Knitting Needles for Beginning Knitters
An Overview of Knitting Needle Size, Material, and Type
Aug 27, 2009
There are so many different kinds of knitting needles that the options may seem overwhelming to a beginning knitter. Most needles are sold in sets of two, so a beginning knitter may want to buy needles as needed for each project. The factors a knitter needs to keep in mind when selecting knitting needles are size, type, and material.
Knitting Needle Size
Knitting needle size is a measurement of the width in millimeters. For simplicity, each size is designated by a single standardized number, with bigger numbers meaning thicker needles. For example, a size 7 knitting needle is 4.5 mm thick and a size 8 knitting needle is 5 mm thick.
Size 7 and 8 needles are popular, average sizes, but knitters will want bigger or smaller needles depending on the thickness of yarn used for the knitting project. Sizes thinner than 1 are designated by multiples of 0. The average knitter probably won’t ever need a needle thicker than a 15 or 17, but needles do come in ridiculously big sizes such as 50.
Knitting Needle Type
Most knitters have several types of needles for various types of projects:
- Straight needles, with a point on one end and a stopper on the other, are the most common kind of needle. They work best for small, flat knitting projects such as scarves and towels. Knitters can also buy straight needles in longer lengths to hold bigger projects.
- Circular needles are two needles joined with a cable. They are good for working on bigger projects such as blankets, and can also be used for knitting projects in the round such as sweaters.
- Double-pointed needles, or DPNs, have a point on each end and are usually sold in sets of four, five, or six. They are good for knitting small projects in the round, such as socks and hats. Really small sizes of DPNs sometimes come in shorter lengths as well to make knitting smaller projects easier.
- There are also interchangeable needles, which come in sets with different points and cable lengths to fit any project.
Knitting Needle Material
Most knitting needles are made out of acrylic, metal, or wood.
- Acrylic knitting needles tend to be the cheapest, and often come in bright colors. They are very smooth so stitches slide very easily on them. They are lighter than metal needles and are slightly flexible. Their tips may be a bit blunter than metal or wood, however, so it may be harder to grab the stitches.
- Metal knitting needles are heavier than acrylic needles, and working with them may cause the clicking sound many people associate with knitting. They tend to have sharp tips, making it easy to grab stitches, and are very smooth so stitches move easily on the needle.
- Wood knitting needles, often made of bamboo, are popular with beginning knitters because they are inexpensive, lightweight, and have a slight grip that makes it easier to keep the stitches on the needle.
Knitting Needle Sets and Cases
Many quality knitting needles come in sets with multiple sizes in the same material. This ensures that the knitter always has the right size of a favorite knitting needle. These sets often come in nice cases to keep the needles together.
A knitter may want to invest in a knitting needle case, which keeps all of the needles together and nicely arranged and also often has room for other knitting notions and supplies. Most knitters end up with quite a collection of knitting needles of all sizes, materials, and types, and it’s convenient to have them all in one organized place.
Building a Collection of Knitting Needles
The options of knitting needles may seem overwhelming to a beginning knitter, so it’s a good idea to begin by buying needles as needed for each project. Wood or acrylic straight needles in a medium size such as 7 or 8 are good for many beginning knitting projects. And a knitter can economize by buying circular needles instead of straight needles, because anything that can be knit on circulars can be knit on straights but not vice versa.
Most knitting needles are not very expensive, but the right needle can make the difference between a fun knitting project and a frustrating headache, so make sure to select the right knitting needle for each project.
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