lost
You know what drives me crazy? When we're all finally (finally!) ready to walk out the door to meet my knitting pals at the Sow's Ear and I can find every single stinking needle I own (and that's a lot, trust me) EXCEPT THE ONE I NEED. I'm normally quite organized about my knitting stuff, but the needles are a problem. I have a pair of 16" size 7 circulars I need to make a hat for Anya and I'll be darned if I can find it. I just got it, too; it's one of the Harmony wood fixed circulars from KnitPicks, and I love it. I used it for not one, but two Ripple hats (second one never got photographed before I gave it away, so it never got blogged), and now I want to get started on the hat she'll need for Halloween but I can't because that needle is missing. I'm sure I've got another 16" size 7 circular somewhere but I want that one because it's nice and pointy and smooth without being too slick and knitting it just plain pleasurable with it.
It's not as though I get much, if any, actual knitting done when I meet my knitting friends with kids in tow. But still. You never know when you might sneak in a few stitches.
I think I have finally reached the point of saturation. I have too much yarn, too many needles, and my system (if you can call it that) of organization is breaking down. I don't like the idea of sticking everything in a 3-ring binder, which I know some people do. Too lumpy, and too much plastic for my taste. No way am I spending big bucks on a fancy needle holder, either, especially if it doesn't exactly fit my needs. Yes, I might have to draw on my own creative power and design something myself. Back when Stitch 'N Bitch first came out, I sewed one of those circular needle holders that goes on a hanger, and it works okay.
But something about all those needles hanging out and clicking together and threatening to slip out and fall to the floor offends my strong inner sense of orderliness. (Yes, I do have an strong inner sense of orderliness, even if it's well-hidden. Stop laughing, dad. I got it from you!)
This will take some thinking. My hypothetical custom-made needle case will need lots of space, perhaps wide, deep pockets to store rolled up circulars. It will need to fold up or roll up. It will need some type of closure, like a button or snap or tie. It needs size labels.
It also needs to have a companion case for all my DPNs! I made myself a simple DPN needle-holder when I first started knitting socks, around 2001...
...and it's nice as can be except it doesn't hold above a size 8 needle, and I've got a few sets in larger sizes for hats and sleeves (which I didn't know could be knit in the round before I learned about socks. Wonderfully versatile craft, knitting.)
Even if the needles aren't terribly organized, I usually have most of them in one basket or bag or at least a pile somewhere, but lately I've been having more problems finding what I need, especially at the last frazzled minute. I can't really blame the kids, either. Once the rule was laid down about NOT poking holes in the couch with pointy sticks, they pretty much lost interest and left them alone.
I'm not sure when I'll find the time to make a needle case. Operating a sewing machine with two squirmy children hanging around is no picnic, and I can't really count on Anya's naptime to do it, since lately her naps are only lasting 45 minutes or so. Evenings and weekends seem to get sucked into other chores and activities...but I'll just have to buckle down and do this if I really want a nice case for my needles. Perhaps tonight I'll start by thinking and measuring and sketching out some ideas.
It's not as though I get much, if any, actual knitting done when I meet my knitting friends with kids in tow. But still. You never know when you might sneak in a few stitches.
I think I have finally reached the point of saturation. I have too much yarn, too many needles, and my system (if you can call it that) of organization is breaking down. I don't like the idea of sticking everything in a 3-ring binder, which I know some people do. Too lumpy, and too much plastic for my taste. No way am I spending big bucks on a fancy needle holder, either, especially if it doesn't exactly fit my needs. Yes, I might have to draw on my own creative power and design something myself. Back when Stitch 'N Bitch first came out, I sewed one of those circular needle holders that goes on a hanger, and it works okay.
But something about all those needles hanging out and clicking together and threatening to slip out and fall to the floor offends my strong inner sense of orderliness. (Yes, I do have an strong inner sense of orderliness, even if it's well-hidden. Stop laughing, dad. I got it from you!)
This will take some thinking. My hypothetical custom-made needle case will need lots of space, perhaps wide, deep pockets to store rolled up circulars. It will need to fold up or roll up. It will need some type of closure, like a button or snap or tie. It needs size labels.
It also needs to have a companion case for all my DPNs! I made myself a simple DPN needle-holder when I first started knitting socks, around 2001...
...and it's nice as can be except it doesn't hold above a size 8 needle, and I've got a few sets in larger sizes for hats and sleeves (which I didn't know could be knit in the round before I learned about socks. Wonderfully versatile craft, knitting.)
Even if the needles aren't terribly organized, I usually have most of them in one basket or bag or at least a pile somewhere, but lately I've been having more problems finding what I need, especially at the last frazzled minute. I can't really blame the kids, either. Once the rule was laid down about NOT poking holes in the couch with pointy sticks, they pretty much lost interest and left them alone.
I'm not sure when I'll find the time to make a needle case. Operating a sewing machine with two squirmy children hanging around is no picnic, and I can't really count on Anya's naptime to do it, since lately her naps are only lasting 45 minutes or so. Evenings and weekends seem to get sucked into other chores and activities...but I'll just have to buckle down and do this if I really want a nice case for my needles. Perhaps tonight I'll start by thinking and measuring and sketching out some ideas.
Comments
First, I shared your post with my younger sister, who tried knitting and didn't love it, but has fallen in love with quilting and is looking for smaller projects to make for her two knitting older sisters.
Second, I want to thank you for your comment on Yarn Harlot's post about running. I bought Born to Run and am loving it!
Warmly,
Cassia
Also, I'm glad you like Born to Run. It's the kind of book you can't put down (my husband read the whole thing the day I gave it to him) and you can't stop talking about, either!