The Knitters Thread

PipneyJane

basketcase said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Yes, the loom bands aren't that great at keeping needles together, I often use 2 or 3 at once. if it's an issue (lots of stitches!) I'd use a hair elastic, I've got loads of them too - for knitting not hair restraint!

Is it sacrilege to just stick the needles into the ball of yarn?  (Prepares to grab coat before being drummed out into the cold...)

It’s not advisable, but it depends on how your store your knitting.  You don’t want tips poking out everywhere if you’re travelling or have to pack things away.   I have needle tip protectors but, since most of the time my main knitting is on circulars, i just slide things down until the tips are clear of the stitches.  For my sock knitting - I always have a sock on the go in my bag - I use a tube-shaped holder, into which I slide my DPNs.  I did try cramming the DPN tips into needle tip protectors, but had a bamboo DPN snap from the pressure while it was in my suitcase.

- Pip

ETA:  These are similar to the holder I use for my sock knitting. 

basketcase

@PipneyJane I rarely knit when travelling because I'm usually driving.  (Just to be clear here, I never knit when I'm actually driving!)  So my work tends to be in a large bag wide enough to lay the needles horizontally.  I shudder at the thought of a pair of metal needles sticking point upwards...

Those tubular holders look useful.  Something for my X**s present list...

PollyWollyDoodle

Pip, sorry if I’m being dim but can you get the sock in the tube as well as the needles?  I always have a project bag, usually home-made, and if I’m doing something with four needles I make sure that all four have stitches on. That way you can fold it flat and there is no risk of losing one of them. I don’t use needle tip protectors, too fiddly, I just make sure everything is pushed well down the needle if I’m knitting with two ... but this isn’t always foolproof. 

basketcase

That's a good point Polly!  I'd assumed it was just the needles, but now you mention it...

Savvy_Sue

It looks as if the needles go into the tube, which has a slot in it, and a stopper, and the sock hangs outside. 

The problem with just sticking the needles into the wool is that you can end up splitting the wool. that's what my mother always said. 

I don't get on well with needle stoppers: they always fall off!

Have finished the socks tonight. The Kitchener stitch on the second sock is slightly better than on the first one.

CAFCGirl

Hi to All,
Nothing on the loom here (OH MY!)
I have just finished knitting up 4 balls of not so soft acrylic yarn to a squareish shape, which I was going to gift as a blanket for my friends 'stepdaughters' (not married) and their playhouse but it seems now their relationship is ending and she's moving out so it seems a bit 'odd' to gift to them, which they'll receive via her and it might create weird messages, so I've opted to not even mention it to her (she didn't know anyway) and PLUS the yarn is not particularly nice/soft. 2 balls were quite old.... so I'm debating now giving it a little soak in some conditioner, line drying it and gifting to our lovely neighbours who have just bought a retro campervan to add a splash of colour in there...even if its just used as a chair throw in there, or for their dog. 

Next projects will be a knitted succulent and some yoga quivers I think...
No yarn purchases recently, think this is the longest I've gone without buying any since I started buying any if that makes sense LOL

PipneyJane

PollyWollyDoodle said:

Pip, sorry if I’m being dim but can you get the sock in the tube as well as the needles?  I always have a project bag, usually home-made, and if I’m doing something with four needles I make sure that all four have stitches on. That way you can fold it flat and there is no risk of losing one of them. I don’t use needle tip protectors, too fiddly, I just make sure everything is pushed well down the needle if I’m knitting with two ... but this isn’t always foolproof. 

@Savvy_Sue is correct, Polly.  You slide your needles into the tube, with your project hanging through the slot, then slide the outer tube over the top.  I’ve taken a couple of photos of my latest sock.  Hopefully, you’ll be able to see what I mean.  There’s a blue inner tube and a red outer one.

 

basketcase

Ooh that's clever.  Definitely one for the X**s List!  (I do lurve me a gadget...)

PollyWollyDoodle

 Oh that’s brilliant! Thank you so much for the explanation and the photos, Pip. I will be adding that to my Christmas list as well - I look at lots of knitting sites but I have never come across that before  

PipneyJane

Glad I could help, @PollyWollyDoodle.  I would have sworn Clover did sets - usually 3 sets per pack - of the DPN holders, but I have only seen them on sale once in the UK (and that was at Ally Pally at the annual Knit & Stitch Show).  I bought my first batch from the lovely people at The Yarn Barn of Kansas and the second from whichever store sold them at Ally Pally.  Sadly, I have no recollection who that was but if you ask Deramores or BlackSheep, they may be able to source them.

- Pip

ETA: I had a look and The Yarn Barn of Kansas call them “DPN Needle Tubes” but they only have the jumbo sized ones in stock, the size that would take 7mm wide DPNs.