HOLIDAY CHEER theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 28 1/31/27 1/31/27 1/31/27 CREATIVECORNER Are You Inspector Gadget or Suzy Simple? By Carolyn Hanson Needle Stoppers- These adorable kitschy rubbery shapes cover the ends of knitting needles, so stitches don’t fall off. OR - Use a rubber band OR - Push your knitting away from the needle tips before putting it down. Barber Cord - This thin colorful tubing fits snugly onto the tip of your circular knitting needles. Once attached, you can easily push the stitches onto the cord and then try on your garment to check the size or hold all stitches while the needles can be used for another section of the garment/project. When ready to resume knitting, just slide the stitches back onto the needle. Quick and easy. OR - Thread a tapestry needle with a long piece of thin yarn, or dental floss, and transfer all stitches onto the scrap yarn. Later, carefully insert the needle back into each stitch. Takes a bit longer, but it works. Magic Ring Guide - And for the crocheters, this gadget aids in creating the notorious Magic Ring: the tight circle at the center of a circular motif or project, e.g., the crown of a hat. This rectangular gadget holds the yarn so the hook can grab it and then twist the yarn to start the double circle before beginning the first round of stitches. OR - Create your own using cardboard. OR - Keep watching YouTube videos and wrapping the yarn around your fingers until you get it. So, now the only question is...are you Inspector Gadget or Suzy Simple? Hmmmmm? olunteering in the Kitchen tent at the Atlantic Visiting Nurse Rummage sale has brought me much joy and the need to perpetually ask, “What is this thingy, and how would it be used?” We are truly a society that loves its gadgets. It had me thinking about the many gadgets used in knitting and crochet and why we do or don’t need them. Most are cost/no cost decisions. Here are a few favorites… Pompom Maker - These come in various sizes to create thick, dense pompoms great for hats, scarves and general trims. They are easy to use, and each pompom is the same size. OR - Make your own with a bit of cardboard from any cereal box, a quarter and a drinking glass. Make 2. To make the pompom, cut 10’ of yarn and sandwich it between the 2 cutouts. Fully cover the entire cutout starting at one edge of the “C” moving back and forth from one end to the other. Continue until the entire center is completely filled with yarn. With sharp scissors, cut between the 2 cardboard pieces on the outer edge without cutting the 10’ yarn. Tightly tie the center yarn. Remove the cardboard to reuse. Fluff the pompom and trim the ends so it’s dense and round. Row Counter - This gadget helps track the number of rows completed. Useful for counting rows between increases/decreases or cable turns. It can be a ring for your index finger, a barrel design on your knitting needle, or beads on a string. OR, use a pen and paper to track rows completed. With either method, if you forget to record the completed row, you’ve lost count. OR, learn to count the rows by reading your work. V
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