A question for knitters!
Do you push on the tip of your left needle with your right index finger to move stitches into place (for traditional L to R knitting: L index if you knit reverse)?
If so, what is the condition of your index finger? Check all that apply:
@knitting I wish there were more options available in surveys here!
The two projects I'm currently working on have rather stubborn resistance, so I've got quite a good callus going.
There's also a split that I have to consciously avoid, otherwise the tip goes deep and OUCH! 😬 😭
My small circular set is bamboo and larger set is wood. Tomorrow I am expecting delivery of metal replacements for my small set where the 2.0 mm split recently. Soon I'll get to see if I can manage smooth, slippery metal without the risk of dropping needles constantly. 😂
@Paws2Spindle I had to pick up my current sock-in-progress to figure out what I do.
My right index finger doesn't really interact with the needle tips, the closest it gets is when I wrap the working yarn. My left index finger does kind of push the right needle down and under the left needle (and through the stitch).
No calluses anywhere that I can tell.
@Pufferfish @Paws2Spindle I answered no but tbf I do *occasionally* do the pushing thing (tends to be with one particular brand of sock size needle, and it's my left index not the right).
I do get a callus on the side of my ring finger where a needle is usually resting though, so it's not all sunshine and daisies over here either 😅
@thegiddystitcher @Pufferfish @Paws2Spindle
Yeah, that calluses on the ring fiber is my friend as well.
A few times a year it has grown so thick that I can peel it off, about 2 mm thick.
@Pufferfish Yes! This is my question. Up to 66% now!
I suspect that many knitters do it, and it's so subtle that they don't realize it. For example, I was just watching this video and Norman does a light tap in the same movement as he's grabbing the stitch he just created on the right needle. It's so quick you might miss it, even if you're doing it yourself!
20 likes, 2 comments - asterism.23 on January 12, 2020: "@alertedsnake got video of me knitting on an airplane :) Yarn is @whitebirchfiberarts "Nothing Says Screw You Like a Rainbow," which is amazing and saturated and glowy with colour. 🌈🌈🌈 #knittingpirate #knit #knitting #handknit #knittingaddict #knittersofravelry #knittersofinstagram #instaknit #knittersgonnaknit #handknitsocks #socks #knitinpublic #operationsockdrawer #rainbow #ravelry".
@emery @Pufferfish Wow, you are a knitting machine! So quick and consistent! 😲
Those look like pretty slick DPNs, so probably doesn't take much to move the stitches along -- but just enough friction that they don't slide out when you're not working them!
@Paws2Spindle @Pufferfish They're cheap-o Susan Bates silvalumes - my favourite for sock knitting. I think I have three of these sets :)
https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/susan-bates-silvalume-sock-needle-set
@Paws2Spindle interesting: I do a tap with my left finger on my right tip, yet I'm still knitting in the same direction as Norman in this clip. Maybe because I hold the yarn in my other hand, so my right index finger is busy.
Insert needle, wrap yarn, tap to help pull right needle out, pull off left needle without any taps.
@cuillere_athee Ouch! So do you just move our push point around and try to remember to not hit that one spot?
That's basically what I've been doing, though I've developed a callous pad around the hole/crack.
Does that maybe also depend on the different knitting styles there are?
As a German, I think I'm knitting differently. But the nail on my right hand thumb has a nice little half moon decrease, where I'm sliding stitches further onto the right hand needle. Doesn't hurt right now, but the nail starts to hurt at some point, if I'm knitting to much.
Your option sounds very hurtful though.
@kathol From the replies, there are a myriad of differences in how everyone knits! I knit "continental" style, so probably similar to you, but even within that category, there seems to be a lot of variation in details of how you hold and work your needles and yarn.
My current method is indeed painful! I hope to find a solution that doesn't involve buying more expensive knitting equipment. 😅
@Paws2Spindle @knitting I need a "sometimes" option.
After someone at a local knitters meeting complained about it, I try to register what I do. Normally I try to have the "leaving" stitches so close to the end that I can just pull them off with the new stitch. And when they are not close enough anymore, I push the needle for two or three before deciding to get them closer to the end again.
Also I use normally quite large needles made of wood. I have the feeling that is less painful.
@Paws2Spindle @knitting I don’t usually tip-push when knitting as it hurts and I tend to lose stitches far too easily that way!
But … I do get callouses immediately (plural?) from hand sewing and instruments, plus ‘cos Reynauds, fingerprint scanners/touch screens are unreliable anyway.
@Kymberly Oof! Doesn't sound fun, but glad to hear you've not let that keep you down!
I avoid biometric logins as much as possible out of principle, but looking at the state of my finger the other day, I realized it could be problematic if I were highly dependent on it!
Mostly don't feel it, but no calluses. But a few times (or more than a few) I managed to poke the needle between finger and nail.
Ouch.
Or work very thin, very sharp needles I've poked through the skin.
Also ouch
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