Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Hardheaded



In one word that's what I am.


I might be able to fool some people into thinking this was a creative solution to my problem but honestly it was pure hardheadedness.

This all started two nights ago when I decided to knit a project for my Halloween costume (which is still a secret) using the special glow-in-the-dark yarn that I bought last year. I had a very specific look in mind and thought this project was going to be really easy.


First I tried my size ten needles but those weren't producing a knitted look that was big enough.


Next the fifteens. Not even close.


Then both together. Not only was it annoying to knit like that but honestly it didn't even seem to make a difference in the size of the knitting.


I dug up a pair of seventeens- and thought those would work. Sadly they weren't nearly big enough.

At that point I went to the only store open after 8:30 at night that also carried knitting needles. They only had sevens and tens. No use at all.

Determined to knit that night- I stalked around the house in huff looking for imaginary larger needles (while driving hubby crazy).

Typically I don't like using large needles but resigned myself to getting a pair the next day. I really didn't want to buy a pair for just this project but remembered I had a gift certificate for the yarn store near my office. I searched yesterday morning before work (I know I have somewhere) but no luck.

Why at this point I didn't just buy the needles, I don't know. Again I can only chock it up to hardheadedness but I just didn't want to buy needles I wouldn't use again. I finally decided I'd just buy them when I realized that both the knitting store near my office and the other one in town were closed for the evening.

Left with no other alternative (aside from the obvious which would have been to wait until today and buy proper needles) I had to improvise.

With cardboard wrapping paper tubes.


First I tried to make tips on my "needles" by cutting the tubes and taping the ends together into a point. That was totally unsuccessful because the unevenness of the tape made the yarn stick. But I realized these tubes were so large that I didn't need tips at all so I turned them around and used the other end.


The knitting is coming out exactly like I wanted it to, on what hubby has named my size 150 needles.


They are surprisingly easy to use, aside from being ridiculous looking and a bit bulky. But they're getting the job done!


7 comments:

  1. I would love to see you knitting! You must get a photo of that! There is a company in NE OH that sells needles that large.

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  2. This post made me laugh. I could relate. Well done in your hardheadedness!

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  3. Wow...I can't wait to see how it turns out and what costume you end up becoming....it looks like a fisherman's net at that size!

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  4. I have to say I'm curious to see what you're making...and impressed with your improvisation!

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  5. Thanks for all the comments! I'll do a post on my costume as halloween gets closer.

    And Shawna- I commented to my husband that this looked just like a fishing net, so if my costume failed we could try to catch trout or something.
    : )

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  6. Awesome!You are very clever! I work in my dad's 6000 sq.ft warehouse, which is full of stuff from as far back as the 50's.I am often combing the shop for make shift tools and supplies.The other day I neeed prop to photograph little hanging birds, I used a 20 year old wooden embroidery hoop (we do printing and embroidery) stuck into a piece of foam packing material. It was perfect!

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  7. Ha! This is fabulous... can't wait to see the completed costume.

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