Knitting question
 

I know this is a quilting forum but recently I bought a sewing basket at a yard sale that had a variety of hobby items in it. Among the treasures were various knitting needles. Can anyone tell me about 2 needles that appear like a circular needle? --poly fiber with the skinny shaft-- but there is a circle on the end instead of going all the way around to the other needle. This isn't clear at all but hope someone knows what I'm trying to explain and knows how these needles are to be used. They were made by Bates but I can't find a picture online. Is there a special use or are these simply a pair of needles that are not aluminum?

I'm just guessing here . . . but am thinking maybe they're made for very large (wide) pieces. As the stitches build up, they could slide along the cable, allowing the needle to hold more. As they're removed, they would slide back onto the "needle" section. The circle would be to keep them from sliding off. Like I said, it's just a guess . . . . I'm a crocheter but have used cabled hooks, for "longer" double-ended hooks (cable between the two ends), and know those cable can hold LOTS of stitches.

can you post a picture of the needles in question?

I believe Neesie is correct. They are used just like regular straight needles, but the flexible cable ends allow lots more stitches to be held comfortably in the lap (instead of sticking way out beyond your elbows).

These are like circular needles but they aren't connected. I love circular needles because one loose one doesn't get lost and you can, indeed, put more stitches on them without dropping stitches when putting the work down. But these look like circular nylon needles, except the skinny shaft is about 12-15" long and there is a circle on the end --Susan Bates, size 8. I've seen these before but have no idea what their special use might be unless they are simply a variation of the rigid aluminum needles. (Sorry, I don't know how to post a picture.)

i think neesie's got it

Is the "circle" an actual circle . . . or is it more like a giant needle eye?

It sounds like they are part of a set of needles where you have needle points, cables and plastic circles. You also get connectors so you can string several cables together to make longer needles or make a circular needle. Boye puts out a set called a Needlemaster. I actually have two sets and love them. I never use the old straight needles anymore.
Here's a link to look at: http://www.amazon.com/Needlemaster-4.../dp/B000WURGNC . Here's another link about the Boye Needlemaster: http://knitting.about.com/od/toolsan...interchang.htm Also, Knitpicks.com offers a set like this.

By the way, some people seem to complain about the cables not staying attached very well. I have two Boye sets, one very old(35 yrs or more) and another about 15 yrs old. I haven't any problems with them not staying together.

Without seeing a pic my thought is that they ar afghan needles - you pick up a loop in all of the stitches across - then crochet back 1 stitch at a time - not good at explaining - this method might also be called tunisian crochet but not sure about that either


hugs
Shirley in Indiana

Hi, I am a knitter, crocheter and quilter. The needles you are referring to are what they call "Circular Needles" . I have many sizes of those as well as many other kinds such as double pointed, and straight. I don't use the straight needles much anymore as I love the circular ones. I also have the ones with the little disc at the end to keep work from sliding off the needles which are simular to the straight needles. I like the circular needles as they don't get in the way like the straight ones do plus you always have both ends together and don't lose "one" . Hope this explains your question. Mary