I have a confession to make.

It's not a secret that I hate, loathe and despise metal needles because they make my hands ache. I don't know whether it is the fact that they don't have any give to them or the fact that they are generally heavier than bamboo or the fact that they are more slippery. I just hate them... anyone that can use them without a fuss deserve a freaking medal in my book. Seriously.

Months ago I was trying to find a way to learn Magic Loop without having to resort to using metal needles, but it seemed that the only decent bamboo circular needles that I could find in a small enough size with a long enough cord were Crystal Palace, and the reviews were kind of "eh" in either direction. Some people seemed to find the cord a royal pain in the ass and some people liked it. Others thought the join on the small size needles was crappy. And to be honest, it really bugged me that I would have to order them online because no one within 200 miles seemed to carry them.

While I was in Oklahoma I bought an Addi Turbo size 1 with a 40" cord... but it sat in my knitting bag because, once again, I hate metal needles.

And then I threw caution to the wind and cast on for a toe-up sock.

People, I freaking love this needle. It is smooth, the tips don't clank together like other metal needles, and because of the plating, it is not super slippery. It is working like a dream with the cotton yarn I am using. I do admittedly have to be a little careful because they still occasionally make my hands a little crampy if I knit too long, but nothing compared to the other metal needles I have used.

So yes, I admit. I was wrong about metal needles in general... because Addis are awesome.

I also want to apologize for the *squee*ness of the Loopy Ewe posts... I'm just a new Loopy Ewe-er, and I can't help my excitement. Honestly, I would be happy ordering from just three places for the rest of my life- Spunky Eclectic (my dealer!), Cabin Cove (again, *poke* Dave *poke*) and the Loopy Ewe. The downside would be that my sock yarn would take over the house and Seth would probably divorce me. Sock yarn doesn't really count as stash, right?

Sneak-up at the Loopy Ewe... go... go now before the neat yarn runs out!! Loopy Ewe link is below...

Yarn Porn!

I don't have much to show in the way of WIPs or FOs... I have done maybe 2 more lace pattern repeats on my Hedera socks, frogged (again) my Mystery Stole 3 because one of the kids accidently snagged it and yanked it off the bookcase the other day dropping about 20 stitches, and I've started a pair of toe-ups using some Greenwood Fiberworks yarn I had in my stash (I'm trying my first ever Magic Loop socks!). Instead, I have something better to show you...

First up, I'm constantly singing praises of Ravelry, and here is another reason why. People can list yarns they want to destash, and other members can snap them up. I've helped a few people destash things (some Lorna's Laces, some Zephyr...) and here is some that I had to grab because not only have I never heard of this yarn, but it is sparkly. It sent my "Ooh SHINY!" reaction into overdrive!



Wool in the Woods... 2 skeins... color Lottery. Isn't it neat? I have no clue what I am going to use it for- it would be neat colored socks, but probably scratchy as all get out. Any ideas, dear readers?

And next, I got some really sweet yarn porn from The Loopy Ewe. Never been there? You need to go. Now. I'll even add a link that will open in a new window for you IE users. I'll wait until you get back.

Click here NOW

Back? Did you order? Because you should... seriously. The yarn is gorgeous, it will be shipped super fast, there might just be some free stuff in there, and if you order more than 5 times you can become a Loopy Groupie. My order even came with a handwritten note from Shari. Here is what came:


Fleece Artist Merino in Lily Pond


Claudia Hand Painted Fingering Weight in Sea Dreams


Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Somerset

I had the urge to jump online and order a whole mess more just so I could lay in it and roll around. And to be honest, the Fleece Artist Lily Pond is such a delicious colorway that I am considering ordering more. I think it would look lovely as a lacy scarf. Now I just need to get my hands on some Cabin Cove Mercantile sock yarn (*poke* Dave *poke*) and I'll be happy!

I think I've figured out what my issue is with updating my blog lately- I'm just too hot and lethargic to sit and write all this stuff down. Procrastination... why do you torment me?

I got my newest issue of Vogue Knitting the other day in the mail... the 25th anniversary edition. I'm only about half way through it, though, because I keep getting distracted in the evening by shark week on Discovery... remind me never to go swimming in deep water... ever. Or at least let me lose some weight so I don't look so much like an elephant seal.

I finished one Hedera for Summer of Socks...




I love how the lace looks. I haven't gotten any further than the cuff of the second, but at least it's on the needles. I'm eyeing some sock yarn in my stash and thinking about starting a toe-up pair and making the pattern up as I go along.

Today is Friday... the day we Mystery Stolers find out what the theme is. Unfortunately, I am nowhere near the current clue. This is what my mystery stole looked like last weekend:


And... this is where I am at now:


I stupidly had been pulling on the lace as I was knitting to look at the design... and pulled it too hard at some point and broke stitches, which then started to unravel to the bottom. I still haven't frogged the first attempt... I'm thinking maybe about tying it off and using it as a rag or something. A reminder that I need to be a little more careful with my laceweight.

July in the Spunky Club was called "Celebration" and it was fantastic! The day I got the package I started spinning it... I did it as a two ply and somewhere around DK weight or so. I've only got about 150 yards, so I don't have a lot to knit with, but I am thinking it might become some knit mary janes. I loved taking two totally different colors and plying them... I love the stripey-ness of the yarn. This was also my first time using Shetland wool, and I must say that I love being able to smell the sheepy smell in it. The downside is that one of my cats seems to be attracted to it as well, so I've had to make sure it is kept way out of her grasp.

The singles as I was spinning:




And the plied yarn:




I taught my friend Beth the knit stitch last night... I love seeing new knitters!!