I have a point here...

A couple of months ago, when I got a little extra boost to my finances from teaching two 8-week courses at the same time, I rewarded myself with something I'd been coveting obsessing over thinking about for a long time.

Signature Needles!

They came in a nice little grey nylon drawstring bag, and I bought a set of the plastic tubes for storage. I intend to treat these like the specialty art tools that they are!



I got the size that I use most often in DPNs - 1.5 or 2.50 mm and I got them 5" long (options are 4", 5" or 6" for the DPNs). Signature needles come in both straight needles and circulars (in limited sizes right now) but a lot of my tiny knitting is for socks or other small circular knitting so it was DPNs for me. That's where I thought the advertised "stiletto" points would do my knitting the most good. Signature needles come in a three different points - stiletto is the sharpest. If the circulars were made in small sizes I would have gotten a circular, but the smallest at the moment for a circular is a US 5, so I'm waiting. At $45 - $55 for a set of DPNs, I had to choose carefully.



Before I got my own set, I imagined that the stiletto points would be as sharp as sewing needles and that I would be constantly piercing my fingertips as I knit. They are nicely pointed, but they aren't sharp like that.



I found that they were easy to use with tiny stitches and splitty yarn. I used them with my recent summer socks, below. The shaft of the needles is a beautiful colourful metal (is it aluminum?) that is not so slick that the stitches slip off easily when I don't want them to; in fact the shaft of the needle seems to grip the stitches, while the point allows stitches to slide from needle to needle while knitting. This is not the case with other metal DPNs that I have!

In comparison with some of my other favorite needles, all size 1.5, the Signatures are certainly the best for very close or tiny work.

(sorry I couldn't get this picture any sharper)


Starting on the left of this photo are the Pryms - they are matte metal and grip stitches nicely but the points are actually blunt. I never use them with splitty yarn for this reason.

The next pair is my very lovely Darn Pretty Needles from Grafton Fibers. I really love these needles! They are hardwood, very durable and beautiful, and they are also made with a variety of points. I have the sharps, and can use them for pretty much all knitting, even very fine knitting. Because they are wood, they grip the stitches so that nothing slips off. Also because they are wood, the tips do become less pointed over time (it takes a long time but it does happen). The makers told me that I can sharpen again by sanding with a business card and this works fine. They are a wonderful tool. You can see that the sharp points are not as sharp as the Signature Stilettos.



Next in the photo is the Signature Stiletto needle. Note the looonnnng slope of the point. This is unique and, I believe, what gives these needles their ability to slip under the tightest stitches and the finest yarn. They definitely have the finest point of my collection.

The final pair is my KnitPicks metal DPN. I have the wooden ones too, but since they are similar to the Grafton Fibers needles as far as point, just not the same quality, I didn't put them in the comparison photo. The metal KnitPicks, as you can see, is almost as pointy as the Signature needle. You can also see that the tip doesn't have the same long slope. And because the point and shaft of the KnitPicks needles is made all in one with the same metal and the same slick polish, I have a lot of trouble with my stitches slipping off the KP needles when I don't want them to.

So there you have it! Was it worth the money? definitely! But the price will prohibit me from having a whole collection, sadly. I do very much want to get a couple of the circulars when they come in size 2 and 4 and will save up my pennies for that time!

in the ice hotel....

Shoveling Snow with Buddah
by Billy Collins

In the usual iconography of the temple or the local Wok
you would never see him doing such a thing,
tossing the dry snow over a mountain
of his bare, round shoulder,
his hair tied in a knot,
a model of concentration.

Sitting is more his speed, if that is the word
for what he does, or does not do.

Even the season is wrong for him.
In all his manifestations, is it not warm or slightly humid?
Is this not implied by his serene expression,
that smile so wide it wraps itself around the waist of the universe?

But here we are, working our way down the driveway,
one shovelful at a time.
We toss the light powder into the clear air.
We feel the cold mist on our faces.
And with every heave we disappear
and become lost to each other
in these sudden clouds of our own making,
these fountain-bursts of snow.

This is so much better than a sermon in church,
I say out loud, but Buddha keeps on shoveling.
This is the true religion, the religion of snow,
and sunlight and winter geese barking in the sky,
I say, but he is too busy to hear me.

He has thrown himself into shoveling snow
as if it were the purpose of existence,
as if the sign of a perfect life were a clear driveway
you could back the car down easily
and drive off into the vanities of the world
with a broken heater fan and a song on the radio.

All morning long we work side by side,
me with my commentary
and he inside his generous pocket of silence,
until the hour is nearly noon
and the snow is piled high all around us;
then, I hear him speak.

