by Kimberley Heit

Created on: May 15, 2009   Last Updated: May 25, 2009

If you want to successfully complete a knitting project, you need to pick the right needle for the job. In selecting knitting needles, you should give some consideration to their; size, length, fabrication and style. To start knitting all you need is a ball of yarn and a pair of needles, therefore needles are a crucial component in the knitting tool box.

Size

The size of the needle has a direct affect on the size of the finished stitch. Put simply if you use a larger needle you will create a larger piece of work and vice versa. If you are following a pattern you should be advised on the appropriate needle size, but in other instances you may need to determine this yourself. In this case the band on the ball of wool usually suggests the recommended needle size. As a general guide a fine yarn requires a small sized needle and a thick yarn requires a larger needle. Large needles with fine yarn create a very open weave texture and a small needle with a thick yarn will create a very tight and chunky knit.

When purchasing knitting needles for a particular assignment take care to check that the pattern and needle size are from the same knitting system. There are three different needle sizing systems; US, Metric, and old U.K. For example, a size 3 needle in the US system is a size 3.25 in the metric system and a 10 in the old U.K system. You can buy knitting needle gauge sheets that have the different sized holes in them to test what is what.

Length

Knitting needles also come in varying lengths; typically they range between 18cm to 40cm, and in the case of circular knitting up to 90cm. The appropriate length is governed by your project. If you need to knit a long length, choose a long needle. If you are creating a smaller item like a scarf, you may find it easier to maneuver shorter needles. If you are knitting a fine yarn with a thin needle, it is beneficial to select a pair of knitting needles that possess long points, otherwise you will be pushing stitches up constantly, which can be time consuming and tedious.

Fabrication

Knitting needles are made from a wide range of different materials. The most common and their benefits are listed below:

Aluminum-The majority of knitting needles are made from aluminum. They are typically grey in color, readily available and affordable. They offer a very smooth surface which allows for fast, snag free knitting. They are generally preferred by experienced knitters, but they can get cold during cold weather and will conduct

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