Guest Author - Gillian Buchanan

There are three different types of knitting needle which can be purchased and used for a variety of different purposes. They all come in a wide range of sizes.

Straight Knitting Needles

This is the type which you are most likely to see. Straight knitting needles come in a range of materials including plastic, bamboo, aluminium and nickel plated brass. I’ve also seen knitting needles made from different kinds of wood but these tend to be much more expensive. They always have some kind of knob on the end and come in a range of different lengths. I find a length of about 12-14 inches is most comfortable to use because you can tuck the knob under your arm or belt as you work and this gives some control over tension.

Circular Knitting Needles

Circular knitting needles come in as wide a range of different sizes as the straight needles and also come in a range of different lengths. Depending on the manufacturer they can be anything from 30-120 cm long and which one you buy will depend on what you plan to knit and the technique you plan to use. Circular knitting needles have a soft flex in the middle which can be rather bouncy to begin with but this can be tamed by holding the flex in the steam of a boiling kettle for a few minutes. I have seen circular knitting needles made from bamboo, aluminium and nickel plated brass.

Double Pointed Knitting Needles

Double pointed knitting needles are usually used for knitting socks, sleeves and other items which are too small for comfortable circular knitting. They usually come in lengths varying from about 8 inches up to 12 inches but often are not available in as wide a range of sizes as the circulars and straight needles. They usually come in sets of four or five and may be made from aluminium, plastic or bamboo and can be more difficult to master than two straight knitting needles or circular knitting needles.

The huge choice of materials and the range of different types of knitting needles can be daunting but once you know what you plan to make the choice of knitting needle becomes much easier. Most people find that they prefer to work within a certain range of thicknesses of yarn and so will accumulate knitting needles in sizes to suit that range. It’s a good idea to try out needles from different manufacturers to see how the knitting needles perform in your hands and to find out if there’s a particular kind of knitting needle you prefer above the others. You’ll enjoy your knitting much more if you like the tools you are working with!

This excellent reference book has masses of information about knitting techniques. It illustrates all the basic techniques and has a huge range of different ways to cast on and off and increase and decrease. A must for any knitter's bookcase!

This is another very good book which contains reference information on all the basics of how to knit and finish off a garment or item.