It’s been a really stressful week. The kind of week where it all seems to just get sucked right out of you. So when the chance came up to go with a group from work to the baseball game this afternoon, I took it. (We’re right across the street from the Washington Nationals.) None of my friends from my immediate office went today so I was by myself, pretty much, with about 75 other co-workers I don’t know that well.
I was alone, but I didn’t care. I had my knitting, the skies had cleared, it was cool and breezy and just a glorious afternoon. The Nats even won! That was a rare treat but they are currently on a winning streak. I somehow managed to capture a home run with the only video I shot all day:
Baseball. And knitting. A much-needed perfect day.
closeup of two knitting needles, one wood, one clear acrylic
When Knit Picks introduced their new Zephyr needles recently, well, I had to be the first on my block to get some! They came today, so I haven’t had much time to play with them yet. But here are my first impressions.
They’re pretty. I’m sitting here at my computer desk, which is brightly lit with an LED light strip, but these babies sparkle in the light. Not in a bad way, that causes too much glare. But in a good way. Like, in a do diamonds ever cause too much glare? –sort of way. Haha. Maybe that’s overkill, but the aesthetics do please me.
As promised, they’re extremely lightweight. This is a good thing for those of us who have pain in our hands. Less stressful, for sure. But then again, all of Knit Picks’ needles feel light to me. But, I think these are even a bit lighter than the others.
There is a touch of give. The needles are slightly flexible, which makes it easier to bend and “pick” stitches. I suppose this would be especially good for continental knitters. I throw, but from the left not the right, and even so I found this bit of give feels good.
They’re a bargain. This is really good news for someone who would want a nice needle set for less money. They are the cheapest set in the Picks line, and they sell for less individually as well, especially in larger sizes.
There is a bit of “squeak.” This is the one thing that I’m finding I don’t like. It’s not an annoying audible squeak, but you know that “feeling” you get when something sort of squeaks? That little bit of friction? I definitely felt it. I was using a size 7 needle, and Socks that Rock Mediumweight sock yarn. Perhaps my results will vary with different yarns. We’ll see. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a terrible issue that will keep me from loving these needles. It’s just something I noticed right away.
I haven’t spent enough time with these yet but I wanted to give some first impressions. I think I’m going to love them, especially for certain projects where picking at the stitches could be helpful. Lace? Cables? Probably a good choice.
Knit Picks did a nice job with these. I do like them so far. My Harmony wood needles are probably always going to be my favorite, but these are good. Really good.
Today was the August meeting of our Bowie Knitter’s Group, and we had lots of fun and several new folks visit us today. Below are my photos from today. As always, click to make with the bigger:
Yvonne and Alice take advantage of the sunny window
Marie shows explains to Trish about different kinds of increases
Tammy is knitting a beautiful shrug
Sylvia is knitting a shawl on Speed Stix
My pink scarf that will not grow
Kristin is learning entrelac while Rhoda admires her work
Livia takes a break from her sock
Marie models her new shiny hat
Leslie shows off her sweater in progress
Jennifer joined us with a sock and a scarf in progress
Jenn and Heather show the progress on their sister shrugs from Vogue
April has a shawl in progress, and right now it resembles a stingray!
We welcomed some new folks this month, and we hope they enjoyed their visit with us! Jennifer, Olivia and Sylvia came for the first time. I hope they had fun and will come back again!
We also had three or four visitors from inside the store who spied our knitting group and will be joining us in the future. How fun!
Knit group was varied and really fun today with so many people working on so many cool projects to talk about. I had kind of a sleepy day today and had a bit of trouble staying focused on my scarf. I had a long nap this evening though, which explains why I’m up late at night updating the blog!
Dina from knit group asked me to post new photos of the den, now that I’ve got all the pictures up. I’ll do that tomorrow. The kids have been home from vacation for a week now and so far, no one has dared to mess up this room. That’s a really good thing.
Next meetup is September 12, due to the Labor Day holiday. Can’t wait already. Goodnight for now!
I’ve got no excuses really… there just hasn’t been much to blog about lately and I haven’t felt like doing it. Except for last weekend’s knit group, which was really a lot of fun! I’ve been late in sharing those photos, so here we go, As usual, click the thumbnails to make with the bigger and read details:
Yvonne models the sweater she made for her sister.
Alice is working on a poncho.
Bernida is making cute little toddler dresses.
Jenn and Heather are making matching shrugs from Vogue.
Marie is helping Kristin figure out her pattern.
Leslie is making good progress on her sweater.
Marie taught Trish how to purl this day.
Rhoda is knitting another bag. The first one turned out great!
Stacy is reading up on sock knitting.
Tammy shows the cute little bag she made for her granddaughter.
That Wanda can’t even fake a frown!
It was a great day where we welcomed a couple of new members… Bernida and Kristin. I hope you guys had fun, and we hope to see you again next time!
Wanda had to take a trip to the frog pond because the sweater she was making was just too big for her skinny self. She tried to pout for her photo to express her lack of glee over ripping back, but if you know Wanda, you know it’s hard for her to turn that big smile of hers upside down!
