Summer will officially start at the end of this week. Summer started unofficially in May with Memorial Day. This past month has been hot, warm, cool, sunny, cloudy and rainy. The weather might be confusing but my knitting and crochet projects aren't.
I'm working on the Tunisian crochet table cover, the knit phone cover, the jersey pillow (the yarn reminds me of my husband's old comfortable t shirts), and the crocodile stitch stole I designed for class. So far, the table cover is good. The phone cover is too big. I need to reduce my needle size, probably by 2 sizes. The jersey pillow is soft and smooth. The stole is fuzzy. I started this with Paton's Lace in Aran color. The fuzzy yarn doesn't work well with black or navy colored clothes. It sheds a bit. It could be my dogs but I don't think so since they are short haired and this is long and lightly kinked. I'm looking forward to this being done since I intended it for summer for those times when I go to dinner and am seating right in the blast zone of the AC or the store I go to is frigid (grocery store frozen foods aisle I'm looking at you).
Make a note these are smaller projects. I will also be starting work on the kids weaving class projects with the weaving sticks soon, also small projects. What will I do when these are done? I plan to work on other small projects. I will also be working on my church's festival for 2 weeks in July. I won't be teaching those weeks or really be in touch with things. I won't even be knitting or crocheting. I know it's hard to believe but I work shortened hours at my day job, long hours at the festival and by the time I get home and showered, I'm too tired.
I know I will be working on Warm Up America blocks. I keep yarn and hooks/needles stashed in both vehicles for the down times as well as scratch paper for notes. I will be working on new stitch patterns good for this effort. I don't know about you all but I get bored with garter, seed, stockinette, single crochet, double crochet and the like. I need a little pattern to liven my work up. I might have a post stitch design or a shell pattern. It all depends on what hits me in the off moment and what I see when I look out the window to inspire me.
Aside from all this fun and excitement, I look forward to seeing family and friends for cookouts and picnics, the fireworks for the 4th, fresh fruit from our trees and bushes. Our strawberry patch has already produced a pint or so. I know there are car shows and carnivals coming up as well.
What kind of fiber fun are you looking forward to?
Showing posts with label hooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hooks. Show all posts
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Needle and Hook Storage Issue
I'm working my way through a small dilemma. I have needles and hooks for my knitting and crocheting. I have collected them through my years of stitching. I have a lot, not as many as some people, but more than most I suspect.
I have multitudes of knitting needles in 14 inch length. I have at least 2 pairs in 10 inch length. I have way more circulars than I know what to do with in my house. (I may use them to teach at a local school, but that is another time.) I have at least 2 sets of each size double points in 7 inch lengths. I have several oddball lengths of double points. I have 4 cases (if you have ever seen a yarn catalog, you know the thing I mean. If not, click here.) of crochet hooks. They all have aluminum and plastic yarn hooks filled to overflowing. Only 2 have the smaller steel hooks.
This list doesn't even begin to cover the needles and hooks that are in projects that are being worked on, taking a break, hibernating or waiting for frogging. This list also doesn't take into account the needles that have been loaned out to someone who needed something while I was out and about. I also have some in my purse and vehicles for "emergencies". You never know when these might come in handy.
Currently they live in a their assorted cases or not in a cardboard box under my bed. It's a sad thing. In talking with another woman at my knitting guild, I learned that she kept her needles and hooks and notions in a vanity or train case that she found while visiting antique shops and thrift stores. (See her blog here) This is just right for the long 14 inchers and all the rest. Thinking this is a great idea and a good way to utilize something I might already have, I checked my luggage. No such luck.
I then began my hunt through local thrift stores and Michaels for an alternative. Michaels has some really nice paper boxes (see these as an example of some scrap booking paper storage boxes) but they are not large enough for my intention. I have been to every thrift store in my town and the antique market (think indoor flea market with antique prices) looking for something. I could kick myself to bypassing a nice wicker picnic basket a few days before this conversation. I even carried it around with me for a while, put it down and repeated several times before a final lay down. This would have been perfect for my loom knitting stuff to be kept together.
