knitting on a (real tight) budget

My book stash is 'medium' I'd say, and of all the books I own, my first (and only) knitting book is "learn to KNIT" by Penny Hill (2003)... got it from 'Popular Bookstore' in Kota Kinabalu (aka 'KK') from around the time it was published, if I'd remember correctly (I usually date the books I bought, but oddly, I missed this one!). Knitting was just an interesting 'read' then and so has remained as one of my few interests until I moved to Nagoya last year, and then winter came along... Surfing the internet, I found oh so many sources on (almost) all I wanted to know about knitting, and along the way picked up many useful knitting ideas and tips for creating that perfect piece everytime (can't afford to waste any yarns)...  from magic cast on to knitting and purling to yarn overs to slipping stitches to cable knitting to binding off..... and even the history of knitting in Japan. I've started a list of craft shops around Nagoya, and Made in Japan yarns... hope to visit all these shops soon and then make the list available here.

bamboo DPN

My first set of knitting needles (DPNs and CNs), yarns, and misc. knitting kits ... ahem... all I got from DAISO. All goods there are 105yen (the cheapest you can find in all of Japan)... ah yes.... they accept major credit cards. If like me, you can't read Kanji, no worries, all the goods have English (sometimes Spanish and Chinese, I noticed) translation on the labels, so you know what you're on to, but be prepared as the translations can be really hilarious...

leather thimble

The DPNs and CNs are all bamboo and comes in seven sizes. The sizes are given in numbers (as in Sz 4, 6 etc) as well as in thickness (mm and inches). I don't think the size corresponds to US size though (e.g. the smallest available size which is Size 4 is equivalent to 3.3 mm, rather than 3.5 mm, or Size 15, the maximum available size is 6.6 mm and not 10.0 mm).

DPN and darning needle sizes

As for the CNs, there are only two sizes available (4.5 mm and 6.0 mm), and both with 40 cm length plastic tube cord. ... then last week I found out that they now sell 4.5 mm CN with a 60 cm cord.

my very first project a pair of 'fingerless mitt' (basic pattern from Sara Galley)
(using a pair of 4.5 mm CN and 100% NZ wool yarn in charcoal from DAISO)...and yes you guessed it... this was knitted in the round

Upcoming post: what to do with a broken (bamboo) DPN