Marie as usual was eager to help folks out of their knitting trouble spots. Trish was learning to purl and Kristin had been having trouble with a pattern and Marie helped her figure it out.
Tammie made an adorable little bag for her granddaughter, which wasn’t supposed to be quite so little, but can you say SUPER-felted?? She even felted her granddaughter’s name onto the bag. I’ll have to ask her about her technique. It looks perfect.
Yvonne modeled the sweater she made for her sister, and confessed that she’d probably wear it once before sending it off. I don’t blame her; it looks great!
I love our little group (which is getting less little every time) and how everyone is such great friends. It’s only been a week and I can’t wait for next month already.
I’ve had a crazy week. The kids got off to Florida yesterday after a week that included much packing. (WAY too much packing, according to Grandpa.) The hubster and I are tackling a project to reorganize our den/family room while the kids are gone, and trying to enjoy some alone time. So far, it’s mostly just quiet around here; the cats don’t even know what to do.
I’m documenting our progress in the den for a full confessional — from clutterville to calm. Look for that in about a week when it’s all done. Today we had a professional organizer come and help us sort through everything and pack up to get it out of here. Custom shelves come on Monday. I even found places for all of my yarn. It’s all good. Yessssss…..
Tomorrow? Date night. Hubster is taking me to see Harry Potter as a belated birthday present. Can’t wait.
log cabin square in progressI’ve been knitting in a small way. A teeny tiny way. See this? It’s a miniature log cabin afghan, just started. In sock yarn. It’s probably going to be no more than 5 inches wide and maybe 6 or so inches tall. The photo is deceiving; it’s probably no bigger than a postage stamp now.
What’s it for? Why knit something so painfully small? Well, that part I can’t say. But I do hope it’s going to be fabulous. I like small knitted things. I’m fascinated by knitted miniatures, and how detailed they can be despite their miniscule size. Have you seen this video on YouTube? It’s miniature knitting as a true art form:
In contrast to the really small, something really big came in the mail today!
Namaste Hermosa Tote
It’s the Namaste Hermosa Tote, in eggplant, of course! OMG is this thing HUGE! It’s not really a purse, like the other bags are. It’s more a giant tote, with a nice firm bottom that stands well on its own. It has an attached “saddlebag” thingy on the outside, great for stashing knitting tools, or purse-y stuff or whatever. There are pockets on the inside and out, and the main compartment is so cavernous that one could easily carry an afghan in progress or a REALLY big sweater to knit group. There’s also a large pocket on the outside perfect for carrying sheet patterns so they don’t get rumpled by being jammed in the bag.
What I don’t know is whether this bag will be an everyday use sort of thing. It’s really so big I wonder if It’ll get in my way more than not. But, I also bought this:
Namaste Small Clutch
Namaste Small Clutch, openIt’s the Namaste Small Clutch, also in eggplant. It’s sort of a wallet, but bigger, and I’m hoping that this in combination with the clutch will make it easy to grab the money and other necessities of life, for those times when I need to just leave the tote and go. I’ll do the ol’ purse switcharoo tomorrow, so I’ll be able to give a review of what I like and don’t like in the coming days. Wish me luck!
I have more to tell but it will have to wait for another day. My pillow beckons. Ciao!
Various colors of Cascade 220I’ve been in a slump.
A knitting and blogging slump. In the last week I have done the equivalent of less than one row’s worth of stitches on Jen’s scarf, and about a third of a row on my February Lady Sweater. Hardly worth blogging about, huh?
I think it’s because everything’s in a mess around here. I’ve had piles of yarn with no place to go all over the couch for months. I bought some of those new Ziploc Totes and I’ve discovered that I don’t think I like them. I can’t say why, really, but I’ve got one here in the middle of my floor which is not quite full of yarn and won’t hold its shape, and so it’s constantly falling over and getting in the way. I guess it’s good that the totes apparently hold a LOT of yarn. As much or more than my Rubbermaid tubs which are also overflowing. But I can’t quite figure out if there’s an advantage to this product over a Rubbermaid tub. I guess, for me, there probably isn’t one.
We’re getting ready to totally organize this room and I am growing impatient now. The kids are leaving in about 10 days on vacation with the grandparents and we’re going to seriously attack this room where we spend most of our family time. I’ve hired a professional organizer and I’ve been to the Container Store. There are going to be some major changes around here!
The reorganization, as great as it will be, does not include space for my yarn! My yarn, which as much as I love it, has completely taken over my life. My husband and I have been discussing this conundrum, and he has agreed that we should clear out the closet in the front entry hall and stack the yarn bins in there. I think this will be good because I’ll be able to get to things relatively easily, and finally it will all have a place to be. At least I HOPE it all fits in there. Wish me luck on that! I shall come clean, as they say, and take photos of the transformation in this room as it happens. I know I’m not the only person who lives in a cluttered mess and if documenting the process helps anyone (or keeps me from repeating it myself) then so be it. I’m going to share.
I think this is gonna be great. But probably not so much knitting this month. I’m nervous and hopeful all at once. Wish me luck.
My mom’s birthday is next Monday, the 13th. I am working on a birthday card idea that includes a wee bit of knitting. More on that later.
