If loving Malabrigo is wrong, I don’t want to be right
I’ve been eager to give the technique described in 2-at-a-time Socks a try. Nevermind that I’ve never used a circular needle. Nevermind that it’s November and I have 101 other places my creative energy should be channeled. Nevermind that socks are not easy. Nevermind all that.
Practical matters somehow always end up pushed aside when my brain is confronted with an intriguing new thing to mull over. And really, that’s what new creative techniques feel like to me – a puzzle to be worked-out.
Luckily, I’m not entirely crazy and I came up with a way to try 2-at-a-time with minimal pain: forget socks – make tubes. Simple stockinette tubes, otherwise known as wrist-warmers. Yeah, baby.
I’m about an inch into the project, and I won’t lie – it confuses the heck out of me! Not in a “what am I supposed to do next?” kind of way, but in more of a “how can I do the next step without getting tangled up in all of the dangling threads?” kind of way. Hopefully soon my hands will find themselves in a rhythm that makes some sense, but until then it’s slow-going.
The circular needle I used came from Brilliant Knitting on etsy. I don’t know much about what circular needles should cost, but it seems to me that $25 for fifteen pairs of 47-inch needles in fifteen different sizes is a pretty good deal.
The yarn is Malabrigo Merino Worsted, which I seem to have some kind of scary addiction to. And I have to say… last night? With the new needles? Oo la la, I think I’m in love.
It’s a strange thing. I never really felt that there was a tactile difference between loom-knitting one yarn and loom-knitting any other, but it seems to be different with needles. The slight friction between the bamboo needle points and the Malabrigo was almost seductive. Is that the right way to describe it? Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that I so enjoyed the way it felt to knit these wrist-warmers last night. It was good.
My husband is going to be jealous 
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Actually, seductive is the PERFECT way to describe it.
Particularly when one discusses knitting Malabrigo. That is pure love. I love the color you chose!
Well, good – I’d hate to sound crazy, LOL! It’s such an interesting color, I think. Can’t wait to see them all finished.
I think it is the funniest thing how we start some whole other new thing, when we should be busy making Christmas presents! I just took up hand quilting – nuts I tell you. But isn’t it so much fun
Love that wool… it looks snuggly
See deb-robertson’s latest blog post: [it is bedtime yet??]
Oh, I know! I should be up to my elbows in polymer clay right now, making a pile of family portrait ornaments. But the lure of something new… hard to resist!
i meant to tell you that i have that book as well. it’s a bit confusing. my friend had some luck looking up the actual magic loop technique on the web.
that is a fantastic deal for those needles!
See gerri’s latest blog post: NaNoMania
I thought it was a pretty good deal. I have my eye on some other sets in different sizes. It’s great for somebody like me who is just getting started and doesn’t have a collection yet.
I’m going to poke around the internet for more info on the technique. Maybe I can see a way to do it that minimizes the clumsy factor for me.
TWO socks at a TIME?? You’re brave! I took a sock class last month, and I had enough trouble trying to knit one sock. Good luck! =)
Oh, I’m not brave enough for my first pair of socks to also be my first experience with circulars and also my first 2-at-a-time experience. No, the book is all about socks, but I am all about straight, easy tubes
I’m making wrist-warmers. Saving the socks for another time.
oh, yeah… now you’re getting it
Heh. I suspect I’m past the point of no return…
Alright, I’m going nuts: what color Malabrigo are you using? It is GORGEOUS. I’m knitting up a sweater for my tot in Emerald and you are right – absolutely seductive.
It’s a color called Deja Vu. It has so many different colors in it, it’s really neat!
Ah yes, knitting, spinning, and felting is so much about the tactile gratification for me!!
See Amber at Berlin’s Whimsy’s latest blog post: Cloaks.