Do you know what these are for?

[llnmaw]

I was given this nifty set of older Boye needles with a cool retro case and everything.

See here: http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...s/DSC09248.jpg

Fun looking huh?

I'm sure baffled by what these are though!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...s/DSC09249.jpg

Close up of blue round thing:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...s/DSC09251.jpg


The little blue bar is threaded at both ends and seems to fit on the flexible part of the circs (does that part have a name?) . The needle tips do not fit on the end of the blue bar though. Thought perhaps it was a an extension piece.

The little blue disks - I have NO IDEA!

The little metal piece with the loop on the end fits into a little hole that is on the end of the flexible part of the circs - sort of near where the needles would attach. It also fits into a little hole on the side of the blue bar.Neither the holes or the hook-y bar are threaded.

Confused........

Any insight?

~L.

[courtenay_e]

Hmmmm...it looks like the Denise sets I've seen...so perhaps going on THEIR website and looking around will clue you in? Good luck (I am sure that somebody here will know exactly what those parts are for, but I'm too green to know!)

[NorthernPixie]

Could it possibly be a drop spindle? I've seen instructions on how to make one (but I never did it) and the pieces kind of looked like those shapes. SOMEBODY here MUST know what it is!

[fek&fuzz]

I think the blue thing keeps the yarn on the wires when you take the needles off for another project.

[llnmaw]

Originally Posted by fek&fuzz

I think the blue thing keeps the yarn on the wires when you take the needles off for another project.

I think you are on to something here.

After closer inspection - the little blue disks are threaded and fit the bendy pieces. It makes sense that those could be put on after taking the needles off to keep the project in place.

Now about the blue bar and the little metal hooks?

Gonna go check out Denise sets and google a drop spindle.

Thanks for your thoughts so far!
~L.

[bu's mama]

They are in the Boye set I have....

the blue cylinder is to make longer lengths of the ciruclars.

the wire with the eye on the end goes through the holes on the cylinder & the needles to tighten when attaching everything together.

the disk is to put on the end of a cable if you want to use it like a straight needle.

[Sagesgirl]

Originally Posted by bu's mama

They are in the Boye set I have....

the blue cylinder is to make longer lengths of the ciruclars.

the wire with the eye on the end goes through the holes on the cylinder & the needles to tighten when attaching everything together.

the disk is to put on the end of a cable if you want to use it like a straight needle.

Yep.

[llnmaw]

Originally Posted by bu's mama

They are in the Boye set I have....

the blue cylinder is to make longer lengths of the ciruclars.

the wire with the eye on the end goes through the holes on the cylinder & the needles to tighten when attaching everything together.

the disk is to put on the end of a cable if you want to use it like a straight needle.

Well now, thank you so much! I've got it...

That totally cleared up all my questions.

Yay!
~L.

[feminist~mama]

Knit picks calls the wire with a hook a "key" and it is used for tightening the tip to the cable.

[cristeen]

The blue round thing is a cable "cap" - like the pp said, it's good if you want to use the needles as straights. But they're also good if you need the needle tips for another project and you still have a project on the cable. Detach the tips and screw on the caps and your project won't slide off the cable.

The small metal cylinder is a cable extender, it's for fitting 2 cables together, in case you need a longer cable. The longest Boye's cable is still fairly short, so the extender allows 2 to be put together for larger projects.

And you always want to use the key for tightening your needle tips to your cable, or they'll come unscrewed as you knit, which is a PITA. The key just allows you to get a good grip on the cable.