Videos like this one take me months and months of careful research. Consider supporting my on patreon so I can continue sharing my knitting knowledge with the world: www.patreon.com/nimbleneedlez
Norman's channel is absolutely the best knitters info site on TH-cam. I have been a knitter now for 65 years and I still find some new usable tips. I adore the items he knits. That scarf, whatever is the correct name, around his neck is very beautiful. His stitches are so even that they look like machine made. I like tip #6. I do not like the magic needle method. To me that causes the stitches stretch in the loop area and I do not want to deal with that giving the extra attention it takes. I prefer using 2 circular needles. When tightening the cables to needles those small rubber patches easily get misplaced. As a retired critical care nurse I was always using latex or nitrile gloves, even at home cleaning. After COVID we all have gloves at home. Having those gloves on the hand will allow tightening better than the small rubber patches, just as opening tight jar lids. This video got my hands itching to knit. Since starting work in my garden here in Texas in late February, the planting and weeding has taken all my time. Soon I can knit in my garden. 😊 Thanks Norman for great tips once again.
that tip with the gloves is golden! thanks for sharing it and wishing you many hours of pleasant knitting in your garden. I too have a (very small) garden here and it's just such a joy
It's funny because I always keep a few safety pins in my knitting kit but never use them,I just THINK I might need them someday for something~! Now,,thanks to Norman,I have some very useful things to use them for🤣
I bought the anniversary set from Knit Picks. I broke both size 4 by sitting on them. As they were a special set, I couldn't just order replacements. So I wrote to customer service. They replaced them, and wouldn't let me pay -- even for shipping! I've never had a problem in all the years I've purchased from them, so had no idea how wonderful the company is to its customers!
Oh my goodness - slightly smaller needle in the left hand. I had to try this as I was watching the video because I am knitting with a beautiful but non-stretchy yarn and getting the stitches onto the left hand needle was painful. Changed to just .25mm smaller and everything is easy again. THANK YOU :)
I don't even use interchangeable needles, but I do enjoy listening to your knowledge that I watched the entire video. Thank you for being you and sharing.
Schade du verpasst viel ,denn du brauchst dann verschiedene Längen und so wechselt du nur das Seil. Mal überlegen ob du dir eine kleine Sammlung zulegst. Mit einem Set sparst du viel Platz und Geld und hast immer die richtige Nadel dabei. Knitt Pro ist für Anfänger am günstigsten. Der Hit ist aber ChiaoGoo
I had one of the first interchangeable systems (by boye) in the usa, designed horribly, with plastic, the connectors would break at the worst times. Trauma! So I use multiple circular and dps in all sizes.
I also had trauma from a bad interchangeable set and was convinced that since no interchangeable set is perfect, to just stick with multiple circulars.. now I see the many benefits! Thank you!
Excellent, excellent, EXCELLENT video. Thanks for all the tips! I think I have one that you haven't mentioned: when I am knitting a top down sweater and separating for the sleeves I use shorter cables and stoppers to hold the sleeve stitches while I knit the body. Then when it's time to knit the sleeves I just attach the needles to the sleeve-holder cables and start knitting. No needing to transfer to scrap yarn, no need to fight with the scrap yarn when putting the stitches back on the needles, and no twisted or dropped stitches.
heh. Well, I didn't mention this because I believe that is a core idea behind interchangeable knitting needles. But if you watch my latest sweater tutorial, you'll see me doing that exactly: th-cam.com/video/N6qxTSD97V4/w-d-xo.html
I had come to some of these tips on my own. Your posting them makes me feel incredibly smart. I love your channel. Please, please tell us what shawl you're wearing, it almost distracts from your content, it's so beautiful.
It never crossed my mind that the left needle is a’holder’ and to make it a smaller needle to push the yarn easier off the needle to the right needle! This alone was the reason I joined your Patreon account. Thank you for magically making my knitting easier!!
I was playing with crochet and knitting, using up some yarn that is very soft and too thin for me to use for much and quite by accident (i saw a video on Tunisian crochet pop up) and I took one of my Tunisian hooks and put it on my circular knitting needle and then just bound off by doing a simple reverse pass, regular Tunisian style. I loved it! I will definitely use this again in my knitting!
I only have Knitpro (knitters pride) interchangeable needles/crochet hooks and sometimes they do loosen, but I tend to be able to feel a slight catch on the yarn as it slides over the join/screw so then I check. I have not lost stitches since I made an effort to notice the catch, now I do not think about it as i automatically notice the catch. I will not go back to straight needles now, so much better!
I am working on a cardigan that started at the bottom, was divided into the two front panels and one back panels to form pockets, and joined back together. When it was divided, I had each section on shorter circulars and then used connectors to rejoin everything! It was so easy to knit across that next row - it felt as if I never divided at all!
I just wanted to leave a comment for the algorithm and take it as an opportunity to compliment your very lovely scarf. The colours and pattern stole a bit of my attention while watching the video. 🙂
Norman! This is one of the most helpful videos of all time!! I learn so much from your content, and greatly appreciate you. I have been using 2 circulars for small circumferences and have a hard time finding 2 sets of the same size needle. Now I can use a smaller size as the stitch holder and not panic!!
16:44 You can use a popped balloon 🎈 if your interchangeable kit is missing the rubber circle. It really makes a difference in tightening the tips. Some kitchen jar openers (big rubber circles) work as well. I am going to use safety pins in the needle tip holes from now on, that was new to me, thanks so much!
