Wednesday, March 14, 2012

oh no, she’s not a secret now

©http://elephant-juice.blogspot.com/

Last night my new found love, my bamboo 9inch Hiya Hiyas, snapped.

IMAG0182

There it is, the crime scene photo, all it’s gory detail captured on my phone. And ever since, this song has been stuck in my head.

It’s the first pair of needles I’ve ever broken, and in true sod’s law fashion the breakage didn’t occur where the swathes of stocking stitch were, but right where my column of yarn overs lay... Thankfully I only lost a couple of stitches, and it wasn’t too difficult pick them up, but I still swore enough to make a sailor blush. Dark yarn + bad lighting does not make for a particularly easy stitch rescue. Still, at least they didn’t break over the cables!

©http://elephant-juice.blogspot.com/

More cursing followed my frantic search for the steel tipped needles I’d bought in the same order as the bamboo (so that I could see which tips I preferred. Pack rat mentality comes in handy sometimes!) but the crisis was eventually averted, and I’m now 1.5 pattern repeats and a toe away from the finish time.

If I’d had these needles for a few months longer and if they’d been well used I would have just sucked it up and forked out the cash for a new (steel!) pair, but I’ve only had these since the end of January/beginning of February and this is only the second time I’ve used them, so I emailed the vendor I bought them from straight away at about 9pm, certainly not expecting to get a reply until at least the next day. A little over 2 and a half hours later at almost midnight(!) a reply landed in my inbox apologising for the breakage and offering a replacement. How’s that for customer service?! So thank you Linda at Tall Yarns ‘n Tales for such wonderful customer service!

She did say that this is only the second time she’s been informed about a broken needle, so I certainly don’t want to put anyone off buying the bamboo Hiya Hiyas. They’re fabulous little needles, and bamboo will always remain my first love in terms of needle material. However, the steel ones do feel a little sturdier, so when I stock up (and I will be stocking up on a few more of these 9inchers, I’m head over heels with them!) I’ll probably stick with the steel.

In other news, the Boy and I are off to see Doug Stanhope tonight. I don’t find him quite as amusing as the Boy does, so my plans for this afternoon include sorting out a sock project to bring along so that I can clickety click the night away…

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Comments (27)

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Eeeek - I would have had a panic attack if I broke a needle in the middle of a project. So glad you were able to get it switched. I love your pictures!
My recent post WIP Wednesday/Yarn Along - The Never-Ending Babydoll
1 reply · active 681 weeks ago
I've never had a needle break before - I would have cursed like a sailor too. Glad you had really good customer service though!
My recent post WIP: Scooter Test and Darling Darlington
1 reply · active 681 weeks ago
I would have died if my needle broke mid way, in fact I would just die if one one my needles broke! (I'm very dramatic!!) I'm very impressed and pleased for you that you were able to save it and pleased that the customer servoce was so good!
1 reply · active 681 weeks ago
I gasped when I saw your broken needle. I'm glad it has all been worked out.
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago
That is fantastic customer service! Good job on their part, for sure. It's the worst when a needle breaks, because it's always int eh middle of a knit, never when swatching!
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago
Oh sorry! I'm entirely familiar with THAT sound ... the sound of needles snapping. My worst snap happened when knitting a double-decrease on a pair of socks in the middle of a train trip. Sounds like the metal tips are the winners!
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago
That sucks! I can't stand when needles break! I've been looking to try some hiya hiyas personally.
My recent post A Conundrum
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago
I love Hiya Hiyas too! They're not as pointy as Knit Picks, and much gentler on the finger tips. That is fantastic news that your yarn store gave you such good service!
My recent post Should I? Should I not?
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago
I managed to break my second needle on the same project last weekend - sigh!
My recent post Project bedroom - phase one complete!
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago
I would be upset too if that happened to me! At least you got a great costumer service. My bamboos just bend a bit, but since they are homemade I could easily replace them if that bothers me.
3 replies · active 680 weeks ago
Sorry bout the needles. I've snapped many crochet hooks, but never a knitting needle. I buy hooks in packages, so always have others in the same size for just that reason. I had my Denise detachable needles come apart a couple of times in the middle of a long long row..........once I had to frog the project, another time I was able to save it, so relate to the middle of the row.
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago
I have avoided bamboo knitting needles because I am heavy handed, if I had them I would break them for sure! I am going to treat myself to some of those 9" babies for Easter....better than chocolate :-)
My recent post It's raining again...
I am very heavy handed with my needles so I have steered away from bamboo but those little 9" beauties look fabulous. Will have to treat myself to some for Easter, better than chocolate! :-)
My recent post It's raining again...
1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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