Why are there so many different lengths of circular needles, and when do I use each one?
Circular needles are wonderful tools for knitting. Many people use only circular needles to knit all of their projects, even those projects that aren’t knit in a circle! Circular needles come in lengths from 9 inches long to over 60 inches long.
Usually your knitting pattern will tell you which length of needle to use with each project, but sometimes you are left to figure it out on your own. It is also hard to know which length to use if you are knitting a flat object on your circular needles. The length is based on how many stitches you are going to cast on for a particular project. Different manufactures of needles use different lengths, but if you give and inch or two using the guidelines spelled out below, you will be right on track.
Nine inch needles, such as the Hiya Hiya needles (which only come in US 0-3 in the 9” length), are a new way to knit garments such as socks and gloves. The next length is usually 12 inches which is a good length for a baby or child garment. Following 12 inches is a 16 inch which is usable for a hat, neckline, sleeve, or just for knitting a flat garment that has 30 or less stitches such as a scarf.
The next sizes such at 24 inch, 32 inch, and 47 inch are often used for knitting garments, afghans and other larger projects either flat or in the round. Circular needles with a cable that is more than 60 inches are especially great for an afghan project.
As was discussed last week, there are so many different knitting needles out there and if you haven’t tried knitting either circularly maybe start with an easy hat project or if you have never knit a flat project with circular needles, pick up a pair and cast on! You will be amazed at your results.
Happy Knitting!
Showing posts with label Question of the week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Question of the week. Show all posts
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Question of the Week
Question of the Week 9-9-08
What makes one type of knitting needle different from the other and why are there so many sizes?
This is a two part question that we will be answering in the next two weeks. This week we will discuss the different types of needles and what’s best to use with what fiber.
Knitting needles are made from many different kinds of wood, metal, plastic, glass and even resin. Using the right tool can make your knitting experience even better. Many people started knitting using aluminum or plastic knitting needles and graduated to bamboo and nickel plated brass. Aluminum needles are fine and usually inexpensive but can easily be bent and can have tips that erode over time. Plastic needles are also inexpensive but can have seems that are rough on the hands where the plastic was molded into shape.
Many knitters prefer to knit with wooden needles because they warm up in your hands as you knit. Many knitters choose to only knit with wood needles and wood needles are especially good to use if you are knitting with slippery fibers such as bamboo, silk, or chenille. We carry Addi Natura Bamboo circular needles, Brittany Birch straight needles, the aptly named Darn Pretty needles which are made from Vermont Hardwood and Destiny Circular needles beautifully made from Rosewood.
Some knitters prefer to knit with metal needles such as the Addi Turbo which is a brass plated nickel, and the new to Cultured Purls Hiya Hiya steel needles. Knitters like these metal needles because they are faster to knit with than bamboo or wood due to their slick surface. When you are knitting with 100% wool or a tweed yarn, sometimes the yarn fibers can sick together and metal needles help the knitting to move smoothly. If you like knitting with metal needles you should come in a check out the Hiya Hiya needles because they have a great price point and even come in 9” lengths in a US 0-3 for sock knitting.
Next week’s Question of the Week will highlight why different needle lengths are important for different projects.
What makes one type of knitting needle different from the other and why are there so many sizes?
This is a two part question that we will be answering in the next two weeks. This week we will discuss the different types of needles and what’s best to use with what fiber.
Knitting needles are made from many different kinds of wood, metal, plastic, glass and even resin. Using the right tool can make your knitting experience even better. Many people started knitting using aluminum or plastic knitting needles and graduated to bamboo and nickel plated brass. Aluminum needles are fine and usually inexpensive but can easily be bent and can have tips that erode over time. Plastic needles are also inexpensive but can have seems that are rough on the hands where the plastic was molded into shape.
Many knitters prefer to knit with wooden needles because they warm up in your hands as you knit. Many knitters choose to only knit with wood needles and wood needles are especially good to use if you are knitting with slippery fibers such as bamboo, silk, or chenille. We carry Addi Natura Bamboo circular needles, Brittany Birch straight needles, the aptly named Darn Pretty needles which are made from Vermont Hardwood and Destiny Circular needles beautifully made from Rosewood.
Some knitters prefer to knit with metal needles such as the Addi Turbo which is a brass plated nickel, and the new to Cultured Purls Hiya Hiya steel needles. Knitters like these metal needles because they are faster to knit with than bamboo or wood due to their slick surface. When you are knitting with 100% wool or a tweed yarn, sometimes the yarn fibers can sick together and metal needles help the knitting to move smoothly. If you like knitting with metal needles you should come in a check out the Hiya Hiya needles because they have a great price point and even come in 9” lengths in a US 0-3 for sock knitting.
