I bought $32 needles....

And I really don't know why. I've long lusted over the Signature Needle Arts Needles but why I suddenly ordered them, I couldn't tell you. I was talking to a dear friend about Lizard Ridge from Knitty and it seemed like a good rationalization. I have to make 24 squares! I'll get my money's worth (never mind the fact I have at least 5 sets of size 8s in varying materials)! Anyway, here they are in action:





I went with US 8 Stiletto points with the Spiral top. I am still debating whether to keep them or return them. I do like them, no question about that, but for one thing, I'm having a real hard time with the $32 price tag especially given the fact that I am always very pleased with my interchangeables from KnitPicks. Aside from that, I am finding straight needles *extremely* awkward, particularly in this intended pattern with all the turning and 2 working yarn ends. In trying to recall the last time I used straight needles for more than a few minutes, I can't come up with anything. When I first started knitting, I quickly fell in love with Addi circulars and not long after that, the interchangeable came out from KP and I've been a loyal repeat consumer of those ever since and I truly, truly love them. I did have a pair of Susanne's ebony straights that were a delight to use, but for some reason I bought 14" ones, and they were quite clumsy so I rarely touched those. These also feel quite heavy compared to circulars, although I don't think in the scheme of things they are heavier than most metal needles, but, again, awkward. They are absolutely beautiful in person, though, (although I wish 8s weren't that gold color) and the stiletto points are dreamy, and it is clear the craftsmanship is impeccable. They are plenty slick to knit with, but not overly so and not as much as the nickel-plated KP ones, but that's working with Kureyon too, might be a little more slippery with a softer yarn, but it seems like the "just right" amount of slip. The points seem just as pointy as the KP ones, only without the sharp ouch factor. (I had to wear Band-Aids on my pointer finger until I adjusted to how sharp the points were on the KPs LOL)

So, we'll see. Going to at least try to finish a square with them before deciding. And speaking of Lizard Ridge squares and interchangeable needles, that one in the picture used to be this:



but when I showed it to someone with another completed square, they were like, hey, why is this one so much bigger and looser? And I was all, oh, blah blah, this one is blocked, blah blah, whatever. But, no. I was using a size 8 needle on one end and a size 10 on the other, and managed to do the entire square with that setup without noticing. Needless to say, I rebooted it.

In other news, the Kenobi Jacket was finished a few months ago and I have yet to get a good picture of it. Here's a crappy one just for giggles:



My start date in Ravelry was 05/2007, I don't know if that's even accurate, but I'm sure it was no less than 3 years to complete. :P Note this post dated 10/11/2007 (with a much better depiction of the color, btw) with the first piece finished... so I'm thinking 05/2007 might be right LOL.

Anyway, it was Kenobi Jacket originally featured in Spring 2007 KnitScene made out of Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Pea Soup Mix. Bad news, took over 3 years, good news, I freakin LOVE IT AND IT FITS!!!!!!!! LOL. Except the sleeves, anyway, they're a bit long. The only mod I made to it was the edging of the two fronts, it called for sort of an applied I-cord, and I just didn't like it, but it was operator error. I just don't think I was doing it consistently and it bugged the living crap out of me, so I changed both edges to a 3-stitch seed instead of the 3-stitch I-cord. Sadly, I was not capable of finishing it myself either, but the folks at Knitters Nook did an absolutely gorgeous job for a very reasonable price, and I don't regret it. It was sort of funny, though, when I tried it on in the store and they're all wow, those sleeves, and I rolled them up, no biggie, I tend to like too-long sleeves anyway, but they were like Sean, why did you make them so long? And I was like, what do you mean, I followed the pattern! And they're like, but didn't you measure? And I'm all, measure???? I followed the pattern! What is this "measure"?! ahahahahaha. Anyway, I really love it, I don't care. I'll try to get some better pics soon. Here's the back:



Anyway, must get back to work! Hope everyone is doing well!