The Sewing Place
The Emporia => A Good Yarn => Topic started by: b15erk on September 27, 2017, 13:07:13 PM
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I feel as if I'm going slightly mad over a hat.... :S
I tried to change the pattern to 2 needles but wasted the evening trying. No worries, I'll pop in to town to get the correct needles, not fond of circular knitting, but needs must.
Tried the Range, none at all, and the only other knitting supplies place on the market only had 100 cms long ones.
The sizes I need are 4.00 and 4.50, 30 cms long. I have looked and I have looked, and the only availability I can find is either the US, China, or pay silly price and postage from the UK.
Does anyone know of a reliable supplier, preferably UK, with reasonably priced, and prompt delivery?
Jessie (who needs to make a little hat for Theo)
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Blacksheep Wools have 40cm needles in the sizes you require listed on their website at £2.20 each, but postage is £2.95.
http://www.blacksheepwools.com/accessories.html?cat=2910
Are they close enough to you for a trip down the East Lancs to Culcheth?
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Purplelinda has them but again, postage is £2.65. http://www.purplelindacrafts.co.uk/pony-circular-knitting-pins-40cm-needles-1038-c.asp
Could you cut down a 100cm length by undoing the pins, if they are the ones which have plastic tubing holding the 'wire' to the pins?
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Thank you both! I would have been happy to go to Black Sheep Wools SiT, but 40cm is just too long. I'm only knitting 60 stitches, and tried the other night with a longer circular, but it was stretching the stiches, and I just can't master the 'magic loop?'
I did find some at the Wool Stack, (it seems only the Addi brand do 30cm), and if you register with them, you get a 5% discount. It was almost £12 for something which I will only probably use for this hat, but it is such a sweet hat! ;)
SGoose, not thought of trying to cut the tubing, but I did fleetingly think of buying the cords with interchangeable tips - briefly that is, until I saw the price!
I'm not a great knitter, so I do tens to be a cheapskate :)
Jessie
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I bought some bamboo ones from here
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/pickandknit/
but 40cms may be the shortest they have. I bought some others from Abakhan but I don't know what length they werein fact thinking about it, I don't know where they are, oops.
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I will need 40cm ones for the larger sizes, but I intend to complete this smaller one first before I commit to making any more.
It seems quite a complicated pattern, although it looks deceptively simple. Full of 'short rows', and markers.
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/01/23/lauras-loop-garter-ear-flap-hat/
I think it may test me!
Jessie
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If you can't get 30cm in the sizes you want get two circular needles of any length in each size and have (about) half the stitches on each. Or use a set of double pointed needles.
If the hat decreases down to just a few stitches at the crown you will need one of those options to finish it anyway.
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Jessie, don't give up on magic loop. I could never get it watching all those videos but when I sat down with a written/picture tutorial I got it straight away. It's just so easy and obvious once you've got it. (I posted the tutorial on here a while back.) I'm now on my 2nd magic loop garment and wouldn't do it any other way - old dogs (me) can learn new tricks. It means you can knit anything on a long cable.
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Jessie I think I have a 30cm cable and I have those needles, PM me your address and I'll pop in the post tomorrow.
Just send them back when you have finished I won't need them for ages.
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Have you checked John Lewis? They have a few decent brands in there and a full range of lengths.
However, this is exactly what magic loop is for. If I can learn magic loop after only 6 months of knitting, you can learn it for sure 0_0 Magic loop is the solution.
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I have tried Fran, really, I just can't master it. There are just some techniques which are beyond me, and this was one.
I have the correct needles on their way to me, so I'll be able to crack on over the weekend.
Jessie
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I can't do magic loop either. Apparently it's good for socks, but I stick with sets of DPNs :) I just can't 'get' the logic of it, can't see in my head how it 3-dimensionally works. So it's not just you Jessie
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If you took a sock that was on, say, 3 dpns and shuffled it so that it was on two 2dpns instead, how would that look?
