Knitting Needles

So you have the yarn, what else do you need? Let’s see… hmmm… ohhh, needles, right! While there aren’t quite as many varieties of needles as yarn, there are a few. The two basic options you’ll encounter are whether you need straight needles or circular needles. Circular needles, as both their name and shape imply, allow you to knit in circles, ultimately creating a tube.
Straight needles come in two sub-varieties, single and double-point. Double-point straight needles help create pieces similar to those created using circular needles, typically round or tubular pieces like socks. Single-point straight needles are the stereotypical knitting needles. With a point at one end and a circular nub at the other, single-point needles are used for flat items like afghans or scarves.

After you figure out which type of needle will work best for your project, figure out which size you’ll needle. Er, need. It may sound more daunting than it actually is, since most patterns suggest a needle size and you’ll begin to get the hang of which sizes work best for which projects as you become more and more experienced. The only area in which you may encounter problems is when purchasing needles made by foreign companies, as the US and UK measure needle size differently. To confuse the issue a bit more, many needles are now also marked in metric sizes while the UK measurements are slowly phased out. The easiest way to clarify this is to look at the inside of a running shoe. On the back of the tongue, you’ll see a little chart sewn into the fabric that shows the US sizes in comparison to other international shoe sizes. Luckily, needle manufacturers have similar charts you should be able to find on the back of the needle packages. If you can’t, you’re in luck – there’s one at this link:
http://www.goodknitting.com/knittingneedles.html

Needles are also available in a variety of materials and colors. Wood and aluminum are the standard materials for today’s knitting needles, but, while less expensive, some knitters dislike aluminum’s tendency toward temperature conduction. Wood and bamboo are the traditional needles of choice. In recent years, however, some manufacturers have managed to make acrylic needles with grip and feel qualities similar to wood while keeping a price tag closer to aluminum. Your selection in needles really comes down to personal preference. If you’re a beginner without a needle to your name, don’t go out and buy a full set. Experiment with a few different materials for different projects and decide which you prefer.

To Learn About Knitting Accessories, go to http://www.goodknitting.com
Or to read my book, go to http://www.knittingtips.com

Thanks,
Sarah Beth Wilkinson