Webigail

I’ve been working on one project that is about 1/3 done. It just seems to never end.

Part of my problem is the fact that I have had very little knitting time. With work, parental duties and working out at the gym, I have hardly had a moment to participate in my favorite past time.

Um…someone kick me for agreeing to make an afghan! No, seriously KICK ME!!

I’m a one-project-gal. What was I thinking?!!!!

I’m working on my first afghan, but I could not resist ordering some scrumptious lace wool from handpaintedyarn.com.

Their prices are phenomenal. They have an incredible color and weight selection. Alas, they have superb customer service. They make it difficult to not purchase from them.

I thought about this project long and hard. An afghan, unless for a baby, can be quite the undertaking.

My sister-in-law, doesn’t ask for much, but she put in a request for an afghan. How was I to say, “No?”

I cast on 220 stitches, pondering how or if I might ever see the end of this project. I’m not finished, but I’m surprised at the progress after one month in.

Yes, I’m crazy and yes, I’m obsessive, so why would I throw my precious, beloved KnitPicks Options in a flimsy, plastic folder? Well, I wouldn’t.

While I simply adore my KnitPicks Options needles, couldn’t get them out of my mind, until I finally just took the dive, I needed a way to organize my babies. I actually like the zipping binder that comes with the KnitPicks Options set, but I was not at all thrilled with the lack of a needle organizer. I needed a way to keep my needles in sync – I like knowing which needles are where and since the sizes are not stamped on the needles, I knew keeping things from going awry was going to be next to impossible. What did I do? I did what any other obsessive-compulsive in my situation would do…I made my own KnitPicks Options needle organizer.

Tutorial – How to Use Grommets

One Christmas I got my own drill. My husband had it in his mind that I would break his precious Black-n-Decker, so this was my induction into the world of “boy’s toys.”

I’m not afraid to try making or breaking anything, which is why I was not to try grommets. No, grommet is not the name of character of a children’s show, or a horror movie. In fact, if you are into scrap booking, you already know what grommets are. If you make corsets then you too know what grommets and eyelets are. However, I just discovered the beauty of setting grommets.

Now, you may be wondering why I am going on and on about grommets, right? Well, it made a huge difference in my latest knitting project. I recently completed one of my “firsts” and had this brilliant idea (yes, I’m being factitious.) I felted my first purse and this time, in addition to the lining, I wanted to use grommets to lace the i-cord through to create a more polished look for my purse.

I was really proud of myself when I actually found the word grommet, because for about an hour, I googled and searched, not knowing what on earth to call “the brass rings that are used on tarps.” Initially, I came across eyelets(think shoelace, corset, anything that requires lacing), which lead to uncovering the very thing that I wanted….a grom-met.

So, you may be asking what’s the difference between grommets and eyelets, right? Ok, maybe not, but I’m going to tell you anyway. A 1/4″ eyelet and a 1/4″ grommet have the same size hole, but the flange is larger on a grommet. Eyelets and grommets are both a means of support, but eyelets are typically used on clothing: shoes for lacing, corsets, belts and tend to look a little more polished than grommets. Grommets have a more industrial look, but I love them, for some reason and don’t mind the larger flange.

(The one on the left is eyelet, the right is a grommet)

On to projects (I’ll be adding instructional pics really soon)

My first grommet project was a felted purse.

Materials

• #2 Grommet kit (1/2 inch)
• Wooden mallet

That’s it! Now, let me explain before you run out to find your grommet kit. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT buy a kit from Joann’s or Michael’s or any craft store, as the kits that they sell are overpriced and the setters do not give your grommets a clean finish. The grommets are squished, flattened and end up splitting terribly.

Grommets come in different sizes, which correspond to a number.

If you want a professional finish, without buying a commercial setter, such as American Tag’s HomePro LR Then you will want to find a good set of hand tools. Believe me, when I tell you that good tools make the difference. For the purse, I ordered my Lord and Hodges grommet kit from Campmor.com along with refills (you may as well get refills, since they’re pretty inexpensive and since you have to pay for shipping.

Let’s Get Started

At this point, you should have already felted your bag, decided where you want the grommets to go and be ready to use the hole cutter. I tested several kits and methods before discovering the key to perfect setting.

