Score: Addis 1, me 0
They look so benign, lying there with the stitches of my sock upon them. Don't be fooled, these needles are evil. For the record, you are looking at my rosewood toe-up sock in progress, now placed on a 40" circular Addi Turbo needle for finishing the leg by the magic loop technique. I bought these expensive needles specifically because everyone raves about how flexible the cable is (NOT!) and how great they are for doing the magic loop or circular knitting on 2 needles, or other like techniques. I agree, the join to the cable is very smooth and the pins are too. But the cables -! They whip around, smacking me in the face, snaking around my wrists, and when I'm not looking, get tangled in the yarn. DH watched me beat them into submission and remarked that they must be super-coiled, you know, like DNA is wound up so it fits inside cells. No, I replied, that's not it, it's that the cables can think and right now they think they don't want to work.
There must be a better way to deal with the needles; if you know it, please tell me?
9 comments:
I tried Magic Loop and abandoned it for 2 circs. Regardless of the manufacturer, they are all to short to smack me in the face, although I did have a close call with my late HiyaHiyas.
And as for doilies, there's exactly one piece of furniture in the house--a coffee table--everything else is built-in or just plain not there. We have no lamps, end tables, credenzas, buffets, or anything like that. But thanks for the concept!
This sentence should be printed in really small type:
I hate Addi Turbos. The cords aren't wonderful and the tips are blunt. Some of mine don't even have good joins and they are really really awful for lace. Of course, the Addi Police will be after me real soon, so if you don't hear from me agai
Sorry - I use DPNs for socks - but just wanted to say nice yarn - the socks are going to be very pretty! Good luck wrestling the cable...
Hi,
It was addis or nothing for 40 inchers at my LYS. Fleegle, please reply with anything if you are around (LOL)! I have Cat Bordhi's book on the 2 circ method, but decided to try the cheaper method first. Jeanne, I may also try a set of dpns, now that I've sort of mastered magic loop, and thanks for the complement.
Let me know if you need help with the Japanese patterns. I am not fluent by any means, but I can sort of suss out most of it.
Fleegle, you are on and thank you (or should I say domo arigato?).
I, too, had the same problem with my Addis. I did all the recommended fixes to no avail and finally came up with what you might think is an odd fix...but it works.
I'm a beader so I have a number of crystal and gemstone donuts. These can be purchased at any rock or bead shop. I just slipped one (or two for the more recalcitrant cords) over the needle to hang off the cord. It's a bit fiddly because when you get to the end of a row you have to slip it off one needle onto the other...but it tames the cord and doesn't add enough extra weight to be a bother...and beats fighting the cord all the time.
Addendum: the *fiddly* part of having to slip the donut from one needle to another at the end of a row is only when knitting Magic Loop. During all other knitting, the donut just hangs nicely in place not needing a transfer.
Yvonee, I'm a beader too and that is a GREAT idea. Wonder if 2 donuts, 1 for each loop would work. The hot water bath I stuck the addis in tamed them a lot, will round up a couple of donuts too.
Yes, when I do Magic Loop, I use 2 donuts, one for each loop, but because you pull the one loop to begin knitting on the next row, you HAVE TO transfer the donut to the other needle. You get in a rhythm, though, and it is well worth not having to wrassle with the cord. Try it! I'll be watching to see how it works for you.
Post a Comment