These stupid leaf edgings have been kicking my ass for OVER A MONTH. And I know there are knit-alongers waiting for me to move my ass and get these sleeves done so we can move on to the next step.
So, yesterday, I said fuck it.
I'll graft the bloody damned leaves on, later. I used a provisional cast-on and got to knitting. It's about to the elbow (once you add in the missing leaves) and I'm done with the decreasing. With luck, it'll be done damn soon. Damn. Fuck it.
Someone asked if they should bind of their sleeves, or what. Leave the stitches live, either on a string, holders, or a knitting needle. We'll join them up with the body at the arm pits, and knit the whole darn thing together. This is a seamless pattern.
In related news, I found the new best thing ever.
ChiaoGoo (??!?) knitting needles. Lace style. See, the one thing I hate about Boye knitting needles, which were my former favorite (for 20+ years), is the cord. It's a nylon type plastic, and they curl up like cooked freaking shrimp and are super annoying to work with. Even after you heat them up super hot and straighten them out. (Use hot water for that.) These have actual metal CABLES. Coated with some kind of plastic, they naturally try to straighten out, but not obnoxiously. The circular knitting on the needle holds the ends together, but it doesn't curl like crazy. Perfection. And I find the lace points are exactly the right level of pointy. According to the packet they're stainless steel, so those with nickel allergies don't need to worry. It shouldn't discolor your yarn either. I feel mildly bad about buying Chinese, so as soon as an American company produces something similar, I will buy it instead. In the mean time, I am knitting like the wind on this sleeve, and plotting how to replace all my circular needles with these. Without going broke or having the husbeast kill me.
ETA: I got these at my local yarn store, Natural Stitches (Rt. 8/Penn Ave in Pittsburgh). However, a bit of poking around yielded
this web site, which sells them, too.
As I was knitting like the wind this morning, I had the classic "OMGWTFBBQ! I won't have enough yaaaaarn!" So I went and looked in the closet. Um. Over a thousand yards left. I'll, uh, just chill out now.
10 comments:
First!!!!
Sometimes it is the little things in life.
Pam
Thanks for the "review" of the ChiaGoo (or however it's spelled :p ) needles...I have several HiyaHiyas (the cable on Boye circs makes me crazy too) but I'd like something pointier and I'm sensitive to nickel (and can't stand that metallic smell on my hands). Now I just have to find some :)
For inexpensive needles with a reasonably well behaved cable, I like Susan Bates Velocity. The points are nice for lace but I'v only seen them in two cable lengths- 16 and 24. They are nickel-plated so not suitable for those who are allergic. They are not American-made anymore.
Signature circular needles are about as perfect as a circular needle can get. The needles are steel, I think, and they are finely milled on the body so that there is just the teeniest bit of grip on the yarn but stitches still move smoothly. You can't see the milling but you can feel it with your fingernail. They come in 3 levels of point sharpness, 3 different needle lengths and a bunch of cable lengths. The cable doesn't kink and the joins are smooth. They are American-made and cost alot but I love them and save my coffee change to purchase them.
Darn Pretty circulars by Graftonwood are also
American made. I think they are priced around the same as Addis but don't quote me on that. They are made of composite wood of some kind. Cables and joins are well-behaved. Lethally pointy tips. Almost as lethal as Signature stilletto points.
Everyone seems to love the Chiagoo red lace needles. I was reading some chatter about them the other day. They're inexpensive compared to some and are smooth and easy to use. (I don't know this personally, I haven't used them). I am still in strong like with my knitpicks options. I don't seem to have the problems other people have with the cables disconnecting and I like the pointiness.
But I'm always open to new suggestions.....
I have a pair of the Chia goo and I really like them, too. However, I find the metal a little sticky or grabby, as if it were coated with something. My addis, inox and hiyas don't have that.
I wondered if you found that too. Is is something that they do to the needles, or do you think it will wash off (on my list to try; just haven't gotten there yet).
Phyllis
:)
ChiaoGoo does lots of civic minded things and are super caring for charities in the country. So what if they were made in China. Breast cancer needles and lots of support for those less fortunate.
If you are allergic to nickel be careful about stainless steel. Apparently (at least according to Simply Whispers, the nickel-free earring company) stainless steel might still have some nickel in it. Even the surgical grade.
Has anyone tried the carbon fiber needles? I bought a pair but have too many projects on wooden DPNs to start another.
I like the points on the ChiaGoo lace needles too - but the dont come in 9"! auugh. Very happy with the HiyaHiya needles, so I ordered 4 more sizes. Have yet to see the Signature in hand, but love the look of the stiletto points - but again not in the lengths I want.
I have the Options sets, and I have had some cables disconnect. KP sent me new cables for free. I just had to email them. Made me happy. AND they have the pointiest inexpensive needles I can find. If they ever make a 9" circ, I'll buy them too. And the purple cable is the nicest one I've used in a long time.
I have also worn the tips of the Susan Bates needles... o.O
Addi-turbo lace needles... and they're a little rougher than the usual addi-turbos, so the lace doesn't slip off...
I am way late to the party, but yes, some types of stainless steel do contain nickel in the alloy, nickel being part of what keeps the steel stainless and non-rusty.
So it's going to depend on the individual's nickel-sensitivity.
Certainly they'll be better than shiny nickel-plated needles!
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