I will keep an eye out. I will try to go to yard sales and the flea market a little more often to see what I can find. If you have any ideas how to solve this quickly, let me know. I'm open to options.
I have multitudes of knitting needles in 14 inch length. I have at least 2 pairs in 10 inch length. I have way more circulars than I know what to do with in my house. (I may use them to teach at a local school, but that is another time.) I have at least 2 sets of each size double points in 7 inch lengths. I have several oddball lengths of double points. I have 4 cases (if you have ever seen a yarn catalog, you know the thing I mean. If not, click here.) of crochet hooks. They all have aluminum and plastic yarn hooks filled to overflowing. Only 2 have the smaller steel hooks.
This list doesn't even begin to cover the needles and hooks that are in projects that are being worked on, taking a break, hibernating or waiting for frogging. This list also doesn't take into account the needles that have been loaned out to someone who needed something while I was out and about. I also have some in my purse and vehicles for "emergencies". You never know when these might come in handy.
Currently they live in a their assorted cases or not in a cardboard box under my bed. It's a sad thing. In talking with another woman at my knitting guild, I learned that she kept her needles and hooks and notions in a vanity or train case that she found while visiting antique shops and thrift stores. (See her blog here) This is just right for the long 14 inchers and all the rest. Thinking this is a great idea and a good way to utilize something I might already have, I checked my luggage. No such luck.
I then began my hunt through local thrift stores and Michaels for an alternative. Michaels has some really nice paper boxes (see these as an example of some scrap booking paper storage boxes) but they are not large enough for my intention. I have been to every thrift store in my town and the antique market (think indoor flea market with antique prices) looking for something. I could kick myself to bypassing a nice wicker picnic basket a few days before this conversation. I even carried it around with me for a while, put it down and repeated several times before a final lay down. This would have been perfect for my loom knitting stuff to be kept together.
I will keep an eye out. I will try to go to yard sales and the flea market a little more often to see what I can find. If you have any ideas how to solve this quickly, let me know. I'm open to options.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Knitting Needles and Hooks Choices
I get asked often what type of needle or hook should I use for this. I thought I would explore this topic a bit more.
What are my options?
Aluminum hooks and needles have the benefit of being slippery. These are usually in sizes 2 - 15 US for knitting needles and B - K for crochet hooks. These sizes will get you through 95% of your knitting and crocheting. They are light in weight. They are anodized aluminum and each size is a different color. Drawbacks can be that they are slippery if you are very loose with your stitches. The aluminum doesn't warm up in most people's hands in winter and can burn if left in the sun in summer. Sizes for needles are on the stop button on the end that hold stitches on the needle. Sizes for hooks are on the grip or the end. All of these are part of the molding process. Knitting needles can be bend by being sat on, as can Tunisian crochet hooks. Aluminum needles have fairly pointy points. Aluminum hooks have points on the end of the hook to help go into tight stitches.
Plastic hooks and needles are less slippery than aluminum but more so than the other materials. Plastic hooks come in sizes D - S and can be all the same color or different colors. Plastic needles come in sizes 3 or 4 US up to 50. They can again be all the same color or different colors. A pair will be 2 of the same color. These are light in weight. They can break in smaller sizes from being sat on or held too tightly. Larger sizes are harder to break. Plastic warms up after being held for a while. Plastic needles have blunter tips than aluminum and get more so as the size goes up. Plastic hooks have blunter points on the end of the hook. Plastic is one of the more inexpensive materials and runs neck and neck with aluminum.
Bamboo needles are much more grippy than any of the other materials listed. I have not seen crochet hooks made of bamboo. My theory is that the throat can't be gotten smooth enough to prevent catching yarn fibers. I don't have this on anything other than my personal thoughts. They are polished but still grippy. They are warm to the touch and remain that way. They are hard to break unless very small such as US 1 - 4. Bamboo needles have very blunt tips compared to the other matierals. Like plastic they get more blunt as the size gets larger. Cost for this material is higher than plastic or aluminum but less than rosewood or steel.
