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Wood vs. metal needles
I have a question about knitting needles. Do you favor any particular type of wooden needle? I love the way wood needles feel, but I feel I can knit a lot faster on metal needles. I think the yarn just doesn't slide off my wood needles as easily. Has anyone tried rosewood or birch needles? They are expensive, but I wouldn't mind if they were worth it.
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(post #29364, reply #1 of 121)
I found that new wood needles are slower than the ones I have worked with for a while until they have been conditioned by the oils on my hands. Have you tried running your wooden needles through your hair to condition them? I find that once they are polished they do speed up a fair bit. Cathy
(post #29364, reply #4 of 121)
We hadn't thought of that. We do that with diaper pins. Thanks for the tip.
Chris
(post #29364, reply #7 of 121)
It was my grandmother who taught me that. I am lucky enough to have her old ones, well worn and conditioned. I do not know what they are made of, but they are worn very smooth and slippery. Cathy
(post #29364, reply #2 of 121)
I find bamboo a nice compromise between metal and wood--slicker than wood, but warmer and more flexible than metal. I especially like them in DPNs because they aren't quite as slick as say, my Addi Turbo circulars. I agree that has they get used, the yarn does slide more easily.
Annie in Wisconsin, USA
~~Doodlestein Designs Quilt Patterns
~~Finely Finished: Machine quilting worked on a treadle sewing machine.
See patterns, quilting, and National sewing machines at: http://community.webshots.com/user/damascusannie
(post #29364, reply #3 of 121)
I don't knit, I crochet. But my dd, who does knit, says the same thing. But she has only tried bamboo needles. They have very blunt points. She has had good results knitting with wool yarn on the bamboo needles but still prefers the metal needles. I gave her some old steel needles that were my grandmother's and she loves those, especially with yarn that has a tendency to split. They have stiletto points on them.
Chris
(post #29364, reply #6 of 121)
Some of the larger bamboo needles do tend to have kind of blunt points but that can be fixed with a little handheld pencil sharpener and some sandpaper. You just give the points a twist or two (go slowly, you don't want to make them too sharp!) and then sand them smooth. I like to use about 400 grit for the first sanding and then use 600 if they seem a bit dull. You can polish them with a nail buffing block if they still seem a bit rough.
Annie in Wisconsin, USA
~~Doodlestein Designs Quilt Patterns
~~Finely Finished: Machine quilting worked on a treadle sewing machine.
See patterns, quilting, and National sewing machines at: http://community.webshots.com/user/damascusannie
(post #29364, reply #9 of 121)
Thanks for this good tip Annie. I use my wooden needles to hold stitches on large projects. Have you seen or read about the wonderful knitted carpets done by the Guildsmen as part of the requirements to become a Master Knitter? It seems they were worked on some kind of frame, or a series of needles. I do this when knitting a large blanket or afghan - it's much easier to spread the work out this way.
Katina
(post #29364, reply #12 of 121)
No, I haven't. I wonder if they used a frame like the knitting boards that are being used quilt a bit these days.
http://www.knittingboard.com/articles.asp?id=156
Annie in Wisconsin, USA
~~Doodlestein Designs Quilt Patterns
~~Finely Finished: Machine quilting worked on a treadle sewing machine.
See patterns, quilting, and National sewing machines at: http://community.webshots.com/user/damascusannie
(post #29364, reply #13 of 121)
Thanks for the link, Annie. It could be they used something like this, but I also read somewhere that it's possible they were knitted on a series of long double-points. I've seen some of these carpets in museums - they boggle the brain!
Katina
Edited to add:
Annie, from what I remember of these, they were single bed knitting, that is, done in stocking stitch. The board you linked to is double bed. If frames were used, my guess is some kind of long board with a row of nails. The stitches would then be looped off like you do when knitting on a cotton reel. This would be very laborious, but has the advantage of making the colourwork so much easier. I assume then that rows could be started from either the left or the right side of the work, and that the right side of the work would always be facing the knitter.
Edited 10/19/2008 11:38 am ET by Katina
(post #29364, reply #14 of 121)
I once knitted a HUGE shawl on two circular needles held end to end, so I can see how rugs could be knitted on a series of DPNs. Interesting idea and a much better way to handle the problem than one tremendously long needle.
Annie in Wisconsin, USA
~~Doodlestein Designs Quilt Patterns
~~Finely Finished: Machine quilting worked on a treadle sewing machine.
See patterns, quilting, and National sewing machines at: http://community.webshots.com/user/damascusannie
(post #29364, reply #15 of 121)
Our posts just crossed. Yes, I knit shawls like this, sometimes using 3 needles. I much prefer knitting long rows - gets it done quicker, particularly when working with several colours as you have fewer ends to deal with.
I'm going to see if I can find pictures I took in Germany of one of these carpets.
