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Use what you have ~ ties
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I thought it would look best if these hats had ties. The only directions I had for ties called for double pointed needles. While I do have a set and have used them, I don't care for them (I tend to put my knitting down a lot and dogs and kids tend to bump it and it has happened where the entire knitted project is pushed off the double pointed needles and then the dogs play in it and soon the entire project is un-knitted). And actually the set of double pointed needles I have are a much smaller needle size than what I used to knit these hats. So I tweaked the directions to do these on regular straight needles.

I did all 4 ties at once (2 for each hat), this way I would know for sure each one had the exact same number of rows. It did mean managing 4 balls of yarn all at once:



These are supposed to be knit on double pointed needles, with the idea that you knit, push it across the needle and knit again. Well, on regular straight needles I can't do that (no pushing across, as you can't knit past the end knob). So after each knit row, I would transfer it back to the other needle, then knit again. It created the exact same effect. I know some would not like transfering, but I didn't mind. And I tend to be a use what you have person rather than a run out and buy kind of person.

Here are all four ties, almost done:



This is how the ties look attached to the hat:



I think they turned out neat! I debated putting a fluffy yarn ball at the end of the ties, but I just didn't think these hats called for that. The hats are more sleak, not fluffy and puffy.

5 Comments
Logo for thredz
Ingenious! The hats are fab, and the ties are perfect--I make I-cord on double points, but have suffered the same consequences, albeit with cats. I never would have come up with such a winning alternative! You betcha I'll be incorporating this technique in future projects...sigh, all four at once, awesome!
thredz on Feb, 02 at 4:24 PM
Logo for Cara Stray
yeah 4 at once was a trick, the thing being balancing the 4 balls of yarn.  But that way I could ensure all 4 ties were exactly the same length.
Cara Stray on Feb, 03 at 8:30 AM
Logo for thredz

Great thinking, and I especially like your comment about using what we have...I was helping a young woman in the scrapbooking section of AC Moore (she wanted to make a pennant banner), and she was asking what glue she should buy, lamenting that they were out of (incredibly expensive) the Tim Holtz ribbon, etc. I just looked at her and said, tear an old bedsheet, and use Elmer's.

I love new stuff, and I purchase way more than my share of craft supplies, but we gotta draw a line (with a Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencil) somewhere!

thredz on Feb, 03 at 8:45 AM
Logo for Cara Stray
I totally agree.  Like most people I love to buy new things here and there, but I am careful how I spend my money.  And so often we have something at home that will work, we just pass it over or don't consider it.  I try to live by the idea of recycle and reuse but also add a splash of new and fun in there.    If I am going to buy something new and fun to work with my fiber arts, it would be a carder or something that I would get a ton of use out of.  I know I could buy a cheap pair of double pointed needled, it wouldn't even be a financial issue, but it wouldn't be the thrill :)  so I'll use what I have and save and new and exiting for something I'd more enjoy.
Cara Stray on Feb, 04 at 4:13 AM
Logo for thredz

Well, if it helps, DPNs come in sets of 4 or 5!!!

But then you would need a set of every size, oh, and don't forget, they come in 7 and 10" lengths...

I was extremely lucky to find a huge needle case filled with every sort for a couple of bucks at a rummage sale--the only way to go!

thredz on Feb, 04 at 7:13 AM
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Member since Sep, 03, 2010
life on an alpaca farm, from working with animals to the wonderful fiber they produce
http://lifewithalpacas.blogspot.com/