pepperknit

Part of my New Year’s resolution to dress more nicely means that I need to get my nice clothing into shape. For example, the hem on a simple black skirt that I really like has fallen, and I really need to fix it.

Now, I’m perfectly capable of sewing it back up. I can do a blind-stitch hem pretty well. But this involves clearing the desk in the guest room, setting up the sewing machine, the whole shebang. Isn’t there an easier way?? I asked. And then I realized there’s this double-sided fabric magic that will bond a hem with no seams to see or needles to thread. Just the ironing board and an iron. I can do that.

Since I live incredibly close to Fabric Row here in Philly, I went to my favorite notions and supplies store, Marmelstein’s. They told me what I want is called “Jiffy Fuse” and I should look in either of two different stores. (I probably should have been more embarrassed to ask for this product, especially ON Fabric Row.)

“Next Door” (the Philadelphia Fabric Outlet) only had large rolls for $5+ each, so they sent me to Zoll’s, which they said would have smaller rolls. (Impressive that two stores sent business elsewhere!) Zoll’s only had the same, large rolls, so I bought one there. Here it is:

Not very impressive, I know. But I’m excited to think how much easier getting my skirt into shape is going to be now that I have it!

Actually, it counts more as a belated birthday present, but either way I scored big: The boy’s parents gave me a $50 gift certificate to All About Yarn!

My mom had received an identical g.c. from a friend of hers, so she and I headed over on the 26th to spend every penny. It wasn’t hard.

The store was packed, not surprisingly, with people pawing through everything, and quite a few people knitting up new items. I headed straight for the 40-inch circulars, and got myself 4 pairs. Mom got some yarn and a Celtic Aran book. I also went a bit above the gc and got one skein of Manos, which matches some Manos my mom gave me (it was leftover from a sweater she made), to make a pair of legwarmers for a friend.

And about the hat: We believe that he left it at his grandparents’ house on Christmas night. I feel pretty certain he had it when we went there. I stood, arms akimbo, in his parents’ living room and made him search every vehicle of his family, the yard around the cars, every bedroom, and closet. His dad has a suspicion that his sister stole it because it was so nice. I’ve firmly stated that he needs to talk to his grandparents to see if they have it. He was suitably apologetic. But really. He needs one of those clips that attaches the hat to his coat! Basically, I’m never making him a hat again. He can buy one.

Don’t feel bad if you prefer dpns! Especially if you’ve tried magic loop but didn’t like it. They’re just not for me. And it’s not a question of tension that irritates me about those last few stitches, it’s purely an issue of physics: The needles are sticking out everywhere, and when I get to the last two stitches they’re harder to access, because they kind of tuck under the next needle. I suppose I should try overlapping the needles the other way, but then tension comes into play—I feel I get more even tension if I start knitting with the new needle under the one that preceded it.

Anyway, for those thinking about trying Magic Loop, it is, of course, a little awkward at first. But the idea that I could knit absolutely anything requiring size 3 needles on just one pair of needles is appealing. With a large needle I can do a sweater—flat or in the round. I can do socks in the round. I can start and finish a hat on the same needles, without having to switch to dpns or having to use dpns the entire time.

To each her/his own, of course. And to tell the truth, now that I’ve been working on the dpns for a little longer, I’m back into a groove with them. I still don’t really like it, but it’s moving faster. (Plus the other issue at hand, the suckiness of the needles themselves, is still a factor.) Anyway, all this to say you can basically get used to anything, but for me, the practicality of just a few large circulars and the simplicity of magic loop (I didn’t have any tension issues with it) outweighs having multiple sets of various sizes of needles.

There was a time when I didn’t know about Magic Loop. During that time, I, like many other people, used these horrible dpn contraptions. Since discovering Magic Loop, I’ve been forcing every project to conform to size 3 needles—the only size circular I bought that’s long enough to use Magic Loop on. (Yes, I have plans to get myself a whole lot more.)

But I’m working on this sock right now. (BTW: Jaax, where the heck are you? What’s happening with our mini toeup sockalong? I’m nearly done with the first sock now!) I was able to use Magic Loop for the body, but the top wants a smaller sized needle. Hence, these sharp little daggers I have encasing my sock.

I’d forgotten just how awkward working with dpns is compared with Magic Loop. Those last two stitches on each needle are a real pain in the ass! The needles are long, so I have to move the yarn all over the place to clear them. And when I’ve finished a row, I drop the needle from my left hand as I’ve come accustomed to doing with Magic Loop, but now a little lance lands on my leg.

And can I just fawn a bit over Addi Turbos? See, I’ve been using Addis for all my projects for a long while now, and I’d forgotten how pathetic some other needles can be. These size 2s that I’m on now—an old pair that I’ve had for years—are kind of flexible (I have no idea what material they are; they’re too sharp to be plastic, I think), and they are not nearly so easy to work with.

Ah yes, bitch bitch bitch. The Christmas spirit is all over my house :) No, I’m all complain-y but I’m not really upset. Just determined to buy a TON more super-long Addi Turbos as soon as I can!

In a side note, I can’t believe how quickly this sock knits up. I’ve only ever knit one sock before (that’s right, one), and I felt like it took me forever. I’m definitely going to be able to knit the other one while I’m visiting my parents this weekend, but I wonder if I should be packing something else, too!

I used the joann.com promotion code (50% off a single item until June 1) to buy myself one of those mechanical ball winders. In the past, I’ve just gone over to Sophie’s Yarns and asked to use theirs, but I no longer live two blocks away.

I’m very excited about this, because for $30 I just got something that will save me so much time. Obviously, it’s not difficult to wind the yarn myself, but it’s such a chore to do. At knitting group last fall a friend was so excited to start knitting her first item, but the group of us told her she had to start by winding the hank into a ball. What a downer that was for her!