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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| U-519 |
Posted - 10/25/2011 : 04:11:49 AM
Good morning everyone:
I don't knit! BUT my wife does and I enjoy buying her the things she genuinely enjoys. With this in mind, I thought that hearing from others who truly hold the same passion, I may be able to find out about the most sought after items for knitters. Can you help?
My wife knits alone and we live in the country, somewhat removed from ready access to events. I thought perhaps I might be able to connect her with others as well as discover gatherings or events we might drive to.
So far, I have introduced her to knitting with angorra, cashmere and most recently, yak (mixed with camel). I understand that adds some control to the finished product. I've also found a few tools that assisted in her endeavors. Perhaps someone here can assist as well. I believe her skill level to be moderate to advanced, knitting with lace as well as from books like Elzbeth Lavold.
With Christmas just around the corner,any assistance would be welcome. Conversely, I do my Christmas shopping for my wife year round, to ensure I get just the right gifts.
Thank you all for your time.
U-519
James Langford |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| U-519 |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 11:18:08 AM
Hello again: Today is my wife's birthday! I made her breakfast (well, it's the best I can do, anyway. And she didn't toss.) Actually, she like the few things I can make. But the big news is that she opened her gift of Clara's book on yarns and she LOVES it! She has been knitting quite a bit lately but I still don't know if I can convince her to go to the Japanese Cultural Centre event for knitters. But I'll keep trying. I think she just wants to stay home and knit.
Thankyou again to everyone for their suggestions. So far, so good. I'm still on the hunt for just the right bowl. Happy knitting and I hope she meets you all soon.
James Langford |
| U-519 |
Posted - 02/10/2012 : 8:06:31 PM
Hello everyone: Well, I have Alyce's 'Knitting Masterclass' book all wrapped and ribboned for Valentines and stashed in the library and while I was at it I wrapped and stashed the book about yarns for her birthday in April but the best news (from my perspective) is she is knitting like mad once again! Alyce is doing socks, a scarf and a sweater. Before Christmas, nothing. And now, she can't get enough. There aren't enough hours in the day. This works out perfectly because while she is so busy knitting, it leaves me free to hunt for qiviut, a nice knitting bowl and whatever else I can find between now and Christmas. Finding her gifts is incredibly fun and almost as pleasant as her smile when she gets them! Happy Knitting, everyone!
James Langford |
| jetesf |
Posted - 01/29/2012 : 8:53:16 PM
Always happy to help :)
Julie |
| HRH the Knitting Queen |
Posted - 01/29/2012 : 12:27:07 PM
www.merrykarma.blogspot.com -~- I'm MerryKarma on Ravelry. |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/28/2012 : 4:26:31 PM
What can I say other than I do apologize to you both. Julie, please forgive my error. In my defence, I can only say that EVERYONE here is so kind. From needles to bowls and every suggestion in between, I cannot thank any one of you enough. I do hope I can some day thank you all in person. Alyce has been immersed in her knitting ever since Christmas and all thanks to you, such a warm and inviting group. Were it not for the actual knitting, I I'd be tempted to take up knitting myself, ... almost!
James Langford |
| HRH the Knitting Queen |
Posted - 01/28/2012 : 3:45:52 PM
Love the Knit Lit books!
Thank you but I just pointed you to Jennie the Potter. Julie first mentioned yarn bowls.
www.merrykarma.blogspot.com -~- I'm MerryKarma on Ravelry. |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 5:58:30 PM
Thank you for that, Mary Kay. My wife knits all over the house but one of the spots she likes is on the bed. Alyce will take one of the oversized goose down pillows we bought in Berlin and stack it against another to provide enough support (and comfort) while curling up against the head board, place her knitting paraphernalia over the rest of the bed and knit, knit, knit in the warm winter sun. Meanwhile, the balls of yarn are found rolling all over the place. I think a brightly coloured and lightly textured bowl may be just the ticket! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, I was in the library yesterday and picked up a book to surprise her that I thought she (and everyone on this site) may find interesting. The book is edited by Roghaar and Wolf, if I remember correctly. The book is called 'Knit Lit'. I believe it is a collection of short stories by numerous authors, about knitting. I have 'Finishing School' and ' Book of Yarn' stashed away for Valentines and Birthday. It's all Christmas from here on so the potential for another successful one is on the horizon. Thank you again, Queen Mary Kay. It is very kind of you to take the time to assist this old fool. I think the bowl is a wonderful idea. I certainly came to the right place for gift ideas.
