QUICKTIP: uncurling nylon cable circular needles
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If you knit with BOYE needles or SUSAN BATES needles, or any METAL circular needles which have a CLEAR NYLON cable, here's how to uncurl the cable and make it behave:
(drumroll please....)
Dip the cable into boiling water for a few seconds. When you dip, include that part of the needles where the cable attaches.
A WARNING--Deborah, a reader and a blogger, states that when she tried this with a *bamboo*-tipped circular, the steam removed the finish and made the grain stand out rough.
--TECHknitter
You have been reading TECHknitting on: uncurling circular cable needles--nylon cables
contents © 2006-2013 by techknitting@hotmail.com
12 Comments:
this is neat! a great simple solution to a nasty problem!
I regretted doing this with a *bamboo*-tipped circular. The steam removed the finish and made the grain stand out rough. I bought some fine-fine steel wool and got them back in pretty good shape, then rubbed with mineral oil. But I was profoundly shocked at first to see what I'd done to my Crystal Palace. Perhaps a shorter dip would be less damaging, but I'm still reluctant to get bamboo near boiling water.
i have place bamboo needles on a plate, and tucked them into a still warm (but OFF) toaster oven and in 30 seconds or so, the cord was plyable.. a gentle slide your hands down the cord worked fine.
so if your cord is curly, make some tea and toast, and after the toast comes out of the oven, tuck the needle in..
I use a hair dryer to heat up the cord, and then hold the cord straight until it cools. This works fine on bamboo without damaging the needles themselves, and it can also be used on a project that's already in-progress, if you decide the needles don't really need straightening and then decide that you were wrong about your first decision. :)
I use a tea kettle to steam the cords on my circular needles. The stream of steam is narrow. I pass the cord through the steam a few inches from the pot. The join of the cable and the needle never gets passed through the steam. It works very well for me.
I have crocheted for over 30 years, and just lately decided to teach myself to knit (before I get too old to learn!). This site is a gold mine. Thank you so much for such easy and extensive information for newbies like me!
I used the tea kettle approach hrsd415 used and it worked PERFECTLY for my bamboos. It was like magic, and no damage to the needles themselves!
I use a hair drier. It's less messy and safer
The hairdryer technique worked like a charm! It was simple, less messy than boiling anything and took about 3 minutes! Thanks for the suggestions!!
Just wanted to express my gratitude - your site has given me far more assistance than any of the several books I've purchased. And your illustrations are the best I've ever seen!!
Brenda (Newbie knitter)
I usually use my drier. I think its neat and less damaging.
Knitting gives me great pleasure and a great satisfaction when I see it on people.
This is brilliant! It worked in seconds!
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