Next week’s Question of the Week will highlight why different needle lengths are important for different projects.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Question of the Week 6/12/08
Questions of the Week
6/12/08
What is superwash wool and what makes it different from regular wool?
Superwash wool is great to use if you like using natural fiber but don’t want to hand-wash the knitting object once it’s finished. Superwash is great for baby garments, as busy new parents don’t often have time for hand-washing and laying flat. Many people love superwash wool because they have inadvertently felted or shrunk their knits in the past.
To make a wool yarn superwash wool yarn, the yarn is dipped in an acid bath or coated with a polymer to make the tiny scales on the fiber come off so the fibers won’t wrap around each other and felt.
Many companies have superwash wool in their lines and we carry many different weights and colors of yarn. Come by the store and let us show off some of our superwash wools!
6/12/08
What is superwash wool and what makes it different from regular wool?
Superwash wool is great to use if you like using natural fiber but don’t want to hand-wash the knitting object once it’s finished. Superwash is great for baby garments, as busy new parents don’t often have time for hand-washing and laying flat. Many people love superwash wool because they have inadvertently felted or shrunk their knits in the past.
To make a wool yarn superwash wool yarn, the yarn is dipped in an acid bath or coated with a polymer to make the tiny scales on the fiber come off so the fibers won’t wrap around each other and felt.
Many companies have superwash wool in their lines and we carry many different weights and colors of yarn. Come by the store and let us show off some of our superwash wools!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Question of the Week 6-12-08
Question of the Week
6/12/08
What is superwash wool and what makes it different from regular wool?
Superwash wool is great to use if you like using natural fiber but don’t want to hand-wash the knitting object once it’s finished. Superwash is great for baby garments, as busy new parents don’t often have time for hand-washing and laying flat. Many people love superwash wool because they have inadvertently felted or shrunk their knits in the past.
To make a wool yarn superwash wool yarn, the yarn is dipped in an acid bath or coated with a polymer to make the tiny scales on the fiber come off so the fibers won’t wrap around each other and felt.
Many companies have superwash wool in their lines and we carry many different weights and colors of yarn. Come by the store and let us show off some of our superwash wools!
6/12/08
What is superwash wool and what makes it different from regular wool?
Superwash wool is great to use if you like using natural fiber but don’t want to hand-wash the knitting object once it’s finished. Superwash is great for baby garments, as busy new parents don’t often have time for hand-washing and laying flat. Many people love superwash wool because they have inadvertently felted or shrunk their knits in the past.
To make a wool yarn superwash wool yarn, the yarn is dipped in an acid bath or coated with a polymer to make the tiny scales on the fiber come off so the fibers won’t wrap around each other and felt.
Many companies have superwash wool in their lines and we carry many different weights and colors of yarn. Come by the store and let us show off some of our superwash wools!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Question of the Week 5-22-08
Question of the Week for May 22nd 2008
Let’s continue with our discussion of last week’s question:
“There are so many fibers like wool, cotton, and even bamboo as well as blends of fibers available in yarn, how do I choose the right one for my project?”
Last week we discussed bamboo fiber. This week we will discuss cotton yarn. Cotton fibers have been used in garments for many years and cotton yarns have a wide variety of manufacturers as well as uses.
Cotton yarn is great to use for summer and winter projects, especially if the wearer tends to run warm. A worsted or bulky weight cotton sweater will make a garment that will keep you warm in the spring and fall as well as cool summer nights, and a light worsted, DK, or sport weight yarn can make a garment that is perfect for keeping cool in the summer months. Another plus of cotton is it’s easy to care for; usually you can wash and dry it making it ideal for child and baby garments. Cotton is very absorbent and is perfect for making washcloths, bathmats and baby bibs. Cottons are also great for those who have wool sensitivities or allergies
Cotton’s cons: as we’ve said before, all fibers have their cons. Cotton can be inelastic to knit with and can show an imperfection in one’s knitting. Knitted cotton garments have been known to stretch so it’s important to keep that in mind when choosing a pattern. It’s a very good idea to wash your swatch when using a cotton yarn for a garment so you can see what’s going to happen. To lessen these “cons” consider a yarn that has a blend of fibers, manufacturers have been spinning cotton and other fibers together to make fabulous yarns. A great example is a 50% cotton 50% wool mix. The wool will keep the cotton from stretching and the cotton will help keep you from overheating!
Come on into the store so we can show you all of our cotton and cotton blend yarns!
See you soon!
Let’s continue with our discussion of last week’s question:
“There are so many fibers like wool, cotton, and even bamboo as well as blends of fibers available in yarn, how do I choose the right one for my project?”
