Interchangeable Knitting Needles
How Interchangeable Knitting Needle Sytems Can Help The Knitter.
Mar 7, 2007
Interchangeable knitting needles are a great innovation for knitters of all standards. Not only do they bring an end to the frustration of not having the right sized knitting needle for a project, but they also bring a greater degree of flexibility to knitting as the needles can be configured in many ways. Circular needles are a great knitting aid to people with arthritis or suffer with pain in their hands as the weight of the knitting is taken on the cord that sits in the lap, rather than on the needle thus saving strain on the hands and wrists. Circular needles can also be used for flat knitting in the same manner as normal knitting needles.
Interchangeable knitting needles are sets of needle ends and cords of different sizes and lengths, which can be joined together to make circular knitting needles of any configuration. The cords come in a variety of sizes and these can also be joined together to make different lengths adding further to the flexibility of the systems, for instance by joining a 24” cord with a 32” cord a 56” cord can be created, ideal for big projects.
Whilst the price of an interchangeable knitting needle system may seem high – it has to be compared with the price of buying several sets of circular needles. An interchangeable knitting needle system will quickly pay for itself.
Three Different Manufacturers.
Interchangeable knitting needles are made by a variety of manufacturers. The three main ones are Denise which make the famous Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needle System, Wrights who make the Boyes Needlemaster set and Knit Picks who make the Knit Picks ‘Options’ system.
The three interchangeable knitting needle systems each use the same principle of providing a series of needle ends that are attached to cords to make circular needles in any configuration of sizes. The method of fixing varies in each one, however the manufacturers have all researched carefully the best way to ensure smooth flow of knitting around the needle and cord join. The key features required in a join are that there are no edges on the join to ‘snag’ the work, and that the join is secure.
Knitters will often have a preferred system, and it is worth researching the one that is best for you before purchasing. There are accessories and add-ons available for each of the systems shown which will increase even further the flexibility and allow a system to be customized to your own knitting requirements.
Take a good look at what is available at the manufacturers websites and when you come to buy don’t forget to look in your local yarn store as well as online where there are often bargains to be had.
Further Reading:
There is a wealth of free patterns available for knitters on the internet, take a look at this Suite101 article for some hints of where to start.
