It's no secret that I don't see as well as I used to. Between eye infections and all-purpose aging, I need help. For most things glasses work just fine, but there are a couple of minor annoyances even with glasses. One is the teeny labels etched onto most circ needles - especially the ones smaller than US #4s.

Now, if I were one of the Super Organized, I'd have a system for storing my circular needles. Perhaps one of the sorting hanger thingies (see below), or a binder notebook full of pockets. But I have a lot of circs and little patience for filing things away, so I make do. Most of mine live in a hand-me-down wood box that once held a bottle of gift wine. The lucky few among them get replaced in their original packaging. Not all of my needles are lucky. The less fortunate among them live in an incestuous tangle, stuffed into that same wooden box. Figuring out which needle is which is always a challenge that involves finding the size gauge that's supposed to live in that same box, and playing "size me" until the right one turns up. Either that or calling over one of my offspring whose eyes function better than mine and having them do the squint work for me.


I'm not this organized.

Enter my latest acquisition, hot off the gadget rack at my LYS.



It's another clever invention from Nancy's Knit Knacks - the Circular Needle ID tag set. (No affiliation). Tags are packaged in two sets - one for US#0-4, and one for larger needles. (Engraved labels on larger needles are easier to see, so I didn't buy the larger set.)?

I can find and read these tags in my needle jumble with no trouble at all. Needle ID bliss! Of course one still has to remember to put the tag back on the needle after the project is over, and manage not to lose the thing in between - but that shouldn't be too hard. I've stapled the little plastic zip bag of tags in the circ box and will stow the tags there between uses.

I also note that Nancy's has been busy, issuing a new needle sizing gauge that goes down to 000 (always welcome, although I wish it went down to 00000), and an electronic version of the old katchaa-katchaa style counter. I don't use the things but I know that many people do swear by them. It looks like the electronic one can subtract, which is nice if you need to rip back. I'm surprised though that it seems to have only one memory register. It would be even more useful if it could remember two things at once (like total rows, and rows in the current repeat).

High tech

Low tech

No affiliation here between Nancy's and me. I am however impressed that they manage to identify and market to so many niche needs, including the whole Knit Kard info system, the yardage gauge, and the WPI tool. There are lots of companies selling knitting notions, but most seem to be content with the old standards. Nancy's is one of the few that seems to be actively seeking out innovation.