Just warm the cable. I sometimes sit on mine, but you can run the cable thru steam if you like.

As for easy knit baby afghans, try the grandmother's favorite dishcloth pattern, holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together as one, and make it as big as you want. If you want it 36" sq., knit until it measures 36" from the beginning to the point where your needle is waiting, not across the row you are knitting, then start decreasing. Simple and cozy warm!

Tami

I would not put wood or bamboo in water.

I agree with Shielajoyce about putting wood or bamboo in water. And I think using steam or sitting on them only works for a little while and they go back to their original shape. I have only found it annoying when using shorter circulars. When making an afghan or other piece that uses the longer needles, it hasn't really bothered me.

Some brands of needles are more stubborn than others.

Try blowing the cable with a hairdryer. Some of the bamboo needles have really stubborn cords. If you like wood needles with a very flexible cord, check out Knitpicks's Harmony line. Below is a link to free baby afghan patterns.

Here is a link that might be useful: Baby afghans