1. Find a stable place to set your grommets. I used the cement stair in my basement, as my work table was taking a beating. I set the wood plank on the step,
2. placed my bag on top of the small wooden piece,
3. then placed the cutter directly over the marked area, where I want the grommet to go.
4. Tap the top of the cutter with your mallet (I confess, I used a regular hammer, but I’m getting a mallet, because I don’t want to ruin this set…it works so flawlessly).
5. There you have it! A perfect round hole that was easy to make. No fuss; no muss!
6. Place a grommet the hole of your bag.
7. Set the bag, with the grommet on top of the anvil. It should fit perfectly in the anvil, as each setter is designed to work with that specific size ONLY.
8. Place the plain washer over the grommet.
9. Using your mallet tap the setter once or twice. Check to see if the grommet has rolled down over the washer. If not, tap again, until the grommet is secure and completely rolled down.
10. Repeat steps 1-9, until all of your grommets are in place.

There you have it. You can now lace your lovely i-cord, or any other strap through the grommets.

Not bad, huh?

I bought this book about a month ago and had been perusing the wonderful patterns. When I finally found one that would be perfect for my first lace attempt, I was in for a shock. One of the chart keys was missing. Not only did the missing chart key impact the pattern I selected, but it also affected some of the other lace patterns.

So, being the sleuth that I am, I turned to google. Of course, the errata for ENCYCLOPEDIA OF KNITTING: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide, With an Inspirational Gallery of FinisFinished Works, by Leslie Stansfield and Melody Griffiths, had to be online, right? Wrong!

I searched, searched and searched, found nothing. I finally picked up the phone and started calling every number related to Running Press. Although, very nice, there was nothing that could be done, as Running Press’ customer service is handled by Perseus, which deals only with the distribution of the books.

Finally, I sent off an email explaining the situation, but didn’t get my hopes up to high. Much to my surprise, there was an email with a PDF attachment awaiting my viewing first thing this morning! There seems to be only one mistake in this book and it will be corrected with the next batch, but in the meantime, I’ll share the correction for those, who may already have the book.

The moral of the story is, perseverance prevails when it comes to patterns

I ventured into a new local yarn store, which I shall leave nameless. It’s not a new store, but new to me. Before I could kanoodle the malabrigo, I was feeling a burning sensation on my back. I knew that I should not have turned around, but I did…to be met by three sets of eyes. They were fixed on me, like a cat fixed on its prey.

Finally, a sales rep, who lost the stare-down, asked if she could help me. I told her I was just looking, but the tasty malabrigo caught my eye. She seemed shocked that I even knew what malabrigo was (hmmmph!).

Ok, so the ice was broken. We four all “ooohed” and “ahhhed” over all of the possibilities with the store’s inventory, until I did the unthinkable…I mentioned the enemy’s name…I dared utter the name in the LYS. Damn me! Damn me to hell!! Why didn’t anyone tell me that the mere utterance of KnitPicks would get me banished, sent to yarn purgatory.

Um…so, silence fell and I was in the midst of the she-devils waiting to rip my malabrigo from my clutches. As if that foot weren’t lodged far enough down my throat, I went there, I had to ask,

“Did I say something wrong?!”

I am still deaf in one ear from the hsssing that came from the pretty lady’s mouth as she geered at me and exclaimed, “No one likes KnitPicks! They’re putting everyone out of business. Retailers don’t like them and wholesalers don’t like them!”

Wow. Ok. So, now I HAVE to buy the malabrigo, because I fear for my life.

Sigh. I’m just an enthusiastic newbie.

After my brush with near death, I vowed to stand up for the underdog! I will not allow the yarn snobs to make us knitter-newbies feel guilty for using the (whispering) cheap stuff, because some of those using the good stuff need to buy less yarn and invest in knitting lessons. Oops, did I say that out loud?

This is my first purse. I think I’m running out of “firsts” but I’m having a blast!

I also completed a stranded hat, which will go along with the raglan sweater that I recently completed.

I lined the purse, as to give it some support.

If you’ve found this review, it’s because you’re considering an interchangeable set. And, if you’re anything like me, you want specifics. You want to know the pros and cons of each set, before jumping into the sea of knitting needle sets.

I have been knitting since mid November 2006, which is not that long, but it’s long enough to know what feels right in my hands. About 2 weeks after I learned to knit, I called my LYS, that same place that I had taken my initial knitting class, to inquire about some needles. At the time, I was specifically looking for bamboo, as that’s what I used for the class. I had purchased an inexpensive pair of aluminum needles; I didn’t care for them at all, as I dropped so many stitches. I spent more time recovering from disaster than actually knitting.

