Knitting Needles

knitting needles and yarn

There are all sorts of knitting needles on the market, in all sorts of sizes and materials. There are straight needles, circular needles and double-pointed needles in metal, plastic, wood and other materials. How do you know which needles are the right ones to use for your project?

Where to Buy Needles

You can buy knitting needles at almost any craft or knitting supply store. Locally you can often find knitting supplies at the following retailers, many of which also have online stores:

If there are no stores nearby or you just don't feel like getting out, you can buy them online:

Having a variety of needles to use is part of the enjoyment of knitting.

Finding the Right Size

When you choose a project to knit, the pattern will tell you what size needles were used to make the piece. In the United States, needles commonly range in size from 0 to 35, with 0 being the smallest and 35 the largest. Other countries use the metric system.

In a perfect world, you could read a pattern, pick up knitting needles of the size mentioned and just start knitting. Everything would turn out fine. But every knitter knits a little bit differently. Some people knit very tightly, while others have stitches that are loose. To ensure that your work turns out looking (and fitting) the way it is supposed to, your pattern will also include a gauge measurement. Gauge has to do with how many stitches fit in an inch and how many rows knit in pattern make an inch or four inches. The pattern may say something like 12 stitches equals four inches in pattern on size 10 needles. That means if you knit 12 stitches and 12 rows in whatever pattern is used in the pattern on size 10 needles, your swatch should measure four inches.

If you don't get four inches, you'll need to change the size of your needles and knit another swatch. If your piece is too small (you need fewer stitches per inch), use larger needles. If your piece is too big (need more stitches per inch), use smaller needles.

The best way to tell what size your needles are is to invest in a gauge ruler. This little metal ruler is much more portable than a standard ruler or tape measure, so you can carry it around in your bag to measure gauge swatches, but it also has holes that correspond to the size of most common needle sizes. Just slide the needle into each hole. The one that it fits snugly in tells you what size needle you have.

Needle Composition

Knitting needles are made out of all sorts of materials. The most common and widely available are aluminum and plastic. Aluminum and plastic are used to make inexpensive needles in a wide variety of sizes.

Wooden needles are also popular. They are often made of birch or bamboo but can also be found made of rosewood, cherry or other hardwoods. Some people prefer wooden needles because of the feel of the needles and the fact that they don't click like aluminum needles. Others prefer aluminum and plastic because they are smooth and quick to knit on.

A newcomer to the knitting needle scene is casein needles. Made from a protein in cow's milk (not vegan friendly), these needles are said to make for smooth and effortless knitting and are very light. And some places make glass needles, if you want some needles that will really get noticed.

When you are first starting to knit, try needles made of many different materials to find out which feels best. There's no right needle to use with a particular yarn, so use what you like and what you can afford.

Varieties of Knitting Needles

Needles come in three varieties: straight, circular and double-pointed. Straight needles can be used for most projects: scarves, bags, small blankets, wraps and ponchos, even small clothing items that are stitched flat and sewn together, such as sweaters and tank tops. Most people start knitting on straight needles, and you can do a lot of projects with them.

Circular needles are two points attached to a (usually plastic) cable. The cables come in different sizes, and some companies sell interchangeable needles where you can buy a set of ends and a set of cables and make a variety of needles out of the same set. You can use circular needles to make tubes, such as hats, sweaters or bags without side seams. They are also useful for large flat projects such as afghans or scarves stitched horizontally, because the cable can hold more stitches than a straight needle and the project sits in your lap rather than off the end of one needle, causing less strain.

Double-pointed needles are short, usually aluminum, needles with points on both ends. They are mostly used for making socks. You could knit your whole life and never need a set (usually four or five are sold together), but if you want to make socks, this is the way to go.

Storage for Needles

Storing knitting supplies, including needles, is important to keep your project running smoothly.

  • Keep a knitting bag or container to hold the project your are working on.
  • Use empty oatmeal containers with tops to hold shorter needles.
  • Buy a special plastic bin for knitting needles.
  • Use a rubber band to keep a set of needles together.

Storing your needles properly will keep them in good condition and make them easy to find when you are ready to knit.

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