Thanks for the tip for using hair clips to secure the ends of yarn balls/skeins. I have been working on 3 different multi colored blankets. The ends were getting really tangled. i was beginning to think that much like in the movie “Toy Story” the yarn balls were coming alive and traveling around to meet other yarn balls and getting entangled!
Genius! Why didn't it occur to me to attach the tiny cable connectors to the case itself with a safety pin or bulb pin?!?!? I use 4" Chiao Goo interchangeables and love them. Sometimes, I need more length to prevent hand cramps. I will try putting a connector between the tip and cable for that tiny bit of extra length. Thank you, Norman.
well, i guess that's what makes these tips genius. haha. For most of them, I felt pretty much the same when I realized/learned them. It's these..."i was today years old when I learned..."moments. haha But hey, sharing is caring and if everyone does it the world will be a better place
I hate to admit it but I broke my wooden US 2 Lykkes that I loved. I carefully sanded and polished them with manicure set, wiped them with a thin layer of nail polish and they are almost as good as new (except shorter 😂). Great tips- thank you!
Norman, I've watched so many of your videos at this point (and especially when I was just starting out, rewinding and rewatching until I got the hang of things) that anytime I read a knitting pattern anywhere, I can't help but read the instructions in your voice ahahaha thank you so much for all your wonderful videos! You've helped me stay motivated even when things feel tricky and difficult!
Thank you for a great video - and channel ❤ I use KnitPro. I am currently working on a Cumulus V neck, and it is my first time making icord. One round before, i put a thread in the hole for tighten the needle, and knit it in my work. If the icord is too tight, i can easily go back in my work, and try again. I use this every time i knit, and it has saved me a lot of work!
yeah, lifelines are so amazing. (btw, you can go up half a needle size for the icord if it's too tight. Or space out intermission rounds every 3-5 stitches where you do not knit the last stitch together but just knit it.)
I use a nice trick when having to push the sharp needle point all the time. I put a small piece of thin band aid on my finger tip and it is much more comfortable than a thimble or whatever else and still makes my finger feel so much better!
Hi Norman, thank you so much for making really great and helpful videos! I like your charisma a lot and you are such a lovely person! Best wishes for you!
Love these tips! I utilize the safety pin w those tiny gizmos & attached to the inside of my interchangeable case (ChaioGoo). My 2 faves from this: 1) using an extender to change cord lengths (or needle tips). 2) using safety pin/lightbulb markers as stoppers. Brilliant! Thank you!
happy to hear! the funny thing is...the extender thing is only something i noticed myself like a month ago or so and I was like..why on earth did I never think about that?
@@NimbleNeedlesI know, right?!?! This is why I love internet/interwebs… so much easier to spread the word about nifty tips & tricks! It’s funny how a “thing” done by someone all the time, can turn into a “Wow, why didn’t I think if that…” moment… The tools are there. More people = more ideas/uses, right?
I have used circulars for many years now, thought I knew everything, but there was so much I wasn't aware of from these 10 tips. Thank you! For tip #9, interchangeables that come undone, it's worth having a set of fixed circulars in a couple of favourite sizes e.g. I knit a lot of aran weight sweaters, so my 5mm fixed circulars with 100cm cables are frequently used.
ChiaGoo's have Adaptors, which no other brand has, to my knowledge, along with a wide variety of lengths. They're super handy! Not only are the cables and needles the most durable brand, but with these $5.00 tiny adaptors, you can add any size cable onto any size needle! Therefore, you only really require set of small cables, and using these economical adaptors, they'll fit any sized needle! And not only do their cables not break, the needles do not break either! And the cables are the most durable and comfortable to work with, with everything in one tidy little case. I have every set you've mentioned, except one, and by far, the ChiaGoo's are the most durable and most frequently used due to the versatility, but also within my knitting groups/online groups people complain of the others breaking and the cables coming unglued. I appreciate durability and think the Chiagoo's, then the Addi's, are the best sets I own. Their usage does prove it. The others were cheaper, but every single set has some flaw, unfortunately! I think you get what you pay for. It may not matter, or it may. JMHO.
Great video, safety pin tip was new for me, excellent. I love the shawl you are wearing, colours are so elegant. I played the video again to study the shawl. Thanks for
Great tips! I ended up using some rubber shelf liner as a replacement for those little rubber pieces for screwing the needles on. That’s an easy DIY hack that also means things won’t fall off your shelves, haha
Hello, love your channel. As far as cable and or yarn twisting...at the end of each row we typically turn the work clockwise or counterclockwise. If you turn your work in the opposite direction of your natural direction in every other row it seems to keep the twisting to a minimum. Works for me. Happy Knitting luv, Linden in Oregon USA
There are multiple way you twist the yarn: Through winding your ball, through knitting from it, in knitting (with each stitch you do twist it counter-clockwise), through turning your work, and if you are doing colorwork, potentially whenever you switch the yarn. And each of these actions need to be adjusted according to the base twist of your yarn.
As a new knitter i really appreciated KnitPro sampler sets which includes 3 pairs of different circular needle types and 2 cords. It’s an affordable way to find your favorite material; and with your wonderful ideas i have uses for the tips i’m not using as much! Thanks for the great content.
What a helpful video, Norman! So many great tips; every idea very useful, but my favorites are straightening curly cables in boiling water, and using one needle as a needle holder in a slightly smaller size. Thank you so much for your presentation. 😊
4:05 Thank you so much for this tip! I had to stop for a week because my skin layers were separating/fracturing. Had never had an injury like that before.
