MIso Lovin' It :: AkinJewels

I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE knitting notions and gadgets.  Now, you're probably wondering just how many notions can one knitter have?  Well, if you're anything like me you really can never have enough!  Maybe it's the crazy in me, maybe it's the former Girl Guide in me, whatever it is I just seem to need more than what is deemed "normal".  I mean, I like having a plethora of stitch holders in a variety of lengths - cause you just never know what size you might need.  I like having an array of cable needles in all sorts of gauges and shapes.  I like having an assortment of row counters cause you just never know what kind of counter a project may need (and if you always have more than one project on the go, of course you're going to need more than 1 counter, right?).  You can never have too many darning needles and I think it's an absolute MUST to have a bountiful supply of stitch markers on hand at all times.  Locking, jumbo, small, lace, brass, rubber, fancy...you name it, I probably have it in spades distributed throughout some of my notions kits.  I mean, have you seen my "master notions case"?  I've mentioned it, as well as photographed it, eons ago what some of my notion cases look like (if you haven't seen it, check out this post.  Scroll to the bottom of the post to see the "master case").  Yeah...as you may have noticed I can kind of get intense about stuff.  When I love something, I LOVE the crap out of it.  

The master case has been heavily added to since that post, and the smaller ones have had a few swap outs for more favoured and heavily used notions.  So with all that I have on hand, what notions, other than my snips and darning needles, do I tend to reach for the most?  Small/fine gauge, snag-free stitch markers is what!  And one of my utter favourites is made by my dear and oh so lovely friend, Aja, and her sister, Kalai of Akin Jewels!  I always have to hold myself back whenever Aja Instagrams and lists new stitch marker sets cause really I.want.them.all.  Seriously.  There's currently a stunning green set, a gorgeous "ice" set, and a brilliant aqua set that I'm trying really hard not to drool over.  I keep returning to the shop to look at them, to see if they're still there, and all the while sitting on my hands using every fibre of being to not add them to my cart.  My willpower can only handle so much though and a few weeks ago I caved and just had to have this lovely red and pink set.  Ok, ok...I was weak and had to get this purple set too.  

Aren't they just darling??  They totally make me squee with happiness!  And just look at that packaging!!  I'm a sucker for packaging too.  Opening those little packages I felt like I was opening secret treasures, even though I knew they contained stitch markers and exactly which ones.  Hey, I've never denied that I wasn't a knit nerd.

Medium and large sized stitch holders in equally fun and gorgeous colours are also available in the Akin Jewels Etsy shop.  I mainly knit with fingering weight yarns and so stocking up on the small size seems the most appropriate.  This size is perfect on my 2.25mm (US 1) sock needles and can even fit comfortably on a pair of 3.75mm (US 5) needles - even though they recommend up to a 3.25mm (US 3), but obviously common sense should be exercised when it comes to this type of stuff.

Want an awesome set (or 2...or 3) of stitch marker to call your own? Get them in the Akin Jewels Etsy shop.  And while you're there, check out the crystal bullet necklaces.  I have one fitted with a lovely pink quartz.  I had limited my jewelry wearing when I got pregnant and then had stopped wearing any completely after the Munchkin was born.  It didn't cross my mind that I can wear jewelry again once I had stopped breastfeeding the kiddo, and it has been only recently that the idea of accessorizing my outfits with jewelry has come up.  I think my crystal bullet necklace is a simple enough statement piece that can ease me back into wearing jewelry.  What do you think?

Anyhoo, my knitting is calling...and I kind of want to cast on something new so that I could use my new stitch markers.  Like I need another excuse to cast on another project.  But, you know.


♥ Happy knitting! ♥