Rosewood hooks and needles lightweight, warm to the touch, sharp points on both the hooks and needles. These are less grippy than bamboo but more so than plastic. In Michaels I have seen US 5 - 10 (or so) knitting needles and size G - K hooks. Smaller than this and they will be too fragile. Larger than this and they won't get used as much since the larger sizes are not as versatile for as many sizes of yarn. They are a luxury item. They are very nice to use. Cost is one of the downsides to this material. They make a very nice gift for the knitter or crocheter on your list.
Steel hooks and needles are the smallest in size. Steel hooks are usually used for thread crochet and are sized from 00 to 16. 00 is about the same size as about a D aluminum hook and is used for size 3 crochet thread. A 16 is very fine and is used for size 100 crochet thread; this is finer than sewing thread. Steel needles are sized US 2 down to 0000. Steel knitting needles are used for things done with very fine yarns like sock yarns or knitted doilys. US 2 steel needles are the same size as US 2 aluminum. 0000 is used for fine crochet threads. Steel is stronger than any of the above listed materials. They bend very rarely. They break even less. They are somewhere around plastic in the grippiness category.
For knitting needles you have the further option of short straights, long straights, circulars, and double point needles. Short straights are usually 10 inches in length. Long straights are 14 inches. Double points are usually 7 inches long. Circulars have a multitude of lengths available but are almost always 29 inches in the stores.
Short straights are nice for small projects. Short straights are not so good for close quarters like buses, theaters, planes. You run the risk of poking those beside you. Long straights are nice for larger projects. They have the same drawbacks as shorts. They also have the issue of weight once you get some fabric on them. The long needles allow most of the weight to hang on the ends of large projects and for people with weak wrists or repetitive stress injuries, this can make knitting almost impossible.
Circular needles are versatile. You can knit back and forth on flat projects like straights or you can knit in the round. You can use them for small projects. You can use them for large projects. You can use them for really really large projects. The weight of the bigger stuff hangs on the cable between the needle tips and can lay in your lap. This is a plus for cold weather knitting. This is not so good for summer knitting. Circulars can be one piece or interchangeable. One piece circulars are just that, both needle tips are the same size (whatever that might be) and permanently connected to the cable which is also going to remain the same length.
Interchangeable circulars have needle tips that detach from the cable. Sets of interchangeable needles usually are sized from US 2 to US 15. Cable lengths come in 16 inches up to 24 inches. Some screw together. Some click together. This all depends on the manufacturer. I can speak from experience on the screw together interchangeable needles being able to link the cables together to make extremely long cables. Circular needles whether interchangeable or not have the added benefit of being able to be used in close quarters.
Double Point Needles are short, straight needles with a point on each end. Some antique dpns are very long and were used for sweaters. Today their short length makes them ideal for sleeves and socks, the tops of hats and other very small circular projects. These are used in 4 or 5 needle sets. 3 or 4 are holding stitches and the last one is used to do the work. A lot of people are afraid of the thought of dpns. No need for this. You are only working with 2 needles at a time. The others are just hanging out waiting for their turn.
What are my options?
- aluminum
- plastic
- bamboo
- rosewood
- steel
Aluminum hooks and needles have the benefit of being slippery. These are usually in sizes 2 - 15 US for knitting needles and B - K for crochet hooks. These sizes will get you through 95% of your knitting and crocheting. They are light in weight. They are anodized aluminum and each size is a different color. Drawbacks can be that they are slippery if you are very loose with your stitches. The aluminum doesn't warm up in most people's hands in winter and can burn if left in the sun in summer. Sizes for needles are on the stop button on the end that hold stitches on the needle. Sizes for hooks are on the grip or the end. All of these are part of the molding process. Knitting needles can be bend by being sat on, as can Tunisian crochet hooks. Aluminum needles have fairly pointy points. Aluminum hooks have points on the end of the hook to help go into tight stitches.
