ARRRRGH!

So, I'm knitting along with a very splitty yarn (Rowan lenpur linen) on 200+ stitches on a long (about 36") circular needle when suddenly I hear a "pop" and I find myself holding a needle tip and the cable is heading south with quite a few stitches merrily escaping. (Insert your favorite curse right here)

I can't express how sad I was at that moment. Splitty, slippery stitches falling hither and yon. A deep breath, another muttered curse, and slowly I recaptured the errant stitches and managed to fix several runs.

Sadder still was the realization that I could no longer trust these needles. I mean really -- the cable breaks (or pops out -- I really can't tell) the first time I use it? Not good, not good at all. And this was after having to super glue the wooden needle tip into its metal connector before I even started the project. Totally unrelated problems by the way -- this is an interchangeable needle set -- the cables are sold separately from the needle tips. So, first time use of the needles AND the cable and both have a problem. I had such high hopes for these needles -- such nice pointy tips, such a lovely flexible cable, such a reasonable price! I've heard the retailer is good about returns, but frankly I don't want to spend the postage to send them back only to receive a replacement that may also go the same way. Really, how can you trust them once they've strayed?

On a happier note, the Slinky Ribs top has found its way to Charlestown, MA -- give a little wave if you see it passing by this spring. I really hope it fits its intended recipient (victim?) because it's a cute little top. Stats: Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold, from the book Custom Knits.

Doesn't this just make you want to smile?

Stats: hand spun yarn from South African Fine top. Colorway: autumn Purchased from The Vildish Twist on Etsy. Spun to about a fingering/sport weight on a Schacht/Reeves wheel. Room for improvement in evenness, but I'm quite pleased with the results.

Just because he's cute

Monty posing (reluctantly) in his new sweater. Knit in Noro Kureyon recycled from a previous Fashion Disaster (a poncho -- what was I smoking???).

Jewel

Another little project from Everyday Crochet by Doris Chan. Stats: Valley yarn Longmeadow - 60% cotton/40% microfiber acrylic. Size I crochet hook.

It has taken me a while to get used to the directions in the pattern. There is a lot of flipping back and forth necessary, which makes it hard to know what you need to do next (at least for me). However, after working a couple of patterns from the book I feel that I have a handle on Doris' methods -- well worth the effort needed, I think.

"Isn't She Lovely...?"

Stats: Schacht-Reeves 30" Saxony, cherry wood, double-drive, double treadle.
And thanks to spinning pal Margaret (who spent considerable time getting her up and running, because I am an idiot who could not properly thread the drive band) I am now able to produce some fairly nice yarn on her --



(Hand dyed roving from The Vildish Twist, Etsy)

And there's finished knitting too!



What's that you ask? Three mittens? Perhaps I should say I decided to knit a spare for that inevitable time when one goes missing, but the truth is my first effort in finishing up the pair resulted in two LEFT mittens. Ouch, that hurt! So, I knit a third. What's that you say? It's not the same color as the first two? Why no, no it's not. For some reason the idea of knitting a third mitten exactly the same as the other two (well, except for that thumb thing) made that little forehead vein start to throb, so I decided to make the third in the colors that came up next in the Kauni yarn (which has l-o-n-g color runs, for those who have not yet seen it).



See, the cuff of the third mitten picks up from the color on the tip of the second. Wild and crazy, free-spirited, right? Or maybe just nuts, but a fourth mitten is not in my immediate future.

What?...

...You didn't think it would be a sweater, did you?

I really don't do a lot of household type knitting (or crocheting) but I was leafing through Mason Dixon's Knitting Outside the Lines and saw this knitted towel. Now, I wash my hands quite a lot while cooking, and hesitate to use the same towel I use for dishes (cross contamination) or paper towels (expense, eco-unfriendly) for hand drying, so this little items seemed a good solution for my dilemma. Small size, sufficiently different from the dish towel to avoid "which one do I use" confusion, and quick to make. Problem solved!

And speaking of Knitting Outside the Lines -- I bought the book solely for the pea coat pattern (Yank) by Bonne Marie Burns. I'd really like to knit that one -- maybe a bit shorter than shown. Since I have no yarn that will suit (I know, I can't believe it either) it will have to wait a bit.

Meanwhile, there's a construction job to finish. Here's a peek:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

What will be the first FO (finished object) of the new year?