Jan 31 2009
Knitting Needles
Knitting Needles
There are various types of knitting needles out there. There are the Bamboo knitting needles that seem popular and are very easy to use when knitting because your stitches tend to stay on the knitting needles with ease if you are a beginner these are great to use. I normally use the steel type knitting needles because they are what I’ve been using frequently over the years and feel comfortable using them. I tend to knit faster with these knitting needles as they are less flimsy. I have used a few plastic knitting needles and find them to be a bit more challenging for the beginner knitter. They are nice to use though because they are very easy to use to knit with and don’t make as much noise when knitting. I love that sound of knitting needles when knitting together. I have some funky plastic knitting needles I got that lite up. These are great for darker yarn if you want to be able to see better at night. I love using them in the dark to find things.
For different knitting projects you will need various types of knitting needles such as circular knitting needles, double pointed knitting needles and straight knitting needles. Double pointed and circular knitting needles are great for having no seams in your knitting. This of course also depends on what you are kntiting and how you prefer your knitting. Everyone is unique and has their preference.
Cast on straight needles before putting stitches on the circular needles makes it easier and the stitches are in tact rather then have various issues with tension while submitting the stitches on the circular needle because the bigger part of the needle is different compared to the tiny plastic part of the knitting needle, you can cast on in the round but for a more consistency in the tension of the stitches I prefer to cast on a straight needle and then cast on the circular needle. Now it all depends on what you knit because in the round the yarn will join with one another. If you are doing a blanket in the round make sure the yarn doesn’t connect/join with one another forming a circular motion. Be sure to mark the beginning of the round with a marker, such as a round circular marker you can put on the knitting needles or a stitch marker (which is like a plastic clip). You will visually be able to see the start of the knitting with ease. The strand of yarn that was left dangling while starting out your casting on may not be enough to be consistent in figuring out where you started your stitches.
I have my preference of knitting needles I use. I have used the plastic knitting needles, the knitting needles that light up and the steel knitting needles and prefer using the older style knitting needles because the knitting needles do not bend are easier to knit with efficiency. I have my size variations of knitting needles I use frequently. I use sizes 6,7,8,9,10,11,13 and for the bigger knitting needles I use size 15, 19 for lacey shawls. Bigger knitting needles are great for yarn over type stitches because the stitches drop as you work out your pattern for your project.
For cable patterns I use a cable marker which has an indent (bent), curve, for the cable stitches to sit nicely on when I’m working with cables. I also use a double pointed needle if the cables are bigger and require more space lengthwise for transferring the stitches to make my cable stitch.
LOL you are welcome! Oh yes knitting needles are fun!
I very much dislike the metal needles because I hate the noise. Often hubby is watching TV and I’m knitting and or crocheting with an occassional glance at the TV….so quite is far better.
I dislike long straight needles, hard on both arthritis and fibro and all those other related things. I only use bambo for the thick or slippery yarns. Some of mine are getting hard to use as they aren’t as smooth as used to be. I LOVE…really LOVE my Denise needles. You really must give them a try. They’re light weight, adjustable; can be used as straights or circular. Though, in truth I do almost everything on circulars…so much better on the joints etd, you just have to be careful and not join the yarn. Stop and turn like you would on fixed straight needles.
I never cast on straight and transfer to circular, the size of stitch is determined by when you cast on to the needle, not to when you slide it on the cable. I do know of several people who cast on a size larger than they intent to knit with, since the first row is often a bit tighter, then transfer.
Nice to meet another yarn person, do stop in for a visit,
Sandy
Do you also crochet?
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for the feedback and tips. It’s so great talking to other knitters!
I have yet to learn how to crochet, I love crochet, it looks so amazing. Granny squares are so cute.
Feel free to expand on the idea. I think as long as you use a different name you’re ok. There are many needs out there so can’t imagine anyone objecting to another group collecting up and doing something good with the end results. I’ve been wanting to start a crochet version of it, just haven’t gotten that far.
Last night I started my section with yarn I thought was the proper weight by the feel of it. Label was gone on the yarn and there’s a bit of a variance it feels in what those before you used, so figured I was alright. NOT, you know sometimes you need to do several rows to find that out. FROG time, man I hate that especially when it’s not all my work. I’m not really very good at getting things back on the needles so am almost doing it a stitch at a time. Did some, and put it down. Argh…….
Have a great wkend
Sandy
I plan to pick your brain later. I want to improve my knitting skills, and those cables…wish you were sitting right here beside me.
I said I didn’t like metal needles…I might be changing my mind. Working on the progressive dinner blanket (where I am the dessert), it came on needles. Wow, not sure what they are; but the yarn sure slides easily on them. Seems to bother the arthritis less.
Have you used the turbo’s? I’ve heard lots about them, though I like having a set with the interchangeable cords.
What are you working on?
Sandy
No I have not tried turbo’s. Yeah the thing is when you are doing a project such as that the needles with stability are great way to get those stitches on a needle. It would depend on the tension also each person knits with a tighter or looser tension to the stitch. I suppose it can tend to be harder when you need to transfer a project onto needles that have been done by another individual. Best way would be to use knitting needles to pass around along with the project.
Cables are so much fun. I like it because it challenges my brain power to see how I can interchange these cables on various projects.
twist those cables accordingly, start off with one cable and you should be a pro at cables after that.
right now I’m going to work on a handbag I finished some stuff and posted on etsy. http://tinateee.etsy.com. I end up working on multiple projects lol.