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| melody yarns |
Trouble with Two CircularsBad news I'm afraid, Sockamonthies
I have been practising with those two darned circular needles all evening and I'm getting into such a wrobble that I've jacked it and I'm going to go back to my trusty DPNs. Permanently. 
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| Blossom |
Oh no Debs...what exactly was it u were finding tricky???! Maybe we can help you out?? | ||
| melody yarns |
If I said the whole bloomin' process, would that narrow it down any??
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| terri |
oh no 
I'll buy your addis if you no longer need them 
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| terri |
Can you just not visualise what you're supposed to do or are you finiding it fiddly?? | ||
| melody yarns |
I can see what I'm supposed to do, but it ain't happening in practice. I had a handful of circular cords and I managed to knit the whole thing onto one needle at row three and got a moebius strip or summink. Sheesh...
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| Fi |
I prefer my dpns too circs don't behave very well. | ||
| terri |
Maybe have another go??? I have to admit, once I could see what was supposed to happen, I found it quite easy 
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| Cathie |
Sorry to hear your having so much trouble with the 2 circs method, I love it, but also hate DPNs.
It did take a while for it to twig what I was doing, and did knit all the stitches onto one needle on more than a few occasions, but found if I made sure that I picked up the needle with the stitches on it was easy. Cathie |
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| melody yarns |
I had a go at the Magic Loop method - no go, I got confused.
I changed to five DPNs and found that I got rid of the ladders effect - success! I had a go at two circs, I knitted the thing off wrongly and got into a wrobble. I think I should stick to DPNs. Edited to add - 2 minutes to go until countdown begins... I'm off to cast on onto DPNs...... |
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| Aknita |
I have two pairs of these 30 cm circs - and they are so fiddly. I am going to make a statement now that is tantamount to heresy - I'm not altogether sure I like socks! 
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| Cathie |
I tried 30cm circs to start of with but found the same, it's much easier on a 40cm. I think the 30's would be okay if the needle part was a little bit shorter.
Cathie |
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| CJ |
yes, 30cm is far too short and fiddly.  I found one 40cm and one 60cm to be best for me, cos I could easily see which needle was which. 80cm was too long and the cable got tangled up.  And I found 2 x 60cms a bit of a pain too.
I think it's worth playing about with a couple of lengths till it clicks. And it will, I didn't like it when I used the wrong lengths, but now I'm sorted and away. 
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| cazzie |
You are not alone - I really want to knit socks and love sock yarn but have yet to finish knitting a pair of socks (3 attempts - 2 still on needles) - I just cant get into them
I do find two circs (40 & 60cm) easier than dpns though. A localish yarn shop has a workshop going in a couple of weeks for knitting on dpns - sooo tempted to sign up but cant justify spending the £ on it at the mo! |
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| melody yarns |
Hmmm, maybe that's the problem. I used a 40cm and an 80cm length circ last night, and the 80cm was just so twirly and wirly. | ||
| terri |
I use two 60cm circs, and I just look to see where the tail of yarn is to tell whihc needle I'm on
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| melody yarns |
I think I was just too confused last night to even do that Terri!! It won't defeat me though, maybe I should try bigger sized circs and use a bamboo and metal until I 'get' the concept firmly in my head. For now, my socks are whizzing away on DPNs!!
*By the way Aknita - there's nowt wrong with saying that you don't like socks - I personally can't stand intarsia or fairisle and the thought of doing it makes me run screaming into a darkened room *
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| Blossom |
I think the 80cm was far too long Debs...u should definitely try a 60cm circ! I use a 60cm and a 40cm and I am sorely tempted to get rid of the 40cm and get another 60cm...the 40cm metal needle is much shorter than the 60cm and I find it a bit fiddly!I was thinking I could place a stitch marker on the first needle so I know where I am! I have this habit when I have finished on one needle and am about to do the next I always follow the cord round to make sure I am picking up the right needle that is hanging...so I would probably be OK with two 60cms?! Don;t give up Debs...I've found it a fantastic method, so much quicker and smoother and ladder free..I couldn't get my head around it until I had done a few rounds then it just clicked! 
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| Piglottie |
You see, now I'm worried! My circs haven't arrived yet so wont get the chance to try now for awhile, but am watching Debs' progress with interest and spurring you on!
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| janice |
Blossom I too found the 40cm needle just too short so I bought another 60cm I will admit I have finished up with all stitches on the one needle but I take extra care now to pick up the right needle
Get another 60cm Debs and have another shot TBH I actually started with ordinary circulars and bought the Addis when I'd finished my first pair, well I didn't want to spend money if I didn't like the two circular method, but I love it
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| melody yarns |
Don't be worried PL - I'm rubbish with new techniques at the best of times, but even worse when there are prizes to be won
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| Piglottie |
Snap! It took me ages to figure out how to pick up stitches
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| melody yarns |
I sat down late this afternoon, picked up a 60cm Addi turbo and a 40cm Addi bamboo, and the Socks Soar book and followed the instructions under a good light with leftover yarn from the millstone socks.
And guess what?? I did it!! I cast on, I knitted carefully and I did it!! And yes, the 40cm circulars are too small. Possibly the problem was that I cast on using a straight needle and knitted two rows in K2P2 rib the last time and found it nigh on impossible to carry on with the two circs. I cast on on the circs this time and did normal straightforward stocking stitch to see the technique, rather than diving in at the deep end and hoping to swim. And I read the instructions properly - that helps a lot I always think....
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| KnittingLadybird |
that's brill debs (just hope they are quicker than dpns lol) | ||
| melody yarns |
Well.... er.... not at the moment, but there's hope now that I can actually knit a TUBE!
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| KnittingLadybird |
i'm just concerned about the heel bit...just how the hell are you supposed to pick the stitches on the flap? lol | ||
| Fi |
I wondered about that too. | ||
| melody yarns |
Hey hang on there..... a heel??
I've only just done a few rows of a tube rather than moebius sock..... you want a heel from me as well?? Crumbs *looks worried* |
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| Fi |
It's real nice of you as forum administrator to try it out first heee
We really appreciate the effort you are going to! |
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| KnittingLadybird |
sorry to worry you debs...CJ? CJ? where are you?....how do you put a heel in a 2circ sock? lol | ||
| Piglottie |
But Debs you give me hope! I'm watching your progress before I start the circ method
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| blueadt |
Well done Melody! Don't worry about the heel. When you get to it, just drop the needle that holds the instep stitches & work the heel stitches on one needle. I use a crochet hook to pick up stitches & it works really well. Have fun |
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| Wildpurl |
Yeah, just what blueadt said. And in fact I use one end of my circ to pick up the stitch and the other to knit it, works a treat. | ||
| Blossom |
Great page HERE with pics on picking up stitches...I don't actually put any of my stitches on a spare piece of yarn as I can't be bothered with the faff..maybe I will get DH to video picking up stitches for the heel on my next sock??!
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| KnittingLadybird |
Blossom that page is fab...i've saved it but it does make more seeing how it's done rather than just text
*ooooh I so need mine ooooh* (hopefully tomorow )
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