Very very stupid question about circular knitting needles.

[pirouette]

How do you know which length of cable to choose?
I am a tearful wreck trying to knit a pixie boot (size 11 child foot) on size 6 needles with a 60cm cable and something is going horribly wrong.

The wool is very thick - super chunky.

Long cables would be for adult jumpers, medium for child ones and tiny for socks? I have never done this before but trying to knit the pixie boot with 5 needles was a nightmare.

To knit a boot in the round you either need to use DPNs, or a much longer cable so that you can use . I would go for about 100cm ideally.

can you link to the pattern as well? i am nosy

They are Elf Shoes by Pamela Wynne on Ravelry (I'm having a problem doing links) and they are gorgeous.

You are supposed to knit them on 5 dpns, which I started but ended up in a pickle just with the logistics of juggling all the needles.
By a miracle, the knitting has joined together and is forming a tube but there is about 50cm of nylon rope flapping about. I'm tempted to cut it and join it with sellotape.

Merry, just wait until I get to the technical part of 'shaping the heel' .

Cute! I have never felted anything on purpose like that. What wool are you using? Elf Shoes

I was utterly crap with DPNs for ages then practiced with just a hat, I have done a sock and you just have to trust the pattern.

It's quite a tricky pattern now I've read it I don't like short row heels or provisional cast ons much at all, I am quite a wimp though.

They look lovely! I would use 5 DPN, find that easier then a round needle, but then again I only use round needles for large collars.

I've no idea what is going on but somehow I've kitted 3 inches in a circle by pulling the plastic cable along a bit then the cunning plan is to divide the 32 stitches onto safety pins and turn the heel. It does not help having a hovering small child asking what 42x63 is or why is the living room floor flat.

I'm steeling myself for the wrap and turn part as i'm utterly clueless but am hoping all mistakes is forgiven when it comes to felting.

This is my fifth attempt and is now my Life's Mission.

The wool is Rico Creative filz print.

I made a tiny pair of duffers with the same wool and it shrinks around 50+%.

Complicated pattern and children not easy!

I would definitely always go for magic loop over DPNs - I have struggling with all the needles. Good luck!

Have you tried knitting on 2 circs? I do this sometimes. I bought a nice set of interchangeable for Christmas and I've got a variety of cable lengths, but find knitting in the round on 2 circs helpful for little fiddly projects like tiddly socks.

I suspect you have used Travelling Loop I have done that by accident in the past!
Link us to your project when they are done? I am getting braver but not quite brave enough yet

Well the safety pin idea did not work so I've now divided the 32 stitches on to the dreaded dpns.
The Elf Shoe is glaring at me. I'm scared.

Here is the part where my brain exploded....

'w&t' From the knit side: slip the next stitch purlwise. Bring yarn to the front of your work. Slip the slipped stitch back to the left needle and return the yarn to the back of your work. TURN
And if that wasn't bad enough, you knit over 15 stitches 'w&t'ing on the last one. Does that mean you just go for it over two needles?

What does she mean by turn? Are you flipping your knitting over to do the purl side or something else that I don't know about? I have the Fear.

You are knitting back and forth over the heel stitches, with 2 needles

Like knitting flat, you will end up with a heel

I don't like short row heels much. But yes, you are turning it round to purl across the back of the knitting.

tutorial for short row heels here

Thank you for the link - I had an Archimedes moment and am trying again.

Something shapewise actually happened although first attempt saw an obscene amount of wrapped stitches where they ought not to have been.

On the home straight now and thank you all for your help. It is a tricky pattern and my second attempt left large holes in the side but a definite pattern. I switched to dpns for turning the heel then back to the circular needle.
Not enjoying making these but I think the little girl I'm knitting them for will like them.

I hate dpns! They stick into me.

Magic loop is wonderful when you get the hang of it.