The Right Tool

I feel somewhat embarrassed by this post because I'm going to talk about a tool that is expensive when compared to other, similar products.

Did anybody guess Signature needles? 

Rampant socks (mine ravelled here),

knit in Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Berry Tart colorway,

size 2.5mm signature dpns

I only own one set, and they are by far my favorite knitting needles. I bought a set of dpns in the size I most often use to knit socks, and I am sad whenever I find a pattern that needs a different size needle.

I prefer metal needles over wood, and I want tips that are dangerously pointy. I chose the 6" with stiletto tips. They're delightfully pointy, but they would not be ideal if you were using a yarn that easily splits. That's a tradeoff I'm happy to accept.

I know they're expensive. That's why I only have one size.  Someday I may get more, but I want to be sure I buy a set that I'll use a lot. I believe this set of four was $45. (The webiste shows they've gone up to $47.) If you think about the amount of hours I've used these needles, they begin to seem pretty reasonably priced.

It's true that sometimes poor workers blame their tools, but it is also true that the right tool makes the work infinitely more pleasurable.

I love to knit.

I love to knit socks.

I love to knit socks with my favorite needles.

Tools

First, if you knit, check out Rachael's post about a way we can help someone impacted by the Boston bombing. I'm so happy to find something I can do.

Second, a coworker is taking a knitting class, and we were talking about tools. It made me think of my own knitting tools that I carry with me. I keep them in a $2 makeup bag. My highly original and clever name for this bag is Purple Bag, as in, "Andrew, have you see the Purple Bag?" He knows exactly what I mean when I ask that.

Not everyone can have my level of creativity. Please don't feel inadequate.

Here are the contents of the Purple Bag:

There is a needle sizer/stitch gauge; stitch holders in various sizes; small sharp scissors; the felt needle holder (I post about making it here) with yarn needles of various sizes; a tape measure; point protectors you put on the end of needles to theoretically keep your stitches from falling off but actually the point protectors pop off and make you furious; a cable needle; a highlighter, yellow because all highlighters should be yellow; a pen and pencil; a couple small crochet hooks for dropped stitches; post-its in small and large size; stitch markers in small, large and pretty; and row counters. I also have a ponytail holder in mine, but I'm not sure why.

The only addition I can think of is highlighter tape. I just have never purchased any.

I also use sock knitting holders like these, and I can't recommend them highly enough. (See above rage with point protectors. They are liars. Dirty, tricky liars.)

The other knitting tool I use a lot is the Chart Keeper. My complaint is that the magnets aren't strong enough. It isn't unusual to open it and find that it's not really marking my row anymore.

You know, I think I should buy some highlighter tape.

I'm interested in the tools other people use. Do you have a favorite tool that you think I should add?

Necessity

While necessity may be the mother of invention,

I don't recommend trying to use paper clips as stitch holders.

Still, it got me through my lunch hour. Note to self: Always pack your notions bag.

Justification

With any hobby, people are going to have strong opinions about their tools. Baseball players argue about maple vs. ash bats. (Am I the only baseball fan worried about the impact of emerald ash borer on our game?) Gardeners wax eloquently about traditional hoes vs. warren hoes.*  Golfers argue about golf clubs.**

Some people only knit with machine washable materials. Some would rather impale themselves on a 14" straight rather than knit with acrylic.

A yarn shop worker once tsk-tsked me because I use dpns to knit socks and she felt circular needles should be used.

I've been knitting for about six years, and that's long enough to develop some preferences. I prefer metal needles over wooden ones. I believe acrylic has a place, esp. in projects for people who can't be trusted to handwash, but I prefer natural fibers. I like small dyers like Blue Moon Fiber Arts and indigodragonfly, but I buy a lot of yarn at Knit Picks because it's more affordable.

I've been reading about Signature needles but haven't convinced myself to splurge on a set. I read kmkat's blog entry this morning about her positive customer service experience with that company. It's making me think a bit more about the real cost of some of my tools--the cost that includes environmental and humanitarian considerations.

I think I'll put my go-to dpn size of Signature needles on my wishlist.

*The correct answer is, of course, both. Buy both hoes.
**I don't know anything at all about golf, so this is really as specific as I can get. 

Sexy

Since becoming a knitter, I have developed a deep respect for handmade goods.  I may not really know how to sew, but I can look at something sewn and understand that each one of those seams had to be pinned or ironed or both and then sewn and probably other stuff I don't understand.

It takes a lot of time, and the time and respect that goes into handmade items makes them precious to me. It's a sentiment I fear, actually. I'm afraid that one day a friend will be asking why I have a crocheted orange toilet cover and I'll say, "I bought it at Goodwill.  Think about HOW MUCH TIME it must have taken to make!"  I fear I'll only be able to see how much effort went into its creation instead of realizing that orange toilet covers are ugly.

I've gotten off course.  Give me a minute to steer myself back to my point.

Ah, yes.  I love handmade items, I love supporting small artists, and I love organizing things.

Behold, my most recent purchase:

That, my friends, is what the Internet calls a "dpn roll." It's a fabric holder for a knitter's double pointed needles.  Nonknitters may wonder if there's really a market for that. 

There is.

Now, I own more dpns than you see above, but not a lot more. I own a set of six different sizes of needles most often used for socks, and they already came in a (boring plastic) holder, so I didn't move them to this one.  There are a couple sizes for which I owned more sets than would fit in their pouch, and they're still in their drawer.  But this holds the vast majority of my dpns, and I adore it.  The top flap folds down so your needles won't spill out the end when you do this:

Yes, it rolls up and buttons securely. 

Organization, knitting, and handmade.  It's a trifecta of sexy.  I hope your weekend was this good.

If you're wondering where I bought it, visit madbird.

Crafty McCraftermeier

I love etsy. I love that people who enjoy crafting but only have so many people in their lives who want sequined toilet roll covers can sell them to people who desparately need sequined toilet roll covers but aren't crafty.

The sad thing about etsy is that people sometimes decide they don't want to sell anymore. This happens immediately after I find them and decide their stuff is brilliant and I want to buy it all for myself. Bam! Seller is gone the next day.

Using Amazon's universal wishlist button, I had put a needle book on my Christmas list. The purpose of this little felt miracle is to store all those needles that end up in the bottom of your knitting bag--the ones you need to weave in your ends and finish your knitwear. Nonknitters know not of what I speak, but knitters understand. I've lost whole days digging around in the bottom of my knitting bag looking for a blunt needle and cursing.

Andrew tried to buy it for me and, well, Bam! Seller gone.

I couldn't find anything else like it, probably because other people don't see the need for a needle book. At some point in my online search, I realized, "Hey. This is made of felt and thread and glue. I could do this. I make sweaters out of string. I can cut a piece of felt."

So, I did.



It's kitschy and obviously handmade. I love it.