Knitting Needles: A Style for Every Knitter
Different kinds of knitting needles: you can match your preference to the project
Knitting needles come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, and as you become a more experienced knitter, it's a good idea to try out lots of different ones. You'll discover that some knitting needles are more suited to some projects than others, and you'll also discover some personal preferences about knitting needles (just ask me how many bamboo needles I have in my collection!)
TYPES OF KNITTING NEEDLES
Your knitting needles can be a great source of pleasure - or a serious source of frustration. The types of knitting needles that work well for beginners - ones that 'hold on' to the yarn - will not work well for experienced knitters, who need the yarn to 'slide along' easier.
Get to know the different types of knitting needles, and then choose well!
KNITTING NEEDLES MATERIAL
Knitting needles are manufactured from:
1. Metal - the oldest existing knitting needles in use today are metal, and they are heavy and slippery. Metal knitting needles are really strong, and do not easily bend or warp. Aluminum or nickel-plated needles are the two that make the classic 'clicking' sound associated with knitting.
2. Plastic - the next most popular knitting needles until recently has been plastic knitting needles. Plastic knitting needles are warmer to the touch, and more flexible than wooden knitting needles, but not as long-lasting.
3. Wooden - wooden knitting needles tend to be smooth but not very slippery, so they are a good choice for beginning knitters, or for knitters who use slippery novelty yarns.
4. Bamboo - bamboo needles are becoming more popular because they are lightweight, nicely polished and warm to touch, but strong and good for knitters with arthritis or Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. Bamboo needles are more flexible than wood, but less flexible than plastic; they are up to 60% lighter than aluminum needles, smooth and fast.
KNITTING NEEDLES: STYLE
1. Straight - these knitting needles always come in pairs, and they are the basic knitting needles that can be used for almost any project.
2. Double-pointed - double-pointed knitting needles are most often used for knitting socks, but can be used for other projects, too. They can come in sets of three, four or five.
3. Circular knitting needles - these are used for large or really bulky projects. For more about circular knitting needles, click here.
Finally, each of these types and styles of knitting needles comes in sizes from "1" to "50." So, if you do the math, there are literally over 750 knitting needles to choose from!