A knitting needle is just a rod with a slight point on one or both ends.
A knitting needle is just a rod with a slight point on one or both ends. There are endless variations in the material from which that rod is made. Varieties of wood, metal, plastic, and bone have all been used. Each one has advantages and disadvantages for different yarns, knitter's skill, and even stitch pattern. No one needle will perform well in every situation.
It is of course better to have any knitting needle than none at all. But knitting with a subpar needle for a particular project can be an aggravating experience. Keep in mind that it is rarely a good idea to switch needles in the middle of knitting as gauge can change radically.
Always do your swatch with the needle you intend to use. Should you lose or break a needle, replace with the same brand as well as size.
Best needle for beginners is bamboo with minimum finishing. This type of needle is least likely to slip out and are reasonably priced. Should the needle become too grabby, just run the shaft through your hair to increase slipperiness. You are also allowed to sand rough spots, use wood filler, wax, or glue to keep your wooden needle in the best condition possible. There is a kit available should you choose not to raid your significant others workbench!
Gauge is affected by numerous factors: how tense you are, enjoying a glass of your favorite beverage, good mood, sad mood, relaxed will all affect your gauge?.
Needles come in different lengths as well as size (diameter). Length is a matter of convenience. Shorter needles tend to be easier to handle and friendlier when seated in an armed chair. Longer needles are needed for larger pieces like sweater backs. Circular needles allow very large widths like afghans to be worked. Although most knitters attempt to get a circular needle long enough to hold all the stitches, several shorter circular needles can be used to achieve the needed length.
I knit this entire lace wight shawl on two 6 inch double pointed needles. One hundred stitches compacted down to 3 inches as the stitches turn sideways on the needle. When I put the knitting down, I would rubber band the needles together.The diameter of the needle is the size of the needle. While tolerances are close, exact diameters vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. These slight variations in actual diameter will affect your gauge. That is why it is critical to use the same brand of needle from swatch to finishing.
Among the high end needles are the addi turbo aluminum needles. Stitches fly off the needle with little effort and helps increase the knitting speed of experienced knitters. Please read extremely slippery here. If you are a new knitter, have a slippery yarn, or a complicated pattern, these needles can certainly cause problems. While pricey, keep the packaging and there is a lifetime guarantee for the adding needles.