Katina
(post #29364, reply #16 of 121)
I found the pictures. Here's one of the whole carpet - it's not too bad of a snapshot, considering space and lighting.
Katina
(post #29364, reply #17 of 121)
WOW!!!
Annie in Wisconsin, USA
~~Doodlestein Designs Quilt Patterns
~~Finely Finished: Machine quilting worked on a treadle sewing machine.
See patterns, quilting, and National sewing machines at: http://community.webshots.com/user/damascusannie
(post #29364, reply #18 of 121)
Yes, absolutely fantastic. The name plate says made in 1749.
(post #29364, reply #19 of 121)
Master knitter is right. That is truly a work of art, and stunningly beautiful. Thank you for sharing the photo. Cathy
(post #29364, reply #20 of 121)
Hi Cathy
I'm going to try to post another pic - this one a close up. That way you can see the knitted stitches very clearly.
Katina
(post #29364, reply #21 of 121)
Ok, so how did you know that I would have loved that? Never mind, thank you thank you thank you! That is one of the most amazing things! Cathy
(post #29364, reply #22 of 121)
It's easy to recognize another enthusiast - I knew you'd like to see more detail.
I know the experts surmise these were done on frames, but somehow I think they were indeed done on a series of double points - wouldn't the stitches have been much more regular if worked on a peg frame?
Katina
(post #29364, reply #23 of 121)
I agree, the varying tensions in the different blocks of colours, indicate to me that needles were used. It would have been easier to keep an even tension and even rows on a board. I have knit a fair amount of fair isle and block knitting (pardon the pun) and it can be hard to keep the tension even when using so many strands and blocks. On a board with pins, the strands would have lain looser on the back, they would not have been carried by the hands, and the tension would have been not as tight in some areas.
Most fair isle or block knitting uses only 3 colours in a row. Some of the rows in that pattern use far more than that. I have knit a pattern that used 5 colours, and it was tough to keep the tension even with that many strands, as it is quite bulky from the back, even with blocked colours. It looks to be a combination of both, stranding and block. And the handspun yarns used are not as even as we knit with today. I am truly impressed. Cathy
(post #29364, reply #24 of 121)
Thanks for the input, Cathy. I wasn't expecting to see such a piece when we visited the museum; it was tucked into a corner so was not very prominent. I gasped out loud when I saw it and got some very strange looks!
Katina
(post #29364, reply #25 of 121)
Tee hee, reminds me of when I went to the Art Gallery in Ottawa with my brother. He is a cabinet maker. He actually crawled under one of the pieces of furniture on display there to see how it was made. The guards were mortified! They could not understand what he was doing! He had to explain that furniture was like a sculpture, and had to be seen from all angles, and he was not touching it. It was not roped off or anything.
Art comes in all forms, and when you have an appreciation for a particular form, you are going to react! There are just very few who understand the technical aspects of textile art. When you see an old piece like that, you can't help but get excited. I would have spent hours looking at it, and my family would have had to drag me out of there, protesting! tee hee Cathy
(post #29364, reply #26 of 121)
Ah, you're a kindred spirit.....
Katina
(post #29364, reply #27 of 121)
Beautiful.
Rodezzy, Fiber Artist
Rodezzy, Fiber Artist
(post #29364, reply #28 of 121)
That is incredible! Thanks for sharing! I'm not a knitter, but certainly appreciate the artists' creation! Mary
(post #29364, reply #29 of 121)
To be admitted as an apprentice to a knitting guild in the 18th century, the applicant had to complete a number of pieces with 13 weeks. A carpet, gloves, stockings and various other items were required in this period. Ye gods! The guilds were open only to men, interestingly enough.
Katina
(post #29364, reply #30 of 121)
All that to become an apprentice? Wow! They must have become incredible artisans. "We've come a long way, baby," as women. It's a shame so many artforms have been lost through the centuries. Mary
(post #29364, reply #31 of 121)
It would take me that long only to graph out a VERY simplified version of that carpet, and as for even attempting to knit it....! Some of the motifs were doubtless available in the workshops as I've seen other such pieces with very similar bird and flower designs.
Katina
(post #29364, reply #32 of 121)
It seems almost like magic, that it could be accomplished at all, let alone in the time alotted. Mary
(post #29364, reply #33 of 121)
Well, with out cable TV, cars and a full time job, you had plenty of time to work. giggle. But they did have to go through a lot to get dinner on the table.
Hey ladies, speaking of knitting and crocheting. I've made two shawls and two ponchos over the last three weeks. Will send pictures as soon as I get settled back into my routine here.
Rodezzy, Fiber Artist
Rodezzy, Fiber Artist
(post #29364, reply #34 of 121)
I hope they will be warm and cozy now that the weather is getting so chilly. Today is below 60 and foggy and we may have rain turning to snow by tonight. brrrrrrrrr I know it's coming, but am never prepared it seems. Glad that you are! Can't wait to see the photos. Blessings to you! Mary