I recently got the most wonderful email from a friend stating she had some big needles to send me, acquired on her recent trip to New Zealand (can you say jealous?), and would I like them? So, of course, I replied that I had recently bought large needles and didn’t know if I needed more. Well, I recently bought US 15’s, and as you can see, this fantastic bunch is WAAAAAAY beyond that…it’s a group that equate to US 19, 35 and 50–whoa! There’s a penny in the photo to show the scale. These will take on even my bulkiest bulk. I could knit fire hose with those 50’s (I think). Truth is that I don’t know what to do with them yet, but I will make it my mission to use them soon. And, in this lovely package with the gigundo needles, was a sample of the softest soft Kiwi merino wool I’ve ever felt! I think I’m saving the merino to spin up on my drop spindle, really fine. Thanks Chocolatte, you are the BEST enabler! Smooch!

Second note–new project. As per my new rules (complete something prior to starting new projects), I recently (almost) completed a project that’s been on my triangle loom for a year or more, so I could start using this gorgeous rayon-cotton Ironstone yarn that I purchased on vacation in Florida. I think I’m going to do 3 or 4 panels (if yardage allows) and join them along the short edges to make a long wrap. Haven’t decided on fringe or not yet, but I used every other nail for this one and already have one panel made, in an evening, hooray! Here’s a sneak peek at the corner of the tri-loom:

For those of you who haven’t ever seen or used one, a triangle loom allows you to weave the warp and weft at the same time, using one continuous yarn. No cutting, warp measuring or waste. It’s really a wonderful tool, a little limited as far as finished projects, but you can put the triangles together to make any number of gorgeous things, from blankets to shawls. There are also adjustable size triangles out there, as well as square looms that run on the same single yarn principle, and for what it’s worth, it’s easy to make your own using a frame and nails. There is a fantastic tutorial by Wayne. The tutorial was life-saving when I purchased the loom, got home and found out it had no instructions in the box. He also has great info on how to build your own loom, and tons of other interesting topics ranging from growing cocoa, to magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters to how to keep cats out of your garden…very cool!

Off to get ready to attend a local quilt show that a friend entered two of her quilts in…gotta support those other fiber fanatics, you know!