Circular knitting needles Review! I received mine today and I am thrilled!

I received the circular knitting needles and one set of double pointed needles from eknitting needles.com today and I am beyond impressed! The needles themselves are like touching silk and the tube “as shown in the picture” are very substantial and not like my other circular needles where it has the wire cable. I cast on a few stitches and took a picture to show you how lovely they are. As you know, I am holding the circular needle giveaway and eknittingneedles.com is also offering my readers a special discount. I did buy my needles and I intend to use the discount and purchase some more right away. This is an opportunity I do not want to pass up. I bought the 16 in circulars and I am going to get another set in another size for larger projects. This way I can use the coupon and get the free shipping on my $15 purchase. I encourage you all to take advantage of this amazing value while the contest is being held. I intend to knit the evening away. So check out the circular knitting needle giveaway again to get your code and get over to eknitting needles.com and pick up the needles you need. Here is the link for the giveaway:

http://felting.craftgossip.com/2009/05/01/giveaway-a-set-of-15-circular-knitting-needles-by-eknittingneedlescom/

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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