Magic Loop or 2 needles

I was just interested.

Do you use the 4 or 5 needles, 2 circulars, or the magic loop?

I use the 2 circulars or the magic loop more than I do the 4 or 5 needles. I prefer the Magic Loop.

I use the 2 Boye needle sets I have until I have need for a smaller needle than I has. If I have a heavier yarn use the Denise set for the

40" Magic Loop. I was lucky and caught the smaller long circulars when a local store was closing.

It took me a while to get used the the 2 circulars and the Magic Loop. I use them both for sweater sleeves once and a while. The author of the Magic Loop book mentioned it, no seam. :)

Right now I am making leg warmers for Gail. When she is up her legs get cold setting in the wheel chair all the time, she keeps a blanket over them.

I know we have a few ladies and gents that make socks. I wonder how many we have?

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

Five needles, or two circulars. Magic Loop just looks like too damned much work.

I did at first Wooly until I go used to it.

I find it easier for me than 5 needles. My hands are slowly becoming more numb do to the nerve disorder. The magic loop is easier for me to handle.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

I like my wood and bamboo double points Noreen. As in the previous message the metal ones are a pain some times.

Say hello to NAVY!

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

Dennis , i know what circulars and DPs are , but `magic loop` ???? never heard of that as a needle ??????????????????????????? mirjam

Mirjam,

This URL will explain the "Magic Loop" in a video.

hope all is going well for you. I have been very busy and have not had a chance to check in often. Let me know what you think.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

I use 4 dpns. I haven't tried two circs or the magic loop though. They are both on my list of things to do some day.

BB

Only knitting first pair of socks ( finish them tonight yippee) And found knitting them on 4 dpn works great for me. Have looked up the info on circular needles and magic loop and decided to stick with what works for the moment

My socks have all been made on 5 dpns, either bamboo or birch. I've never tried doing them on circs as the dpns work well for me.

I go back and forth. I loved Magic Loop when I first learn it and will use it still when I'm doing a standard plain stockinette sock. For sock patterns that are new to me I prefer to use 4 dpns. I have to admit that I also like ending up with one larger ball of leftovers that you get when knitting one sock at a time than the 2 smaller balls you get w/ 2 at a time. Does that make me weird?!? (I know, I know, it wouldn't be the only thing!)

LauraJ

Dennis thank you , but i load my computer /email through a very slooooooooooow modem , and thus Videos are a No no for me ,,, mirjam

More: I use my rosewoods only at home these days - taking htem out in public guarantees that I'll lose one, or break one, or both. So anything I want to KIP I put on two Addi circs.

If I'm working in small circles, I use 4 dpn. I tried 5 once; they kept folding up and falling everywhere. Nearly all my dpn are aluminum; all the ones I bought for myself are Boye. If I'm working in large circles, or flat, I'm probably using my Boye Needlemaster. Unless it's a really narrow piece, in which case I'm probably using a couple of dpn.

Cece

Usually 4 needles, sometimes 5. I have tried two circulars and the magic loop, and hate them.

Higs, Katherine

Magic Loop all the way for me too Dennis, just finished a top down roll neck jumper for a 6 year old, using Denise Interchangeable needles and did the sleeves using Magic Loop. Really Magic!! I find that using the circulars(either 1 or 2) much easier, although I do love the look of those yummy wooden dpns. Same as I love the look of wooden crochet hooks, but they slow me down something alarming!

Love & higs Christine

It's the magic loop for me, I've tried two circulars and double points, but don't get on so well with them.

Dennis,

A whole pile of swatches later!

There are at least 3 methods of using a knitting sheath, used with three different kinds of knitting sheaths.

For socks, tuck the knitting sheath loosely into your waist band or belt so that it can pivot. For socks, use shorter needles. These days, for socks and cuffs, my DPN are 8" - 10" long. I think I sent you some 11", and those will work, particularly if you are a big guy. The right (working) needle is moved in an almost horizontal motion to insert it into the stitch, throw the yarn over it with your right forefinger, and use the base of your right thumb to push the working needle horizontally to the right with the knitting sheath acting as the fulcrum. (A knitting needle is a lever for moving yarn.)

While not as sustainable as the vertical spring action achieved with gansey needles, the horizontal motion using the right thumb to return the working needle is very fast and has the same physics as a knitting pouch.

The Yorkshire "goose wing" (which you have) is one of the best knitting sheath designs for such knitting. Knitting sheaths tame DPN.

Saturday, I spent a few hours with lady who learned to knit in Siberia a young girl. She has always been very proud of how very fast she knits. She watched me knit for a few minutes and started muttering, "That is fast! That is fast!!" Remember, I came to this group a few years ago because I knit so slowly, and wanted help knitting faster.

Also, the tighter you knit, the warmer the fabric. For serous leg warmers, I would use a worsted weight wool knit on 5 # 1 needles. That will give you 7 or 8 spi and ~ 10 rpi, so about 30 K stitches per leg warmer. The is a lot of knitting unless I am using my knitting sheath. With # 3 needles, it would be some 15 K stitches per leg warmer, and they would still be very warm. With # 8 needles and worsted yarn, they would not be warm enough to be worth the bother. It is better to buy machine knit and be warm, than to have hand knit and be cold! With # 8 needles and Lopi or some other bulky yarn they would be too warm for a centrally heated house. Because I really hate fixing holes in knee socks, I would knit a bunch of really soft socketts, some heavier outer socks or slippers, and the leg warmers to wear with the short socks.

Only with a knitting sheath, can one knit fast, tight, and sustainable. If one's hands are both the fulcrum and the effort on a knitting needle, then there is a torque on your wrist. Then, if you knit tight, or if you knit enough, then you WILL end up at the doctor's office. It is the way biology reacts to physics.

Moreover, some stitch patterns are warmer than others. The warmest stitch pattern I have tested so far is Lizard Lattice:

• kkkkkkkkkkkk kkkpppkkkppp kkkkkkkkkkkk kkkpppkkkppp kkkkkkkkkkkk kkkpppkkkppp kkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkkkkk pppkkkpppkkk kkkkkkkkkkkk pppkkkpppkkk kkkkkkkkkkkk pppkkkpppkkk kkkkkkkkkkkk*

However, it works better for dry cold than for damp cold. Lucky you have dry cold.

Aaron And, it is back to the salt mines for me.

If you know the system for using two circulars, just imagine that they are hitched together into one - the dangling ends become the loop.

=Tamar

I also use 5 needles (4 only if I don't have a 5th needle). I tried magic loop and didn't like it at all, but I wonder whether it was because I had an old, stiff needle and maybe newer ones are more flexible. I haven't really given two circulars a serious try. I have lots of sets of dpns and I like them for most things, though I have used circulars for doubleknitting and for large projects that will be carried around.

=Tamar