Knitting Neepery
What a difference gauge makes, or precisely what a difference a good tool makes. During my time knitting I’ve occasionally noticed as I switched between needles that even though they seemed like the same size they weren’t quite… but I’ve rarely had a project where I was concerned. It wasn’t till I started knitting socks two at a time on two circular needles that I really started to realize that there were significant differences at times between needles that were “supposed” to be identical in size.
For example I have four 16’ circular needles that are all supposed to be US size 3. They range in actual size by my needle gauge of just bigger than US#2 to nearly US#4. They were all sold as US#3 and they’re mostly likely within the manufacturers tolerances for those needles.
It was on my first sweater project though, that I REALLY started to learn what a real difference there can be in size on knitting needles. I was working on size US#5 for the entire sweater. Of course this was after I spent several weeks trying to get gauge and nearly gave up in frustration. Every swatch I knitted came out impossibly off. I finally just gave up and started knitting. The sweater has an empire style to it so there was a “skirt” that was knitted on US#5 straights, and I had no problem knitting away with those needles, Everything was marvelous till it came time to pick up and knit the bodice of the sweater. I used a set of interchangeable needles to pick up and knit my first third of the bodice, I had always liked them for their interchangeable cable lengths, and other than my tendency to unscrew them as I knit I like them. When I went to split my sweater at the armholes onto two needles is when I encountered a rude awakening. The 24inch needle that I switched onto turns out to knit a smaller tighter stitch than the needle I had been using. And they both left different stitches than my straights had in size.
I finished my sweater with some frustration as I know if an experienced knitter gets up close and personal with my sweater they’re going to see how mismatched some pieces seem… Even to an inexperienced knitter there is some subtle differences in texture to the knitting.
At the time I didn’t know if there was any solution to the problem, and resigned myself to future knitting acrobatics to attempt to never have to mix and match needles on projects again.
That all changed when I got my first two pairs of Signature Knitting Needles. I use US #5’s for a large number of my projects and after reading all the rave reviews I purchased a set of the DPN’s and Straights. My first few projects used either one set or the other, and I was hooked on their quality. The stiletto tips and the grippy feel of the DPN’s made it hard to go back to my regular needles. Recently Signature came out with circular needles and I purchased a 20” and 24” US #5’s to use for some two at a time socks and other two at a time circular projects. But it wasn’t until I started knitting a lace hat that I really realized what amazing quality Signatures really are.
On this project I literally cast on with my straights, moved to the 20” then to the 24”, back to the 20” and finished with the DPN’s and through every single change of needles my gauge, stitch size and shape did not vary. I never had tight stitches moving from needle to needle, I never found that swapping cable lengths or switching to DPN’s altered the stitches in any way.
I am so pleased with the precision that these needles display and I am amazed at what a huge difference it has made in the finished quality of my knitted pieces. I can see the difference when I look at an item that was done on my Signatures compared to one that is made on my old mass produced needles. A piece done on my Signatures is very regular and even, the stitches are all very similar, but on pieces that I’ve done with my old mass produced needles, I can see a difference between the sides, or places where I’ve switched from needle to needle.
For a hobby knitter, it may seem excessive to be concerned about how well your stitches match from side to side, but that ignores the other benefit’s I’ve found with my signature needles, which for me include smoother faster knitting, light exquisitely balanced tools, and the amazing stiletto points.
Perhaps it’s the fencer in me that drives me to rhapsodize about the fact that my Signature needles have the balance in your hand that a fine rapier does. But I’ve noticed that improved balance and lightness in my hand has made them more ergonomically friendly and allowed me to knit longer and faster than I can with my older mass produced needles.
Then there is the stiletto tip that makes picking up stitches, and manipulating the complicated stitches in lace patterns surprisingly simple. I have found myself willing to try patterns like !!!LACE!!! and a hyperbolically knitted bath poof that I swore I would Never knit again after the first time I tried it. The stiletto tips on the Signature needles make knitting into one stitch multiple times, and picking up and knitting one row below seem like a walk in the park rather than a trip through burning lava pits.
Finally I just want to finish with a compliment on their durability and finish. Though these are expensive needles I don’t keep them any differently than I keep my others. They live in my knitting bag, consorting with their less special brethren and hanging about in their WIP bags with all sorts of unsavory stitch markers, tape measures and odd pencil. Under normal use they don’t take all sorts of nicks and chips, the cables don’t kink even when small children hang on them, (while trying to yank them out of active knitting). The only thing I’ve noticed is they DO NOT PLAY WELL with lesser needles. If you attempt to use Signatures with mass produced aluminum needles, the lesser needles will end up scratched and tarnished from the contact with the Signatures, and will try to tarnish the Signatures as well.
I image I sound a bit like I’m shilling for Signature Needle Arts, but I have no connection with them except as a customer. I’ve just been so happy with my experience with these needles, and what a quality tool they are. They’re so similar to the kind of fine woodworking tools my husband uses, and as he was quick to say when I ordered them. “Good Tools are worth it”. I was a skeptic at the time, but with the hours I’ve spent enjoying my knitting on my Signature needles I understand exactly what he means. I happily recommend them to any knitter who prefers metal needles, for those who prefer wood.. YMMV.
