I really did get the body done!

I got the body done on my Plath Cardigan . Looks like it's going to fit and all that fun stuff, so my next thing to tackle is the sleeves. I can't honestly say I'm a fan of sleeves. Like to wear them, don't care so much about making them. Shamefully I still have to go and hunt down all my harmony needles and I'm hoping that perhaps my sz 6 12" will help me out because all I have are metal dpns in size 6 (well I have Brittany's but the dog incident, you know) and it's just too slick and heavy for the metal. In the meantime, I've started crocheting Mason an Octopus.

Generally I can't say I've done much besides blankets and scarves. Tunisian crochet scarves were a staple while I lived with my mom and I really only learned that because I wanted to learn how to knit so badly. I've always wanted to learn how to do all the fun amigurumi creatures but figured it was well past my crochet knowledge. Come to find out the Octopus pattern is nothing I don't already know how to do, and in my usual style I still found it necessary to alter. I'm just too damn lazy to figure out how to seam something in crochet and still have it be aesthetically pleasing. (Are there seaming methods in crochet?) I have 7 more legs to go and then "Squiddy" (as Mason has named his Octo) will be all ready to go.

I also started making Erik socks on the Hiya Hiya 9" circs. I like it but I'm also torn because my crampy little fingers get a little grumpy and I've already dropped two stitches (immediately picked up, no worries). It will be interesting and in the long run I do think it will be beneficial to getting them done in a timely manner vs doing them on circs. The man just has ginormous feet.

Pics to come, right now I'm trying to clean house and have a massive overhaul of the kids' rooms. They have too much crap and we have a birthday party in 6 days.

Ok, here's the pictures I owe:
Cardigan:


Squiddy:


Socks:

Laurel Hill Knitting Needles

I was sent a pair of 10" Forest Palm Laurel Hill Knitting Needles in US size 7 to review (retail $12). I didn't knit any specific project with these, however I took the opportunity to try out multiple stitches with multiple fibers and sizes. I'm normally a circ & dpn girl, but miss Kellim and I talked about the products they carry (and that I wanted them to carry lol) and she encouraged me to try them out and give some feedback (I'd love to have dpn's that looked and felt like this!)

I tried cotton, wool, & bamboo, all with success. Fibers slid along the needles as they should have because they are polished well without becoming too slippery. Decreases such as k2(3)tog went well despite the fact that I wasn't sure the tips were pointy enough. The only time that became an issue was when I did increases such as kfb. And I'm not entirely sure that it can be blamed on needle tip alone. Since I am used to knitting on circular needles, my knitting on straights just isn't as well honed and my movements are far from fluid. I never felt the needles bowing or bending and they were weighted very well. And the aesthetics can't be ignored. These are beautiful needles that make you proud to pull out in public and wonder who is going to compliment them.

After experiencing their handmade needles, I plan to purchase some crochet hooks (3 different varities available) for myself and for gifts this Christmas. (Great shipping rates, I might add are another plus!)

If you'd like to read more about the Laurel Hill Company or check out their items for sale through Crown Distributing please click on the links and read up. Nothing better than an informed purchase.