Thanks, Aaron.
Higs, Kather> Ah, No. I have certainly never seen them for sale, and I have
Whats your choice of needles for socks
Jul 09, 2006
84 Replies
Katherine, the traditional Shetland Isles knitting belts are available here.
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there is a picture of one here.http://www.moray.gov.uk/museums/homes/whisk.htm
Higs, Katherine
No, it is not the same thing, but it serves the same purpose. It supports the needles while you are knitting. The name and design of these tools appears to be of regional or national origin. Knitting belts and "sticks" were used by the knitters of the Shetland Isles These are sheaths and are very similar in design to the "knitting sticks" used by Shetlanders.
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Thanks, DA. So, if I get one, will I have to chance my style of knitting?
Higs, Katherine
Katherine,
If you find more than one I would like to know also.
Aaron has me interested.
Aaron could you send me a picture or a plan, Please.
Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail
Katherine,
Please let me know what you do. As I said, Aaron has me interested. Maybe I will try to make one.
Higs,
Dennis
Hello Mirjam, I always enjoy hearing from you.
Yes, I think the biggest advantage 5 DPs would be not pulling on the corners. Maybe handling more yarn. How is the home site going.
Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail
Don't worry! If I try it, you will all hear about it!
Higs, Katherine
Yes, unless you are accustomed holding your non-working needle (the needle from which you are knitting) firmly clamped to your side. Here are a couple of pictures of knitting sticks in use.
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is also some interesting tidbits on the history of knitting in the Yorkshire Dales at the site.DA
Higs, Katherine
You are welcome. DA
A plan? I am still looking for some help here guys!! I am still working this out. I have pictures (eg
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) but I have neveractually touched and felt a knitting sheath that I know was made by someoneexperienced in making knitting sheaths and used by a knitter that wasexperienced in using a knitting sheath. Looking at the ksticks on Daelnet,I do not see any particular wear-marks, which tells me that those itemswere more likely mementos and keepsakes than *working* knitting sheaths. Iam beginning to think that many of the knitting sheaths were made asprojects in vocational school shops. That is: a good generic design, withreasonable craftsmanship, but not the customized tool of a serious knitter.So far, I have made a dozen prototypes for myself. I have learned that a knitting sheath is like a pair of shoes, it must fit the person and the activity. You do not wear your hiking boots to the opera, and you do not wear your best dress shoes to climb a mountain. If you wear size 6 shoes, your are going to be uncomfortable dancing in your husband's size 10 dancing shoes. It is like knitting needles, some needles work for a particular project, other needles do not. I think this two phased customization did not fit with mass production and was one reason that knitting sheaths went out of style. There were no longer local craftsmen that could make a knitter, a knitting sheath that fit that knitter in all respects and mass production did not customize. (Other reasons for the decline might be central heating and a decreased demand for the tight, warm knit fabrics, a distain for hand made items, and increased availability of off the rack warm wear.)
I like the Daelnet patterns. Turned one way, they work slipped into apron strings. Turned the other way they work when slipped into a heavy leather belt. Sort of an all purpose athletic shoe, if you will. Made in lengths of about 6," they work for 11" -1.5 mm needles. Made in lengths of about
8", they seem to work for the more robust 16" US # 1 needles for a real gansey. If I were making one dedicated to socks or gloves, I would leave the "goose wing" section about 4 or 5 inches long and I would make a longer "neck" to support shorter needles into my preferred work area. The proportions would be adjusted to get the needle tip into my preferred work area depending on where and what kind of belt or apron I wear and what my usual knitting position is.For example, I usually knit in the evening while my wife my wife watches DVDs. My wife an I have matching recliners there in front of the TV. However, since I have been knitting with long steel needles (last 9 months) more and more, I now tend to move my recliner into the corner and knit in straight-back, folding chair. Some of my knitting sheath prototypes work with both knitting positions, some do not. In another example, the I had a brilliant idea to have the sheath hook onto the belt loop sewn at the side seam. I made a pair of those (one each for 1.5 & 1.25 mm, and was so proud of myself. Then, I threw those shorts in the wash and realized that they were the only pants I own with a strong belt loop at that position. Nevertheless, that sheath is in my belt right now, and worked well enough on the tubular swatch that I did this morning on 5- 9" - 1.5 mm needles, that I would feel confident planning a serious sock project with it. Without hooking in to a belt loop it is not perfect, however it does provide enough stability to really tame the "spidery' aspect of those long needles. That makes knitting faster and easier. It is better than no sheath at all.
Some time soon, I will write all the detail of knitting sheaths into my blog and post a note here. Heck I, might break with tradition and provide pictures.
Aaron
"SpikeDriver" wrote in message news:MF%sg.638$g snipped-for-privacy@fe04.lga...
A picture of your own knitting sheath? That would be great! But I don't know if everybody would be able to see it here. I would.
Higs, Kather> A plan?
Very likely. With either the belt or the sheath, the yarn is handled with the right hand.
The belts tend to be used with shorter, stiffer needles - mostly, I have seen them used with aluminum needles. A leather knitting belt is not as durable when used with quite long needles, and does not hold fine needles as firmly. However, it does offer more variety of positions.
Both technologies claim knitters that can exceed 200 stitches per minute.
Another traditi> >>> Katherine, the traditional Shetland Isles knitting belts are > >>> available here.
Still thinking.
Higs, Kather> Very likely. With either the belt or the sheath, the yarn is handled
Aaron,
I know I was asking for a lot. I have no idea where to start with a sheath, as I have never seen our used one. I will try to get acquainted with one and see if I can help.
I would appreciate a picture of yours.
I promise, I will try to help. Maybe we can get something going here.
I am tied to a walker so my mobility is kind limited. I will give it my best Aaron.
Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail
Same here Katherine, I will also keep you in touch. Right now I do not know where to start.
Higs & God bless, Dennis & Gail
Aaron,
I have a knitting machine but, you have caught my curiosity with the knitting sheath. I just don't know where to start.
Maybe you have started something here.
Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail
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