due to circs beyond my control

This is a yarn post, and it's long and linky and somewhat philosophical. I suggest you make some tea and/or use the restroom before continuing. I'll wait...

All right? Settled in? Good. Onward.

I have made another revolution for this year: one knit project and one crochet project going at any one time. I'm hoping this will get rid of my guilt about working on multiple projects at the same time and will keep my interest in my projects if I alternate between the two types, thereby leading to finished projects.

However, this intention has had unforseen consequences.

See, it's like this, I've encountered a personal knitting revelation. Circular needles and I are not meant to have a long-term relationship. I'm afraid the same goes for double-pointed needles.

I completely understand the usefulness of both:

• you can avoid having to do purl stitches
• you can make seamless tube-shaped objects, thereby avoiding any sewing
• you can use them as you would straight-point needles

And yet, I don't love them. There are many reasons for this:

• I don't mind doing purl stitches
• crochet has spoiled me - I can use the same hook for a blanket as for a sock
• double-pointed needles = too many needles for me to keep track of
• I don't buy the "you can knit scarves end-to-end on circular needles, which is faster" argument; you're limited by the length of the needles, and I like really long scarves
• I already have enough knitting needles; I don't need to buy more

I've wanted to complete at least one project on circular needles and one on dpns so I can say I've done it and so I can figure out why some knitters love them so much. Generally what happens is I get so frustrated with them that I transfer the project to straight-point needles and end up so much happier. I tend to knit faster on straights anyway. Knitting is not supposed to be stressful. It is supposed to be better than psychotherapy because you see results after just one session, or so somebody said.

I arrived at this conclusion about my future with these tools because I came across a lovely pattern for a sleeveless turtleneck sweater, and I have some even more lovely yarn in a fern green colorway. The two were made for each other and will be great for spring. The pattern calls for knitting two panels that are sewn together. It's a super-easy pattern, so I thought I may at last have found a project I can see through to the end on circular needles. It wouldn't be too bad using them to knit from the bottom ribbing up to where the arm holes start. But then things get complicated.

Shaping arm holes means decreasing stitches on four sides - two on the front, two on the back. This means separating the top part of the piece, so no more seamless tube. At the top of the armholes, the two pieces then join again for the shoulder and the neck.

I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to knit part of this sweater on circular needles, then switch to straights for the arm holes and the shoulder and neck. I'll be knitting the same number of stitches whether I'm using straights or circs. It will take me as long, if not longer, using circs. I'll still have to sew up the shoulder and neck seams. Seems like an awful lot of effort just to avoid having to sew up two sides of a sweater. It's not like they're a mile long. Twelve inches at most.

And another thing: I also find circular needles are harder on my hands. No idea why. Should be easier and lighter since the weight of the piece is more evenly distributed on the cable, yet my hands feel sore and cramped after using them.

If anyone has circular needle experience and can comment on my issues, feel free.

***

I'm getting better at the knitting/crocheting for guys thing. I've made a bunch of things for male family members and friends recently, and learned a lot. It comes down to a few factors:

• Be careful with color choice - indeed, it's a good idea to ask the guy what colors he prefers


• The same goes for yarn choice - I've yet to meet a guy that would wear something made out of fun fur or itchy yarn
  
• Keep the design simple - When in doubt, show the guy the design you want to use and carefully observe his reaction. If he doesn't like it, why waste your time/money/energy making it since he won't wear it? Yarn projects are not supposed to end in tears (see psychotherapy comment above).
  
• Customize if requested - if he says he can never find sweaters with sleeves that are long enough, keep that in mind when making sleeves for a sweater. Measure his arms if necessary.

• There are many pattern books with projects intended for guys. Moreso now than ever, seeing as so many men are taking up the hook or the needles (yay!), and demanding patterns they'd actually like to make. However, not every knitting/crochet pattern designed for guys is one that every guy would like - see third bullet above. Ties, for instance. I can't remember the last time I saw a guy wearing a knitted or crocheted tie, but I'm seeing a lot of patterns for them lately (knit examples here and here; crocheted examples here and here). Apparently, there's a report on the market viability of knitted and crocheted ties, but I'm not paying 348 pounds to find out what it says. Guys who read this - would you wear a knitted or crocheted tie? Is the proliferation of patterns a hint that I should be making ties now because you really want to wear them? Or are the yarn tie designers way off base and should stop wasting their time designing ties because you will never allow yourself to be seen in one? The answer to these questions could do the yarn industry heaps of good either way.

***

Here are some neat yarn projects to browse on:

This is a video about the knitter who made the clothes for the Coraline movie (which I'm going to try to go see tomorrow night). Stunning work.

I'm on a yarn-buying fast until at least mid-March because there's a yarn party coming up where my knitting group meets, and I think I should let myself have a little splurge there. It supports local yarn dyers and spinners. I'm really looking forward to this.

However, I may need to break the yarn fast so I can make something for the Milkweed Project. They're hoping to start receiving contributions in May and they'd like big pieces. I've even got some yarn in mind for it, which reminds me of milkweed. (I keep wanting to write "milkwood" because I read some Dylan Thomas recently.)

I haven't decided yet what I think of Kniitiing for the Wii.

Yarnbombing is the only kind of bombing that should be allowed because there's no violence involved and no one gets hurt and it's much easier to remove than spraypaint.

This appeals to my knitterly medical writing heart. Notice the red stuffing in the valves.

And for those who were wondering, the crochet project I have going is Angel's babette blanket. Since Angel reads this blog, I'm not posting pics yet. It's coming along slowly but nicely though. If you want to see what babettes look like, click here.