A story about two needle brands

I decided to make a fun pair of sneaker liners, as a simple project to work in public while I knit the bigger, more complicated Agave top. I thought it would be fun to knit them in conjunction - two at a time, but on separate needles. Finally I thought I would try the HiyaHiya needles and compare them with Chiaogoos for sock knitting. I actually bought the HiyaHiya circulars a little while ago. One was slightly bent when it arrived in the mail. I straightened it out and it seemed fine, but that should have told me everything i needed to know. I also seem to need to keep relearning the same lessons, because I made the same observations about the two brands' double pointed needles back in 2019.

I cast the first sock on. the HihyaHiyas are very pointy, and split the splitty yarn quite a bit and bend if I lever too hard. After completing the cuff, heel and first set of stripes I cast the second sock on using a Chiaogoo circular. It is pointy, but not sharp. After completing the cuff, heel and first set of stripes i compare the two socks. the one on the HiyaHiya is loose and sloppy, I'm guessing as a result of me not wanting to bend the needle. I rip out the hiyaHiya sock, and knit on on the Chiaogoo.

The more positive outcome is that I've used the heel technique that I was experimenting with - simply put a one stitch garter edge to the heel flap, and it is my current favourite. Easy to work, easy to pick up, consistent and no holes.

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What I made, by Sharon

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