Removing kilt basting: the ideal tool!!

**Barb T** · 15th July 09, 12:52 PM

I just stumbled on the ideal tool for removing kilt basting - a knitter's cable stitch needle. It fits comfortably in your fingers and is easy to slip under basting threads to pull them out. The end is pointy enough to work but not pointy enough to snag the kilt. I've seen pics here on the forum of people slipping knife blades under kilt basting to remove it, and I've nearly had a heart attack!

NOTE! Since the time when I originally made this post, I have discovered that, if you use a plastic cable needle to take the basting out of more than a couple kilts, the thread actually wears deep grooves in the plastic. I now use a METAL cable needle!

Anyway, here are some pics:

Fits comfortably in the fingers.

Just slip under, and pull out.

**Bugbear** · 15th July 09, 01:02 PM

Neat! I just happen to have something a lot like that.

**sydnie7** · 15th July 09, 01:31 PM

Great repurposing of a tool! Where did you get that pretty yellow one, is it all plastic? I've only found metal ones, but haven't looked that hard (actually planning to use them for knitting, but one tool = two jobs is always better!).

**puckhead9** · 15th July 09, 02:39 PM

I will be sure to forward this to the Mrs. She is just finishing up her class with Elsie at Blandfords in Rancho Cucamonga. Thanks for the great tip!

**Barb T** · 16th July 09, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

Great repurposing of a tool! Where did you get that pretty yellow one, is it all plastic? I've only found metal ones, but haven't looked that hard (actually planning to use them for knitting, but one tool = two jobs is always better!).

Err, well, I found it under some papers on a table in our house when I was cleaning things up (heh heh). It belonged to our daughter, who's an avid knitter. I'll ask her where she got it.