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Pookie
Chatty Knitter
255 Posts |
 Posted - 08/02/2002 : 10:09:04 AM
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Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to mark your dpns so you always know what size they are? When I'm finished with a project, I have a tendency to just jumble all my dpns together in my knitting bag. Then, before I start my next sock, I have to spend a good fifteen minutes comparing dpn to dpn to dpn to dpn to dpn until I THINK I've found 4 that are the same size. How silly and disorganized and inefficient is that?
Please save me from myself!! I KNOW that if I buy an official needle organizer, I won't use it, so does anyone have any other suggestions?
Pookie
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Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2002 : 11:06:26 AM
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I got this "nifty" little gadget at the yarn store, it has a small ruler, a special window for measuring gauges and holes along it that fit each size, so you just stick the needle into the holes to see which ones fit. Doesn't keep them organized, but at least you could be sure they were all the right size when you do go to use them!
Good luck!
Martheme
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marnita
Chatty Knitter
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2002 : 11:19:32 AM
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Another suggestion I can give is to mark each size (once you have figured out which is which) with a different color nail polish. #1s in red, #2s in pink, etc. You can use the same color more than once since you probably won't confuse your #1s with your #8s.
http://marneysworld.blogspot.com |
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charles
New Pal
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 3:42:51 PM
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I loved the old Crystal Place double point plastic envelopes in which they were sold. They were a great way to keep the needles together. Since they have given up that packaging, I have nothing to use. It would be great if someone would produce something like it. I now use ebony needles almost exclusively, and I would really like a way to keep them together as a set.
I also use the silk ikat needle wraps from Wat Tahn-Cha, which are made by disabled Cambodians. They don't have enough slots for all the double points.
Then there is always the problem of DPNs for fingers, and just keeping them
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Silver
Warming Up
84 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 4:11:33 PM
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I take a piece of square note paper and lay two needles on it, then wrap once, place the rest of the needles with them, then continue wrapping, tightly. Then I tape it closed and mark the size on the paper. This works very well because it keeps them together, but when I want to use them, I can easily just slip them out... and back in when I'm finished.
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shewhoknits
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 4:36:41 PM
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Several of my LYS have these tubes for sale that hold DPN. I believe Amy Detjen is the original creator of these, and she has ads in Knitter's magazine--Blue Moon or something like that.
My plan, when I get around to purchasing several, is to label them by size on the top, and be diligent when I put them away. (Ha ha) |
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MagyarGypsy@webtv.net
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 4:41:47 PM
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| I took a piece of light tan velvet and folded it over and made narrow pockets with the ends open. Sewed about 1,1/2,&2" wide I wrote the sizes on the middle of each pocket. Then I pulled each needle through the pocket and let the ends hang. I thumb tacked it to a cupboard door in my craft room. |
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Knitwitz@webtv.net
New Pal
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 4:48:41 PM
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quote:
I got this "nifty" little gadget at the yarn store, it has a small ruler, a special window for measuring gauges and holes along it that fit each size, so you just stick the needle into the holes to see which ones fit. Doesn't keep them organized, but at least you could be sure they were all the right size when you do go to use them!
Good luck!
Martheme
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Knitwitz@webtv.net
New Pal
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 4:52:35 PM
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To organize my double pointed needles, I purchased tooth brush holders in several colors and marked on the outside, the size.
If you should happen to have a hole in the bottom, cover with tape. Works great.
Jean Lutz |
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oblio
New Pal
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 4:55:34 PM
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I'm with you Pookie. I'm so intent on finishing whatever I was working on that all of the DPNs go into the same drawer. I swear I was going to oganize them, really I was. But knowing myself I have one of those handy-dandy needle sizing gizmos in the drawer.
very convenient, maybe to convenent?
Oblio
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Knancy
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 5:04:27 PM
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Hi, I found a very handy item in the fishing dept. of a local store. Fishermen use it to hold their flies,etc. It has several plastic sleeves with gripper closures and each is large enough to hold several sets of DPNs. I use one sleeve for each size. It can then be zippered closed for safety. Mine happens to be of canvas in a bright orange/red. I wouldn't switch to anything else I have seen or used in the past. Knancy in Knew Hampshire
Knancy the Knitting Knut |
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sunshinegal123
New Pal
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 5:05:30 PM
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| I put all the sock or DPN's together and wrap a rubber band around them with a little piece of paper that says what size they are. I've been doing this since I started knitting some 60+ years ago and I can always find what I need in the plastic box in which I keep the whole bunch. Nice and easy! |
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Genie
New Pal
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 7:18:11 PM
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I keep my sets together with a rubber band if they didn't come in a plastic container noting the size. When I start a project, I can eliminate most of them by "eyeballing." For the remaining ones that I can't, I use the marvelous little "gadget" previously mentioned with the ruler and holes marked for each size. Just takes a second. Couldn't live without it--or two. I always check each needle with the gauge before I begin a project.
