Getting Sunstruck

Sometimes my job is really awesome. OK, a lot of times my job is awesome, but some days I get really great mail without even asking. Thanks to the wonderful folks at Knit Picks (thanks, Jenny!) I received a sample set of their new Sunstruck interchangeable knitting needles over the weekend.

Almost immediately I cast on an knit a little swatch (that’s in the luscious Berroco Vintage, if you want to know) and I have to say I really enjoyed working with them. That’s no surprise, because the Knit Picks Harmony needles, which have the same birchwood base, have been some of my favorites for a long time. The Sunstruck needles are blond instead of multicolored, which makes them even nicer for knitting with dark yarn because it’s easier to see the stitches than it might be on the darker Harmony base.

These needles are lightweight, nice and smooth, easy to work with and pretty, too. I zipped through my swatch on these size 7 US needles (4.5 mm) and am eager to take them for another spin soon.

I think I’m going to be wanting this whole set really soon! If you’re not an interchangeable fan, these needles are also available as straights and fixed circulars. Tips start at $6.99, straights at $5.99 and fixed circs at $7.49. Go getcha some!

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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