Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02233890 1998-04-02
Docket 97-3391
A KNITTING NEEDLE WITH MEASURING INDICIA
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention pertains generally to a measuring
means for use on knitting needles and more specifically,
is directed to the marking of indicia on knitting
needles for use by knitters to assist in determining the
amount of yarn to be used to obtain a desired effect of
tension for width and length in a knitted work piece.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art of knitting has long been known. However,
the production of quality, one-of-a-kind, garments has
been limited to those possessing natural talent or
learned skill in the art. Those with or without
superior skills in the art can encounter problems such
as non-uniformly knitted patterns and inconsistent sizes
if gauge instructions are not followed accurately.
Gauge is the number of stitches to fill a
particular area and is measured from the number of
stitches per unit width and the number of rows per unit
length. Adjusting to obtain the proper gauge can be
accomplished by changing either the needle diameter, the
weight of yarn, and the tension in the yarn, or all of
the aforesaid. Stated differently, the tension at
which the working strand of yarn is held, the yarn's
weight and the diameter (sometimes referred to as the
size) of the needles, control and determine the gauge
and the finished size of the knitting. Since every
knitter holds the yarn with a slightly different
tension, it is highly desirable that the gauge be
checked and followed for proper fit of a knitted
garment. Usually, a set of instructions for a knitting
pattern contemplates this, and states the gauge
requirements.
Gauge is the number of stitches to fill a
particular area and is measured from the number of
stitches per unit width and the number of rows per unit
length. In most English speaking countries the length
and width measures are on a per inch basis, although
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more recently they are measured on a per centimetre
basis. Beehive (trade mark) pattern instructions
published by Patons & Baldwins suggest that gauge should
be checked with stocking stitch. If the knitter works
to the correct gauge in stocking stitch, it is asserted
that the knitter will naturally work to the correct
gauge in a pattern stitch.
As all knitters do not knit exactly alike,
instruction books advise knitters to take the yarn and
needles quoted in the pattern and work a small sample
piece, i.e. a swatch, about 4 inches (10 cm) square in
stocking stitch, before starting to knit a garment. In
this method, the knitter is able to then check the gauge
by placing a tape measure or ruler along the stitches
and rows and count how many stitches and rows there are
to the inch (2.5 cm). If there are more stitches than
required, a larger diameter needle is sometimes advised.
If there are fewer stitches than required, a smaller
diameter needle is sometimes advised. The needles
specified in the pattern instructions are only suggested
sizes (diameters) and it may be necessary for the
knitter to change the needle size so that they can knit
in their usual way and still produce the correct gauge.
It will be understood that when a needle size needs to
be changed in order to adjust the gauge, all needle
sizes quoted in the pattern instructions must be reduced
or increased proportionally.
If the swatch has too many stitches or rows per
inch than the specified gauge, then the work is too
tight. Making up another swatch using the next size
larger needles until the proper gauge is obtained, is
advised. If the swatch has too few stitches or rows per
inch, then the work is too loose. The use of a smaller
needle to obtain the proper gauge is advised. The size
of the needle used does not matter as long as the gauge
matches the gauge indicated in the directions in the
pattern instructions.
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Many knitters are not inclined to make swatches.
Instead, they just start pattern stitching and adjust
accordingly. Currently, unskilled and skilled knitters
employ the use of rulers and measuring tapes when
pattern stitching. However, it can be frustrating
working with three items with two hands. At times, it
is common for the measuring tape to get tangled with the
yarn.
An object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus which overcomes disadvantages of the prior
art. It is a related object to provide a knitter
with a measuring scale with which to use to measure
their gauge while knitting, and thus eliminate the need
for a separate measuring instrument, such as a ruler or
measuring tape.
SZJMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
In accordance with the teachings of the present
invention, a knitting needle is provided with measuring
indicia along a length of the knitting needle.
In one embodiment, the knitting needle has equally
distributed measuring indicia along the length.
Preferably the measuring indicia are given to
denote either one of, or a combination, of millimetres,
inches, half-inches and quarter inches.
In one embodiment, the plurality of measuring
indicia are marked on a surface of the knitting needle.
In another embodiment, each measuring indicia is
continuous around a circumference of the needle.
In a further embodiment, each measuring indicia is
discontinuous around the circumference of the needle.
In a preferred embodiment, the measuring indicia
extend continuously along the whole length of the
knitting needle surface.
