think warm thoughts
Well, this is what the three of us woke up to this morning, so it was a day better spent on indoor pursuits. For Chris, this meant working at home inbetween shoveling the Much Loathed Explorer out and clearing the driveway. Me, I decided to get a slight head-start on my next knitting project.
My plan is for Project #3 to be a baby hat, so my adventure actually started this past Saturday when I tried to find a 16-inch 4.5mm (US 7) circular needle at Michaels. The smallest 16-inch circular they had was a 5mm (US 8), which I am really surprised about. I really don't get Michaels. I don't really like shopping there either, but there are few alternatives in St. John's. Anyway, I bought the eights, and a set of DPNs in the same size. They only style they carried in both was bamboo. That was the only positive; I was looking for an excuse to try bamboo needles because of all the fuss being made over them!
So, I brought out my schmancy new bamboo circulars today, and the ball of el cheapo Red Heart aran weight that was the first ball that I ever bought (Michaels didn't have anything more exciting), and cast on for my project. The only method of casting on that I knew was the cable cast on, which I now realize wasn't the smartest choice for knitting in the round. It's not stretchy enough. I ended up attempting the double cast on method, and now am in awe that all of that wrapping of yarn around a needle results in a tidy row of knittable stitches. Then, I made that little knit stitch that connects the first stitch I cast on to the last stitch, thus starting me off on knitting in the round. Yay for new skills! Two in a single day!
The best source for knitting supplies in town is Wool-Trends on Hamilton Avenue. They have a pretty good assortment of needles and wonderful wools. I'm quite leery of Michael's for many things, especially knitting things, as I once had a clerk tell me that they don't carry the 2.5mm double-pointed needles (for knitting socks) that I wanted to buy because, "you'd have to be insane to knit with anything that small". She followed this up with, "of course, knitting is kinda weird anyway...."
Nice. They evidently provide great training for their staff. Arg.
Posted by: Vicky | February 21, 2007 at 10:22 AM
I know, I know! At least that staff member has a sense of humour :) I think I'll make another trip to Wool Trends after I'm done with the prototype hat. The el cheapo Red Heart acrylic isn't really something that I would be pleased to give as a gift!
Posted by: laura | February 22, 2007 at 04:19 AM
Hoooobrrrrr! I hope you have power and loads of great indoorsy things to do. Good luck with your projects. STay warm.
Posted by: jesser | February 23, 2007 at 12:32 AM
Aaack! Sigh, hot chocolate and warm fires all around!
Posted by: chronicler | February 23, 2007 at 11:07 PM