Jean
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knitbug
New Pal
15 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 9:06:55 PM
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| I have an efficient fabric pouch with 11 slots from Jou-ous Creation (Joy Stout at stoutbilt@aol.com). All of my needles from sizes 000 to 7 stow in slots that increase in width. The stowed needles then fold into a 4"x8" packet with a velcro closure. She is usually at Stitches Midwest in a booth with Cheryl Oberle, which is coming up Aug. 22 of this month. |
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irene
New Pal
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 11:06:00 PM
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I keep my DPNs in a cotton canvas tool roll from Clothcrafters.
http://clothcrafters.com/tool1.htm
It's inexpensive, well made and sturdy. I used a fine tipped permanent marker to write the sizes on each of the 11 stitched slots, making it easy to find the needles I need, and to put them away when I've finished using them.
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knitnerd
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
423 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2002 : 11:20:19 PM
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Rubber bands rot and leave gunk on your needles. Put the needles inside scraps of tubular ribbon yarn. Some kinds stretch enough to hold a set of size ten needles. You can also put them inside lengths of I-cord.
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knitter2568
Chatty Knitter
Germany
146 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2002 : 12:37:38 AM
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I've managed to keep all my dpn's in one place (big knitting basket) and since I've used them for years I kinda know what size they are by looking at them. Still every once in a while I get my Susan Bates Knitting Gauge out because it measures the needles size. I take a good cup of coffee and organize my dpn's by size. I bundle them with rubber bands.
I also have those little rubber socks that come with Regia needles but they only hold a set of 5 needles. I have one than more set of each size I have.
Happy Knitting,
DREA  who fininshed scarf #4, #5 to be started, 7 more to go)
knitter@newsguy.com
http://love2knit.8m.com/
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=knitter2568 |
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wildhorsefarmer
Permanent Resident
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2002 : 04:03:12 AM
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Hi All,
Good topic!
Most of my dpns(Addi, Crystal Palace, Aero) are still in the sleeves they came in. I do have some older ones that don't have sleeves. I house them in the tubes mentioned. I got mine from woolywest.com. Very inexpensive and easy to see what is in there. I put a label of size on the outside of the tube.
Someone mentioned rubber bands leaving "goop". You could try hair elastic bands instead.
I also have many pairs of Regia needles that have color coded sock point protectors. I wrote the US and MM size with a Sharpie pen on one of the "socks" so I don't assume I am remembering which color is which size. I keep these in small vases on my work desk.
Then, being the compulsive Virgo, I have a chart of dpns on the back page of my sock book. I list them by brand with US and MM size. So when I need an odd size, I can see which brand it is that I have that size in, before I look for it.
Lisa in Oklahoma
New Kool-Aid dyed sock design-Berry Basket Socks
http://www.wildhorsefarmdesigns.com
Photos of socks I have knit..
http://www.picturetrail.com/wildhorsefarmer |
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carolyn2001@attbi.com
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2002 : 05:17:27 AM
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I purchased a cotton duck-cloth holder for dpn's. Its made by the same person who invented the "circular solution" (another very handy organizer). Go onto the Patternworks site to see it. It helped me get organized, and did I need help....
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Margaret
New Pal
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2002 : 08:33:02 AM
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I just had an idea! My husband rents & sells violins. The strings often come in long, clear plastic tubes with caps on each end. How simple it will be to cut them to a more manageable length and write the needle size on them. (He never throws anything away, and has many, many of these at the office! )
Some of you may have violin shops nearby---it could be worth checking.
Happy knitting,
Margaret
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2002 : 1:27:11 PM
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I made a holder for my DPN's. It seemed appropriate to knit it. Mine is done at 4 stitches per inch. Knit a strip of fabric the number of rows equal to the number of needles you want it to hold.
work 2 rows of k1 p1 ribbing then
row 1--K10, P1, K10, P1, K1
row 2--k2, p8, k1, p10, k1, p8, k2
finish with another 2 rows of ribbing. This keeps it lying flat.
Stitch(tack) this strip with the purl side and the k ribs up to the center of a piece of cloth that is about 6 inches wider than your longest needle and the length of your knitted strip. Insert needles under the k ribs. fold up both sides over the tips and tie with a twisted yarn tie. If desired you can stitch pockets on one side of the holder. I just tacked one side of mine every 3 inches or so. The needles do not twist or get out of place. The first time I made one of these I knitted the entire thing but that allowed the needles to poke through and fall out. I have all sizes up to a US 10.5 in this one. The stitches per inch determine the sizes of needles it will hold. It is too small now since I have more needles so I think I might make the next one using a place mat instead of plain fabric.
fran
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