Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 01:37PM Dealing with Circular Needles
True confession right up front - I love circular needles. I choose them over straight needles every time. But I don't like the interchangeable sets. They come with either metal, wood, or acrylic tips, and to be honest, I can't be limited by one over the other. Some yarns just behave better on wood needles, some behave better on metal. I need more choices.
I first discovered circular needles when I brought knitting on a plane. I as working on a hat with double points and lost a needle somewhere under the seat between my seat mate and myself in our confined coach section. I couldn't retrieve it until she woke up, when we landed 3 hours later. I was stuck, and couldn't knit for the rest of the flight. A circular needle comes with it's own safety line - hanging onto the other needle on the other end.
To date, I have about 100 circular needles in sizes from US2 (2.75mm) to US13 (9mm) in lengths from 8-inches (20.5cm) to 52-inches (132 cm). Keeping them organized is a challenge.
I tried keeping them in zip up sleeves inside 3-ring binders but that was a mess. I tried coiling them up and keeping them in large envelopes - in numerical order. And while that worked, it kept the needles curled and more difficult to work with.
Straightening out the cord between the two needles is a must to make working with circular needles easier. When I first get them home, I like to hold them over a pot of steaming water to soften the curl. Then I decided that I needed a hanging holder that would keep the needles from staying coiled up.
I took a ride to Traditions by Pamela Kline in Claverack NY to see what kind of fabrics were in the outlet. I only needed a few yards. Then got to sewing layers of them, leaving slots to pass the circular needles through. I figured why not add atop narrow layer to hold double points as well.
I've since seen some handmade hanging circular needle holders for sale on etsy. as you can imagine, some are much nicer than others. this one by buttermilk cottage is quite nice.
But anyone with a sewing machine can whip one up in just an afternoon. Remember that each layer gets attached by a horizontal row of stitches that runs from edge to edge of the top most layer of fabric only. That creates tunnels in each layer to hang the needles through.
Reader Comments (6)
Oh Joy of Joys, you've been "nominated" for the Versatile Blogger Award. This is, so far as I know, a completely bogus award given with the requirement that you (1) thank the person who gave it to you, (2) post links to 15 blogs you have "nominated" to receive this award, (3) notify those 15 bloggers of their "nomination," (4) post seven random things about yourself, and (5) post the Versatile Blogger Award on your site.
Seriously, though, I like your blog. I also love the book Knits Men Want, and that's only partially because that's the first book that contained a pullover that my husband wants me to knit for him (the Henley -- I've started but I'm nowhere near done yet). Check out the post on my site for some other great blogs to look at (if you're into that sort of thing).
I'm a circular needle convert too!
I went to a different LYS than usual, and the owner, a sweet little Finnish lady asked what I was looking for. I said I wanted a pair of bamboo size 7 straight needles for knitting cotton dishcloths. She said "Why not just use a circular needle?" Mind blown.
The thought had seriously never occurred to me to use a circular needle on a "flat" piece. Now, they're about all I use. :)
Thanks for the pattern. Hoo, Nelly, do I need one of these! :)
"Knitpicks" has interchaneable needles with different tip types. Wooden, Metal, and acrylic. I love them because I like different options also, but hate having a mess of circulars lying around.
I love circulars, too, and have been thorough all those permutations of trying to corral them. I should just go ahead and make a hanging holder. But then I'd have to find the perfect place to hang it. Guess I should take down all the basketball posters in my office/knitting studio (used to be son's bedroom).
Ebony is my favorite, but sometimes I have to resort to something pointier.
So, Bruce...First it was the knit book on the table at the LYS. "Bruce has done a knit book, Ron." He was impressed, less surprised than I. And recently I read about the cook book. Today a message from Bob's Red Mill that your teaching "Grains" class there. Great place; we've done several classes--breadmaking especially.
Putting your booksigning on February 1 on the calendar. We're so glad you're making the trip to Portland, O. to visit. your fans from New York's Knitty City, the Blooms
I just finished the watchman cap from Knits Men Want for my college son's friend out of alpaca. It was fantastic. I now need to make another one for my son. His friend simply cannot have a nicer handknit hat. Thanks for a wonderful book!