Understanding Your Knitting Needles
By Sam Russell
In this brief article we aim to just give a basic understanding of knitting needles, their sizing and what you need to look out for.
Size IS important…………….
Knitting needles come in different sizes. It is important to know the size of your knitting needles because their size is related to the size of your stitches and, implicitly, to the appearance of the finished work.
Knitting needles are given different numbers according to their measure. Do not think of their length! It is important how big round the needles are. However, these numbers can differ from one country to another. For example, a knitting needle of 3.75 mm is number 5 in American measurement and number 9 in British measurement, or you may see on the bag of the knitting needles you buy it is simply written as a 3.75 mm needle.
Notice that the American measurement has low numbers for needles with smaller diameters, and the numbers can go up to 50 for a larger diameter like 25 mm, while the British measurement has high numbers for low diameters and the numbers decrease when it comes to high diameters like, for example, 000 for knitting needles of 10 mm, Therefore, you need to look up a knitting needle conversion chart to ensure you end up with the correct needle size.
To confuse you still further if you have a 4.5 mm knitting needle, in that case the size number coincides; with both countries calling it size 7.
Understanding Gauge …………
In knitting, there is the concept of gauge and it means the number of stitches in a given length. This concept is related to the pattern you have and, if in your pattern it says there are supposed to be, for example, 5 stitches to an inch and you can make only 3, than you should and need to change the size of your knitting needles. Each pattern requires that you knit a certain number of stitches using a particular yarn and a specified needle.
However, it is not necessary to stick to the yarn or the needles specified in the pattern, but it is important to get the correct number of stitches per inch in order to have the right size, length and other characteristics of the pattern.
Different Kinds ……….
You can also choose between circular needles and straight needles. Some people prefer circular needles because they are more comfortable to use and you can knit both in the round and back and forth like straight needles. You can find circular knitting needles, double point knitting needles and also single pointed knitting needles made of different materials such as steel, wood or bamboo. There are also different types of knitting needles like Addi knitting needles, Clover knitting needles, Misc knitting needles, Crystal Palace, Rosewood and HiyaHiya
To find out more pay a visit to a good knitting or haberdashery store & ask for advice.Discover knitting now – it requires some skill most of which you can pick up as you go along. Its not expensive and its easy to start small on a simple project building as your experience and aptitude develops to enable you to create some truly memorable projects including clothes for the family and household items that friends and family will admire for many years to come.Learn to knit now and Visit my site for information, tips and hints on how to get started. My beginners guide book and audio guide is a perfect companion to accelerate your learning process.
We are all beginners at some stage and when I decided I wanted to learn how to knit I started searching for a manual to inform and teach me. Fortunately I found clubs and other knitters who generously helped me, thats when I decided to compile my own manual to help and encourage others to get knitting.
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Understanding Your Knitting Needles
Why Circular Knitting Needles are Lots of Fun to Work With
As you know there are many different types of knitting needles available, Circular knitting needles are one of them. With using this type of needle you can create seamless tube. Knitting with this kind of circular needle is also sometimes called knitting in the round.
Use of circular needles was started in the beginning of 20th century and as use of these circular needles increased the long double pointed needles were out dated. With these circular needles you just can’t do knitting circularly but you can knit anything that can be knitted on two straight needles can be knitted back and forth on circular needles with very less strain on shoulder and wrist.
Circular knitting needles are lot fun to work with. You can do lot with this, sweaters, bags or you can do many other fun things with it. These needles can be made of many different types of materials like bamboo, resin, plastic or even metal. There are new glass circular needles they are many designer colors they look simply amazing. Usually this needle has two hard tip joined with a flexible cord. Length of this circular needle is measured tip to tip which ranges from 12 inches to 60 inches. 12″ is length normally used for socks and mittens and 60″ can be used for knit entire bedspread in one piece; you just have to be strong enough to hold it up. For sleeves or caps you can go for 16″ inches needles. For adult sweaters 24 to 32 inches are very good.
For getting started with circular needles; casting on process is same as straight needles. If you are knitting a round project; there are several different methods for joining a project in round. You can simply knit the first stitch very tightly, so there won’t be any gap between first and last stitch in round. ; you can even cast one extra stitch and then just slip that stitch onto left hand needle ; after that just knit first and last stitch together before starting pattern.
When you knit with circular knitting needles you are knitting on only one side of fabric every time, which is not the case with straight needles so that means you have to change pattern accordingly. Usually circular knitting is done using stokinette stitch; which makes circular knitting easier as you just have knit every row. For garter stitch instead of knitting each row you will need to knit one row just purl one row. If you purl every row it would be a reverse stokinette. These are some common stitches around.
While buying circular knitting needles the length of nylon cord between the needles. It can ranges from 6″ to 40″ inches. When you knit with circular needle; circumference is important. For adult sized sweater then go for longer cord.
You can use these circular needles for flat patterns too. Just like two straight needles, cast on and start knitting back and forth. Knitting with circular needles is great for knitting on the road.
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Knitting for Years. For More Information on Circular Knitting Needles, Visit His Site at CIRCULAR KNITTING NEEDLES
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