My Uncle Phil always told me to use the right tool for the job. True, sometimes his right tool was a rubber mallet, but for him it got the job done.
I decided to try my hand at knitting a sweater. Now, I have started many a knit-one-and-purl-two, but never have I finished any sweaters, leaving my knitting skills to blankets, scarves, and dish towels. I prefer to crochet sweaters and clothing, because the work goes quicker, the instructions are easier to understand, and I generally don’t have patience or the attention span for long projects.
However, I have discovered that my avoiding knitting all these years was not based so much on quicker, easier, or lack of an attention span, but for the fact I never had the right needles for what I wanted to accomplish — the right tool for the right job. My stash of supplies is mostly from what was passed down to me from my mom or grandmother. The tools are sentimental, but lack modern comfort and ergonomic efficiency.
After watching many knitting tutorials and discovering the tools that the pros used, I decided to order a pair of Knitter’s Pride circular knitting needles. When the set came in the mail, I immediately cast on and set about making the project. Lo and behold, I was able to knit and purl my way to a finished sweater and discovered my own rubber mallet.
What great needles! The points are smooth and the cord is flexible. I didn’t get caught up and tangled in inflexible plastic cords — the needles were sharp and didn’t split the yarn. The work flowed smoothly, and I had a comfortable grip on the just-right length of needle. Knitting with that circular set was a joy — so much so that I finished the project with ease and can’t wait to start another one.
Not for Nuthin™, Uncle Phil was right on the money. In order to do a job well done, you first need to have the right tools. Knitter’s Pride wound up being my rubber mallet.
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