So that is my Knitting neep, and certified sign of life for now.
For example I have four 16’ circular needles that are all supposed to be US size 3. They range in actual size by my needle gauge of just bigger than US#2 to nearly US#4. They were all sold as US#3 and they’re mostly likely within the manufacturers tolerances for those needles.
It was on my first sweater project though, that I REALLY started to learn what a real difference there can be in size on knitting needles. I was working on size US#5 for the entire sweater. Of course this was after I spent several weeks trying to get gauge and nearly gave up in frustration. Every swatch I knitted came out impossibly off. I finally just gave up and started knitting. The sweater has an empire style to it so there was a “skirt” that was knitted on US#5 straights, and I had no problem knitting away with those needles, Everything was marvelous till it came time to pick up and knit the bodice of the sweater. I used a set of interchangeable needles to pick up and knit my first third of the bodice, I had always liked them for their interchangeable cable lengths, and other than my tendency to unscrew them as I knit I like them. When I went to split my sweater at the armholes onto two needles is when I encountered a rude awakening. The 24inch needle that I switched onto turns out to knit a smaller tighter stitch than the needle I had been using. And they both left different stitches than my straights had in size.
I finished my sweater with some frustration as I know if an experienced knitter gets up close and personal with my sweater they’re going to see how mismatched some pieces seem… Even to an inexperienced knitter there is some subtle differences in texture to the knitting.
At the time I didn’t know if there was any solution to the problem, and resigned myself to future knitting acrobatics to attempt to never have to mix and match needles on projects again.
That all changed when I got my first two pairs of Signature Knitting Needles. I use US #5’s for a large number of my projects and after reading all the rave reviews I purchased a set of the DPN’s and Straights. My first few projects used either one set or the other, and I was hooked on their quality. The stiletto tips and the grippy feel of the DPN’s made it hard to go back to my regular needles. Recently Signature came out with circular needles and I purchased a 20” and 24” US #5’s to use for some two at a time socks and other two at a time circular projects. But it wasn’t until I started knitting a lace hat that I really realized what amazing quality Signatures really are.
On this project I literally cast on with my straights, moved to the 20” then to the 24”, back to the 20” and finished with the DPN’s and through every single change of needles my gauge, stitch size and shape did not vary. I never had tight stitches moving from needle to needle, I never found that swapping cable lengths or switching to DPN’s altered the stitches in any way.
I am so pleased with the precision that these needles display and I am amazed at what a huge difference it has made in the finished quality of my knitted pieces. I can see the difference when I look at an item that was done on my Signatures compared to one that is made on my old mass produced needles. A piece done on my Signatures is very regular and even, the stitches are all very similar, but on pieces that I’ve done with my old mass produced needles, I can see a difference between the sides, or places where I’ve switched from needle to needle.
For a hobby knitter, it may seem excessive to be concerned about how well your stitches match from side to side, but that ignores the other benefit’s I’ve found with my signature needles, which for me include smoother faster knitting, light exquisitely balanced tools, and the amazing stiletto points.
Perhaps it’s the fencer in me that drives me to rhapsodize about the fact that my Signature needles have the balance in your hand that a fine rapier does. But I’ve noticed that improved balance and lightness in my hand has made them more ergonomically friendly and allowed me to knit longer and faster than I can with my older mass produced needles.
Then there is the stiletto tip that makes picking up stitches, and manipulating the complicated stitches in lace patterns surprisingly simple. I have found myself willing to try patterns like !!!LACE!!! and a hyperbolically knitted bath poof that I swore I would Never knit again after the first time I tried it. The stiletto tips on the Signature needles make knitting into one stitch multiple times, and picking up and knitting one row below seem like a walk in the park rather than a trip through burning lava pits.
Finally I just want to finish with a compliment on their durability and finish. Though these are expensive needles I don’t keep them any differently than I keep my others. They live in my knitting bag, consorting with their less special brethren and hanging about in their WIP bags with all sorts of unsavory stitch markers, tape measures and odd pencil. Under normal use they don’t take all sorts of nicks and chips, the cables don’t kink even when small children hang on them, (while trying to yank them out of active knitting). The only thing I’ve noticed is they DO NOT PLAY WELL with lesser needles. If you attempt to use Signatures with mass produced aluminum needles, the lesser needles will end up scratched and tarnished from the contact with the Signatures, and will try to tarnish the Signatures as well.
I image I sound a bit like I’m shilling for Signature Needle Arts, but I have no connection with them except as a customer. I’ve just been so happy with my experience with these needles, and what a quality tool they are. They’re so similar to the kind of fine woodworking tools my husband uses, and as he was quick to say when I ordered them. “Good Tools are worth it”. I was a skeptic at the time, but with the hours I’ve spent enjoying my knitting on my Signature needles I understand exactly what he means. I happily recommend them to any knitter who prefers metal needles, for those who prefer wood.. YMMV.
So that is my Knitting neep, and certified sign of life for now.