Help Tubular knits

[kyrsyan]

Okay, I found something that I want to try for my son. Basically, it's a full body adult body/compression sox. I refuse to pay $75+ for something I can make. But I need an education in tubular knits. I've run across the small ones before, for necklines, cuffs, waistbands. I know that there are versions that are 30 to 32" across if you lay them flat like normal fabrics (two layers). But I found myself getting confused because I swear everybody and their brother has to list them different ways.
Can someone educate me on what to look for? Or point me to affordable versions of tubular knits in that size? Yes, I can take knits and make a nice long side seam. But my son would rip through a stitched side seam with little to know effort. A tube would last longer with holes.
Or does someone here have some they would sell? Two yards? Purple or blue?

 

[Broken Arrow]

I'm trying to envision what your looking for and am not seeing it. Do you have a pic or a link to what you are looking for?

 

[Samuel Adams]

I think I know what she’s after.


Lucky son !!


My mom was kinda boring in how she dressed me…..you know….jeans, t-shirt…..work boots……

15 min……though the gist is clear early on…..

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SOoJdafcciQ

 

[Broken Arrow]

The compression portion is what was confusing me. Compression garments are pretty specialized, and of a different materiel than a knit fabric.

 

[kyrsyan]

Samuel Adams, yes that is exactly it. And for pretty much the same reasons as that woman. He loves to pull blankets tight around himself and burrow. I already had to find new ways to do weighted blankets because he hated the bead ones. Thank heavens for a quilter friend with a longarm machine.

His sensory issues are so strong that he can only handle certain textures and levels of confinement by clothing. Denim was actually never accepted. Dress pants had issues before he even hit ten. Now it's one style of shorts and a few different styles of shirts. And only when in public. At home he makes togas out of his blankets. All soft and comfy.

Broken Arrow, it's not that type of compression. We've had those for him before, when he was younger. The ones made of neoprene were too uncomfortable for him and quickly outgrown. (And seriously expensive.)

For years we used the hunters tops that provided a milder compression. But he no longer likes tight things like that. From his reactions, it's because he doesn't have any control of it beyond putting on and taking off.

This would provide something similar to the Body Sox, which he loves but are not sized for adults. (And are stitched in ways that tend to rip for him. Thank heavens I can sew.) Right now I was just planning on a simple knit tube. And if he liked it, I would look for other textures. His favorite texture is the super soft minky fleeces but those are not available in stretch materials. He has a few other textures that he likes as well, so it will be an experiment.

 

[Samuel Adams]

Incidentally, tubular knits are a breeze, and YOU can determine the texture by fiber choice, yarn thickness (strand count) and needle size.

By educated guess, I’m saying that tube was knit up on size 17 circular needles, using 5-7 strands of typical worsted to bulky weight mohair yarn…….prolly cast on about 70-80 stitches…..

ETA…..looking at the “sock” pic in the right hand portion of the vid pic, I note that the stitch count may be more like 44-50, and so she must have used #19 needles.

7-9 strands mohair….

What a cuddly sleeping bag !!

 

[kyrsyan]

Incidentally, tubular knits are a breeze, and YOU can determine the texture by fiber choice, yarn thickness (strand count) and needle size.

By educated guess, I’m saying that tube was knit up on size 17 circular needles, using 5-7 strands of typical worsted to bulky weight mohair yarn…….prolly cast on about 70-80 stitches…..

Oh we're not heading to that level yet. Although if he likes them, we may get there. I haven't done crochet since I was a teen. And knits, never.

Right now my confusion is regular tube knits sold by fabric stores. There seems to be no consistency in labeling so I'm not sure what I'm looking at. Ironically, a few years ago when I was looking for them for cuffs, I couldn't find them at all. Now they are out there, but I am having problems figuring out which are which in the larger tubular knit sizes. The cuff sizes are pretty clearly labeled. The larger sizes seem to be a crazy mix of labeling. I'd go to the store to check on it with my own eyes, but none of the local stores carry them.

 

[kyrsyan]

So had some time to do some more digging. If what I found is correct, the material in the stores is measured by the width of the fabric when laid flat. So a 20" tubular knit is actually 40" circumference. And it turns out that his widest body part is 41". So I may get some at 20" and some at 22" and see what his reaction is.

Honestly, since they are just going to be big finished tubes, if he doesn't like them, the material can be reused for something else. If he shows that he likes the tube effect, just not the material, I can work from there.

Given that most of the info I can find is 6+ years old, I'm going to guess that this is one of the fabrics that goes in and out of popularity. So if I can find a texture that he likes, I think I'll stock up on it. There are some that aren't plain ribbed or smooth knits but instead are sweater knits, etc.