@@NimbleNeedles Yes I think I had very high tension so the needles didn't slide well at all either. Also I didn't put that right. I meant the finger lines were separating. Not vertical skin layers. Less severe but still bad.
I liked the tip with blocking the stitches with a stitchmarker ❤ This, though, isn't tricks for circular needles, as the title says, but only for interchangeable needles...
It is that exact reason of interchangeable circular needle sets coming undone during use, that pushed me to us ONLY fixed circular needles! In my case, I eventually found the ChiaoGoo red cable needles, and I purchase the longest ones I can afford in the size I need. Using Magic and Travelling loop I can knit any dimension of tube or circular flat piece that I desire! So now I don't worry or have to check that something might go awry ... well, maybe my stitch count, but that's on me, not the needles!
thank you! I've just realized a couple of days before that I can use smaller left needle and it really blew my mind! And I realized it thanks to remembering your words that it's the right needle that's responsible for the size of the stitches.
thank you Norman, your videos are professional, clear, interesting and fun to watch! And Ive been knitting for 50+ years- always something new to learn
I do that with Chiao goo for socks and it makes a massive difference on my hand fatigue! I would use magic loop but even after watching your videos on ladders I still get them…so it’s small circumference needles for me 😊
Great tips, I'll definitely use some of them. Have you thought about releasing podcast episodes? You're always wearing beautiful knits and I'd really like to see and hear about what you're working on.
Thank you for your wonderful tips. I have since started to use a size smaller for left needle, and my knitting tension has some how improved. I guess I was struggling with getting stitches off ...I use Chiaogoo metal and lykke driftwood interchangeable. I always wear a latex / rubber finger tip on right hand as i push needle tip. It does preventt injuries.lol.
Thank you Norman. A little tip ( if not mentioned before) Instead of glue with the joint. Try a little bluetak. It not so permanent. But when twisted tight will create a suction between joint and needle. Nail vanish remover ( only a small amount) will soften it and help to wipe it of.
yes. for flat knitting, you will always knit the wrong side with that smaller needle. and typically that is not very nice - except you only knit st st and your purls are too loose.
It depends on your personal needs. I sometimes use bigger needle on a purl side of flat knitting, as my purls sometimes come out a bit tighter than knit stitches.
I've been very lucky; I have literally had ONE instance where one of the screws loosened right off. Luckily I caught it before it actually came off and didn't drop any needles. I also have several swivel cables now, and they've been a godsend for knitting jumpers in the round. However, I have had two of the purple Knit Pro ones which had faulty screw threads on them, one of which slightly damaged the threading inside of the needles I use the most (my 7mm). I now have spare sets of both the 7mm and 5mm needles so I can knit both sleeves at once or knit the front and back of a one-piece jumper after separating at the base of the armhole. Never thought of using stitch markers to stop the yarn coming off the needles! If I'm going to unscrew the needles I just put the end caps on, but this way I can hold the stitches on if I'm using a shorter cable and just sliding the knitting to the cable part isn't sufficient. I do, however, use my 'light bulb' stitch markers to hold all my tighteners and connecting rods together in my Knit Pro case, fixing them to the inside spine (where there's plenty of space).
Good tips as always. Never thought to use safety-pins as you showed but makes sense. Also will play with the blunt and sharp tips- I have Zings and a blunt set from Knitpicks that I think can use the same cables. My finger tips thank you 😊
Dear Norman, I'll be using your trick with two pairs of cable needles to work on a hat crown, thank you so much! I am struggling with using 3-5 DPNs during decreasing, and I hesitate to try the magic loop. Having two pairs of cable needles looks very easy on the knitter and the yarn.
Many thanks Norman I love to see your videos while I knit and fortunately for me In English since I am a native Spanish speaker, in German it would be not possible for me to
Thank you for this video. I was thinking of getting the interchangeable cords but I already own every size of the fixed cords in all sizes so I think they’d be a headache for me. I’m old now. I’ll stick with what I’ve got. They still do the trick. 😹😹😹very interesting information though. I’ve learned so much from you even after knitting for over 50 years now. Thank you! 💝🥰🤗
Thank you so much Norman. I really enjoyed the tips you provided for us in this video. I especially like the idea of knitting in the round using two cable needles. Thank you. Also, I wanted to let you know that I learned how to knit gloves by watching your videos. Thank you again.
I competed the best of the best set for me: absolutely adore needles by Knit Pro /Knitters Pride and I'm a big fan of Ginger line but I hate their cables so I bought cables from Lantern Moon and from now on I'm the owner of the PERFECT set :D
I had problems with my interchangables separating while i was knitting (one specific set of needles more than others but it did happen with all of them.) The fix I came up with was thread tape. It's avaliable in every major automotove or hardware retailer and its cheap. It's made to seal threads on air compressors and such things. It is a bit fiddly to get such a tiny piece (all you really need is a teeny bit) but once you get past that, it works like magic. You can still change your needles, but it absolutely will NOT come off unless you intend it to.
DEFINITELY like the idea of pinning the connectors to the carrying case, takes much less room than keeping original packaging. Love "life line hole", I've always called it "the tightening hole". 😉 I can honestly say, I've never had my needles come unscrewed.
mine literally never unscrew either. But hey, I don't doubt the many people that say they do for them either. So...that's why I said..it must be somewhere in the way they knit or touch the needles.
