What wool or knitting treat should I ask dh for as a birthday present?

[Groveregg]

Any ideas? Dh is asking me what I want for my birthday next month and keeps rolling his eyes when I mention wool. It needs to be something really wearable, and a bit of a treat for me obviously. Dh is really put off as 2 years ago I asked for Noro yarn and I have twice knitted it into jumpers and twice unravelled it as they looked so terrible on. And then last year I asked for some Colinette and am still mulling over what to make out of it as I couldn't get it to the right tension for the original pattern without it looking really holey. So he's not convinced...

Also thinking of asking for Rowan International membership, has anyone else got this and is it worth the money?

personally I think highly variegated yarns look nicest in scarves and hats and tea cosies rather than jumpers (although I am coveting enough Dream in Colour wool to make something substantial). I also am slightly wary of knitting things out of wool that is too heavy - I have a lovely (not handknitted) jumper in chunky wool and I rarely wear it. So I would go for a lighter weight wool in a colour that you love - I love a lot of the stuff on the Hargreaves site, although I am not sure I have the stamina for a cardie knitted entirely in moss stitch. I also like the harmony needle set (see previous long Mumsnet discussion)!

Do you knit socks - lots of places do sock clubs where you get sent out yarn and maybe a pattern each month/2 months.

Oo now those Kim Hargreaves kits are really lovely. I love this one. I think he might get a bit funny about the price but I will think about that, no harm in asking.

I might just need to drag him down to Get Knitted and hope he can look after the children for long enough for me to narrow down the choices...

Yes also just had an email saying spring Knitty is here...

Oh and florence yes I get what you're saying about chunky wool. I think I want something lighter (dk or so, can't be bothered to knit anything smaller than that) with a really lovely feel or texture, and yes in a colour I love (dh suggested black the other night on the basis that at least it's wearable)...

Yes I have done socks but don't think I'd want to do them that often. Good idea though!

i'm all for books, kits or courses. whenever i buy yarn for my stash it usually stays there my stash is HUGE! full of gorgeous yarn that i don't know what to do with.

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harmony interchangeables best birthday present out there

Pruners, Ive got a skein of the Ranco multi - lovely, isnt it? I knitted Tillyboo's egg cosy for the Easter swap with it.

Agree wit Jeangenie re the Harmony interchangeables - Ive got some of the dpns as well, and they feel lovley.

And - if only I was really skinny - Id have some of those Kim Hargeaves kits - theyre really unusual!

Well when someone mentioned needles yesterday I wasn't very taken with the idea but I've just had a chance to look at the Harmony interchangeables on getknitted and I find that I want them very very badly indeed. So that is pretty much sorted. And I might just sneak in a skein of Ranco and make hints about Rowan membership too if I'm feeling sneaky...

Thanks for all that everyone!

harmonies are great

(at last a convert)

do not underestimate the swallow needles though, they are caesin and lovely. Like wood only slightly warmer and stickier AND you can get them in super-thin sizes without worrying about the breaking.

am not really that taken with the new knitty btw...

must say I was quite disappointed FJ, normally I find a couple of things to think about doing but I am not sure there was even one this time...

I love the silky feel of the Harmonies, and I can see no need to go bck to songle pointed needles.

Mind you, I also like Quills casein DPNs, i really got into socks in a big way after using them, as they dont fall out of your work like metal dpns do!

yeah i like quills, these are like quills but in funky colours . like harmonies too. can't be doing with magic looping really-dpning feels like Proper Knitting somehow

you know what was wrong with knitty? no whimsies! I love the whimsies!

ooh I love Magic Looping, I keept losing track of dpns and end up looking like a deranged porcupine...

I like magic looping on public transport - dpns far too likely to get away. Dpns make me feel all grown up though...

(how sad am I?)