Man, I’ve been toughin’ it out with my Oregon sleeve lately and have had some “issues” — today, issues resolved!Â
I described the way I do my fair isle sleeves using the “magic loop” method. My method has been less than magical.  You need a very soft, pliable cable to do the magic loop method. Addis have changed their cable over the years (their timing sucks, btw) and it is now very stiff and unbendable. For most of my fair isle knitting, I use US 3’s and have them coming out of my whazzoo (sp?). However, A*St*rm*re yarn is heavier and so I am using a US 4. All my US 4 needles have the stiff cable except my 47″. That is just WAY too much cable to deal with! I have been on a quest at my LYS’s to find a better needle and finally found an older Turbo with the old, softer/thinner cable. I could probably have ordered needles from KnitPicks, but thought I would shop around first. I know that Inox has some (out of production) and Susan Bates (not in the size or type I needed), so I hunted. The difference with the new needle is truly amazing and is making my knitting SO much easier!!
MAGIC LOOP
I know many of you know this technique, but a couple of readers asked for details. Here is the single loop method:
I simply pull the excess cable length between two sts about halfway around from where I am.  I knit to the loop and then pull the excess out half way around again, etc. When the sleeve gets too small for the needle tips to feel comfortable, I switch to a modified double loop. In standard magic loop, you pull out the RH needle, form a loop, and then knit across the cable:
I don’t care to strand (or plain knit for that matter) across the cable. It is difficult to maintain stitch size and just feels WRONG. My modification is to pull the second loop out a few sts back on the RH needle. Therefore you are always knitting and stranding across the regular needle tip:
This picture shows how it looks when the sleeve gets very small, toward the cuff (I’m not there yet!). You continue to knit on a long-tipped needle (unlike a 12″ circular with itty-bitty, short tips), you get the benefit of the magic loop AND you strand across a regular needle (not a dpn). When I get to the first loop, the other loop is already positioned about halfway around, so I pull the second one a few sts back from the RH tip. I keep going in this way for the whole sleeve. I hope this makes sense and is not too technical and boring ;).Â
I will use the 32″ ‘ for the entire sleeve since they did not have a 24″ with the thinner cable. I am on a roll, my knitting peeps!
Interesting. I haven’t been troubled by knitting across the cable, but then I’m not stranding. Thanks for the tip (no pun intended)!
Comment by AuntieAnn — February 6, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
You mean you can’t buy the Inox with the black cords any more? What?
Comment by surly — February 6, 2007 @ 10:42 pm
From Susan — Bobbi at Amazing Threads told me that Inox is discontinued and that Susan Bates now owns/distributes them (?). I don’t know, I’m just a customer! All I know is I like my cables thin…
Auntie Ann: I really haven’t used the loop method much on plain knitting — maybe it would be okay that way.
PS — One point I am also trying to make is that there are many ways to get things done and if an extra tool in your technique toolbox is helpful, then great!
Comment by lv2knit — February 6, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Thank you. I am definitely going to try this when I get to the sleeves on Donegal. Soon I hope.
Comment by Hope — February 6, 2007 @ 11:37 pm
Gorgeous!
Comment by Carol — February 7, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
AAAAAH! AH! I get it! Perfectly logical, and just what I need! I’ve been snarling at my stranding on a Latvian mitten, and this is just the cure. The cable keeps getting in my way, and it’s tough to keep correct tension at the breaks. Oh, I adore you, you are a genious, and bless you for sharing. BTW, the KnitPicks cable is the MOST supple of them all – and I have a large collection of circs to compare them to. You won’t be sorry if you try them.
Comment by Nessa Zimmerman — February 7, 2007 @ 4:57 pm