# The case of the missing cable needle. Knitters unite! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 28, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993 "2008-10-28T20:46:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/21 "2008-10-29T07:28:32Z")
Just in time for Halloween, Bernat has a glow-in-the-dark yarn! I’ve ordered two skeins from Mary Maxim [http://www.marymaxim.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product\_10001\_10054\_3074457345616825697\_-1\_3074457345616700786\_3074457345616693772](http://www.marymaxim.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10054_3074457345616825697_-1_3074457345616700786_3074457345616693772) to make a cap & mittens for Angelboy. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/22 "2008-10-29T15:03:45Z")
> [@as\_u\_wish](#): > > I’m doing my first lace shawl. I’m up to the third of 6 pattern repeats on chart 1 of 4. Yeeeehaaaaa. I’m so proud of myself for deciding I could do it. And I can. > > [http://icarusalong.blogspot.com/2006/05/designer-of-icarus-shawl-has-passed.html](http://icarusalong.blogspot.com/2006/05/designer-of-icarus-shawl-has-passed.html) Ooh, nice! ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/23 "2008-10-29T15:40:58Z")
I’m a knitting machine for the next couple of months. I made some socks for my fiance for Christmas; it was a pain in the kiester because I couldn’t knit them when he was around. For his mom, I finished a [Peace of my Mind Shawl](http://knittedgiftsofgrace.blogspot.com/2008/01/half-circle-shawls.html) (the top picture). That’s not mine but I still have to block it, so I don’t have a picture of it yet. I used Malabrigo laceweight in Purple Mystery (gorgeous kettle dyed deep purples). It was my first time doing any major lace and I must have frogged it 6 times before reading about using a lifeline. 🙂 I’m knitting some socks for his sister in Noro Silk Garden Sock. It’s less sproingy than most sock yarns I’ve used but the colors are gorgeous (fuschia to brown to orange to green to black). I’m using some Plymouth Encore and knitting his dad a hat and scarf in a nice olive green and a beige-y heather (that has bits of green in it that tie to the olive shade). I’m using a Seaman’s Cap pattern (rib knit foldover part, stockinette head) with two thin stripes on the ribbing. I’m just making up the scarf in a wide rib knit that’ll have two stripes at either end (hat is beige with green stripes, scarf is green with beige stripes). ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/24 "2008-10-29T19:30:23Z")
Learning to cable without a cable needle changed my (knitting) life and I will never go back. I’m (occasionally) working on St\*rmore’s “Cromarty” without a cable needle. Needing to do all that swapping to a cable needle would make me lose my mind in approximately 1.5 rows. Before that, I stuck mine behind my ears, too, so I’m no help. I stick extra sock needles there. And pens. But not all at the same time. My active project du jour is Eunny Jang’s “Autum Rose.” (hooray for Knit Picks Palette!) When I need something more portable I’ve been working on a lace scarf, but I need to start another pair of socks. Lace makes a terrible car project. (had to frog 8 rows last weekend because I dropped a stitch - very painful) I love Ravelry. This month I was able to trade another Raveler some handspun mohair for the out of stock color I needed for Autumn Rose. I could never have waited until mid November for that one stuipd color to come off backorder! Must. . . make . . . sweater. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/25 "2008-10-29T19:47:37Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > Also, as I usually do in any knitting thread, [here is a link to my free pattern, Brooke’s Column of Leaves Scarf](http://brookenelson.com/leafscarfpattern.html), which is a fairly easy scarf with a lacy leaf motif. You’re THAT Brooke?! Wow…that’s a beautiful pattern. I actually have the instructions for it that I printed out somewhere in my cubicle drawers. I’ve done a practice swatch on it, but just like Branching Out, I haven’t gotten yarn that I think does it justice yet. Column of Leaves is closer to something I could actually wear than Branching Out, too. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/26 "2008-10-29T19:48:44Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > I usually use a dpn as my cable needle. This. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/27 "2008-10-29T19:51:08Z")
I just signed up for a Ravelry invite. I’d heard about it but hadn’t actually investigated before. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/28 "2008-10-29T19:57:12Z")
I use a u-shaped cable needle and hang it on my shirt collar when I’m not using it. And I am SO hooked on Ravelry. ---
**Author:** ![quilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/839c29/32.png) [@quilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quilter)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/29 "2008-10-29T23:11:49Z")
> [@KnitWit](#): > > What kind of nutcase takes photos of their socks? Anybody who’s trying to keep their Ravelry projects up-to-date, or is in the Rockin’ Sock Club! Another source for free patterns is [elann.com](http://www.elann.com/freepatterns.asp). I like their yarn, too… to the point where it’s kind of a toss-up between KnitPicks and Elann when I need inexpensive, quality yarn. (I started to type “when I desperately need” – but I “desperately need” a lot of yarn that I can’t necessarily afford!) I used to stick the cable needle in a variety of places, leading to much confusion. Stuck through the previous cable row, hooked over my neckline, over my little finger if I was going to need it again soon… I finally learned [Grumperina](http://www.grumperina.com/cables.htm)’s cable-without-a-needle method (kept practicing until the stuff in my hands matched her pictures), and haven’t looked back. One less thing to lose in the couch cushions! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/30 "2008-10-29T23:25:38Z")
I haven’t been taking pictures of my projects. I should be doing that. Jayjay, when you get your invite, I’m on there as the same as my LJ name. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/31 "2008-10-30T01:36:26Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > [Obligitary link to our Ravelry group](http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knitty-spinny-skanks-from-lj-and-sdmb) and a link to [my Ravelry profile](http://www.ravelry.com/people/brookeln), in case anyone would like to befriend me! > > Also, as I usually do in any knitting thread, [here is a link to my free pattern, Brooke’s Column of Leaves Scarf](http://brookenelson.com/leafscarfpattern.html), which is a fairly easy scarf with a lacy leaf motif. > > In regards to cable needles, I always lose mine. Recently when I moved, I found several cable needles under furniture and couch cushions. Thanks for posting that link- I was about to do so. It’s been super quiet in there lately! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/32 "2008-10-30T01:56:35Z")
FYI…I’m on Ravelry, too! Same username as here. I’d be happy to be anyone’s friend. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/33 "2008-10-30T15:09:21Z")
I just found one of my dpns in my purse. Strangely, I hadn’t missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/34 "2008-10-30T15:40:44Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > You’re THAT Brooke?! Wow…that’s a beautiful pattern. I actually have the instructions for it that I printed out somewhere in my cubicle drawers. I’ve done a practice swatch on it, but just like Branching Out, I haven’t gotten yarn that I think does it justice yet. Column of Leaves is closer to something I could actually wear than Branching Out, too. Isn’t it just gorgeous? I totally love it more than Branching Out. Brooke should have submit it to Knitty. I think it would be as famous as Clapotis by now. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993/35 "2008-10-30T21:39:16Z")
I just found a cable needle in my change purse. Well, actually, it began life as a size 1 dpn, then I bent it into a U so I could use it as a hairpin. So it’s a multi-purpose cable needle, I can either knit with it or do my hair. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-missing-cable-needle-knitters-unite/469993.md?page=1)