Save the Earth with Brittany Needles

Hi Knitters,

Trying needles of different brands is our common hobby, I'm so sure of that.  In order to finished the top part of Op. 7  hat, I got some Brittany double-pointed needles from a local yarn store.
  Made out of birch wood, the selling point of Brittany is their ambition to save the earth.  Please take a look at their statement:

All wood used by Brittany comes from strictly regulated forests or small woodland owners in the United States ensuring proper environmental logging practices and selective cutting for maximum reforestation.

As a San Franciscan, I am more than happy to use some local products.  Brittany is made in California. 
Yeah....

The first thing I notice is the light weight of this set of needles-energy saving, nice. somehow expected that the needles would be more well polished.  And I would like to knit with sharper tips.  To be honest, I was a bit disappointed.  I hope that, in the future, that there are more advanced technology in supplies and tools making served exclusively and particularly for knitting.    

Anyhow, I am happy to know that that there are businessmen  concerned of the life of our earth.  It's never a sin to be eco-friendly.

Happy Knitting

P.S.  I just finished a hat for sale on Etsy with this set of needles.  Do feel free to check this out.  ^_________^

Doggy style

Hi knitters,

Just checked out a book called Knit Your Own Dog from library.  Published in 2011, this stylish knitting book contains patterns of 25 Pedigrees.  The dogs are just awesome, though not all of them resemble the real ones.

The majority of them requires US #2 double pointed needles as tool.  Rowan, I suppose, maybe the sponsor for this book publishing as various of Rowan yarns are the materials for the knitted dogs.  The instructions are rather clear and inspirational.  Looping will be one big lesson we can learn from this book as there are several ways of loop techniques for different pedigrees.  Cool.

If you ask me which one is my favorite from Knit Your Own Dog, my answer would be the English Bulldog.  The photographs are just stunning.  The bull shows affection towards knitters.....And I could recognize the pedigree with just one glace. 

My favorite pedigrees in real life are Malamute and Cocker Spaniel.  Disappointingly speaking, the previous one is not available in the book and the later does not resemble the image of Cocker as I expect.  

Anyway, Knit Your Own Dog is a must have book for dog lovers and so-want-to-be dog owner.  
I'm trying to squeeze some time to knit one dog.  Hm.... Still working on a pair of hand warmers.

Happy Knitting and LOVE YOUR PETS

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Few minutes later...

Just found out the pattern for the English Bulldog is available for free as an except online:

http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/knitting/knitting_pattern_how_to_knit_an_english_bulldog.php

Knitting a cable hat while watching X-files

Hi Knitters,

It took me quite some time to knit this cable hat.  I admit that I was distracted by Agent Mulder and Agent Scully's investigation, and redo several rows of this hat.  But...it was all fun.

This hat is a good practice for cable knitting as well as left-side decrease and right-side decrease.  I used U.S. #7 for the ribbing.  If I didn't do Norwegian knit and purl, the ribbing would be tighter.  Then I used use US. #9 double point needles for the rest.  

The pattern is from a knitting book published in Taiwan called "All about Knitting".  Instruction written in Traditional Chinese.  There are many wonderful hat patterns in this book.  However, a I noted before, the editor should have double checked the instructions.  Luckily I figured something out and did the math by myself.

  

The reason I had the above pic zoomed is that I want to show you this: I have the tapestry needle go thru odd number of stitch in the first round and even number stitch when I sewed the head edge of the hat.  It is one technique that can be used when you think the number of the ending stitches are just too many.  I just wanna try and see how things go.  It is good.  And this time I didn't knot it too tight.  Yeah...

Not bad isn't it.

The cable hat looks even nicer with the bottom fold up.    Oh, I almost forgot to mention.  This hat is knitted with the Ichibankan worsted yarn I blogged previously.

The X-files theme music composed by Mark Snow is still ringing in my head.  I'm up to Season 2, 7 more to go.   Anyhow, I will continue working on an original pattern.

Happy Knitting

Mission completed

Finally I've finished this work.  I believe the tip is supposed to be a bit sharper.  I followed the instruction loyally, however, it does not look like what's in the photo of the pattern book.   Did I do something wrong?   Also, I found some mistakes in the instruction too.  Not 100% satisfied with this work.

Still it is a nice hat.  I will save it and collect some other baby hats to donate to Save the Children.  I hope someone will be benefited from it.

The knitting of this baby hat required a lot of cable knitting practices.  It was fun making it.

Oh, about the needles.  Since what I was looking for was not available in the store, I got a set of Knitter' Pride "dreamz".

I am happy about the needles.  They quality is good, price reasonable.  The matter that the tips are quite sharp which impresses me too.  There is only one thing I don't like about it:  it is made in 6" long.  I desire 6 1/2" or 7" that makes knitting bigger hat easier.

Happy Halloween!!!

Hello everyone!!!

Happy Halloween!!!  Good luck in trick or treat!!!

If I may make a Halloween wish, I would ask for a new pair of 7" US#6 set of double point needles in order to finish my hat.  Also, unlimited time for knitting.  Also, less back pain. Also... you name it.

Eventually, for granting my own wish, I will go to a local yarn store tomorrow for the needles.  Thinking about getting either Knit Picks, as it would always be nice to try something NEW, getting new experience.  Or perhaps,  I might get Clover Velvet as I've tried a pair of US#8 circular which impressed me unbelievably.  Let's see if anything surprising will be available too.

Again, 

HAVE FUN********