My lacy cowl/capelet is blocking. I cast off while at my daughter’s robotics competition in DC this weekend. Sitting elbow-to-elbow in a large arena with blaring music, cheering, and horns for three days just about sent me over the edge. It was such a relief when the noise ended and we were in the car heading back towards Richmond.
The before-and-after blocking of lacy pieces is one of my favorite parts of knitting. I had my shriveled up piece of knitting in the sink and on my blocking mat before I ever unpacked our suitcases. 🙂
During some down time, I talked my hubby into visiting some of the local yarn shops. Knitters are awesome! I had some great conversation and found a few things to take home.
My hubby picked out a beautiful tweed yarn for a scarf. I picked out the super soft grey alpaca blend for a summer wrap. And, the cone of sparkly lurex will add a little bling to a knitted project. (I found some Becky!!)
Currently on my needles is another lacy cowl project. 
This cowl uses the bee stitch again with yarn from a dyed sock blank. While the sock blanks are beautiful, I find knitting from them magnifies the beauty of the coloration. I’m excited to see how this one turns out.
For years, I’ve knitted on needles from Knit Picks. They have been work horses and have stood up to the hours and hours of knitting but I’ve been itching to try out a “luxury” needle. I found a set of ChiaoGoo interchangeables in an Etsy shop at a great price and ordered them. My newest cowl is on these needles and I’ve got to say that the difference is noticeable. The joins are smoother. They feel better in my hands. The cable has a better feel. Not to say that there is anything wrong with my Knit Picks needles, but the ChaioGoos are definitely a delight to knit with!
I’m looking forward to trying on the freshly blocked cowl/capelet tomorrow for fit. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it works out and will be wearable.
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Your cowl is gorgeous. Love the colors. Did you make it out to Looped Yarn Works while you were in DC?
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Thanks Bonny! We stayed in Fairfax so we visited shops west of DC- Nature’s Yarns and Uniquities. I didn’t make it to Looped Yarn Works but I heard it is awesome. 🙂 Nature’s Yarns was lovely. The staff and customers were beyond friendly and welcoming. And Uniquities carried several spinning wheels. One of these days I’m going to give that a try!
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Ooh, I didn’t make it to those. We were in Georgetown and just ran out of time. But I loved DC so much I hope to go back someday, and they’ll be on my list!
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🙂 I love to visit yarn shops whenever we travel. It was my favorite part of this trip. I didn’t even try to go see any of the museums our landmarks… Just the yarn shops.
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Me too! No trip is complete without souvenir yarn. We were lucky enough to be in DC for two weeks so we did ALL the touristy landmark/museum stuff and it was simply wonderful. But now I can go back for the yarn stores!
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Your cowl looks beautiful and I love your priorities: knitting before unpacking ;-). Can you give me the name of the Etsy shop where you bought the needles. I’m interested in trying a pair of circulars. I have a couple of Addi Turbos and love them, I’m always interested in giving other brands a go.
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Thanks Grace!! 🙂
The etsy shop is: https://www.etsy.com/shop/yuhsiutomas They shipped my needles the same day that I ordered them.
Other than Knit Picks and cheap Hobby Lobby needles, I’ve got one pair of Addi’s circs but they are a golden color (size 00) that I got from a LYS in Oklahoma years ago. I don’t think they are the turbos. They were good needles but not any better than my Knit Picks needles. I suppose that’s why it took me so long to try another set. I figured they were all just about the same. It turns out that they are not all the same! lol. 🙂
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Very lovely. Glad you didn’t have to block on your hotel room floor.
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lol. Thanks Missy! I was tempted to block on the hotel floor but just a little too gross. 🙂
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Your knitting is beautiful! I have that same set of ChiaoGoo needles and absolutely love them. Recently, when I went to Stitches West, I purchased a complete set of HiyaHiya’s interchangeables too. I love both sets so much!! I have two of the Knit Picks sets, the Harmony’s and the lighter colored ones (Sun something..haha), but most of the time I now reach for one of my Hiya Hiya’s because they start with 16″ cables.
Enjoy your new needles!!!
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I’ve heard great things about HiyaHiya’s! They are next on my list. 😉 And I heard great things about Stitches West too! Sounds like a blast!!
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I have a short small size set of interchangeable and a set of fixed circulars for sock knitting from hiyahiya. While I love their sharp point needles more than anything else I don’t like the part of the connector that is the cord side on the interchangeable set. The cord swivels, don’t care for that, and the join can snag on your yarn. Nothing is better than their tiny sharp sock circulars, fixed 9″, I love those! And I have a bunch of knitters pride interchangeables and a few knit picks, I like Kpride needles but kpick has the better cables! And I LOVE the cowl! The yarn you made it from! Your shopping haul! Except for the noise it sounds like a great trip! And so happy that you have your very own lurexcone!😁 way to go!
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Pretty, pretty! I’m on a wee cowl kick at the moment too. They’re so quick but the weather here too is being obstinately winter-ey! I’ve just ordered my first ChiaoGoo needle, a bamboo from the “Spin” interchangeables and am excited to try it out v. the Crystal Palace fixed bamboo (my old favourite for bamboo). I’ve heard only good things about all the ChiaoGoo line 🙂
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Do the “spin” interchangeables have a connector that allows the needle to actually spin? That would definitely help keep the needle from twisting out of the connector. I’m curious to see how you like them!!
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I can’t wait to see your cowl blocked! The colours are gorgeous!
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Thanks!! 🙂 I’m excited to try it on tomorrow!
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I love lace blocking as well! Such a transformation.
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Your cowl is really beautiful! Love the pastel colors.
I have always used KnitPicks (known as KnitPro here) and I quite like them, but I’m curious now about the ones you mentioned.
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