Here are what would be my written instructions on how to magic loop, as simple as possible:
1. Cast onto DPNs if that helps you.
2. Arrange so you only have two DPNs instead of 3 or 4
3. Swap those two DPNs for one circular needle (pointy ends at the end with your working yarn)
4. Now pull the right hand needle out and start knitting...
I always think techniques in knitting need to be done rather than thought about. When you just do what it says explicitly, rather than thinking too much about it, it clicks in place really quickly. First time I ever did a cable my Mum told me how to do it over the phone 0_0
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That's a really good description Fran.
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I'm sure I am overthinking the Magic loop thing, but I tried again over the weekend (using your tutorial Plosh), and I can't do it.
I cobbled together an approximation of ML to finish Theo's hat, but it isn't a pretty sight!
I'll try again today, as I'm on number 2 hat, and I would like the top to be finished nicely.
Jessie
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If you are on Ravelry you'll see that there are endless discussions as to which method of knitting in the round is "best" and really there is no "best" it's personal preference and what suits your way of knitting, though you do need to try the different ways to know which is for you.
Personally I prefer using double point needles as I don't like loops or ends of needles dangling. I have knitted a lot of socks and always use 3+1 double point needles. For a hat I am happy with one short circular needle (12" or 16") and then change to DPNs for the crown, but I don't like the very short (8"-9") circulars for socks because the needle tips have to be very short and they are just not comfortable in my hands.
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I don't know if this helps Jessie - ignore it if it doesn't.
When you have cast on the stitches and 'split' them into 2 by the loop, push the stitches up on to the needles (you have half on each needle.
1) Hold the 2 needles, both containing stitches, in your left hand one in front of the other - the one with the knitting yarn at the back.
2) Pull out the back needle and use it to knit the stitches off the front needle.
3) When the front needle is empty let it drop and pull the loop so that the second lot of stitches end up on that needle.
Repeat these 3 steps moving the yarn up out of the way each time before step 2 ( pulling out the back needle)
You could try knitting a few rows of a round on DPNs then transferring to a cable as it can be a bit tricky the first time trying to join the ends to form the round. Once you know what you are doing it is no more difficult than joining the cast on into a round with DPNs.
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OK, I've done it!! My brain is mashed, but I've done it! I just couldn't get the idea of it at all, now I've got it! :) :)
So, now that I can do it, I just need to be able to control those plastic wires, and incorporate ML into my knitting.
Anyone any clues for taming the wires? I have to say, the expensive needles I bought for Theo's hat, are better by far than my cheapy ones.
Wonder if Father Christmas is listening? ;)
Jessie
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WELL DONE! 0_0
I've not managed to tame the cables but find it best having a long one as the bigger loops stay out of the way better.
My interchangeable needles came with 4 cables of different lengths so I join 2 together if I want it longer.
I'm currently knitting a sweater doing the front and back in the round so I won't have any sides to sew up.
If you're writing to Santa check out sets of Knit Pro interchangeable needles. Mine are Symphonie and they are just gorgeous.
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Just ordered a new set of circular needles! I was browsing the Woolstack, and came across a set of KnitPro Nova Interchangeable circulars, reduced to £40.46, and free delivery! Whoop whoop!
After using the new Addi needles, there was no comparison with my odd job ones. I've bit the bullet, and ordered them before Christmas, so maybe I'll get a straight set in my stocking! :) :)
Jessie
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Wow! No stopping you now.
ML does need playing with but like you say, once you've "got it" it all falls into place.
I nearly gave up at the first attempt because I read the instructions before picking up needles or yarn - it felt like I was trying to learn a foreign language. No idea how we all managed before You Tube etc.
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Jessie that's wonderful, isn't it a fantastic feeling when everything suddenly clicks.
KnitPros are fab, I'm gradually replacing my original plastic set with the Symphonie tips as I need them.
You deserve a large :gin:.
It will be hats all round soon.