In an embodiment, the measuring indicia are
arranged in a discontinuous manner along the length of
the knitting needle surface, to provide space between
adjacent lengths of measuring indicia.
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In a further embodiment, indicia are substantially
spirally provided on the knitting needle in contiguous
relationship along the length of the knitting needle.
In a another embodiment, the knitting needle is a
circular knitting needle.
Preferably, the indicia which is provided on the
needle's surface extends and runs at least a portion of
the length of the needle for measuring a consistent
length of yarn to knit uniformly or to follow a pattern.
The present invention is advantageous in that
skilled and unskilled knitters are provided with a means
to facilitate uniform knitting and to facilitate the
following of patterns.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention
will be apparent from the detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
The invention will be more fully understood in view
of the drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a top view of a swatch laid flat on a
surface, with two rulers being used to measure gauges,
by counting the number of rows and stitches there are to
an inch.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of
the invention of an elongated knitting needle, with one
pointed end.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention, in
yet another embodiment, where the knitting needle is
circular, with two pointed ends.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of yet another
embodiment of the invention of an elongated knitting
needle, with two pointed ends and where measuring
indicia are substantially spirally provided along the
length of the knitting needle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
The present invention relates to a knitting needle
to aid in uniform knitting or to aid knitters to follow
knitting patterns uniformly. Figure 1 shows a swatch 10
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of knitted material which has been used heretofore for
calculating gauge and thus indicating whether the
knitter needs to alter tension or knitting needle size.
The knitted swatch 10 comprises stitches 11 which are in
rows 12. The swatch 10 is typically about 4 inches
square. A knitter then places a ruler 13 against the
swatch and counts the number of stitches or rows per
inch, thus obtaining the gauge.
The present invention provides a knitting needle
upon which measuring indicia are provided along at least
a portion of the length of the knitting needle. Figure
2 shows an example with a straight knitting needle 15.
Starting about 1 inch from the needle tip 16 and for an
additional 8 inches, every quarter inch there is a
narrow mark 17 disposed about the circumference of the
needle. The narrow marks are the measuring indicia used
in the present invention.
In use, the knitter counts the number of stitches
per inch of work piece in progress, using the measuring
indicia 17, and the count is the gauge of the stitch.
To calculate gauge for rows, the knitting needle 15 is
placed flat against the work piece and the number of
rows along one inch of the marked indicia of the needle
is determined.
Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2 except that the
knitting needle 20, instead of being straight, is in a
substantially circular configuration. Knitting needle
20 has measuring indicia 21 thereon.
Each of the measuring indicia may be continuous
around the circumference of the knitting needle, i.e. in
a ring around the needle. This is a preferred
arrangement, to allow the user to count the number of
rows without having to adjust the knitting needle either
longitudinally or rotationally. Alternatively, the
indicia may be discontinuous around the circumference of
the knitting needle, In another embodiment, the indicia
may be discontinuous around the circumference of the
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needle, but staggered such that when viewing any one
profile view of the needle, indicia may be seen only
every half-inch. The invention is useful for all sizes
of knitting needle, e.g. from 1.75 mm to 10 mm in
diameter.
Figure 4 is similar to Figure 2 except that the
measuring indicia 22 comprises a line or lines in a
spiral on the surface of knitting needle 15.
It will be understood that although the measuring
indicia may extend over the entire length of the needle,
it is more cost effective to have the indicia extend
along only a part of the needle, For example, if the
needle is 10 inches long, the indicia may extend only 6
or 7 inches, and may not be present immediately adjacent
the tip 16 of the needle.
The indicia may be arranged in a discontinuous
manner along the length the knitting needle, i.e. the
indicia is interrupted at some portions of the length of
the needle, for example at the point where one would
normally be holding the needles when knitting.
Alternatively, parts of the needle may have indicia
other than the measuring indicia for decorative effect.
In addition to being useful, the invention may
yield aesthetic visual effects. The indicia are
preferably narrow lines, but some or all of the lines
may be coloured. For example, every inch mark may be in
red and intervening marks may be black. Alternatively
the indicia may comprise images of pets, flowers, babies
or other designs. The indicia may be applied to the
knitting needle by known means, e.g. by hot stamping,
printing.
The indicia provided in the present invention
provides a tool for knitters to enhance the uniformity
of their knitted work pieces by allowing users to
calculate their gauge on the fly while knitting, with
ease.
The specific embodiments and examples set forth
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above are provided to illustrate the invention and are
not intended as limiting. Additional embodiments within
the scope of the claims will be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