 

[Melodi]

To Knit (this is guesswork, I've never made one)

Measure your son's body with his arms against his side a the largest point (probable shoulders with arms down).

Knit a swatch of fabric at least 20 stitches long for about four inches wide in the yarn (or combination yarns) you intend to use). Measure your "swatch" width-wise for example if your 20 stitches are 5 inches long, your "gage" is 5 stitches to the inch. For a wide project, it might end up being 2 or 3 stitches to the inch on large needed it doesn't matter you just need to know what it is.

Then multiply this number, for example by 5, for five stitches to the inch by your son's largest measurement.

Then Knit a long tube, I don't think it would work as well in a regular stockinette stitch (K one row, then P one row flat or knit every row in the round).

Personally, I would make my swatch and the tube in a variation of Rib Stitch, probably K2 P2 for the entire thing. That would take more yarn but would expand or contract as your son put it on, it will look very skinny but actually has more fabric and will expand to his size but kind of hug him.

I would experiment first by making one that was just over his shoulders to his waist to see if he liked it.

I know the original poster doesn't knit and this would be very simple but also a very long first project, so I'm mostly posting this for other members. However, if you find someone to do it for you those are some suggestions.

Now if you know someone with a knitting machine that does large tubes for circular sweaters (some do) a friend or shop might be able to make this for you in an afternoon.

This is basically how I measure for sweaters and it is the EZ (Elizabeth Zimmerman) percentage method. Sweaters need more measuring but the core number is "the widest part you need to knit."

Hope this helps and good luck, Nightwolf was a high-functioning Aspie, I know all about sensory issues!

 

[summerthyme]

Okay, I found something that I want to try for my son. Basically, it's a full body adult body/compression sox. I refuse to pay $75+ for something I can make. But I need an education in tubular knits. I've run across the small ones before, for necklines, cuffs, waistbands. I know that there are versions that are 30 to 32" across if you lay them flat like normal fabrics (two layers). But I found myself getting confused because I swear everybody and their brother has to list them different ways.
Can someone educate me on what to look for? Or point me to affordable versions of tubular knits in that size? Yes, I can take knits and make a nice long side seam. But my son would rip through a stitched side seam with little to know effort. A tube would last longer with holes.
Or does someone here have some they would sell? Two yards? Purple or blue?

Try this for a source...

Search: 183 results found for "Tubular*"

When you're looking for quality wholesale fabric, look no further than Nick of Time Textiles. Contact us today for more information about our fabric.

nickoftimefabric.com

Summerthyme

 

[kyrsyan]

I'm looking there now. But they want $17 to ship me two yards. That's more than the cost of the fabric itself.

 

[summerthyme]

I'm looking there now. But they want $17 to ship me two yards. That's more than the cost of the fabric itself.

Ack.. if you can get your total up to 50 bucks, it ships free. As I wrote in another post, their "mystery boxes' are great deals... these aren't JoAnns quality fabric, but top quality commercial stuff...

Summerthyme

 

[kyrsyan]

It's really looking like I'm going to pull one of the knits I have tucked back to make the experimental one this weekend. And if he does indeed like it, then I'll go for an order of different styles and colors. Not looking forward to top stitching a 2 yard long, 40" circumference tube to keep the seam down, but I can handle it for one. And it is stretch knit. And if it holds, that opens up a whole field of 4 way stretch in different textures. Although the first ones will be simple cotton stretch knit, with no seams, that can always be the fallbacks.

I did find some adult sensory "sleeping bags" that are similar. On ETSY. And not super expensive for what they are. So I might just grab one of those if they can leave the bottom seam unsewn. He's not one for having his feet inside something unless he wants it that way.

 

[kyrsyan]

So a slightly different question. If he likes this, and I decide that I want to knit him some out of the types of yarns that match his sensory preferences, can the longer oval knitting looms be used to make a long tube?

 

[kyrsyan]

I decided to purchase one of the lycra compression sleep bags before I went nuts on buying fabric.

It arrived this past week and I got a surprise. He likes the material and the way it fits. So much so that he is walking all over the house in it.

So that leaves open options to see if he'll wear pants if I make them of similar mmaterial. I'm also wondering if he'll be willing to wear leggings.

That gives me another material that I can make some body tubes and bags from.
At least one more bag will get made so that it can go in his BOB. Probably two so that there is one in the van as well.

That was worth the money to see what his reaction was going to be. And means that I can legitimately justify spending $50 on materials to make more.