I got stuff...

I acquired a few things over the week and I thought I would share. On Thursday, I got 6 skeins of mystery wool for $10. I think I figured out what the mystery wool is, buuuuuuut I'm not sure if I'm correct. I think it Manos del Uruguay. Seriously. The gauge is right. And looking at yarndex.com it seems to match colourway #102. If I am correct, I totally scored! If I'm not right than I still scored but just not totally. I did just buy a "Manos Jacket" pattern at Alterknit yesterday that I think will work perfectly whether or not it is Manos.

Friday my Knit Picks order came. I finally took the plunge and bought a ball winder. Why I waited so long, I don't know. And I bought some of their Options sock size circular needles. Not as exciting as the mystery yarn, but pretty cool none-the-less.

The best news of the week is that I'm in the home stretch of Tithe. I'm on the final piece - the left front. Thanks to all the knitting I accomplished yesterday with friends, coffee, chocolate cake and waffles I was able to begin the decrease for the armpit last night. My sweater will be ready just in time for Spring!

Knitpicks Options (first thoughts)

Literally as I was walking out the door for the airport to head to Minneapolis last week my package of Knitpicks Options arrived that I ordered for my birthday. Now since I've been back I've been incredibly focused on the Big Move so I haven't had much of a chance to play with them. Yesterday, Paul was very sick and spent most of the day in bed. I couldn't do much else so I decided to get the needles out and give them a try. Well, I have to admit I'm off to a rocky start. I really like the weight, balance and sharpness of the needle tips, however I'm a little disappointed in the cables.

I ordered 3 packs (2 cables per pack) of different cable lengths and 3 of 6 do not screw into the needles properly. One cord you can visually see the damage to the threads (how did that get past Quality Assurance?). Two cords do not have visual damage, but refuse to go all the way to the bottom at the same place on both. I've tried multiple needle tips.

I left a message for Knitpicks customer service (as they are closed in honor of Labor Day -- that's labour without the "u") and I hope to hear from them tomorrow. I hope they send me new cords for free without making me return the old ones. Although I don't see that happening. I'm sure I'll have to pay some sort of duty or tax or whatnot to return $8 worth of cables. Sigh!

EDIT: Since I didn't hear from knitpicks yesterday, I gave them another call today (Wednesday 9/6). My interaction with customer service was... strange. I felt like I had to guess what information she wanted from me (plus she had a runny nose and she kept sniffing the snot back into her head. Gross!) which made me overcompensate with blathering niceness. Why I reacted this way I cannot say, but that's how I responded. Short story is that they are replacing my order for free and I don't have to send the broken cables back.

And there was great rejoicing.

Delayed Birthday Post

Birthdays are so fantastic! And this year was especially awesome, especially in regards to knitting. (Especially!) My special day did kinda sneak up on me and the day itself was largely uneventful, but three things did happen.

First, earlier in the week I found an American Express gift card languishing on my desk that was given to me back in October. With that discovery, I decided that I needed Knitpicks interchangeable needles, Options. I heard so many great things about them that I couldn't help myself. I have a feeling I will love them as the needles themselves seem very well designed and have a nice weight, but I will admit I'm not too crazy about the carry case as it seems very much like an afterthought. (Just assessing the line overall, Knitpicks needs to offer needles smaller than 3.5mm and the cables shorter than 24". But this is all before I even lock the first needle to the cable. More of a review later!)

Second, my mom sent me a gift certificate to The Naked Sheep and it arrived right on my birthday. It was perfect!!

Then, Sophie surprised me with the most awesome gift (in two parts). We meet up for a knitting afternoon at Tango Palace Café and she gave me some of the softest variegated merino wool I've ever felt. It's Malabrigo from Uruguay in colourway Cuarenta (#237). With the yarn, she gave me the Guantlet pattern made famous at Wednesday Night Knitters. Yummy! Then she went on to completely top herself by giving me the most fantastic bag that has plenty of room to carry my knitting around in. It has a classic pin-up beauty saying "I love not camping" on top of a vintage tropical leaf pattern. And it's true. I do love not camping. Squee!

Hmmmmm... now Sophie's birthday is coming right around the corner. I had better start doing somere-conn to find the perfect gift. *Begins tiptoeing around doing best Sherlock Holmes impression*