I have Addi Click interchangeable sets and so I cannot use any needles from sets that screw on. I don't have the problem of having them unscrew though, so it is a good trade off for me. I cannot use the safety pin holder trick, but I do have the heart stoppers to put stitches/projects on hold as needed. I did get a set of short Addi Click needles so I could use the interchangeable sets for smaller circumferences, but I recently tried the FlexiFlips from Skacel in the squared style and LOVE them!
addi also has squared needles. But yeah, a lot of the tricks won't work for addi here...but then again they don't have the problems to begin with. and yeah, those heart stoppers are just
I love your videos. Very educational. Wondering if I need to invest into 4 inch interchangeable needle set for smaller projects as I purchased 5 inch ones because I didn’t realize they wouldn’t work well for hats unless I use the magic loop. Would much appreciate your wisdom on this. Magic loop is ok but kind of a pain
well, in a pinch, 4 inch tips can make all the difference for certain hat patterns, cowls, or turtle neck collars. But sometimes, even they are too long. It's up to you...but i use them rarely. I am thankful that I have some but most of the time they are gathering dust. SO i guess, it depends a bit on your financial situation.
So many great tips! My only addiction would be when using a smaller size on the left hand needle and then putting stitches on a try on cord, put the needle back with the working needle on the correct side. I learned this the hard way but it only takes one round before you notice the smaller stitches don’t fit on the larger needle when it’s get around to the left🙁
Eventually I will get some good interchangeable needles. I'm leaning towards ciaogoo (sp?) Because how the cables always look relaxed. Good to know I can try the knitter's pride tips on them😊
no, you misunderstood it then. those two are not interchangeable. only those I specifically mentioned and are produced by KnitPro in India. ChiaoGoo is a Chinese company that has a totally different system
![12 FRUGAL knitting hacks [using inexpensive house hold items]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EvL41Pj9n3E/mqdefault.jpg)
Videos like this one take me months and months of careful research. Consider supporting my on patreon so I can continue sharing my knitting knowledge with the world: www.patreon.com/nimbleneedlez
I have trouble with end falling off how to I keep them for the whole project
Norman's channel is absolutely the best knitters info site on TH-cam. I have been a knitter now for 65 years and I still find some new usable tips. I adore the items he knits. That scarf, whatever is the correct name, around his neck is very beautiful. His stitches are so even that they look like machine made.
I like tip #6. I do not like the magic needle method. To me that causes the stitches stretch in the loop area and I do not want to deal with that giving the extra attention it takes. I prefer using 2 circular needles.
When tightening the cables to needles those small rubber patches easily get misplaced. As a retired critical care nurse I was always using latex or nitrile gloves, even at home cleaning. After COVID we all have gloves at home. Having those gloves on the hand will allow tightening better than the small rubber patches, just as opening tight jar lids.
This video got my hands itching to knit. Since starting work in my garden here in Texas in late February, the planting and weeding has taken all my time. Soon I can knit in my garden. 😊
Thanks Norman for great tips once again.
that tip with the gloves is golden! thanks for sharing it and wishing you many hours of pleasant knitting in your garden. I too have a (very small) garden here and it's just such a joy
I love the safety pin, cable stopper trick!
yes, and this time around I even didn't call them bobby pins, haha! :P
Safety pin is an excellent idea for traveling by air. No need to lose your project or place it on waste yarn to get through security.
@@NimbleNeedles❤😂
It's funny because I always keep a few safety pins in my knitting kit but never use them,I just THINK I might need them someday for something~! Now,,thanks to Norman,I have some very useful things to use them for🤣
I bought the anniversary set from Knit Picks. I broke both size 4 by sitting on them. As they were a special set, I couldn't just order replacements. So I wrote to customer service. They replaced them, and wouldn't let me pay -- even for shipping! I've never had a problem in all the years I've purchased from them, so had no idea how wonderful the company is to its customers!
Oh my goodness - slightly smaller needle in the left hand. I had to try this as I was watching the video because I am knitting with a beautiful but non-stretchy yarn and getting the stitches onto the left hand needle was painful. Changed to just .25mm smaller and everything is easy again. THANK YOU :)
Wonderful! glad it helped
@@NimbleNeedles
Agree! I knit tightly and this tip is really going to ease some of the tension in my hands. Wish I'd had it when I was working on rayon!
I don't even use interchangeable needles, but I do enjoy listening to your knowledge that I watched the entire video. Thank you for being you and sharing.
oh wow! you were very welcome :)
You'd love them
Schade du verpasst viel ,denn du brauchst dann verschiedene Längen und so wechselt du nur das Seil. Mal überlegen ob du dir eine kleine Sammlung zulegst. Mit einem Set sparst du viel Platz und Geld und hast immer die richtige Nadel dabei. Knitt Pro ist für Anfänger am günstigsten. Der Hit ist aber ChiaoGoo
I had one of the first interchangeable systems (by boye) in the usa, designed horribly, with plastic, the connectors would break at the worst times. Trauma! So I use multiple circular and dps in all sizes.
I also had trauma from a bad interchangeable set and was convinced that since no interchangeable set is perfect, to just stick with multiple circulars.. now I see the many benefits! Thank you!
Excellent, excellent, EXCELLENT video. Thanks for all the tips! I think I have one that you haven't mentioned: when I am knitting a top down sweater and separating for the sleeves I use shorter cables and stoppers to hold the sleeve stitches while I knit the body. Then when it's time to knit the sleeves I just attach the needles to the sleeve-holder cables and start knitting. No needing to transfer to scrap yarn, no need to fight with the scrap yarn when putting the stitches back on the needles, and no twisted or dropped stitches.
