Whats your choice of needles for socks

On Mon, 10 Jul 2006 02:03:11 -0500, SpikeDriver spun a fine yarn

Yes, I did get your email, Dennis, and apologize for being so remiss in replying! Things have been a little WILD here..... Hugs, Noreen

Definitely not a dinosaur!

Higs, Dennis

Thank you Alison,

Please post often.

You will get used to the grafting after a while. Try it a while. If you like the toe up, why change. That is another thought.

I agree with the fine needles, that is why I like them.

Please post again.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

Judy, Thanks for the response and input.

I am a cuff down person also. I do like the short heel.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

Hesira,

I believe it is that and the short roll heel does not create a flap. Maybe I am wrong. Some one please let me know

It took me several pairs of socks before the grafting looked invisible, it finally did happen.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

As always Aron you bring up a very interesting point,thanks so much.

And, I agree with you completely,

Hugs & God bless, Dennis

I am going to have to try that book.

Dennis

Aaron,

I had a lot of trouble with the gusset for the first several pairs, it finally worked out.

I usually take a backup along also. Gail gets annoyed with me some times when I take to many :) .

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

The most recent pair I made had 85 stitches around on size ones.

I like s1k1psso too, but sometimes ssk helps keep the two stitches more the same size. In a good grabby yarn, they don't equalize as easily as in a slippery yarn. Really, it depends on the mood I'm in at the moment - I'll use ssk on one round, s1k1psso on the next.

=Tamar

I've tried both, but right now I don't have a strong preference. Since I like to fold the cuffs down, I don't care if they're a little loose, and I can bind off loosely enough for comfort. But I admit I find it easier to bind off or graft the toe than to start a toe-up sock, so I guess I prefer cuff-down for that reason. If I'm short of yarn, it's toe-up or make heels and toes with a different color.

=tamar

I wanted to learn toe up because I had some beautiful hand-dyed yarn that I wanted to make into socks. After winding it into balls, the balls looked small and I worried about running out. Toe up lets me stop when the yarn runs out!

Alison PS not grafting the toe is also a plus, the toe I learned to make has no seam at all which is good for sensitive feet.

Interesting, Aaron. I still can't figure out how a knitting sheath would help you knit more quickly.

Higs, Kather> From art work, we know that knitting on 5 DPN was common by the year

But 85 stitches is not too much for three needles. The toques that I knit for winter have 96 stitches around. However, with knitting, as Mirjam reminds us, there is no right and wrong - just whatever works for you, right?

Higs, Katherine

I do the same things Tamar. Some time I do the top of the cuffs with a smaller needle, maybe the last inch or so.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

Great points Allison.

I usually do cuff down. I do like the toe up, it makes it possible to slip over my toes and try for length.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

There are three ways a knitting sheath helps me knit faster.

First, the spring of the needle does half of the knitting motion. I push the needle sideways, then as I release it, the needles springs back much faster then anybody's hand could pull it. So the knitting/purling motion is reduced to slightly flexing the needle, and allowing it to spring back. It is like push button knitting. Instead of spending time moving the needle, your right hand can spend more time controlling tension and moving stitches.

Second, the sheath stabilizes the work zone allowing the needle tips to stay in closer contact and to have smaller needle motions to form the stitches, this is a particular advantage as the stitches get smaller.

Third, It moves the effort of knitting to the upper arms. My hands and wrists do not get tired, so I can knit longer, and at a higher rate. After a long evening of knitting, it is my biceps that are tired, not my hands or wrists.

My first post to RCTY was, " How do I knit faster?" And, this group taught me to knit faster. Then I got a copy of G. Thompson's book on ganseys. I bought good cable needles and I was not able to consistently knit the tight, traditional gansey fabrics on cable needles. I still can not. It has taken my 3 years to tease out the rest of the story. I am still not what I would call a fast knitter. But, now I can knit the tight traditional gansey fabrics at a reasonable rate. I did 3,000 stitches last night at 8 spi and

Which is not to say that I have mastered the technology. Just as it took me a long time to learn to make knitting needle points that I really like, knitting sheath's have a sophisticated simplicity. For example, I am just leaning to take advantage of the belt loop placement in modern jeans.

You can make a knitting sheath and a set of long needles in a morning. I expect you can make the time back in your first 20,000 stitches because of faster knitting. Try it, you might like it.

I do not recommend long DPN were there are small kids around. They are just too likely to pop up next to you and get a needle in the eye. Cable needles are safer. Cable needles are safer. Cable needles are safer. Aaron

Well, those were pretty convincing arguments. I will have to have a look when I go to Halifax next week. I have a yarn store there which I visit. Can you buy knitting sheaths in stores?

Higs, Kather> There are three ways a knitting sheath helps me knit faster.

Ah, No. I have certainly never seen them for sale, and I have looked. But, Halifax would be the right place to look. Perhaps you could find one in an antique store, but you need matching needles. The sheath and needles form a system. For example the needles must fit snugly in the sheath. I have tried other kinds of needles, but what brings out all the virtues of the system is spring steel.

Anybody that is handy in a home workshop can make you one in a few hours. Although, I had to make many prototypes before I made something that I really liked. And, you either make it to fit existing needles, or you make the needles to fit also. Many of the steel needles made today are cast and plated. They are not as flexible and they are very slippery. Maybe in your neck of the woods you could fine an "Old Timer" whose wife or mother knit in the old days that could make it right the first time?

Maybe, I just have to send one of mine. If you do not find anything, send me a note direct.

Aaron