Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Meet Knit Picks’ Newest Needle

by

knit picks sunstruckI’m a big fan of the Knit Picks interchangeable knitting needles. Both the original nickel-plated Options and the wooden Harmony needles are in regular rotation in my house (so much so that there are very few of them actually in their holders right now!) and are usually the first needles I will look for when starting a new project.

Knit Picks has just announced a new member of its knitting needle family: Sunstruck, which is the same laminated birch wood as the Harmony needles, just in a blond finish. The lighter color should make it easier for you to see your stitches when you’re working with dark yarns, and they have the same quality and performance as the original Harmony needles. (They’re also available in straights and fixed circulars, but I’ve only used their interchangeables.)

I haven’t gotten a chance to check these out yet, but I’ll give you a full report as soon as I do!

[Photo by Knit Picks.]

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I love my Harmonies interchangeable needles, too. I have the Options, also but I use the Harmonies the most. The different colors on the needles does make some of stitches hard to see in certain colors and yarns. I love the different colors, they are so pretty. I will have to try a pair of these.

  2. I really like my bamboo but would be eager to try yur Sunstuck needles. I have made over 125 prayer shawls for local nursing homes so I knit every day.

Have you read?

A Knit Vest to Get You Ready for Summer

I know that my posts can be read at different times of year and in different years by different people, but as I write this we’re on teh cusp of summer. And I know a lot of people don’t knit as much, and certainly don’t wear a lot of knits in the summer, but I want to encourage you to make and to wear your makes no matter the temperature.

To introduce you to the joys of summer garment knitting, I offer the Tied Vest from Lion Brand Yarn.

This easy project is great to make and wear throughout the year but it’s especially good for summer. It’s worked flat in one piece from the bottom up, mostly in stockinette stitch with a seed stitch edging. The I-cord ties are worked directly onto the garment so you don’t have to sew them on.

The project uses worsted weight yarn, and calls for a blend of cotton and hemp that’s great for warm weather.

There are eight size options, ranging from a finished chest measurement of 35 to 62.5 inches, or 89 to 159 cm. That makes it sound like it should be worn with at least a few inches of positive ease, but the pattern doesn’t specify.

The ties at the front give it a casual look and make it great to wear over a tank top or T-shirt when the weather is warm.

I also think this one would be good to knit in wool or a warmer fiber, too, to make a version you could wear more comfortably in the winter months, too. Though of course you could layer the summer version over a long-sleeved shirt and wear it throughout the year, too.

The tied vest is a free pattern available from Lion Brand. You can also purchase a kit that includes the yarn and optional needles and stitch markers if you need them.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Knit an Easy Hooded Vest

Knit Vests to Help Transition to Warmer Weather