I made my first pair of socks on two circs using the longer circs Cat Bordhi recommended. I used Inox circulars - the join wasn't that smooth and they were pointy enough to cause serious injury. They were also long enough to be really annoying, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why anyone would use needles that long to make a damn sock - the ends were so long they actually dangled into my lap and the sharp tips stabbed my thighs. I lived in fear of Dudley leaping to sit with me and landing on the upturned end of one of those steel spears. So yesterday I went to Sip and Knit and picked up two Crystal Palace circulars, size 1, 16 inches. I am using them for the Regia socks below, and now I really LIKE this two circs thing! The ends of the non-working needle are closer to the work, to be sure, but since I'm used to working socks on 5 dpns it doesn't bother me. The join on the Crystal Palace needle is vastly superior to the Inox, and the sock really is flying along - I'm turning the heel already, and I just started it yesterday afternoon!
I picked up some blue self-striping yarn in Manly Colors to make a pair of socks for Boy's birthday. He lives a very minimalist lifestyle and insists he needs nothing, and he still owes me money so, as he points out, if I give him money he will turn around and give it back to me next month. He joked that I should just get him a pair of socks, so I will - but I'll make them. His 25th birthday (25!! How did this happen?) will be commemorated by dinner out, a pair of socks, and maybe a Target gift card. So when I finish this red striped sock for myself it will be put aside and I'll cast on the blue stripes.
I'm hooked on socks and small things because it's just too brutally hot to think about anything larger, but I know that I need to think about sweaters if I want to get anything done for the cool weather. I'd been in a serious knitting slump, my wrist was bothering me and I'd lost interest in everything I had on hand, but at some point in the past week the slump passed and I'm on fire to knit every spare minute.
I'm looking forward to the Florida Fiber-in! It's in Orlando this year, so I will be a day tripper. I missed last year due to hurricane-related issues, but [knocking wood] so far, so good this year. I'm looking forward to meeting more FL knitters.
Time to shower and start my day.
I love knitting socks on two circulars and prefer Addi turbos (although I have some other ones too.) I think the reason Cat Bordi recommends the 24" is because she also recommends the Addis. The needle length on Addis become shorter the shorter the cable is. The 24" are the most comfortable for people who have big hands (like me). I have a 16" or two and several 12" that are almost useless to me. My hands cramp something awful when I use them.
ReplyDeleteWith other needles like Innox - the length of the needle doesn't change with the size of the cable, so shorter is good. (at least with the grey innox I have. And yes - they are VERY pointy - compared to addis.)