Last week we discussed bamboo fiber. This week we will discuss cotton yarn. Cotton fibers have been used in garments for many years and cotton yarns have a wide variety of manufacturers as well as uses.
Cotton yarn is great to use for summer and winter projects, especially if the wearer tends to run warm. A worsted or bulky weight cotton sweater will make a garment that will keep you warm in the spring and fall as well as cool summer nights, and a light worsted, DK, or sport weight yarn can make a garment that is perfect for keeping cool in the summer months. Another plus of cotton is it’s easy to care for; usually you can wash and dry it making it ideal for child and baby garments. Cotton is very absorbent and is perfect for making washcloths, bathmats and baby bibs. Cottons are also great for those who have wool sensitivities or allergies
Cotton’s cons: as we’ve said before, all fibers have their cons. Cotton can be inelastic to knit with and can show an imperfection in one’s knitting. Knitted cotton garments have been known to stretch so it’s important to keep that in mind when choosing a pattern. It’s a very good idea to wash your swatch when using a cotton yarn for a garment so you can see what’s going to happen. To lessen these “cons” consider a yarn that has a blend of fibers, manufacturers have been spinning cotton and other fibers together to make fabulous yarns. A great example is a 50% cotton 50% wool mix. The wool will keep the cotton from stretching and the cotton will help keep you from overheating!
Come on into the store so we can show you all of our cotton and cotton blend yarns!
See you soon!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
May 15th Question of the week
Question of the week
“There are so many fibers like wool, cotton, and even bamboo as well as blends of fibers available in yarn, how do I choose the right one for my project?”
Let’s start with Bamboo yarn since the yarn of the week was a bamboo blend. Bamboo is a relatively new fiber for the knitting world and we get a lot of questions about it in the store. One hundred percent bamboo fiber is very drapey and usually has a sheen which makes it a great choice for a project that will be worn in the summer or warm climate. It also has anti-bacterial properties that make it more breathable than cotton and it resists odor which makes it a great addition for socks and tops! If you are looking for environmental sustainability in your yarns, bamboo yarn is often milled from left over bamboo product such as chopsticks and the bamboo plant can be harvested without killing the plant.
Some of the potential ‘cons’ of bamboo (there are “cons” for every fiber, that’s why there are so many, something for everyone!) is that a garment made from 100% bamboo can stretch. One way to overcome this would be to knit the yarn at a slightly tighter gauge, allowing that the fabric will stretch.
A great way to get all of the positive effects of bamboo yarn and eliminate some of the negatives is to use a bamboo blend such as bamboo and wool or bamboo and cotton. The wool can keep the fabric from stretching and the bamboo makes the yarn drapey and moisture-wicking for the perfect summer or warm weather garment.
We will discuss other fibers in upcoming question of the week so stay tuned.
“There are so many fibers like wool, cotton, and even bamboo as well as blends of fibers available in yarn, how do I choose the right one for my project?”
Let’s start with Bamboo yarn since the yarn of the week was a bamboo blend. Bamboo is a relatively new fiber for the knitting world and we get a lot of questions about it in the store. One hundred percent bamboo fiber is very drapey and usually has a sheen which makes it a great choice for a project that will be worn in the summer or warm climate. It also has anti-bacterial properties that make it more breathable than cotton and it resists odor which makes it a great addition for socks and tops! If you are looking for environmental sustainability in your yarns, bamboo yarn is often milled from left over bamboo product such as chopsticks and the bamboo plant can be harvested without killing the plant.
Some of the potential ‘cons’ of bamboo (there are “cons” for every fiber, that’s why there are so many, something for everyone!) is that a garment made from 100% bamboo can stretch. One way to overcome this would be to knit the yarn at a slightly tighter gauge, allowing that the fabric will stretch.
A great way to get all of the positive effects of bamboo yarn and eliminate some of the negatives is to use a bamboo blend such as bamboo and wool or bamboo and cotton. The wool can keep the fabric from stretching and the bamboo makes the yarn drapey and moisture-wicking for the perfect summer or warm weather garment.
We will discuss other fibers in upcoming question of the week so stay tuned.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Cultured Question of the Week
From a Chinese Proverb: One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.
We love questions here at Cultured Purls. Questions are what make us all better learners. With knitting there is always more to learn, therefore always more questions to be asked! On Thursdays we will be answering the most asked questions that we get in the store, over e-mail and hopefully from the blog comments. These questions could be about knitting technique, yarn, the world of knitting, and pattern reading. They will vary between beginning and advanced so stay tuned!
So here's today's question which we get a lot in the store:
"What's the difference between yarn weights?"
