The Knitters Thread

dizzy_lizzie

Ooooh more lovely piccie knits. Love the tea cosy cuddles and the dolly grannybroon. Did some similar many moons ago from the Jean Greehowe mascot dolls book, when ours were littlies. I was a much better knitter then than I am now for some reason.
x

Florenceem

Keiss_21 wrote: »

Lovely knitting, love the starsky tea-cosy, and the knitted dolls.

I have a few JG books...may be knitting a few for my lil' sis's first grandchild due in the summer. Can only sell them for charity, so not including them in my crafting business repertoire.

Finished another ruffle scarf his week, and getting on well with my second sock. Will post piccies once I have done.

Have a great weekend everyone xx

I have seen JG stuff for sale at craft fairs .

charlies_mum

I have been knitting for years, but have just bought some bamboo circular needles and I hate them.

The stitches stick on the plastic loop and getting them onto the bamboo needles is a nightmare. I have tried a couple of times, and just given up.

Am I doing something wrong ?

jennyjelly

charlies_mum, I think the most important bit of circulars is the join between the needle and the wire/plastic. If there is even a small bump or catch it makes knitting a misery. I've had the same problem with bamboo and metal circulars, but since buying knit pro interchangables I use them all the time. The join is really smooth and the stitches just slide over it as if they were straights. They are expensive but I've been buying the odd pair and wire as I need them so it's not too bad.

charlies_mum

Thanks will have to look at knitpro.

I think earlier in the thread somone suggested coating them with something to help the stitches glide. Anyone remember ?

Just had a look on Ebay at knitpro needles, but there are loads to choose from. Anyone got any recommendations please ?

Mikazaru

I've just got the deluxe set of knit pro, eight sizes from 3.5 to 8.0 mm, they are the wooden set which is great, however I've heard good things about the metal ones too so I think you can't go wrong with either it just depends which you prefer knitting with,

susan946

I've got the same set as Mikazaru. Just bought 3.00 metal tips and used them on the border of the hood on a jumper. Found it difficult to get a grip on the tips to screw them into the cord. I found I was fumbling for the key thingy and tightening them at the end of each row. If the screw joint loosens then the wool catches on the gap.

I'd certainly go for the wooden tips in general but went for the metal as the 3.00 wooden ones (bought separately as they don't come with the set) had snapped and I thought the metal ones would be stronger. I think there are plastic/nylon type tips as well but I don't know anyone who has tried them.

jennyjelly

susan946 wrote: »

I've got the same set as Mikazaru. Just bought 3.00 metal tips and used them on the border of the hood on a jumper. Found it difficult to get a grip on the tips to screw them into the cord. I found I was fumbling for the key thingy and tightening them at the end of each row. If the screw joint loosens then the wool catches on the gap.

I'd certainly go for the wooden tips in general but went for the metal as the 3.00 wooden ones (bought separately as they don't come with the set) had snapped and I thought the metal ones would be stronger. I think there are plastic/nylon type tips as well but I don't know anyone who has tried them.

I think you have to tighten them more than you think they will stand! I was a bit careful about tightening mine at first and had the same problem, but now I tighten them as hard as I can at the beginning of a project and that's how they stay. They are tougher than you think!

susan946

jennyjelly wrote: »

I think you have to tighten them more than you think they will stand! I was a bit careful about tightening mine at first and had the same problem, but now I tighten them as hard as I can at the beginning of a project and that's how they stay. They are tougher than you think!

Thanks for the tip, Jenny. I'm always worried that the little wire 'key' thingy will bend. The problem with the metal tip was getting a firm grip on the tip. It tended to slip in my fingers. Having said that, I do have a degree of arthritis in my fingers and that doesn't help.

cuddles123

susan946 wrote: »

Thanks for the tip, Jenny. I'm always worried that the little wire 'key' thingy will bend. The problem with the metal tip was getting a firm grip on the tip. It tended to slip in my fingers. Having said that, I do have a degree of arthritis in my fingers and that doesn't help.

I have a set of the Boyes interchangeables and used to find the same thing. Then I found a small circle of that non slip rubber in the case, and use that to hold the needle while tightening. It works a treat and I've never had a problem again,

If you don't have any, I've seen rolls of the stuff in £ shops, or I'm sure I have some in a drawer somewhere.