After this, he asks,
can we go inside and play cards?

Certainly, I reply, and I will heat some milk
and bring cups of hot chocolate to the table
while you shuffle the deck.
and our boots stand dripping by the door.

Aaah, says the Buddha, lifting his eyes
and leaning for a moment on his shovel
before he drives the thin blade again
deep into the glittering white snow.

Yes, this is me in the frozen north, outdoors with my winter coat thrown over my nightgown and my bare feet stuffed into my Bean boots, wielding the implements of snow removal! My goal is somehow find daylight and downtown, and search out a Parcheesi game for my niece.

And, if you too are under this multiple-day winter storm, you might find relief in a little colourful needle stashing... Grafton Fibers is having a sale on their gorgeous hand-crafted wooden sock needles - a really good sale. I have couple pairs of these and find them fabulous, great quality, and really perfect for vintage knitting. I can't wait for my new order to arrive!
(disclaimer: no affiliation, I just love this company)

Hope you are all staying warm and crafty!

Severus Snape is my boyfriend

I don't have anything to say, except that is raining, I don't feel well, I'm lonely, and I'm hungry. Or, to put it another way.....
Next week will be warm and sunny,
I will never be sick again in my life,
Soon I will be doing fun things with friends and I love my lj friends,
and
I think I will make my favorite food: baked potato, for supper tonight!

speaking of being wonderful, Marky from Oz sent me the most incredible belated birthday presents!!! A Yarn magazine, - the latest edition, a Needlecraft magazine - which, if the clothing of the ladies in the ads is anything to go by (and I think it is), is from the early 1900's and includes a pattern for a tea cosy(!!!), and some incredibly cool knitting needles made from Australian Oak and with little carved round balls on the top that are artistically painted Aqua with WHITE POLKA DOTS!!!! (sorry, just lost my mind for a moment)...
and.....
and.........
AND................

A Whole Box of vintage/antique bakelite knitting needles - A Whole Box - off all rainbow colours and they are ALL matching pairs!!!!! {dies} {faints} {swoons} {revives}.

Unless you are a knitter and collector afflicted with obsession - especially obsession with the 30's and 40's - you cannot know the thrill of having your dearest desires appear on your doorstep with a Sydney postmark.

Thank you, Marky. I'm sorry. If Severus Snape were not my boyfriend, you would be. But you are next in line. honest.

Now, I never mentioned it, but a few months ago Nad sent me a vintage crochet hook from Germany, from the 40's It is war-time plastic (similar to Bakelite) and is bright red!!! I cherish it.

It is so unfortunate that I still don't have a computer because I can't take photos and show you anything and I'm making such wonderful things. (even if I do say so myself). I know, you think you'll do fine without my knitting photos. But deep down inside.... don't you miss them?

pretty visions

My online friend, Carina, sent me a gift of beauty. These are precious: her grandmother’s knitting needles, wrapped with ribbon and roses. Look how wonderful! See the tips? Her grandmother knit so much that the tips are lighter than the rest…that’s so unbelievably great! I’m honored beyond belief to be the recipient of such a family treasure, and will cherish these and remember their story every time I use them. And, as you can see, Catherine also approved and tried to claim them as her own….



I had another gift this week: my friend Marky sent me some Australian knitting mags! Four of them! Look at the inspiration:



Now here is something interesting – even the ads in these magazines have must-knit projects in them! like this Little yarn monkey:



Isn’t he cute? I think I could make him, just from looking at the picture…

And the articles: this one on Op Shops (Charity or thrift shops to us Yanks) – its right up my street! And I got a particular kick out of the bluebird picture, because I think I’ve found most of the items in it right in our own Goodwill shop!



Lots of projects to keep me busy here…one of the mags is all sock patterns! Marky – you’re the best!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Vet’s called me yesterday to pick up Sausage’s ashes. I cried all the way up and all the way back. They are in a big flowered tin, like a tea tin, and I think they weigh as much as he did in life. I am trying to decide whether to keep them or to scatter them around the peach tree in the back yard… maybe I need to let some time pass to decide.

my great idea

My sister gave me this Deery Lou CD case.....

and *this* is what I did with it!!

Deery Lou in the Meadow...






Yay! Circular Knitting needle case!! I'll never lose another needle!



I finished Maison Ikkoku last night... so for a little light reading, I started this:



Yes! Its the prequel to FushigiYugi - Genbu Maiden... the first priestess of the Four Gods - the Priestess of Genbu. very cool.