So, when I called the LYS, the woman who assisted me said, “Come into the store. I have something you’re going to absolutely love!” I confess, I figured that she was just trying to sell, the already-obvious-knitting-junky, something that might be functional, but I probably wouldn’t get much use of. Boy, was I WRONG!

She introduced me to the Denise Interchangeable set.

My initial thought was that the set looked cheap. Call me crazy, but I don’t care much for plastic. As it turns out, the set is actually constructed from resin. She showed me how to attach the tips to the cable, let me knit a few rows; I was instantly in l-o-v-e. I love the set so much that I recommended it to other students when I took subsequent classes (Yeah, I’m still waiting for my kick-back LOL).

The Denise kit contains

• 10 needle tips ranging from US #5 – #15 (mm 3.75 – mm 10)
• Several cables in various lengths: 9″, 13″, 16″, 20″, 30″, 34″
• 2 connectors, so you can further adjust the length of your cables,
• 2 end caps, so you can use the cables as stitch holders or as straight needles,
• and a well organized case.
• There are also much longer cables and extra large needle tips available separately.

The Knit Picks set comes with:

• Tips sizes #4 – 11
• 4 cables: 2 of 24″ and 2 at 32″
• 1 Knitting Needle Case with 6 Knitting Needle Pockets (2 single, 2 double, 2 triple), 8 End Caps and 2 Cable Keys

I decided that I wanted to try KnitPicks to use when I was working on my first pair of socks. I purchased 2 sets in sizes 0,1 and 2. It was not until about week after I’d purchased Denise that I discovered KnitPicks. The prices are fantastic. A single set of circulars starts as a mere $3.99, can’t beat that.

I confess that I was nervous, because my experience with metal needles left me dizzy. The last thing I wanted to do was drop some stitches using a size #0 needle. There was no way I was going to subject myself to picking up those teeny-weeny stitches. What I didn’t expect was a smooth, bump free ride.Not only did I complete the sock without a single problem, but there was something more. After completing the socks, I returned to my Denise Interchangeable kit. It was not the same. My knitting seemed slower. I felt this dragging, slagging feeling tugging on every stitch. The cable felt a little clunky and awkward and seemed to hold me back. I felt, dare I say it, like I had cheated on my beloved Denise kit.

Rather than give in to impulse and buy the KnitPicks set, I bought one tip and cable to put to the test. I instantly noticed that the Knit Pick’s tip was about a half an inch longer and it’s SHARP! But enough small talk, how does it compare?

Well, I decided the best way to compare was to use both, Denise and KnitPicks in the same project. I used the 2-circ method. I instantly noticed that the Denise needle was slower. The stitches seemed to jump right off of the Knit Pick’s needle on their own. My knitting was super fast with Knit Picks. The Knit Picks cable is thin, slick and the connection is seamless. Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a loyal consumer. I cringe as I even type this, but I think that Knit Picks ROCKS! The Denise kit is like having a Honda with every bell and whistle. This kit should truly be called “Options” as there are so many different options with regards to the cables and the new larger tips and longer cables. What more could a picky knitter, or knit-picker ask for, right? Well, if Denise is a Honda, then Knit Picks is like driving a Mercedes Benz minus the features and amenities. The packaging is flimsy. If you want to make a hat, you have to use 2 circulars or use the “magic loop” method.

Knit Picks is currently working on satisfying the constant request for a 16″ cable, but says that they are experiencing problems due to the length of the tips. I was told that if they are unable to create a cable, then they will offer classic circulars for purchase, which kind of negates the whole purpose in having an interchangeable set.

By the way, I feel that I should mention that the smallest circular needle you can achieve with Denise is 17″, not 16″, but the one inch difference is not that huge of a deal.

I think that I will be purchasing a Knit Pick’s Options kit in the next couple of weeks, but I’m going to make a case to contain my “luxury” car.

UPDATED: One thing that I noticed, and it may simply be user-error, I have to constantly tighten the screw of the cable into the needle tip. I don’t have this problem with Denise needles. I even use the key to ensure that I tighten the connection, but for some reason I have to keep checking. Now, this could be due to the exceptionally long cable that I am testing with, but I thought that it was worth mentioning.

I found this wonderful hat pattern on knitty.com. I was initially afraid to try it, seemed a little daunting, but once I took the time to read the instructions, it really was simple. The decrease is really neat and quick.