So glad I just saw this little tip from you...I am in the process of making my first sweater, and I will definitely do this!
heh. Well, I didn't mention this because I believe that is a core idea behind interchangeable knitting needles.
But if you watch my latest sweater tutorial, you'll see me doing that exactly: th-cam.com/video/N6qxTSD97V4/w-d-xo.html
I had come to some of these tips on my own. Your posting them makes me feel incredibly smart. I love your channel. Please, please tell us what shawl you're wearing, it almost distracts from your content, it's so beautiful.
that's a pattern I iam still working on. test-knitting will start in like 2 weeks :)
Eagerly awaiting this pattern!
@@NimbleNeedlescan I participate in testing ?
It never crossed my mind that the left needle is a’holder’ and to make it a smaller needle to push the yarn easier off the needle to the right needle! This alone was the reason I joined your Patreon account. Thank you for magically making my knitting easier!!
stories like these are the reason why I do this! happy to be of help
You’re the best Norman ! I love all your tutorials and tips. I get so excited when the King of knitting uploads.👑✨ keep up the great work.✨
haha...well..not sure I am royalty, yet. But I appreciate the sentiment nevertheless
I’m so delighted to find your channel, I’m 70, I’ve been knitting on and off for 65 years and I’m still learning thanks to you. Thank you Norman ❤
I was playing with crochet and knitting, using up some yarn that is very soft and too thin for me to use for much and quite by accident (i saw a video on Tunisian crochet pop up) and I took one of my Tunisian hooks and put it on my circular knitting needle and then just bound off by doing a simple reverse pass, regular Tunisian style. I loved it! I will definitely use this again in my knitting!
yes. That's another topic I didn't even touch on in this video. It's also great for picking up stitches along a long edge.
Love the safety pin cable stopper tip! 👍🏼💙
I only have Knitpro (knitters pride) interchangeable needles/crochet hooks and sometimes they do loosen, but I tend to be able to feel a slight catch on the yarn as it slides over the join/screw so then I check. I have not lost stitches since I made an effort to notice the catch, now I do not think about it as i automatically notice the catch. I will not go back to straight needles now, so much better!
I am working on a cardigan that started at the bottom, was divided into the two front panels and one back panels to form pockets, and joined back together. When it was divided, I had each section on shorter circulars and then used connectors to rejoin everything! It was so easy to knit across that next row - it felt as if I never divided at all!
I just wanted to leave a comment for the algorithm and take it as an opportunity to compliment your very lovely scarf. The colours and pattern stole a bit of my attention while watching the video. 🙂
ha! thank you
Great tips as always, Norman.
I use my sock circulars as stitch holders when knitting up a swrater. Providing I'm not knitting socks...
yeah, I o something similar with my spare cables. Thx for adding it valerie :)
Norman! This is one of the most helpful videos of all time!! I learn so much from your content, and greatly appreciate you. I have been using 2 circulars for small circumferences and have a hard time finding 2 sets of the same size needle. Now I can use a smaller size as the stitch holder and not panic!!
careful tho. I have two sets and each has a 3m on the left and a 4m on the right.
@@NimbleNeedles Thank you!
My first set of interchangeable needles were delivered today and I knew where to come learn how to use them .thank you 🎉🎉🎉🎉
16:44 You can use a popped balloon 🎈 if your interchangeable kit is missing the rubber circle. It really makes a difference in tightening the tips. Some kitchen jar openers (big rubber circles) work as well.
I am going to use safety pins in the needle tip holes from now on, that was new to me, thanks so much!
great tips..someone else suggested one time use silicon gloves as well!
Thanks for the tip for using hair clips to secure the ends of yarn balls/skeins. I have been working on 3 different multi colored blankets. The ends were getting really tangled.
i was beginning to think that much like in the movie “Toy Story” the yarn balls were coming alive and traveling around to meet other yarn balls and getting entangled!
Genius! Why didn't it occur to me to attach the tiny cable connectors to the case itself with a safety pin or bulb pin?!?!?
I use 4" Chiao Goo interchangeables and love them. Sometimes, I need more length to prevent hand cramps. I will try putting a connector between the tip and cable for that tiny bit of extra length. Thank you, Norman.
well, i guess that's what makes these tips genius. haha. For most of them, I felt pretty much the same when I realized/learned them. It's these..."i was today years old when I learned..."moments. haha
But hey, sharing is caring and if everyone does it the world will be a better place
I hate to admit it but I broke my wooden US 2 Lykkes that I loved. I carefully sanded and polished them with manicure set, wiped them with a thin layer of nail polish and they are almost as good as new (except shorter 😂). Great tips- thank you!
awesome. glad you were able to rescue that!
👏👏👏the safety pin is TOP!
yeah, I like that one a lot as well!
Norman, I've watched so many of your videos at this point (and especially when I was just starting out, rewinding and rewatching until I got the hang of things) that anytime I read a knitting pattern anywhere, I can't help but read the instructions in your voice ahahaha thank you so much for all your wonderful videos! You've helped me stay motivated even when things feel tricky and difficult!
Awesome! ❤️❤️❤️
These are great tips. I do want to ask if you can link the pattern of the shawl you are wearing. It is beautiful!!! ❤
I am still working on the pattern :) It will be entering the test-knitting phase soon.
