The Swift [Accessory/Tool/Needle Bag]

[summergal]

I just received my Swift and I LOVE IT! Here is a suggestion...
Perhaps a needle storage bag that would fit inside of the Swift. Something similar to a roll bag in the same fabric as the Swift. Everything on the market looks like they were made at a craft fair. Thanks again for the great bag!
Cheryl Szink

[indigo]

That would be fantastic! I've been using a medium organizer pouch to hold my Harmony interchangeable set and one pouch holds the whole set very compactly. I use these springs to keep the pairs of tips together: http://knitpicks.com/Coil+Knitting+N...lNdlHldrs.html

The same pouch would work well for double pointed needles or circulars, but wouldn't keep them organized.

The roll up version could be used for all kinds of tools and art supplies for different crafts....brushes, pencils, knitting needles, crochet hooks, scrapbooking tools. And the button closure on the Swift is something I think could work well as a closure on a needle roll: adjustable and won't get tangled in the yarn.

[Darcy]

That's a great idea.

Can you give us an idea of what sizes (lengths especially) of needles and other tools you would want to fit in it, and how many?

[indigo]

This is what I need to carry around in terms of knitting tools:

• interchangeable set (9 sets of needle tips, 5 - 8 cords, sizes 3.25 mm - 6.5mm)**
• a few sets of double pointed needles (6"-8" long, sets of 4-5 needles, sizes 3mm - 5 mm)
• needle gauge **
• crochet hook **
• tape measure
• sewing needle case
• stitch markers
• small scissors**

** indicates photo below

Now a very long explanation of what this all means...
Needles:
Different knitters use different kinds of needles or a combination of them. There are straight needles, circular needles, interchangeables and double-pointed needles. For example I use circulars/interchangeables for most knitting, and double-pointed needles for socks and small projects.

I primarily use and carry around my interchangeable needle set, so something that could accomodate that would be great. The needle tips are separate from the cords:


(needle gauge, crochet hook, smallest needle tip, largest needle tip)


(cords)

The length of each needle tip is 4.5". The sizes range from 3.25mm to 6.5mm (do you speak metric?? I'm using it because it's a more precise measurement) which means that a 3.25mm needle is 3.25mm wide and 3.25 deep. (Hope that doesn't sound condescending...I'm trying to give as much info as possible without you having to run out and buy sets of needles! :) ) The cords are very flexible.

Double pointed needles come in 6" and 8" lengths and sizes range from 1mm - 8mm and higher (though I wouldn't worry about accomodating the much larger sizes)

Other tools:
The crochet hook in the first photo will give you an idea of the length of the average crochet hook. The hook is 5 inches long; the needle gauge is 6.25" long x 1.5" wide.

Offhand Designs has a great layout for their tool cases: http://offhanddesigns.com/comparison_clutches.html Personally I would use the "Traveler" size and style the most. At that size, when it's rolled up, it could fit in one of the big vinyl pockets in my Swift, or could fit along the side of the inside without getting in the way. I love that the pockets are different widths and depths. I also love it that there is a zipped pocket for odds and ends. I always have small bits like stitch markers, sewing needles and my tape measure that wouldn't work in an open pocket. The clear vinyl you use for the organizer pouches would be great on one side so that you can see what's in the pocket. Kinda like this! :)



And having an o-ring or two to clip stuff to would be awesome! I can't tell you how handy my scissors are now when I've got them clipped to a key strap.

Does that help?

I can definitely see myself with 2 of these: one for knitting tools and one for my art supplies. I'm a little giddy with the thought. (Do you hear the murmurs coming from the other side of my couch asking if I'm looking at bag porn again? :) Ignore him...he's just jealous that bags are my first love.)

[Darcy]

That is incredibly helpful, indigo. Thank you! Tom might be posting to ask you two a few more questions.

We'll have two prototypes of this new tool-kit Swift accessory to test, and we'd like to send them to you guys (summergal and indigo). Summergal, can you PM me your address? Indigo, I think I have yours already. :)

Expect the prototypes sometime in April/May/June.

[indigo]

Ask all you need to. The back and forth "design" work is one thing I love about you guys. And yes you have my address. And email. I'm going to draw the line at my Health Card # though...

I look forward to testing it. Want colour suggestions? ;)

[yarnstore]

I like the idea of a needle case designed to go with your Swift knitting bag. I have multitudes of untamed needles in all dimensions--from tiny sock needles only 4" long to 60" long circular needles. (I'm not a huge fan of straight needles.)

I use the Denise Interchangeable Needles and a nice case for those would be so welcome. They are similar to the needles pictured above in a previous post--they come with several cables, needle tips and small connectors. The case the needles come in is bulky and a big space-waster in knitting bags.

Just thought I would add my opinions to this post :)

Amanda
Amanda's Art-Yarn
Poulsbo WA

[mrae]

It would be nice to have something that works for those of us who don't have the special interchangeable needles. Indigo, do you think that most knitters have interchangeable sets? I have a case for my straight needles but would something like you're suggesting work for regular circular needles?

