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Horrid bamboo

You will remember that DH was having a new pacemaker implanted last Friday a.m. So, we showed up at the hospital at 6 a.m., me armed with coffee, the morning paper, two knitting projects and a jacket in case the hospital was chilly (it usually is). DH in surgery, me having drunk the coffee and read the paper, (also popped down to the cafeteria for something to eat), reached for my knitting. DARN! one size #5 14" aluminum needle missing!! Went back to the entrance, also back down to the cafeteria, everywhere, no needle lying around. Oh well, pull out the other project and get busy. Got home, dh esconced on the couch, raced off to my LYS which is only five blocks away, dashed in, said to owner "I need a 14" size #5 aluminum needle!" she replied "Aluminum?? You can't even get those anymore, we have bamboo, rosewood...... " I didn't listen to the rest, just went over for a bamboo, and she told me "Of course, your gauge will change". so, got a pair of #5 and one of #4, to be safe.

Decided to use only one bamboo at first, to blend in the two possible gauges. I HATE IT. Now, I first learned to knit as a child in Northeast England, and was taught to keep the right hand needle tucked firmly under my right arm, which leaves the right hand free to manipulate the yarn. This bamboo, however, is so bendy it has to have extra pressure from my fingers to keep it in place. Plus, it is only

13" long. It feels as though I am knitting with cooking tools - kabob skewers or poultry lacing skewers.

I LIKE MY METAL NEEDLES! steel for the fine ones, aluminum for the thicker ones. BTW, I have NEVER had the knitting slide off the needles while the work is in progress. If I have thrust them carelessly into their basket, maybe, but not while working.

Oh well, it will just have to wait until I can get out to the 'burbs to a big box store. Unfortunately, the Michael's, JoAnns and Hancocks which have reopened so far are all in very different directions. DH's eye surgeon has moved his office out to one of the 'burbs, he has a checkup scheduled for Friday a.m.,and there is a JoAnn's not too far away, so I shall try there first.

p.s., I am in fact managing to maintain the gauge

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary
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Don't know about JoAnns, but Michael's definitely has aluminum needles. Good luck, DA

Reply to
DA

What's up with her? You can certainly get aluminum needles. It's the 14" length that's sometimes harder to find. It'll probably turn up in the yard or the house after you get a replacement.

I knew you could do it. :-)

Best wishes to your dh. Mine has a pacemaker also.

=Tamar

Reply to
Richard Eney

On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 13:25:24 -0500, Olwyn Mary spun a fine yarn

That's too bad, Olwyn Mary! I've found many aluminum needles, all over the place, in fact, I've gotten rid of loads of them, as I prefer wood and bamboo. I still have some listed in my de-stash list, maybe we could trade? Noreen

Reply to
YarnWright

Which is your LYS, Olwyn Mary? I just returned to NYC from the ALA conference in New Orleans and managed to visit the Quarter Stitch and Garden District Needlework (as well as a great bead store in The Artist's Market across from the French Market.)

Alison

Reply to
Alison

Why didn't you mention you were coming??? I live just 1.5 miles from the convention center, and could have reminded you also to go to Bette Bornside Yarns just downriver from the Quarter. She tends to carry more of the traditional, classic yarns than the other two do, but she started out as a mail order store and still does a great deal of business that way. Several folk have gone in there just to check on the stock she carries, with a view to later ordering.

Folks! If you are coming this way, let me know, OK?? I can even tell you which hours and days the shops are currently open.

Olwyn Mary in New Orelans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Olwyn Mary: I have some extra #5 of the 14 inch aluminum needles....would you like me to mail them to you. They've barely been used and look like brand spanking new. E mail me with your addy info and I can pop them in the mail for you. Marie and the cats

Olwyn Mary wrote:

Reply to
bienchat

Why, Thank you, Marie (and the cats). If I don't find them in JoAnn's on Friday morning I will take you up on that. I know they carry aluminum needles (at least, they did up to a couple of months ago) but I am not sure if they have regular sizes or only the extra-fat ones which are popular at present.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Okay, just let me know and I'll be happy to send them. I ended up with a lot of stuff when various aunts and people at works grannies passed on (because none of my friends knit). Seems like most of the projects I work on use size 6,7 or 8 needles, I almost never use fives. Don't like to see things go to waste, so you're more than welcome. Marie and the cats

Olwyn Mary wrote:

Reply to
bienchat

Olwyn, I may have some aluminium knitting needles for you. E-mail me and let me know what you are looking for.

Els

Reply to
Els van Dam

Was just in my local JoAnn's and they have all sorts there. Aluminum, plastic, bamboo and fat ones.

sue

Reply to
suzee

I'm sorry I didn't mention it but I knew my free time would be very limited. The publishers were very generous to me and I had dinner engagements every night, and meetings all day (Friday was the exception.) I did have Bette Bornside on my list but she seemed to be in the other direction from the group (It's limiting without a car or much public transport.) And I'm shy. Next time. I loved seeing even part of your city and want to come back for longer.

Alison

Alison

Reply to
Alison

A really good hospital would have extra knitting needles for nervous family members to use.

Aaron

Reply to
<agres

In that case, I'll be happy to accpet them - anything below a size 6 and in a 14". I just checked, my #2 and #4 are caught in a baby sweater which is on hold because the mother isn't sure if she likes it, the #3 and #5 are in this sweater, so I don't have spares of any of those sizes if I want to do something else in between. Did I tell you that I have found most of my best knitting needles and crochet hooks at thrift stores and estate sales?

Now, is there anything I can send you in exchange? Watch for an e-mail from me.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Yeah, right, and how much do you think they would charge the health insurance for a rental fee?? Which fee would undoubtedly be refused, and passed back to the patient (with interest added, of course).

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Humm Aaron, are there such things as really good hospitals anymore. There seems to be a world wide shortage of qualified doctors and nurses, forget the knitting needles. I would also think with some strange people coming into emergency, under the influence of drugs, that knitting needles may be a problem...LOL

Elsr

Reply to
Els van Dam

Olwyn have sorted my needles out and have a bundle ready for you, E-mail me and they go out at the same time I will send Aaron his magazine

Els

Reply to
Els van Dam

LOL

Els

Reply to
Els van Dam

There was a time when many hospitals had a Red Cross worker sitting down stairs next to a coffee urn and a tray of dough nuts. Every visitor was encouraged to donate blood. Getting blood donations and getting people to knit for "the boys over there" were both parts of the Red Cross mission, and they were ready. But, the needles they loaned out were not aluminum. I can not tell from the drawing what they are made of. My guess is celluloid.

And, if you think that is amazing, in those days, the Red Cross *gave* blood away. Last year, sale of blood and blood products was the Red Cross' single largest source of income.

Aaron

Reply to
<agres

Reply to
bienchat

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