Monday, June 02, 2008

Knitting sheath designs that work


I keep being asked for designs of knitting sheaths that work. This post summarizes knitting sheath designs that I like.

First, there is the classic knitting belt. A tool of many virtures. Any knitter that is serious about Fair Isle knitting should have one. Available from J&S (http://www.shetland-wool-brokers.zetnet.co.uk/accs.htm).

Under that are 7 wooden knitting sheaths that I made with only hand tools and was using in the last half of 2007. Note the two made from Brittany Birch crochet hooks. These are show in use in other posts, were fast and easy to make, and work very well.



This is a hand carved knitting sheath that I made for use with shorter needles. It was used to knit that socks that were given to Mamie Diggs. Shown are steel needles, but it works well with wooden or aluminium or bone or plastic DPN.

(The "Z" twist works much better than "S" twist.)











Another view of 6 of my favorite knitting sheaths and their appropriate needles. The one at the top is for #3 needles, the second from the top is for #2 needles and the one at the bottom is for #00 needles. The other 3 are for my favorite 2.3 mm needles.










My last and very favorite knitting sheath. It is small, light weight, and, versital. The first 6 years of studing knitting-for-warmth was a slide toward thinner needles. The last 6 months have been a fall toward longer needles. These days, I find myself knitting socks on 8" long needles.

2 comments:

Gauss said...

Hi Aaron,

I just came across your journal and I will certainly keep an eye on your research notes! I am also very passionate about historical knit garments, and I fully agree with your philosophy on soft wool. But... I knit continental on dpns - I guess we can't agree on everything!

Aaron said...

I knit a great pile of things in the 2 years that I knit continental style. I think that for just knitting continental with a knitting sheath is the fastest and most ergonomic knitting style.However, I do better purling and get slightly better tension control with the yarn in my right hand (with a knitting sheath.)