In this post, newcomers to this hobby will discover the different types of knitting needles and why it’s important to consider their features. Taking time to understand them will mean you’ll be more successful and enjoy your knitting.
Before jumping into creating a project, it’s important to understand the different types of knitting needles especially if you are new to this hobby. I know how exciting it is to learn a new skill and want to get straight into it. The wide range of equipment can soon slow down that enthusiasm if you don’t first get to grips with what’s involved – like what the sizes, types and lengths of all these knitting needles really mean.
Important to Consider the Features of Knitting Needles
We want to learn to knit so that we can make things!
Using the wrong type, length, or size of needle may have an effect on how the things we make turn out, and whether we had fun making them. Recently, I started off creating a blanket for my niece’s baby. I wanted to make it a big larger than the pattern, so I increased the number of stitches I cast on. I had not worked too many rows before I was seriously struggling to hold the stitches on the longest needles I had. It was not fun to say the least! That’s when I discovered the existence of long circular knitting needles – what a difference they made!
Many times on other projects I have changed to shorter straight needles as the longer ones interfere with the sides of the chair in which I am sitting.
Spending a little time figuring out and understanding all the details around knitting needles will make this hobby much more enjoyable and successful for you.
What are Knitting Needles Made From & Why Does it Matter?
Needles are made from a wide variety of materials. The material that they are made from has an effect on how that needle behaves. This, in turn, affects whether that needle is suitable for a beginner or a more advanced knitter. You will see what is meant by this more clearly when we look at each of the different materials.
Metal Knitting Needles
Needles made from metals such as aluminium, steel or even nickel and brass are typically more slippery. This means that the yarn is more likely to slide off them more easily. This feature suggests that they would not be suitable for a beginner who requires a needle that holds onto the yarn better while they learn to work it around the needle.
These needles are somewhat heavier than other materials like bamboo, wood or plastic. As such, someone who has issues with their hands might not find them so comfortable to use. Metal can feel cold to the touch, so an arthritis sufferer might not like using these needles either.
Those who are more skilled at knitting tend to like using metal needles as they are slippery and you can knit faster with them. However, I do know of people who cannot stand the clicking noise that comes from using these types.
Plastic Knitting Needles
Needles made from plastics, as you’d imagine, are much lighter and more flexible to use. They are a good deal cheaper, so they make a perfect choice if you are just starting out with this hobby and are not sure how far you might go with it. Another feature I like is that they come in so many colours. Young children will like the colours they come in too.
Casein and Cellulose Acetate
Other materials used to make needles are substances such as the milk protein called casein and cellulose acetate which is a form of plastic. These substances can be coloured to make attractive-looking products.
Bamboo / Wood Knitting Needles
Another common type of material used to manufacture knitting needles is bamboo. Just like plastic needles, those made from this material are also nice and light and comfortable to work with. They are just as affordable as plastic varieties. They are perfect knitting needles for beginners to start with as this material does not cause the yarn to slide around too much.
Birch knitting needles are lovely and smooth but can be expensive.
Styles of Knitting Needles
Straight Single Pointed Needles
These are the needles that most people associate with knitting and are best for beginners. They come in pairs, different lengths and diameters. They come in several standard lengths depending on the manufacturer. Choose a length that fits the number of stitches you need without bunching them up too much.
Circular Knitting Needles
This type, as the name suggests, involves two shorter needle pins ( like the straight single pointed needles) joined together via a length of cable. You can purchase needles with varying cable lengths and pin sizes too. This is especially useful if the thing you are making is wide like a baby blanket, or much smaller like a sock.
The best circular knitting needles will be the ones that best suit the project you are working on. I find these are the most adaptable type of needles to use.
Double-Ended Knitting Needles
This type of needle is often known as double-pointed knitting needles or DPNs for short. They most often come in sets of four or five needles and have points on both ends. They are used to make socks, hats or anything that requires knitting in the round – that is, without a seam.
Interchangeable Knitting Needle Sets
These sets of needles are most often used by those who do a lot of knitting and so need a large range of sizes and lengths at any one time. They require more of an investment, so you need to justify that. These sets normally include a full range of needle sizes and a few varying lengths of chords, along with keys to change the needles.
Needle Sizes
When knitters talk about needle sizes, they are referring to the diameter or thickness of the needle shaft. The pattern, or the type of yarn, will determine which size needle you need to use. However, these are only a guide as all of us knit with different tensions.
Gauge
Knitting gauge is a measure of the number of stitches and rows that are made in an inch of knitting using a certain pair of needle sizes and yarn. Normally, a pattern will tell you what the gauge is for that pattern using the recommended needles and yarn. However, because some of us knit with a tighter tension and others knit more loosely, chances are that for our knitting, the gauge might not be the same.
To check your gauge, knit a 4-inch square in stockinette stitch- we call this a gauge swatch. Then measure how many stitches you have in an inch of your knitting. Alter the size of needles to get to the right gauge as the pattern recommends. Once you have reached gauge you can be sure that your knitting will work out as the pattern was designed.
Watch this video I found, which explains how to measure your gauge.
Knitting Needle Sizes for Beginners
When we talk about needle sizes, we are referring to the diameter or thickness of the needles. In the world of knitting, there are several systems for naming knitting needles. The three main ones are the metric system, which defines needles by their diameters in mm, the UK system and the American one.
To avoid any confusion, just make sure that you know which system is being talked about in your pattern.
There are several standard lengths of needles 7, 10, 12 and 14 inches. Choose a needle that will fit the size of the knitting work that you plan on doing. Too many stitches crammed on a smaller needle will be difficult to knit, and you will not enjoy doing it. Consider investing in a long circular knitting needle if your project is really wide. The knitting will sit in your lap and be held by the cable and not your hands or shoulders.
Long, single-pointed straight needles can be difficult to use as they tend to interfere with the side of the chair that you are sitting in. I have found them to be heavy to hold, too! Circulars are the answer, I think.
New knitter just starting out? Need help? Take a look at the Learn to Knit category