Thank you for a great video - and channel ❤
I use KnitPro. I am currently working on a Cumulus V neck, and it is my first time making icord. One round before, i put a thread in the hole for tighten the needle, and knit it in my work. If the icord is too tight, i can easily go back in my work, and try again.
I use this every time i knit, and it has saved me a lot of work!
yeah, lifelines are so amazing.
(btw, you can go up half a needle size for the icord if it's too tight. Or space out intermission rounds every 3-5 stitches where you do not knit the last stitch together but just knit it.)
I love that scarf you’re wearing. I bet you made it too. It is gorgeous!
jap i did :)
I use a nice trick when having to push the sharp needle point all the time. I put a small piece of thin band aid on my finger tip and it is much more comfortable than a thimble or whatever else and still makes my finger feel so much better!
Hi Norman, thank you so much for making really great and helpful videos! I like your charisma a lot and you are such a lovely person! Best wishes for you!
Glad you like them! thank you for your kind wishes
Love these tips! I utilize the safety pin w those tiny gizmos & attached to the inside of my interchangeable case (ChaioGoo).
My 2 faves from this: 1) using an extender to change cord lengths (or needle tips). 2) using safety pin/lightbulb markers as stoppers.
Brilliant! Thank you!
happy to hear! the funny thing is...the extender thing is only something i noticed myself like a month ago or so and I was like..why on earth did I never think about that?
@@NimbleNeedlesI know, right?!?! This is why I love internet/interwebs… so much easier to spread the word about nifty tips & tricks! It’s funny how a “thing” done by someone all the time, can turn into a “Wow, why didn’t I think if that…” moment…
The tools are there. More people = more ideas/uses, right?
I have used circulars for many years now, thought I knew everything, but there was so much I wasn't aware of from these 10 tips. Thank you!
For tip #9, interchangeables that come undone, it's worth having a set of fixed circulars in a couple of favourite sizes e.g. I knit a lot of aran weight sweaters, so my 5mm fixed circulars with 100cm cables are frequently used.
ChiaGoo's have Adaptors, which no other brand has, to my knowledge, along with a wide variety of lengths. They're super handy! Not only are the cables and needles the most durable brand, but with these $5.00 tiny adaptors, you can add any size cable onto any size needle! Therefore, you only really require set of small cables, and using these economical adaptors, they'll fit any sized needle! And not only do their cables not break, the needles do not break either! And the cables are the most durable and comfortable to work with, with everything in one tidy little case.
I have every set you've mentioned, except one, and by far, the ChiaGoo's are the most durable and most frequently used due to the versatility, but also within my knitting groups/online groups people complain of the others breaking and the cables coming unglued. I appreciate durability and think the Chiagoo's, then the Addi's, are the best sets I own. Their usage does prove it. The others were cheaper, but every single set has some flaw, unfortunately! I think you get what you pay for. It may not matter, or it may. JMHO.
The other brands don't offer adapters because you don't need any 😅
Hitahiya does offer them as well, tho.
I appreciate all your tips but the one that I really appreciate is how to avoid my needles from undoing as I knit. Love your videos. ❤
Great video, safety pin tip was new for me, excellent. I love the shawl you are wearing, colours are so elegant. I played the video again to study the shawl. Thanks for
In a world gone a bit nutters, your videos are a calming respite. Thank you, Norman.
Great tips! I find circular needles are much easier than straight when teaching someone to knit.
Great tips! I ended up using some rubber shelf liner as a replacement for those little rubber pieces for screwing the needles on. That’s an easy DIY hack that also means things won’t fall off your shelves, haha
Hello, love your channel.
As far as cable and or yarn twisting...at the end of each row we typically turn the work clockwise or counterclockwise. If you turn your work in the opposite direction of your natural direction in every other row it seems to keep the twisting to a minimum. Works for me. Happy Knitting luv, Linden in Oregon USA
There are multiple way you twist the yarn: Through winding your ball, through knitting from it, in knitting (with each stitch you do twist it counter-clockwise), through turning your work, and if you are doing colorwork, potentially whenever you switch the yarn. And each of these actions need to be adjusted according to the base twist of your yarn.
Love the scarf. Beautiful colors and design.
thank you
As a new knitter i really appreciated KnitPro sampler sets which includes 3 pairs of different circular needle types and 2 cords. It’s an affordable way to find your favorite material; and with your wonderful ideas i have uses for the tips i’m not using as much! Thanks for the great content.
What a helpful video, Norman! So many great tips; every idea very useful, but my favorites are straightening curly cables in boiling water, and using one needle as a needle holder in a slightly smaller size. Thank you so much for your presentation. 😊
4:05
Thank you so much for this tip! I had to stop for a week because my skin layers were separating/fracturing. Had never had an injury like that before.
okay...that definitely sounds like you need to change something :P
@@NimbleNeedles Yes I think I had very high tension so the needles didn't slide well at all either.
Also I didn't put that right. I meant the finger lines were separating. Not vertical skin layers. Less severe but still bad.
I'm just starting on circular needles. I love your tips and knowledge
Knitters Pride was fantastic about replacing my mindful cable that frayed at the connection.
that's good to hear!
I liked the tip with blocking the stitches with a stitchmarker ❤
This, though, isn't tricks for circular needles, as the title says, but only for interchangeable needles...