[indigo]

I think that it will. In fact, I used Offhand Designs' Traveler Clutch as an example because the layout will accomodate circulars and straight sock needles. Something that has pockets that will accomodate circulars, will also accomodate the cords for an interchangeable set. Pockets that accomodate sets of sock needles, will accomodate the needle tips for an interchangeable set. The goal should be to create something that is as useful to as many people as possible, knitters and non-knitters alike.

You should list the kinds of things you'd like to be able to put in a tool kit here in the forum. The more input Tom and Darcy have, the better the case will be.

[aiethabell]

Things I'd like to see on a needlecase:

TWO snaps, not just one, on opposite outside upper corners. I'd like one to clip it onto my Swift, and the other for scissors on a lanyard, or a tape measure on a lanyard, or... you get the idea. Right now I clip 3 things onto two different o-rings on my Swift, and they tangle easily. The second snap could be reduced to just an o-ring, like the Swift attachment points, if cost is an issue. I just want another place to hook on items I'm carrying!

One interior snap, like what's in one of the Swift pockets, for other loose items you need and lose easily, but don't need as often as, say, scissors.

Perhaps an integrated sleeve-pocket on the outside of the fabric side, sized to hold a business card. Once that needlecase is filled with the usual tools, it will represent a significant dollar amount. I'd like to give it every chance to get back home to me if it gets unfastened, but not with an exterior dog tag or something similar, which would just be a place to get yarn hung up on it.

Most of the other needlecases on the market are more *colorful* than my taste allows. I'd like a simple but visible case. I also use Denise needles, which come in a case clearly marked 'knitting needles' but that case is huge, full of empty space, which hogs up a carry-on bag. I currently carry the lot in a medium clear/dyneema pouch and am forever digging for the pieces I need. Dropping one on a bus/Sounder/plane is an experience I don't like. I'd like the organization a dedicated case would give.

I would prefer at least one see-through window in the final knitting needle case for those of us who fly. TSA/BAA get all antsy when they can't see what you're carrying on. If the case ends up solid fabric, maybe a clear window option could be offered for those of us who travel? I'd pay more if I had to, to get that option.

[Tzporah]

I would prefer at least one see-through window in the final knitting needle case for those of us who fly. TSA/BAA get all antsy when they can't see what you're carrying on. If the case ends up solid fabric, maybe a clear window option could be offered for those of us who travel? I'd pay more if I had to, to get that option.

I wouldn't worry too much about a clear window. I fly quite a bit with my full set of Harmony needles plus the fixed circs in size 0-3 in my case (it was made for me by a friend) and the TSA has never even once pulled my bags aside because of it. Before the Harmony needles came out, I flew with a Boye set in it's original case and they never blinked at that either.

ETA: I'd like a small project sized case so I don't have to bring everything with me when I go somewhere. If I'm only using two sets of tips, a few cables and a crochet hook, it would be nice to leave the rest at home.

[mrae]

I'd like to see something that would work for straight needles. My interchangeable set came in a small box which I just put in the swift and everything else fits neatly in one of the large pouches which I clip to the bag.
I choose straight needles though if they're an option and nothing I have seems to work for that. A lot of knitters use straight instead of the circular ones which most of those who've posted here refer to. Hopefully a Tom Bihn case will accommodate those of us who use longer needles. I've seen needle cases for them that are material that rolls and contains the needles. I'd love something like that in sapphire.
Someone mentioned the clutches on the offhand design site. Something like their deluxe bag that fits longer straight needles would be great. Or something tube shaped like the picture or even a long thin pouch?

[DQBunny]

Yeah, I'm resurrecting this from the distant past, but I was reading through this while trying to decide if I wanted to order a Swift right now or not and wanted to know whatever happened to the prototype and/or development of a needle bag?

[mrae]

Yeah, I'm resurrecting this from the distant past, but I was reading through this while trying to decide if I wanted to order a Swift right now or not and wanted to know whatever happened to the prototype and/or development of a needle bag?

Thanks for bringing this up. I was excited thinking about a needle bag and then noticed my post and realized this is a very old thread. I rarely use straight needles any more and would love a needle bag that would work with one of my interchangeable sets plus a few extra items already mentioned earlier in the thread.

What kind of feedback came back on the samples that went out? Did this get put on the back burner because of the synapse and other new products or is it not going to be developed?

There was a long discussion on Ravelry about best knitting bags and the Swift came out on top (in my opinion). Aside from the other great features the stuff bag was unique among bags. A matching needle bag would be ideal.

[DQBunny]

There was a long discussion on Ravelry about best knitting bags and the Swift came out on top (in my opinion). Aside from the other great features the stuff bag was unique among bags. A matching needle bag would be ideal.

I actually just read that thread! It was a big part of my lust for a Swift increasing. I think I may nudge my dear fiancé toward the Tom Bihn site with this at the top of my Christmas wish list (along with a set of Harmony interchangeables, but a girl can only want so much!). I've seen various bags housing the interchangeable sets, but the plastic to me looks like it would just chip and tear after some hard use.