James Langford |
| HRH the Knitting Queen |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 4:08:50 PM
James, I do use my yarn bowl sometimes...but it only holds one ball. I thought about buying another (or more) but I like it more for the decorative aspect. You might want to consider starting with just one, in case it is not something that your wife will use all the time.
www.merrykarma.blogspot.com -~- I'm MerryKarma on Ravelry. |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 3:00:14 PM
Hello Mary Kay: I read your suggestion and went right to the site. Looks good. (I don't like to waste time). Handmade and artistic. There just isn't enough of that. I am impressed with her desire to keep a hand in without conceeding to pressure and I like the style and colour in the examples shown. Good things are worth waiting for. Perhaps I can custom order a design. I shall have to inquire or at least go back to the site and read it more closely.
I have never noticed if two or three balls of yarn are in use at once. Perhaps a bowl for one ball would limit use? There is just so much to be aware of in order to get these things right.
Do you use a bowl and is it large enough for one, two or three balls of yarn? Are you content with it? Is a bowl the most popular method?
James Langford |
| HRH the Knitting Queen |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 2:17:42 PM
Hello James. I'm Mary Kay. I really enjoy reading your posts. Jennie the Potter makes nice yarn bowls too. www.jenniethepotter.com. No affiliation, I just like her stuff.
www.merrykarma.blogspot.com -~- I'm MerryKarma on Ravelry. |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/25/2012 : 1:44:54 PM
Hi Julie: I can't really take much credit for what you term as "thoughtful". I consider sports on tv an utter waste of time and I cannot stand the taste of beer. Aside from that, I'm a typical guy with not much else to do ... so I hunt for gifts!
I just love the idea of some sort of decorative bowl for her yarn. Something with just a little weight to it but a lot of colour and perhaps a little texture as well. Hmm? You've got me on another quest. Thanks again!
James Langford |
| jetesf |
Posted - 01/25/2012 : 1:10:06 PM
You're welcome James, my pleasure! You are a very kind and thoughtful husband :)
Alyce is a very lucky woman!
Julie |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/25/2012 : 04:39:42 AM
Good morning Julie: I don't knit ... but even I can see that a knitting bowl is a brilliant idea! Practicality is obvious even to me since I watch balls of yarn rolling around the house daily. Is it possible that the sheep, bunnies and yak get all of their energy from the yarn? I'm guessing that the bowl would be used to keep the ball of yarn that is currently harnessed to a needle from galloping all around our little Ponderosa. Excellent idea! Time for a little more shopping, I think. Thank you so much, dear heart.
James Langford |
| jetesf |
Posted - 01/23/2012 : 10:00:00 PM
Hello James,
Grace of Graces Cases, started making the stopper keepers specifically for DyakCraft customers. The interchangable knitting needle sets at DyakCraft come with 4 stoppers.
Many DyakCraft customers found that the stoppers easily fell out of the case that the interchangable needles come in. However, I found that adding some velcro to the original cases works as well.
Graces Cases has become very popular with many DyakCraft customers so she has a long waiting list now as well. Some of the other needle case sellers that I like on Etsy are knitonebeadtwo, rosevans, sarahkincheloe and lenabrowndesigns.
Another thing I thought of that many knitters enjoy are knitting bowls. Etsy has many sellers; I like JulieKnowlesPottery, EdenPottery and blueroompottery.
Hope you find some goodies that Alyce will enjoy. She's a very lucky woman!
Best,
Julie
Julie |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/23/2012 : 5:14:55 PM
What is a stopper keeper? More to the point, is a stopper keeper worth having? I went to the Etsy site and found Graces cases but I also found stopper keepers for 2, 3 and I think more. Are they useful things a knitter might need or want?
James Langford |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/23/2012 : 3:00:48 PM
Following your suggestion, I am on my way to Etsy.com for another Christmas shopping adventure, this time a quest for Graces cases and knitterbag. This is very kind of you Julie. Perhaps I'll have to do another knitting themed Christmas. Thank you again!
James Langford |
| jetesf |
Posted - 01/23/2012 : 1:25:47 PM
Hello James,
You are just the sweetest husband!! Could you please give my husband some lessons?