It is that exact reason of interchangeable circular needle sets coming undone during use, that pushed me to us ONLY fixed circular needles! In my case, I eventually found the ChiaoGoo red cable needles, and I purchase the longest ones I can afford in the size I need. Using Magic and Travelling loop I can knit any dimension of tube or circular flat piece that I desire! So now I don't worry or have to check that something might go awry ... well, maybe my stitch count, but that's on me, not the needles!
Best tips every. I only use interchangeables but never the connectors. That's where I get in trouble.
I LOVE knitting on circular needles 💕 Your video of tips & tricks was awesome. Thank you, thank you, Norman
thank you! I've just realized a couple of days before that I can use smaller left needle and it really blew my mind! And I realized it thanks to remembering your words that it's the right needle that's responsible for the size of the stitches.
Wonderful! glad you were able to figure it out on your own! that always feels special!
I’m new to circular needles so I bought a cheap bamboo set off eBay to see if I need to buy a more expensive set. I’m finding them just fine for now 😊
What great ideas!!! Thanks so much for these wonderful tips and tricks. 😊
Glad you like them!
Awesome tips… I never thought about the uses of interchanables
Thanks, again, Norman, for all you do to help us add to, and manage, our knitting skills. 💖🙌😺
my pleasure
thank you Norman, your videos are professional, clear, interesting and fun to watch! And Ive been knitting for 50+ years- always something new to learn
truth be told, I learn new things every day as well. that's why I love this craft so much
I learn something with every video. Thank you!
My pleasure!
I do that with Chiao goo for socks and it makes a massive difference on my hand fatigue! I would use magic loop but even after watching your videos on ladders I still get them…so it’s small circumference needles for me 😊
What a wonderful scarf/shawl😍 thanks for this useful video, keep up with your great job!
Thank you! 😊 pattern coming (hopefully soon)
Great tips, I'll definitely use some of them.
Have you thought about releasing podcast episodes? You're always wearing beautiful knits and I'd really like to see and hear about what you're working on.
sure :P
www.patreon.com/posts/stay-while-and-103547706
Great tips. I used the safety pin one straightaway. Keeping stitches on the smaller left hand needle. Brilliant.
Thank you for your wonderful tips. I have since started to use a size smaller for left needle, and my knitting tension has some how improved. I guess I was struggling with getting stitches off ...I use Chiaogoo metal and lykke driftwood interchangeable. I always wear a latex / rubber finger tip on right hand as i push needle tip. It does preventt injuries.lol.
Thank you so much. Very helpful. I never realised that when doing magic loop the same needle is used for knitting each time.
Glad i was able to provide you with an Eureka moment :)
Thank you Norman. A little tip ( if not mentioned before) Instead of glue with the joint. Try a little bluetak. It not so permanent. But when twisted tight will create a suction between joint and needle. Nail vanish remover ( only a small amount) will soften it and help to wipe it of.
Great tip!
Love this video. I knit on sets only. Love the safety pin tip. The safety pin tip is a great stitch holder as well. THANKS
Wow I love the idea of using the smaller needle on one side! Does it only work on magic loop?
yes. for flat knitting, you will always knit the wrong side with that smaller needle. and typically that is not very nice - except you only knit st st and your purls are too loose.
It depends on your personal needs. I sometimes use bigger needle on a purl side of flat knitting, as my purls sometimes come out a bit tighter than knit stitches.
I've been very lucky; I have literally had ONE instance where one of the screws loosened right off. Luckily I caught it before it actually came off and didn't drop any needles. I also have several swivel cables now, and they've been a godsend for knitting jumpers in the round. However, I have had two of the purple Knit Pro ones which had faulty screw threads on them, one of which slightly damaged the threading inside of the needles I use the most (my 7mm). I now have spare sets of both the 7mm and 5mm needles so I can knit both sleeves at once or knit the front and back of a one-piece jumper after separating at the base of the armhole.
Never thought of using stitch markers to stop the yarn coming off the needles! If I'm going to unscrew the needles I just put the end caps on, but this way I can hold the stitches on if I'm using a shorter cable and just sliding the knitting to the cable part isn't sufficient. I do, however, use my 'light bulb' stitch markers to hold all my tighteners and connecting rods together in my Knit Pro case, fixing them to the inside spine (where there's plenty of space).
it happens to me exceedingly rarely as well..thank god! :)
Thank you for all the hints! I love your teaching style!! Your sweet voice makes me smile!!
I also use them for flat knitting as when what I'm knitting gets longer it sits in my lap taking the weight off my wrists. By the way love your shawl
Good tips as always. Never thought to use safety-pins as you showed but makes sense. Also will play with the blunt and sharp tips- I have Zings and a blunt set from Knitpicks that I think can use the same cables. My finger tips thank you 😊
Dear Norman, I'll be using your trick with two pairs of cable needles to work on a hat crown, thank you so much!
I am struggling with using 3-5 DPNs during decreasing, and I hesitate to try the magic loop. Having two pairs of cable needles looks very easy on the knitter and the yarn.
it sure helps a lot of people who struggle. That's why I included it
Norman I enjoyed watching all your tips. I watch all your tips on your channel. You have so much knowledge.
Almost 200K subscribers - congratulations!
So close! yeah. it still feels so surreal!
Thank you, Norman. Great tips. I especially like the first tip.
Glad you enjoyed it
I love the safety pin trick!!! That is brilliant!
