Woolgathering

Sky and Water is off the needles. The last repeat and a half was hard going - my hands just didn’t seem to want to play today. ready to block now. I may do that later this evening, but more likely some time tomorrow.

As a matter of discipline, I did pick up the Cash and Burn sock. I made a total hash of rescuing the dropped stitch - I really need new glasses and to be able to see properly for such a fiddly task. Ah well. I shall live with it. The toe is now in progress and I shall be able to cast on a new project tomorrow.

At the  moment I am leaning towards a smoke ring, in the grey alpaca, but I don’t have the requisite circular needle. Not a good one anyway.

I might weigh off 100 grams of the cashmere and see how large a wrap I can get from it.

Or maybe I’ll start new socks.

I am after some blocking wires. They seem as rare as hen’s teeth, especially in the UK. The one company that I can find that sells them, charge twice the price of those in the USA. Of course, Knitpicks discriminate against non-US or Canadian customers. They won’t sell to us. We aren’t good enough for them. The other US source that I can find also appear only to sell to their own side of the Atlantic.

I did the maths, and IF I could find some company with a more modern attitude to business, then after adding shipping and VAT and Import Duty, the price here isn’t so bad after all.

Sooo… I went to Heirloom Knitting today to order a set. That was when I discovered that their price does not include VAT or postage and it isn’t possible to find out the total price without first giving them all my personal details.

You what?

Bog off.

I don’t deal with companies who keep their postage charges secret or hide VAT (simple enough to calculate but a disgustingly poor business practice not to give the total price.) A shame, as I always fancied buying the book and some patters - but they’ll get no business from me now.

So, I appear to be buggered on this one.

Here’s a business opportunity for anyone in the US who fancies selling blocking kits on eBay to International customers (our money may not be dollars but it’s as good as anybody else’s no matter what Knitpicks think.) I’ll certainly be your first customer. I am sure you would do well and make a handsome profit.

Unless… there is a kind reader out there willing to proxy purchase from Knitpicks for me and to forward the goods if I PayPal them the loot in advance?