New needles

I've spent the last couple of days trying to figure out what to cast on for next.  Now I wrote recently that I was going to find  a certain pair of socks that I started *cough* last June, but what I really meant to write was that I was going to spend the next couple of days looking for a new group knitting project.  I thought that maybe if I wrote that I was going to work on the socks that then I would work on the socks.  Who was I kidding??? I love starting projects! Love it!  Now it took me a couple of days to find my next project, so what was I doing in the meantime? Well I was knitting of course!  I worked on my black En Fuego Shawl (which I've yet to blog about) as well as a new design (a hat) that I'm trying to figure out.  

During this time I also made not one, but two trips to the yarn store for yarn that I had to have.  It was on the first yarn store trip that I picked up a pair of needles that of course I don't need but really wanted to try out - Knitter's Pride dreamz in a size 7 40" circular.  Why a 40" circular?  I figured that this would be a good size to try out since I could use it for magic loop as well as other larger projects.  I also picked up some Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the color Silver Fox, but that's not the point.  The point is that with the needles in hand I began to zero in on what I wanted to knit!

Going through my patterns I found a baby hat pattern that would work with the needles.  I decided on the Baby Beanie by Sylvia Hager (a Blue Sky Alpacas pattern leaflet).  I'm not exactly knitting the pattern as is - the pattern calls for using a sport weight yarn held double and I don't really feel like knitting magic loop holding yarn doubled, so instead I'm using some leftover Berroco Comfort (worsted weight).  I'm knitting the 0-3 month size, though I don't know anyone with a 0-3 month old right now, so I'm thinking that this hat will end up for donation.  I'm just about done with the ribbing and so far I am really enjoying the needles.  The points are nice and the needles are smooth & lightweight.  Right now the only criticism I have is that the cord seems a little "stiff" to me.  Overall I really like the needles but might need to reserve final judgement until I knit just a little more with them.