Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thankful for improved needles


click to biggify pic

The guys at my house are waiting for more felted clogs, and I have to say, I wasn't eager to get started on them. Being a tightwad, I bought some super cheap Susan Bates circular needles when I made the pair for Mr. SABLE. It took real muscle to get the stitches back onto the needle part from the cable. One day I happened to notice some higher-priced big-ass needles that had something like aquarium tubing connecting the business ends, rather than plastic cable. So, I asked Mr. SABLE if he could duplicate this with my cheap-o needles.

Yesterday, he cut the original cables off, took the plastic needle parts to his workshop, and used his lathe to trim down a bit on the connector end. Then he slid on the tubing. I need to have him take off just a titch from the needle parts of the join: it's not quite smooth yet, but it's darn close. If the tubing works loose while I use them, we'll superglue it on, but I'm pretty impressed with this needle mod.

9 comments:

Bezzie said...

Nice! Of course I'm so used to those cheapie needles...I don't know what I'm missing ;-)

Molly Bee said...

Wow! A man of many talents! They look great!

YarnThrower said...

Awesome idea! A new vocation?

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

That's great MacGyvery.

dale-harriet said...

You're ON to something there! (And may I say....that's a useful husband; mine would blink a couple of times and smile).

I'll see you later today at Last Saturday!!

Leslie said...

Very creative. Maybe a new venture for Mr. SABLE?

Cindy G said...

Very cool!
So sorry I missed last Saturday Knitting.

Anonymous said...

hi E! so how do they drive? I have worn out so many needles...I end up using those cheap-from-Joanne's aluminum(?)ones(I think they are Boye? they come in different colors). None of them have worn out. Not to mention my cats don't gnaw on them like the bamboo ones either...

Have a great day!
Celeste(from 2stix)

Sarah said...

Very cool.