I got a strange question. Is there something a knitter can buy to cover the right index finger & the left hand thumb. I ask because when I’m knitting with small needles (that have sharp tips) it kills my index finger especially. You know what I mean…as your knitting you push the needle with your right index finger to transfer the new stitch to the right needle. I’m doing a cable pattern and it gets VERY tight and knitting the back of a cable row is painful.
I was thinking of a thimble but that would probably come off in a second.
i had the same problem when i knit with dpn’s. i usually just put platers on the effected fingers (a bit extreme i know, but it works). personally i think thimbles would get in the way of my knitting.plasters werent great as the needles would get caught on them and then rip them badly. so you then get sticky ends to the needles. a new problem to get over lol.
i’ll be interested to see what people surgesta s well
First, get out of the habit of using your finger to push the needle. If you have to, grasp the whole tip with a thumb and finger on either side and push that way. Second, knit looser and your stitches will move along the needle easier so you don’t have to push it.
I push until I get a hole then plug the hole with superglue.
suzeeq,
I’m also working on cables that can get very tight when crossing 6 over 6.
How do you knit loose enough while staying in gauge and not creating lace and ladders everywhere?
Maybe it’s easier for me because I knit on the needles I want, and don’t try to knit gauge. I use my own gauge and adjust the pattern.
Mostly I meant don’t pull on the yarn after you’ve made the stitch which makes the stitches tighter. Cables with more sts crossing can get very tight, but that’s just from knitting that many out of order, not being a loose or tight knitter. If you only crossed 3 sts, they wouldn’t be that tight. Also, the holes in cables disappear and the stitches even out when you wash or block the item when done.
I sometimes use 1/2" or 1" paper first aid tape to cover an area that is subjected to a lot of rubbing or chafing (like when I’m working with a stiff, scratchy fiber). A couple of layers of this might help!
It is very durable, edges don’t come up, yet it is easy to remove and leaves no residue.
I normally do one of two things. I either push the needle tip with the other needle, or if I use my finger I do it on the tapered side instead of directly on the point.
Although adjusting your method of transferring stitches is probably the best solution, in the meantime you might try “liquid bandage” or “liquid band-aid”. You just paint it on the affected part and let it dry and it forms a coating.
I used this years ago when I was doing a lot of quilting on a frame. Boy, did my fingertips get sore from the needle. The calluses that formed eventually helped, but meanwhile I used the liquid bandaid.
I was thinking about liquid band-aid when it happened to me, but wasn’t sure if it would work. Then I realized that my dd wants “real” band-aids when she has a boo boo, so I dropped the idea LOL
I try to remember to push off with my left thumbnail.
If I forget and start using my right forefinger (happens mostly with slip stitches), I stick on a small round leather patch that quilters use to avoid stabbing their fingers. It protects the finger and also reminds me to push off with the thumbnail.
I had that problem when I first started knitting, though I notice it’s not an issue as much any more.
What I did was go to an office supply store and buy those rubber thingies you use on your fingers to help you in sorting papers…sort of like a rubber thimble. Mine were bumpy, which snagged the yarn, so I turned them inside out, and it was perfect!
[FONT=“Comic Sans MS”][COLOR=“Purple”]All replies to this thread were very helpful and gave me additional ideas which I tested. I recently came across some ‘corn pads’ while searching thru the first aid closet which is the reason for my query (I burnt my finger tip on a scalding hot roasted marshmallow). Anyway, I took an adhesive ‘corn pad’ (round little disk with a hole in the center) and put a fingertip bandage over it. It provides the extra cushion I was looking for. Or, you could take a cotton ball and then wrap a fingertip bandage over it, also provides extra cushion![/COLOR][/FONT]:happydance:
Interesting topic. I had this problem when I was using sock skewers (DPNs). I put a bandaid on my finger, hated having it there, and it’s best purpose was to teach me not to do that anymore. I still sometimes slip up and poke myself. Sock skewers draw blood and I don’t want to ruin my yarn so I really try not to do it even with larger needles. Learning a new habit is better than patching up my fingers.
Hi Tammy and welcome to Knitting Help!
Ouch. Blisters, paper cuts on knitting fingers, what an added hurdle. Thanks for the tip. Anything to keep on knitting.
, or should i correct to bandaids, sorry must remember different words.