Felici

My daughter had tried some of the Knit Picks Felici and she told me it was so soft. Of course I had to feel for myself so I ordered 2 colours the last time I ordered from Knit Picks. I received the order today. Henny was right about how soft this stuff is. I don't think any of their other sock yarn is as soft as this stuff is. I am going to have to look at the other colours and see if there are any that appeal to me and get some the next time I order. This colour is Martinique.

This colour is Mixed Berries. The pictures don't do either justice.

I also ordered different size and lengths of both Harmony and the nickel plated Options needles along with these Harmony cable needles. They have the ridges in the different needles like other wooden cable needle sets I've seen. Now to knit those cable socks I ripped out so I can give the smallest size a try.

Harmony

On Tuesday the postman brought me my Haromony set. I think I've been spoiled. Knit Picks is an amazing company (NAYY). You can get yarn that is good quality for a fraction of what you pay for it elsewhere and the same holds true for needles. I can't even begin to say how much I love their nickle plated and Harmony wood needles. I used to be a huge Addi Turbo fan. I have a lot invested in their needles and I would trade all of them(except the really long circs like 40cm or longer) for Knit Picks needles. The other day I was trying to knit the mini socks for Sparkle and I decided to try using my 2.5mm Addi lace needle. You know that even with cable on the lace needles being more flexible than the regular Addi's they still can't hold a candle to the Knit Picks cables. With the addition of their wood needles to the line I don't think I will ever get needles from another company.

On the knitting front, I'm working on the puzzle scarf for Shannon. I've almost completed the first 9 sections but I will definitely have to make it longer. The yarn is a Rowan cotton and I'm using 3.25mm needles because I wanted to make sure the cotton wouldn't stretch out once the scarf is done.

Noughts & Crosses

September's Sockamania Sock is Noughts & Crosses. The pattern is supposed to be in two colours but I don't do the two colour knitting thing. I like the way the pattern looks so I decided to knit the socks with the pattern in purl sts instead of a different colour. I finished the first sock yesterday. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't show off the pattern as much as I would like but I am please enough with the outcome to go ahead and knit the second sock.

I also re-started the Campanula sock using the new Knit Picks Harmony needles I bought. I love these needles. They are amazing. I see a set of the Harmony needles in my future.

I'm still waiting for the Woolee Winder. I'm rather impatient about it. I just wish it would hurry up and get here already! Two more days left before the weekend so if it doesn't arrive by Friday I won't have it before Monday.

Stress & Harmony

Tuesdays this year are going to be a challenge. You see my son goes to a different school 1 day a week. This has been going on since grade 5 . He was tested in grade 4 and accepted into the gifted program. This year his gifted day is on Tuesday. It is going to be a pain every other Tuesday when I have my snb. The gifted school is blocks from where I go for my snb. I hate having to go back and forth there twice on the same day. On top of that. no matter what school he goes to, right now there is construction everywhere. The drive to gifted is longer than the drive to his home school. That makes it more stressful for me to drive there and get back to where I work before 9.

Today I received two orders in the mail that should help with my stress levels today. First I received my fibre order from Crown Mountain. The colourful fibre is Corriedale dyed pencil roving in Tibetan Dreams. The fibre on the left is a merino/tencel 30/70 blend in peacock. In the picture it looks a lot more gray than the actual colour.

Second, I got my Knit Picks Harmony needles. Of course I couldn't wait to try the needles. I have my Sockamania September sock with me so I quickly took the 2 mm needle and switched the regular Options needle to the Harmony. First impression, after knitting the cuff on the sock, I love these things. The join is as smooth as the regular Options and the cords are the same purple cords I've come to know and love. Why is it that Knit Picks can make such fantastic needles with joins that are smooth as silk and other companies haven't been able to do it? I know Addi had the bamboo but, to be honest, I never got around to trying them and they're no longer available. The Harmony needles are the answer to a prayer from someone that was going nuts trying to find sock bamboo needles to use with the Tofutsie yarn. (I tried the Crystal Palace and hated them.) I'm just finished with the first of my Sockamania socks and once this pair is finished I will re-knit my Campanula. I ended up ripping the entire sock, washed the yarn while on my PVC noddy and it is now in a centre pull ball waiting to be knit again.

I took a picture of the needles on top of the felted bag so you can get a better idea of how much the bag shrunk when it was felted. I used it today to carry the sock I was working on and it really is just the perfect size.