Saturday, I succumbed to a temptation I’d been wrestling with for a little while. I kept telling myself I didn’t need it and it was too expensive anyway. Besides, when would I ever use it again when I was finished with this? Remember how I got the second, size 9 circular for the shawl? Well, it just wasn’t working out the way I’d hoped. For one thing, the cable remained as curly as a piggie’s tail no matter what I did to try and straighten it out. Maybe it needs a couple of days on the rack - geez, where’s the Spanish Inquisition when you need it, hunh? So, after fighting with the thing for a week, I finally headed a little ways north on Saturday to the only shop I know that carries Addi turbos :)
What I was hoping for was a 47” needle. I’m expecting (hoping?) for the shawl to at least approach 80” in width and I figured the 47” needle could hold it without too much crowding. I was also afraid that the size 9 that I needed might have the newer “tube” cable (looks like something you’d use in your aquarium) which I haven’t heard much good about. As it turned out, the shop did better than I expected. It not only had an Addi turbo in the correct size, with the preferred slender, soft, flexible cable, it had one (only one, mind you) that was 60” long!
Well, I wrapped my sweaty little paws around that sucker and danced! My God, 60”!! The wide open spaces! It was awesome! When I got back to the car, I slipped it out of it’s plastic bag and unwound the cable. The needle extended from one side of the car to the other! I was practically chortling with glee and people passing on the sidewalk were beginning to look at me funny, so I lovingly put the needle away and went on my way.
Of course when I got home, I couldn’t stop talking about it, how they had an even better version of the needle I wanted than I had hoped to find and how lucky I felt. I said to Myria, “I didn’t even know they made a 60” needle!”.
Dryly, she said “Yeah, but you’ve had plenty of guys try to convince you their needle was 60 inches.”
Ahem....
Anyway, I got the stitches all transferred over to the new needle. My heavens, what a sensuous experience it is knitting with this thing! I have heard people swear that they knit faster on Addi turbos, but I had been skeptical. I mean you knit how you knit, right? Some people are naturally quick and some are slow - how can a needle allow you to knit faster without multiplying errors (which is what always happens to me when I try to work more quickly than I usually do)? And yet, I sailed through an entire repeat on the shawl in an afternoon. I am normally a somewhat slow knitter so this is just amazing as the shawl is now up to 238 stitches. I know, compared to some kinds of lace work, that’s not really a lot of stitches - but it is to me.
It has come to my attention that there is going to be a new baby in the family sometime this summer. I spent a lot of time looking around at patterns yesterday (and have a few that look promising!) but I’d like to ask what your favorite baby patterns are? I have no experience with the little critters or their clothes, so I would be maudlinly grateful for your assistance :) Hats, socks (or booties) and simple sweaters are what I’m looking for right now.
I have lost 24.8 pounds so far. 24.8! I would so have loved to start spring with an even 25 lb loss, but noooooooooooooo.
All together now - to the tune of everybody’s favorite little-kids show:
Happy first day of spring! 
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Well, I almost feel like I need to wash my eyes or something after reading this post. HAHA! Hands down, my favorite anklebiter patterns are in Debbie Bliss’ Baby Knits for Beginners. Even though we aren’t beginners, you did say you wanted simple. I’d be happy to loan you my copy. Also--it’s not quite done--but I am designing a little bebe sweater as we speak. I’ll be posting the pattern soon. You’re welcome to test knit it for me!
Laura - Thanks for the offer; that’s awfully nice of you. But, now that you’ve given me a title, I’ll have a look for it in the library. I expect they’ll have it :)
Looking forward to your bebe sweater pattern. I know it’s going to be cute as all get-out!
I totally agree with Laura. The patterns in that book are adorable and not too difficult. If you’re feeling a little braver, try one of her other baby books. Debbie Bliss has the most beautiful baby patterns!
Lisa - Thanks for the confirmation :) I’ll definitely have a look!
ditto here about the debbie bliss baby patterns- if you feel like ‘doing fancy’ i recommend the sandnes patterns- there are a couple of good online ones too which can be altered to suit your whimsy- this one comes to mind right now:
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babysweyokecard.htm
as far as foot coverings go, i prefer socks to booties- my babies were like little houdinis and could escape from a bootie faster than i could finish dressing them-
ack, a 60” circ- geez, i’d garrote myself and the cats!! (however, you know my motto is ‘why use a circ when you can successfully inconvenience yourself with umpteen dpns’)
stay happy-
All my baby patterns are vintage Patons and Beehive, so no joy there.
