materials - which is just kind of off.
What can I say? I'm happy. It was an adventure - the likes of which I experienced last night at Enoteca when, so exhausted that I couldn't even string together a sentence, I asked James (our server and friend) to bring me any beverage of his choice, other than beer (which I hate). I like living on the edge - especially when the thing that's over the edge is, let's face it, totally safe. Hilariously, he brought me one of my old standards (an Italian La Crema). I think he could see where I was at.
I love the case. The needles all fit (and there's room for others if I find a new sample kit to buy). They all seem to join well and easily to the cables. Some of the tips are more my speed than others but, you know, you can't tell what needles will work with what yarn until you're in a particular situation. Sometimes you need slippery, sometimes square, sometimes wood etc.
So there you go, a small book on a few needles.
But how about you? Are you an interchangeable needle person? Did you buy all of your needles independently - as you were learning - only to find now that nothing matches and you wish you'd gone for the modularity of interchangeables? Do you actually like Addis or did you just buy the hype? What do you think of Knitter's Pride? Do you have a fave KP style? Have you tried these sample kits? How do you store your interchangeables? Let's talk!
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Bust The Stash: Finished Object 11 - Foolproof Cowl
I am exceedingly pleased with my finished Foolproof Cowl:
Everyone should make one!
Here's one side:
And here's the other:
For what it's worth, this is by no means my best work, technically (there are a couple of small errors which I won't point out because, really, no one's going to notice them). I had to go off road with the Inspriation instruction directions. Note: There are 2 versions of directions for this cowl - Inspiration (which is essentially a pattern that tells you what to do) and Free Spirit (which gives guidelines and assumes you'll create your own striping pattern). I didn't have enough yarn to do the full-on Inspiration version so I mixed and matched. As a result, my striping pattern is pretty whack - but I finished up a maximum amount of yarn and gain a maximum amount of cowl length.
At 400ish yards of Loft yarn, this is just long enough to wrap around the neck twice. I'd definitely use 500-600 yards on my next version. Happily, the size is adjustable to suit what yarn you've got to work with.
I'm of two minds about using woolen-spun yarn, such as Brooklyn Tweed, for this project. It produces a more rustic end result, and that result is warmer than a worsted-spun one. It's less inclined to pill, it gains structure and strength in blocking. Furthermore, Brooklyn Tweed yarn, for all of its rusticness, is still very soft (and springy, and "kinky"). But... You need a light touch to knit with this stuff - it has basically no twist and it likes to break if you're even a smidge too tight. I've discovered that individual skeins can be radically different. Some contain yarn that's quite robust and even, others contain yarn that's brittle and uneven. I can knit with either because I'm a loose knitter with even tension, but I can see how this yarn won't work for everyone. Never have I seen more polarizing comments on Ravelry than when it comes to the quality of BT Loft. You either love it or hate it. I'd say more people hate it than love it, but the lovers are HARDCORE.
I don't think I'll run out soon to purchase BT yarn again, though I'd welcome an opportunity to use it in the future - particularly one of the weights I've not tried. As of now, I've only used Loft (the fingering weight).
I am totally enamoured of Brooklyn Tweed, the concept, and I think that many of the pattern designs are excellent, but I prefer a worsted-spun yarn - if one more rustic than my initial knitting tastes belied. Still, I urge everyone to give it a go (and Quince and Co, for that matter). Neither thrills me to the extent that Madeline Tosh does, but they're lovely, durable American-grown yarns that can be purchased online (or in store, in some instances) at a reasonable price.
What do you think of my Foolproof? Have you made this?
Everyone should make one!
Here's one side:
And here's the other:
For what it's worth, this is by no means my best work, technically (there are a couple of small errors which I won't point out because, really, no one's going to notice them). I had to go off road with the Inspriation instruction directions. Note: There are 2 versions of directions for this cowl - Inspiration (which is essentially a pattern that tells you what to do) and Free Spirit (which gives guidelines and assumes you'll create your own striping pattern). I didn't have enough yarn to do the full-on Inspiration version so I mixed and matched. As a result, my striping pattern is pretty whack - but I finished up a maximum amount of yarn and gain a maximum amount of cowl length.
At 400ish yards of Loft yarn, this is just long enough to wrap around the neck twice. I'd definitely use 500-600 yards on my next version. Happily, the size is adjustable to suit what yarn you've got to work with.
I'm of two minds about using woolen-spun yarn, such as Brooklyn Tweed, for this project. It produces a more rustic end result, and that result is warmer than a worsted-spun one. It's less inclined to pill, it gains structure and strength in blocking. Furthermore, Brooklyn Tweed yarn, for all of its rusticness, is still very soft (and springy, and "kinky"). But... You need a light touch to knit with this stuff - it has basically no twist and it likes to break if you're even a smidge too tight. I've discovered that individual skeins can be radically different. Some contain yarn that's quite robust and even, others contain yarn that's brittle and uneven. I can knit with either because I'm a loose knitter with even tension, but I can see how this yarn won't work for everyone. Never have I seen more polarizing comments on Ravelry than when it comes to the quality of BT Loft. You either love it or hate it. I'd say more people hate it than love it, but the lovers are HARDCORE.
I don't think I'll run out soon to purchase BT yarn again, though I'd welcome an opportunity to use it in the future - particularly one of the weights I've not tried. As of now, I've only used Loft (the fingering weight).
I am totally enamoured of Brooklyn Tweed, the concept, and I think that many of the pattern designs are excellent, but I prefer a worsted-spun yarn - if one more rustic than my initial knitting tastes belied. Still, I urge everyone to give it a go (and Quince and Co, for that matter). Neither thrills me to the extent that Madeline Tosh does, but they're lovely, durable American-grown yarns that can be purchased online (or in store, in some instances) at a reasonable price.
What do you think of my Foolproof? Have you made this?
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