A minor disaster that I now interpret as a hiccup in the Seaspray Shawl has occurred.
But do not despair, my humble readers!
My needle cables broke a few days ago (the plastic part slid out of the metal connecter of one end of it), and I’m waiting for a free replacement from the amazing Shiela Dixon at http://www.p2tog.com which should be here in a few days so I can resume work on the shawl. Gah – annoying! About 20 stitches slid off*, but I was able (with jaws clenched in concentration) to put them back on without much difficulty. Until I get the new cable and can transfer the shawl, I”ve wrapped a wide swathe of masking tape around each end of the cable, so nothing can fall off.
Here’s what the cables look like: http://www.p2tog.com/knitpro-interchangeable-circular-knitting-needle-accessories.html They’re so awesome that I don’t think I’ll ever want to use regular needles again (that is, buy any more, because I still use the straight needles I have.) The cable opens up a whole new world of knitting possibilities, because you can have things as long or wide as you want – the only limitation being the largest cable size (120cm) – which is what I’ve got. Up until now, I’ve been restricted to making thinner panels for my afghans because there was a limit to what a straight needle – even thick ones – could hold.
I’m also thinking of getting a yarn bowl, for when I knit things with handspun yarn. It tends to tangle easily, and a yarn bowl helps minimize that by having the bit you are pulling on secured in a specially-designed opening in the side of the bowl. There are so many to choose from that I’m having trouble deciding which one I like best.
Isn’t this one adorable (even though the yarn comes out his nose)? http://www.etsy.com/listing/91960720/sheep-planter-or-yarn-bowl Sheila Dixon also has yarn bowls.
When I saw that Shiela’s site carries knitting needle sets (think baseball cards, but pointier), DH said, “Down, girl!” Shiela’s website is more dangerous than a candy store, because she also sells handspun yarn!
*Cue heart attack