Good question! Here is a great link to the Yarn Standards and Guidelines for Knitting and Crochet. These are only guidelines of course, but provide practical use for you in your knitting or crochet life.
Here's an example. Let's say I want to knit from a pattern that calls for a gauge of 18 sts & 24 rows. I'm not sure I want to use the yarn the pattern calls for, so what now? Referring back to the Guidelines I see that 18 sts (sts is knit-glish for stitches) falls into the medium or worsted weight category of yarn. Therefore when I am ready to buy my yarn, I know that it needs to be a medium or worsted weight yarn. Yarn labels have suggested sts per inch on the label (though sometimes in metric) and for this particular project I would be looking for something in the range of 16-20 sts per inch on a US needles size 7-9 according the guidelines. It is a fantastic idea to download and print the guidelines for your personal use. Don't be afraid to bring them into the store for more detailed answers as well as examples. Remember, we were all newer knitters once!
You always (always, there is no getting around this if you want your project to turn out like the picture or example) need to make a swatch for your knitting or crochet project to make sure that it's the right size for your pattern. Try various sizes of needles to get the right sts per inch and rows per inch. We will address more about gauge swatching next week!
We love questions here at Cultured Purls. Questions are what make us all better learners. With knitting there is always more to learn, therefore always more questions to be asked! On Thursdays we will be answering the most asked questions that we get in the store, over e-mail and hopefully from the blog comments. These questions could be about knitting technique, yarn, the world of knitting, and pattern reading. They will vary between beginning and advanced so stay tuned!
So here's today's question which we get a lot in the store:
"What's the difference between yarn weights?"
Good question! Here is a great link to the Yarn Standards and Guidelines for Knitting and Crochet. These are only guidelines of course, but provide practical use for you in your knitting or crochet life.
Here's an example. Let's say I want to knit from a pattern that calls for a gauge of 18 sts & 24 rows. I'm not sure I want to use the yarn the pattern calls for, so what now? Referring back to the Guidelines I see that 18 sts (sts is knit-glish for stitches) falls into the medium or worsted weight category of yarn. Therefore when I am ready to buy my yarn, I know that it needs to be a medium or worsted weight yarn. Yarn labels have suggested sts per inch on the label (though sometimes in metric) and for this particular project I would be looking for something in the range of 16-20 sts per inch on a US needles size 7-9 according the guidelines. It is a fantastic idea to download and print the guidelines for your personal use. Don't be afraid to bring them into the store for more detailed answers as well as examples. Remember, we were all newer knitters once!
You always (always, there is no getting around this if you want your project to turn out like the picture or example) need to make a swatch for your knitting or crochet project to make sure that it's the right size for your pattern. Try various sizes of needles to get the right sts per inch and rows per inch. We will address more about gauge swatching next week!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome to the new Cultured Purls Blog! We have been receiving so many new yarns as well as new books and needles this spring, we wanted to find a way to keep our customers updated as often as possible. We hope to use this blog to let you know about new yarns that have come into the store, answer your burning knitting questions and highlight some of the wonderful knitting being done by our customers and staff too!
Tuesdays will be Cultured Yarn of the week. We will highlight a new yarn we have received or a yarn that we may have received earlier in the season that we think is fantastic!
Thursdays will be Cultured Question of the week. We get so many questions both in the store and by e-mail that are smart and well thought-out and we want to share the answers. We will answer questions about yarn, technique, knit-glish (the language of knitting), and any of your other burning questions pertaining to the store, Gilman Village, Issaquah, and the world of knitting in general!
Saturdays will be the Purl of the week. This post will be about a new book that's come into the store, maybe a new website to check out, exciting news in the store or even customer FO's (finished objects)!
We are looking forward to sharing with you! Please feel free to ask questions in the comments area or just say hi! You can also send pictures of your knitting to our e-mail info@cultured-purls.com with blog in the subject line.
Tuesdays will be Cultured Yarn of the week. We will highlight a new yarn we have received or a yarn that we may have received earlier in the season that we think is fantastic!
Thursdays will be Cultured Question of the week. We get so many questions both in the store and by e-mail that are smart and well thought-out and we want to share the answers. We will answer questions about yarn, technique, knit-glish (the language of knitting), and any of your other burning questions pertaining to the store, Gilman Village, Issaquah, and the world of knitting in general!
Saturdays will be the Purl of the week. This post will be about a new book that's come into the store, maybe a new website to check out, exciting news in the store or even customer FO's (finished objects)!
We are looking forward to sharing with you! Please feel free to ask questions in the comments area or just say hi! You can also send pictures of your knitting to our e-mail info@cultured-purls.com with blog in the subject line.
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