Many thanks Norman I love to see your videos while I knit and fortunately for me In English since I am a native Spanish speaker, in German it would be not possible for me to
Thank you for this video. I was thinking of getting the interchangeable cords but I already own every size of the fixed cords in all sizes so I think they’d be a headache for me. I’m old now. I’ll stick with what I’ve got. They still do the trick. 😹😹😹very interesting information though. I’ve learned so much from you even after knitting for over 50 years now. Thank you! 💝🥰🤗
definitely stick with them. I mean, there are some feats that only interchangeables can achieve but for the rest...why replace what works for you, eh?
@@NimbleNeedles I agree. Thank you. 💝🥰
Thank you so much Norman. I really enjoyed the tips you provided for us in this video. I especially like the idea of knitting in the round using two cable needles. Thank you. Also, I wanted to let you know that I learned how to knit gloves by watching your videos. Thank you again.
that's awesome! be proud of yourself. gloves are probably one of the most complicated knitting project!
That’s a gorgeous shawl! Thanks for the great tips!
yeah, I'm so in love how this second version of my pattern turned out :)
Useful tips! Your chanel is SO inspiring! Soonhalf way through my first "real" knitting project🙏🏻
how wonderful! what are you knitting? :)
@@NimbleNeedles I am making the Sophie shawl by petiteknit. I have started over three times with different yarns and now I am getting better at it.
@@Caramel5367 that's a pretty shawl. Many at my local knitting meet-up have knitted it.
Thank you so much Norman-you are the Best by far!
Another fantastic video. Love the safety pin as a stitch stopper. That's a new one to me that I plan to put to use!
awesome! it was sorta newish for me as well..and it's just so simple that you go...well why didn't i think of this before? ^^
Ty Norman! I always look forward to your videos. I’ve learned so much from them. I especially love your tips & tricks videos, they are so helpful!
I competed the best of the best set for me: absolutely adore needles by Knit Pro /Knitters Pride and I'm a big fan of Ginger line but I hate their cables so I bought cables from Lantern Moon and from now on I'm the owner of the PERFECT set :D
I had problems with my interchangables separating while i was knitting (one specific set of needles more than others but it did happen with all of them.) The fix I came up with was thread tape. It's avaliable in every major automotove or hardware retailer and its cheap. It's made to seal threads on air compressors and such things. It is a bit fiddly to get such a tiny piece (all you really need is a teeny bit) but once you get past that, it works like magic. You can still change your needles, but it absolutely will NOT come off unless you intend it to.
oh...thank you for sharing!
@@NimbleNeedles welcome!
DEFINITELY like the idea of pinning the connectors to the carrying case, takes much less room than keeping original packaging.
Love "life line hole", I've always called it "the tightening hole". 😉
I can honestly say, I've never had my needles come unscrewed.
mine literally never unscrew either. But hey, I don't doubt the many people that say they do for them either. So...that's why I said..it must be somewhere in the way they knit or touch the needles.
Wonderful Norman! This video is really helping a lot! Safety oins as needle stoppers" WOW!! Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
I just watched. I own circular needles but I've never used them. This has been interesting
I have Addi Click interchangeable sets and so I cannot use any needles from sets that screw on. I don't have the problem of having them unscrew though, so it is a good trade off for me. I cannot use the safety pin holder trick, but I do have the heart stoppers to put stitches/projects on hold as needed. I did get a set of short Addi Click needles so I could use the interchangeable sets for smaller circumferences, but I recently tried the FlexiFlips from Skacel in the squared style and LOVE them!
addi also has squared needles. But yeah, a lot of the tricks won't work for addi here...but then again they don't have the problems to begin with. and yeah, those heart stoppers are just
Thank you. I’m going to watch this again to get all of the interesting information ❤
heh. the video is here to stay
I have said it before! You are a treasure for sure.
Thank you Norman❤😊
you are very welcome :)
I love your videos. Very educational. Wondering if I need to invest into 4 inch interchangeable needle set for smaller projects as I purchased 5 inch ones because I didn’t realize they wouldn’t work well for hats unless I use the magic loop. Would much appreciate your wisdom on this. Magic loop is ok but kind of a pain
well, in a pinch, 4 inch tips can make all the difference for certain hat patterns, cowls, or turtle neck collars. But sometimes, even they are too long. It's up to you...but i use them rarely. I am thankful that I have some but most of the time they are gathering dust. SO i guess, it depends a bit on your financial situation.
Best video ever. Learnt soooo much today. thank you for all the videos you do. ❤
You are so welcome!
So many great tips! My only addiction would be when using a smaller size on the left hand needle and then putting stitches on a try on cord, put the needle back with the working needle on the correct side. I learned this the hard way but it only takes one round before you notice the smaller stitches don’t fit on the larger needle when it’s get around to the left🙁
Heh. Yah, you need to be careful
I'll have to try out using cables from one brand with needles from another. I hadn't even thought of that before.
please note that ONLY those I've mentioned are interchangeable. you cannot combine hiya hiya with knitter's pride, etc!
Thank you Norman, these are some great tips 😊
Eventually I will get some good interchangeable needles. I'm leaning towards ciaogoo (sp?) Because how the cables always look relaxed. Good to know I can try the knitter's pride tips on them😊
no, you misunderstood it then. those two are not interchangeable. only those I specifically mentioned and are produced by KnitPro in India.
ChiaoGoo is a Chinese company that has a totally different system
Thank you, Norman. Very informative.
Thanks for sharing your amazing tips!!!
you are very welcome
Great great video with lots of great tips! Thank you Norman. You’re awesome.