I’ll bet your baby would love a cardi with matching socks in that cotton you are so fond of, perhaps even incoporating some dot stitch? Perhaps even with a wee tuque? (That’s how it’s done in Canada.)
amaryllis 
Congratulations on the near 25lb loss. Shoot, the difference could have been from humidity and hair.
Once you finish this project, is a car cozy next for the mile long needle?? tee hee
See ya Thursday.
Barb - I’m all over the Debbie Bliss and I checked out that cardigan - cute as can be. I think I’m going to try that one :)
I can’t imagine how many DPNs I’d need for this gargatu-shawl but I can see me tripping over my big, clumsy feet and impaling myself on all of them :)
Amaryllis - You know, I’d been thinking about making matching socks for whatever sweater(s) I manage to come up with - adding a little hat would just make it perfect! Thanks for the idea :)
Aarlene - You are too funny! Hair and humidity! That has to be it!
Rpbbyn: glad you like the idea of the set. May I make a couple of suggestions? First, never make a pulloever for a baby: their heads are disproportionately big and they are a b*tch to put on. Second, put button holes on both cardi bands. That way, when the sex is known, you can sew the buttons on the correct side; the stitches holding the buttons will also hold the extra buttonhole closed. And third, an adult dressing said baby will thank you for buttons on a bit of a shank, as distinct from flat shirt type buttons. Babies are too wiggly and knits too thick for flat buttons.
That said, have fun!
Amaryllis - Thanks for the tips. I broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of making cardigans rather than pull-overs, but I do see your point. Guess I’ll have to learn, eh? Onwards!
Way to go Robbyn , on your terrific weight loss 
Glad you found a 60 inch Addi. That makes life so much easier. My LYS do not carry anything longer than a 32. I swear I knit faster on them too.
wowowow! Happy needles, happy weight loss, happy baby! I’d say you’re starting off spring in fine style. :)
I am SO impressed with your weight loss. 
Congratulations! (I appear to be permanently stuck at my current weight. 
Feel free to share how you are doing it.) I do have some favorite tiny baby gifts that are web freebies—one is Cat Bordhi’s baby socks at http://www.catbordhi.com/documents/BabyLifeRing.pdf and the other is a hat pattern made from striping sock yarn (hey it’ll be October before you know it) on the elann.com site. (By the way, your website has blocked Myria’s cup of coffee gif!)
Oh, forgot to say—I was also an Addi Turbo doubter, thinking it just a form of consumer faddism (like yarn that costs $30+ a skein), til I tried them. Now I try to avoid knitting on anything else.
Okay is there a Canadian equivalent of Addi needles? Are they American or European manufacture? Here we get get mostly Susan Bates (U.S.) and Aero (English). I want to try these magic needles. I don’t believe I have ever seen or needed a 60” needle, but I’m sure my Boye needlemaster could come close.
Robbyn: I am impressed all to heck by your weight loss. I too am a type II diabetic and haven’t managed to lose more than two pounds.
In re the cardi: no sweat. Mom taught me years ago to knit both fronts and both sleeves at the same time. That keeps the lengths the same and makes it a cinch to “reverse shaping”. Or do a one piece.
Happy Spring, and happy knitting!
amaryllis
We can get addi’s here in Canada too.If you arent on the west coast you might be able to order them online at the Beehive ( no affiliation except its a good lys)
Llaurie: thanks for the information. I’ll try my northside lys and if not, I’ll order from Beehive. I love that store, and you can order on-line. It’s one of my favorite stops in Victoria.
amaryllis
Maureen - Thanks :) I’m glad knitting faster on the Addis isn’t all in my imagination - at least not only in my imagination :)
Bron - Thanks kiddo :) It does seem that things are going well. I’m trying not to get nervous! LOL!
Rob - Thanks, but I have to say if it weren’t medically necessary, I probably wou;dn’t have bothered. That I’ve been able to stick with it probably has more to do with Myria’s decision to diet with me than with anything else.
About the turbos? I’m seriously thinking about stashing pennies and buying one every couple of months or so until I have a full set. I wish the points were sharper, but they are heaven otherwise!
Yay addi turbos(whooshing light saber sound ala Cast On). Today I got a package from the knitpicks folks. I placed an order on FRIDAY after the chat recommendations. Holey Cow! That was fast. One of the treasures is an addi turbo #1 16 inch circular to replace the 8 (EIGHT!!) dpns I had this Komi Cap on. Whoo HOOOOO! Thank you to all who recommended the knitpick folks. They are faaaaast! And now I am too (whooosh)
Aarlene - You should try to sound a little more enthusiastic - LOL! How neat, that your order came so quickly and that your new needle is all you wanted it to be :) My other addi turbo is a size 1 too, but it’s 47” long for doing the magic loop method :)
