A review

Today I am going to review all three sets of Knit Picks options needles. In the interest of full disclosure, I have purchased all three sets, the Nickel-plated and Zephyr in the sets offered by Knit Picks, and the Harmonies as separate tips. Much of this review was initially a response to a question on Ravelry.

The nickels are great for “sticky” yarns and for those projects that you want to knit quickly. The points are great, but it took me a little while to learn not to push on the tips of the left needle with my right finger to move my stitches along. Since I have mastered that, no soreness. The only complaint would be that the oil from my hands tarnishes the needles occasionally. I find that if I wash my hands before knitting, the problem virtually disappears. Any tarnish which is present can be removed with a little polish. As a side note, I also have this problem with Addi Turbos.

I love Zephyr’s because they have a slight drag, keeping the stitches from sliding off, but enough slide that I don’t feel that they hold me back. I also love them for cable knitting, the slight flexibility makes them easier to get into the tight cables. I am currently using them on my Every Way Wrap. Not to mention that they look really pretty with some yarns. When I purchased the set, my size 8 tips had a slight burr on one needle. I called customer service and received a replacement within just a few days.

The Harmonies are just beautiful. I was knitting Amy's Hat on these in Tidepool Heater. The color so of the yarn and needles were stunning together. Many people have complained that some yarns are hard to see on these needles. I have yet to find this to be true. I love the control I have with Harmony needles.

Now just a quick word about the joins and cables. I love the cables. They have great flexibility, especially in comparison with some other cables I have used. I have heard some people complain that they kink. I have only found this to be true when I am doing magic loop on a cable that is a bit too small for the project. The kink can be removed by soaking it an a little warm water. The joins are the best that I have seen in interchangeable needles. I have only ever had the tips unscrew when I haven't used the pin to tighten. I have also heard that a number of people have had incidents with their Harmony and Zephyr tips coming out of the metal connector. I believe that this is in part due to holding on the the needle itself while tightening with the pin. I have overcome any concern that I might have of this, by holding on to the metal base of the needle with a quilter's grip. It has worked fabulously, and I have yet to have any tip and joint separation.

I go to each type of needle for different reasons and couldn’t imagine trying to knit without them. I highly recommend all three sets to any knitter. If you are not interested in buying all three sets, I would recommend purchasing a pair of tips in each kind and trying them out. I think Knit Picks has found a way to satisfy every knitter with this selection.

Just living up to my name

As of today, I resolve to blog more regularly. My apologies to any and all who follow my wanderings...why you would want to, I am not sure. I hear-by resolve to do better. That being said, you must realize that I am the world's worst picture taker. Not so much that I can't take pictures, just more that I don't. My husband's mom is really good about taking pictures of everything. My family on the other hand, not so much. I may have a total of 20 good snapshots from my childhood. That's not to say that there weren't memories made, just that we didn't stop the fun to take pictures. So implied in this resolution is the idea that I will be more diligent in my picture taking. After reading other's blogs, I find that this also means that I must get a large cat, or several fake flowers in a variety of colors in order to make my pictures look more in the moment. J/K I really don't think that there is a feasible chance of that happening in this lifetime :)

Now onto kitting. I have successfully completed all three hats, mittens and scarves. They are lovely, and pictures will follow. Haha resolution already broken. In all seriousness, the resolution was made just about 5 minutes ago and the projects were finished 3 weeks ago. So what have I been working on since then you ask. I have decided to make myself the "Every Way Wrap" from the Fall 2009 Interweave Knits. I am using the lovely worsted weight, Cascade 220 in a Christmas Red, you guessed it, for Christmas. I am also using the new Knit Picks Zephyrs, they are just wonderful with the cables. I am just over half way done, and I find it very compelling. I can't wait to wear it! Lest you think that this has all been roses and daffodils, it is this project that has given the post it's name. Last night, I sat down to work on it after getting my 2 sick skids to bed, only to discover that about 12 rows backs I had left out an entire row of cable crosses. If it had just been one missed crossed cable, I would have dropped down and fixed it, but alas, not so simple. Because of the complex nature of the cables, and my fear of messing it up beyond repair. I meticulously tinked back stitch by stitch all 12 rows. Hence, the knittink-frog. I would, however, rather tink back then a) Drive myself crazy living with the mistake and never wear the silly thing or b) Frog and ruin it beyond repair because the cables decided to run. I didn't make my picture resolve until after I fixed the problem.

I addition the the wrap, I have also knit my very first sock. It is a bit funny shaped and doesn't quite fit perfectly, but I love it anyhow. I knit it out of Knit Picks Felici in the Tyrian, and based my sock on Kelley Petkin's sock knitting classes online. I have yet to knit the second sock but I was a lot of fun. I think that it has started a love of sock knitting. Upon completion, I promptly went online to purchase Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks and More Sensational Knitted Socks.