The Knitters Thread

ASC

yummymummy85 wrote: »

Hi, does anyone know where I can buy a set of metal knitting needles? All I can find is bamboo ones and I'm not getting on with them at all! Much prefer the metal ones as they seem to slip better so I can knit quicker! I've only seen metals ones singularly and would much prefer to buy as whole set as it would be cheaper!

I thought I was the only one who still preferred metal ones, I hate bamboo needles! I love the look of the knitpicks sets but it's a lot of money to shell out if I didn't get on with them though.

Some people have had luck in charity shops but ask at the counter as they seem to be hidden away.


Question for anyone who's used the sock yarn from Lidl please, what size needles have you used? The ball band says 2mm-3mm and as I don't have any dpns that small, it would be nice to have a steer rather than buy ones that turn out too big/small.


Thanks,
A x

mardatha

I use 3.25mm and wouldn't go bigger than 3.5 ASC because a sock will wear a lot longer if its knit close. If you knwo what I mean lol!

ASC

mardatha wrote: »

I use 3.25mm and wouldn't go bigger than 3.5 ASC because a sock will wear a lot longer if its knit close. If you knwo what I mean lol!

I do thankyou, and it seems logical really.

This will be my first attempt with proper sock yarn, my previous effort was some leftover dk just to make sure I was capable but I'm in danger of getting hooked...


A x

mardatha

I dont personally really like doing socks...is just that they're always needed and appreciated - and a lot cheaper than things like cardis

funkymonkey849

ASC wrote: »

I thought I was the only one who still preferred metal ones, I hate bamboo needles! I love the look of the knitpicks sets but it's a lot of money to shell out if I didn't get on with them though.

Oh I love metal needles! So smooth and clicky

I got all mine from ebay, DPNs in a job lot - I got about 12 pairs for a fiver. I always buy knitting needles from ebay because there's such a good choice and really cheap.

lambanana

I prefer metal needles and have a set of the knitpro nova needles. They weren't cheap but were a gift and I use them constantly so completely worth it. I don't have every size but I have most and I know I can just get an extra set of tips if I don't have the right size.

I knit most of my socks on 2.5mm dpns or sometimes on 2.75mm dpns, you want to knit nice and tightly for socks as they should be sturdy because of the wear they'll be subjected to.

I've not picked up my lace for a couple of days, I'm all about innocent smoothie hats at the moment but I really must get a move on with my shawl so it's ready for when I need it!

OrkneyStar

I too love my metal dpn's- the bamboo ones seem 'trendy' right now but not tried them! Talking of dpn's my final lot of sock wool from ebay came today....got some opal cotton in pinks/lilacs and it is loverleeee!
Also ordered some chunky stuff (crofter) with a pattern for hats/neck scarf and hope to maybe knit some of that up quickly. At the moment am making a hat for mum, which was for birthday or Christmas but might just send it to cheer her up as she is having to have iron transfusions twice a week just now!

ChocClare

yummymummy85 wrote: »

Just a quick question, with the fireman sam jumper there's a picture on the front of the jumper so there's a gridded pattern in the book to use. Do I do this the same as when I'm changing colour on my striped jumper? Does it not get a bit confusing and messy with loads of balls of wool connected to your knitting?

Yummymummy, you have probably sorted this out by now BUT just in case! Do you know those cardboard bobbins you get for embroidery threads? Like this, I mean? What I do when I have got intarsia (posh word for picture knitting) is to make myself a similar "bobbin" - basically you cut yourself a cotton reel shape out of a bit of thick cardboard - off a cardboard box for example - cut a notch/slot in it to catch the end of your wool in, and wind a few yards of wool onto the bobbin. You can either put an elastic band round it or push your wool firmly into the notch so it doesn't all unwind again. If you've got a large area of the same colour then you just stick with the original ball of wool, but if you've got "bits", then you don't want to get all tangled with balls of wool in the back, so you can have shorter lengths on these bobbins, and you won't get in such a mess.

The only thing to remember (and I'm sure you already know this, so hope I don't sound like I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs) is that when you change colour, you must wrap the new colour round the old at the back (like this), otherwise you end up with a hole.

[Deleted User]

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Circular_Pins_80cm.html not sure if the ones online are metal,but all the ones in the shop are.

lambanana

I printed off a pattern for some colourwork mittens so I can give them a go but I don't have any yarn to use for them (of course...never mind the MASSES of yarn I have!) but I do have a John Lewis voucher and nothing else to spend it on so a possibility...

...also ignoring my already lengthy "to knit" queue *ahem*