I'm trying to think of what else you can spoil Alyce with...does she have needle cases for all of the lovely needles you've purchased for her? Project bags are also lovely. Both are available at Etsy.com, just search for knitting supplies. My current favorite for needle cases is Graces Cases @ Etsy. She makes beautiful custom cases. For knitting bags I love knitterbag, another shop at Etsy.
Good luck!
Best,
Julie
Julie |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/23/2012 : 09:00:08 AM
Valentines and the next birthday in April are covered! I got Alyce the book by Clara and 'Finishing School: A Master Class for Knitters' just arrived in the mail. Now I just have to decide which one she gets on Valentines and which she gets in April. This leaves me free to focus on next Christmas from now until December. I think I'll get some Qiviut (No, it's ok, she agreed not to read my mail in this site!) but if I can, I think I'll try and see what else knitters LOVE to get. Alyce has already ordered more needles and cables from Dyakcraft (ready in August so I guess we'll drive down then) so perhaps something else? This Canandaigua thing, is it really worth the drive?
What else do knitters absolutely LOVE to get? I DO take your advisements seriously and appreciate each and every one. Thank you!
James Langford |
| U-519 |
Posted - 01/02/2012 : 12:04:18 PM
In an effort to do what little I can to repay all of your kindnesses, I would like to let everyone here know of the places I purchased from that were an absolute delight to deal with.
First, Dyakcraft was fantastic. I was made aware that the quality of their product along with demands for it might delay the chance for a Christmas delivery. Thinking that a pleasant drive through Vermont is in no way a negative factor for Valentines, I was more than willing to wait for the needles. Good things are worth waiting for, right? Well the people at Dyak Craft must have kidnapped a few of Santa’s elves because the needles arrived on the Friday before Christmas. I have the impression that Dyakcraft work very hard to please. I think that my wife Alyce, was pleased and that’s all it takes to ensure that I certainly was. The fact that the needles arrived in time for Christmas was exceptional. Thank you very much Dyakcraft. I could not recommend them more highly. I should mention that my wife has ordered a few more of their needles since being made aware of the firm, their service and the high praise given them by the members of Knitter’s Review. I could not have done it without you!
Second, I found Cashmere Addiction on Ebay and again, I could not praise them enough. The people at Cashmereaddiction are based in Quinns Rocks, Western Australia and like Dyakcraft, their service was splendid. The price was right, communication was ideal and they took steps to accommodate my requests that I genuinely appreciate. The yarn arrived in time for Christmas and with the new needles from Dyak Craft …, all went well. I told Alyce of how pleasant the transactions (numerous) went and suggested that if she desired any more Yak, Cashmere Addiction was the place I recommend. Again, I think Alyce is pleased with the product. She tells me that there are no foreign elements found within it (like grass and stuff). I guess that’s good?
Finally, in case you are unaware, a place called the Rocking Yak (Rockingyak.com) was a dream. I failed to actually make a purchase from them BUT communicating with them made me aware of their willingness to please the customer and I find that less and less these days. Their efforts impressed me considerably and I was pleased to tell Alyce and indeed, all of you, of their excellent service. It would certainly be difficult to decide whether to buy from the Rocking Yak or Cashmere Addiction if it weren’t for the opportunity to just take turns and buy from both (when funds permit).
I hope this little slice of shopping experience inspires someone who may not have otherwise, to take a step toward any of the firms I discovered that were so delightful to deal with. And once again, THANK YOU ALL at Knitter’s Review! You expanded my horizons in the strange new world of knitting and in the process, I believe you delighted my wife. You played no small part in her lovely smile this year! You were very kind to me and I appreciate your kindnesses very much indeed. Happy New year!
James Langford |
| U-519 |
Posted - 12/31/2011 : 05:29:08 AM
Good morning everyone: If you ladies could have any yarn in any mix, what do you consider to be the Holy Grail of yarns?
We are looking forward to the Japanese Cultural Centre weekend.
I should mention that I have asked my wife to refrain from reading my mail in this site. I would not want her to spoil any future surprises. I have told her of the Japanese Cultural Centre weekend and Alyce is now aware of the events calendar for things like spa retreats, Tuscanny and the like BUT she remains unaware of my inquiries about the ultimate yarn mix or Qiviut. When communicating with 'the yarn addict', I would ask that this remain our little secret, at least until Christmas 2012. You have all been so very kind.
Once again, thank you and Happy New Yarn! Oops! New Year!
James Langford |
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