by Cindy Hartzell

Created on: May 16, 2009

Knitting needles are made from a variety of materials such as metal (usually aluminum), wood, bamboo, plastic, resin and glass. There are three basic needle categories: straight needles, circular knitting needles and double pointed needles.

There are variations in knitting instructions for patterns written in the US compared to European patterns. Likewise, knitting needles are sized differently too. Size eight needles are equal to size six in the UK, or 5 mm elsewhere. Most needle manufactures mark their needles with both the US size and the metric equivalent.

Beginners:

Most suitable for beginners are the straight knitting needles which look like giant straight pins or nails. They come in a variety of sizes form very small (size 0) to very large (size 50). It is best size to start with a size 8 (US), made from any material that feels comfortable in your hands.

Test Drive:

Most pattern instructions will suggest the size of knitting needles that will give you the results that most closely match the end results the designer achieved. Some designers will occasionally suggest a type or brand of needle. If you are using the correct type of yarn, your swatch should measure close to the size shown in the pattern.

However, most people do not knit with the same tension, so you will need to check the pattern gauge to see how your swatch measures up to the designer's. If your swatch is smaller, choose a larger needle size. If your test swatch is larger than the pattern indicates, you should pick a smaller needle. When gauge is shown for the pattern it should be matched as closely as possible. This is crucial when you are knitting a garment.

Try different needles:

Each time you try a project that calls for a different size needle than the sizes you already own, try to buy a different needle brand or type of material that you have not used before. Before long you will have favorites. However, there are some factors and needle qualities you may want to keep in mind when you go shopping:

Aluminum needles are strong and good for large or heavy projects. They can be very slick, and some knitters find them noisy.

Bamboo needles have strength and flexibility which make them excellent for knitting socks. Many knitters like the way they feel, as they actually warm up as they are used. Stitches easily pass from needle to needle.

Circular needles are great for knitting larger "in the round" projects such as hats, and are terrific for larger seamless garments. They prevent ladders that often occur when using double pointed needles. In spite of the gradual sizing change, some knitters do have difficulty sliding the stitches from the smaller plastic tubing that joins the two needle tips together.

Double pointed needles are good for knitting smaller projects in the round. They also will serve you very well when finishing off hats, mittens and any project where the number of stitches is too small to remain on circular needles.

Wooden needles are favored by many knitters because they feel good in their hands and are easy to use. These needles also warn as they are used, They are not as slick as aluminum and bamboo, which makes them a good choice for silky yarns.

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