Theresa, you smashing enabler, you!
I was attacked by the gauge monkeys over the weekend. I first swatched on metal US 8s and got 22 stitches and 32 rows. Hmm, I thought, it's not horribly off, I could do the math and make it work, but let's go up a needle size and see what happens. So I pull out the US 9s. All I have is bamboo needles in that size, so on the stitches go.
Ack! Brow furrowed! Stupid needle, give me my stitches! It's like prying a bottle from a baby. After an hour of fighting with my needles, I knew that there was no way those bamboos were getting near my Calmer again. (Clearly, I'm in the minority here. Or maybe I have defective bamboos.) For kicks, I measured.
22 stitches and 34 rows.
HUH?? I went up a needle size and gained rows? I blame the needles. Now, lacking metal (or Addi) US 9s, and not wanting to go out and buy more "just to see," I'm going to go whole hog and get the Denises. Those I know I'll use more than once, and really, I've just been looking for the right excuse. What's that dahling? Your Denises worked? Oh heck, I guess I'll just have to get some to see for myself! Oh yarn store....
I'm digitally disabled for now, so no photos. But as for my color, I'm doing mine in Peacock, a rich, smoky teal that none of the online color cards do justice. I'm an auburn-haired Irish gal, and I hardly ever wear anything in the teal family (preferring strict blues or greens, no mixing). But on a recent shopping trip, I picked up a shirt that color and the boyfriend's eyes went ga-zooooom-ba, like they do in the cartoons. I didn't buy that shirt, so I figure this is the least I could do.
Posted by AnnM at April 6, 2004 08:10 AMI don't think you'll regret the Denise needles. I have to admit that when I first got them I didn't like them (b/c I am a tight knitter and there some areas near the joins where the size is stamped that seemed to catch on my yarn). But the more I knit with them, the more they have grown on me. And they are really talking to my Calmer.
They are also great for air travel since they don't set off the metal detectors...
Posted by: Theresa at April 6, 2004 09:48 AMI am not knitting Audrey right now but this blog is making me want to!
Also I have to say I was given a pair of original Denise needles from one of my "second" mothers, and I have never been so in love in my life. The options are limitless :) They are wonderful for while I am moving constantly (like this year) as I can take em with and they dont take up tons of space. I just wish that they had smaller needle sizes.
Posted by: stinkerbell at April 9, 2004 04:26 AM