The patterns say to use a 3 mm needle, but when I knitted a tension square, it soon became clear that 3 mm was too big. I don't do much knitting on very small needles, so I had to go and buy some needles in smaller sizes. I think I can use 2.5 mm for the main part and 2 mm for the ribbing. I'm told that needles smaller than 2 mm don't exist, so that will have to do. Now, which pattern to choose? I like the one with the cable, but I'm worried that with variegated wool and cables there will be too much going on. I think the other one would probably work better. I'm open to suggestions, here and at next week's craft group meeting.
Your samples are so beautiful even if wrong size. I was on another knitting blog a while ago and they made knitting needles from bicycle spokes, that was creative huh. Now I wonder what size they would have been :)
ReplyDeleteI find that I always have to go down two needle sizes. I guess that means I'm a very relaxed knitter!
ReplyDeleteI think they both look great! I'm a little more partially to the one without cables. Those are very tiny needles, it will take a long time to make a sweater!
ReplyDeleteHi Jane
ReplyDeleteI prefer the sample you've shown on the right. It does real justice to the pretty colour of the wool. I think the other pattern is too busy for
your lovely wool.
Yes there are finer needles used for miniature work ie dolls houses, I have a pair of number 18 but they do go as low as 22. Not big enough for a cardigan though, a miniature dolls cardigan yes not an adult.
ReplyDeleteI think the needles you have will do the job
Margaret
Thanks Margaret, I've learnt something!
DeleteI love the cable and the variegated wool makes it even more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the input!
ReplyDeleteThey are both very pretty, but I think I prefer the one on the right. The one on the left has a lovely pattern, but the variegated wool makes it difficult to see - too busy visually, I guess. The one on the left is 'just right.'
ReplyDeleteI think the cable one is a more interesting & slightly unusual pattern.
ReplyDeleteBut for your yarn, the right one seems more appropriate.
It does make me wonder though, how the colourway will behave when knitting a longer length . In a swatch the frequency of colourway repeats is obviously different. I've never knit a colourway yarn yet. Hope to, one day ;-)
2.5 mm is a UK #13, right ? That should be fine.
I once knit a top/blouse/vest with UK #14 & had blistered, bleeding fingers with all that poking .... had to halt it till they healed. Never again ! Will post a pic sometime.
My MIL often narrates how one of her aunts used to knit with bicycle spokes ! Wow !
Yes, I'm hoping the colour changes will look a bit more subtle when there are more stitches. I only have to knit the ribbing with size 14, so hope I don't have to bleed for my craft!
DeleteNot being a knitter I can't say anything helpful on choices, but I do think that either will be gorgeous when you are done!!! :)
ReplyDeleteBoth look great but I like the one on the right the best :). I'm surprised that the needles don't go smaller than 2mm. But then I've never knitted with anything smaller than 2.5mm :).
ReplyDeleteI like the one the right it looks much nicer in the colour that you have chosen. I have used 2mm needles before and found that they made my hands ache.
ReplyDelete