 |
| aluminum needles in various sizes 14 inch length |
Plastic hooks and needles are less slippery than aluminum but more so than the other materials. Plastic hooks come in sizes D - S and can be all the same color or different colors. Plastic needles come in sizes 3 or 4 US up to 50. They can again be all the same color or different colors. A pair will be 2 of the same color. These are light in weight. They can break in smaller sizes from being sat on or held too tightly. Larger sizes are harder to break. Plastic warms up after being held for a while. Plastic needles have blunter tips than aluminum and get more so as the size goes up. Plastic hooks have blunter points on the end of the hook. Plastic is one of the more inexpensive materials and runs neck and neck with aluminum.
 |
| Plastic knitting needles various sizes and lengths. Some are in use and therefore missing. |
Bamboo needles are much more grippy than any of the other materials listed. I have not seen crochet hooks made of bamboo. My theory is that the throat can't be gotten smooth enough to prevent catching yarn fibers. I don't have this on anything other than my personal thoughts. They are polished but still grippy. They are warm to the touch and remain that way. They are hard to break unless very small such as US 1 - 4. Bamboo needles have very blunt tips compared to the other matierals. Like plastic they get more blunt as the size gets larger. Cost for this material is higher than plastic or aluminum but less than rosewood or steel.
 |
| Steel Knitting needles. Not found in most stores these days. |
 |
| Circular Knitting needles Left: aluminum tips, soft plastic cable; Top Right: Plastic tips and cable is same plastic; Bottom Right: Bamboo tips, soft plastic cable Lengths vary as do the tips |
Steel hooks and needles are the smallest in size. Steel hooks are usually used for thread crochet and are sized from 00 to 16. 00 is about the same size as about a D aluminum hook and is used for size 3 crochet thread. A 16 is very fine and is used for size 100 crochet thread; this is finer than sewing thread. Steel needles are sized US 2 down to 0000. Steel knitting needles are used for things done with very fine yarns like sock yarns or knitted doilys. US 2 steel needles are the same size as US 2 aluminum. 0000 is used for fine crochet threads. Steel is stronger than any of the above listed materials. They bend very rarely. They break even less. They are somewhere around plastic in the grippiness category.
For knitting needles you have the further option of short straights, long straights, circulars, and double point needles. Short straights are usually 10 inches in length. Long straights are 14 inches. Double points are usually 7 inches long. Circulars have a multitude of lengths available but are almost always 29 inches in the stores.
Short straights are nice for small projects. Short straights are not so good for close quarters like buses, theaters, planes. You run the risk of poking those beside you. Long straights are nice for larger projects. They have the same drawbacks as shorts. They also have the issue of weight once you get some fabric on them. The long needles allow most of the weight to hang on the ends of large projects and for people with weak wrists or repetitive stress injuries, this can make knitting almost impossible.
Circular needles are versatile. You can knit back and forth on flat projects like straights or you can knit in the round. You can use them for small projects. You can use them for large projects. You can use them for really really large projects. The weight of the bigger stuff hangs on the cable between the needle tips and can lay in your lap. This is a plus for cold weather knitting. This is not so good for summer knitting. Circulars can be one piece or interchangeable. One piece circulars are just that, both needle tips are the same size (whatever that might be) and permanently connected to the cable which is also going to remain the same length.
Interchangeable circulars have needle tips that detach from the cable. Sets of interchangeable needles usually are sized from US 2 to US 15. Cable lengths come in 16 inches up to 24 inches. Some screw together. Some click together. This all depends on the manufacturer. I can speak from experience on the screw together interchangeable needles being able to link the cables together to make extremely long cables. Circular needles whether interchangeable or not have the added benefit of being able to be used in close quarters.
Double Point Needles are short, straight needles with a point on each end. Some antique dpns are very long and were used for sweaters. Today their short length makes them ideal for sleeves and socks, the tops of hats and other very small circular projects. These are used in 4 or 5 needle sets. 3 or 4 are holding stitches and the last one is used to do the work. A lot of people are afraid of the thought of dpns. No need for this. You are only working with 2 needles at a time. The others are just hanging out waiting for their turn.
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