One of the most common questions I answer for new knitters in my los Angeles area knitting classes is what type of needles should I buy. My answer is, whatever type you prefer. To which of course, I get an exasperated look. What Kind of an answer is that?!
So let me elaborate. A little.
But, before I do, let me just say something you already know, all people are different. Knitter’s are people and they too are different. Even when you have two new knitter’s using the same yarn and needles, they each produce totally different results.
Which is one of the primary reasons the type of needles you should use depends on personal preference.
Other factors involved in choosing needles are, and there could be more, material they are made of, if they are straight, circular, double pointed or jumper needles, length of the needles, the yarn you will knit with them, and the object you are making.
With all these variables, then, how do choose the best ones? Well, my dears, try them all! Of course, knowing a little about each type and what they are for will help you choose, but, still try them all.
Ok, let me continue … onward, to the needles:
The first consideration is the material the needles are made from. Knitting needles can be made from, and are, just about any material – even glass! The most common materials used for making knitting needles are metal (aluminum, stainless steel, brass), wood (birch, mahogany, bamboo, even composite), and plastic. Then there are less common materials like glass and bone.
All types of knitting needles, straight, circular, double points etc.. can be made from any of these materials. Here your choice will be affected by your preference (surprised?) and the yarn you will be knitting with.
Metal knitting needles generally don’t have too much flex. They are quite rigid. They generally have a smooth slippery finish which works well with yarns that are not too slippery like wool.
Wood knitting needles have some degree of flex, with the exception of the hard woods like birch. They often have a smooth finish, but not always. Sometimes they have a slightly rougher finish that works well with slippery yarns like silk.
Plastic needles have a lot of flex. They are lighter than metal and wood knitting needles, except for maybe bamboo which is very light too. The finish on plastic needles can vary from very smooth to slightly less so. If you knit acrylic yarn with plastic knitting needles, you may create static electricity.
Next, you’ll consider the type of knitting needles:
You’ll develop a preference for a specific type too.
Before I get into describing the different types of needles, I want to point out that they all come in different sizes (the diameter of the needle) and lengths. The size and length you choose will be determined by the yarn you will be using. Ok, and your preference.
Generally, thinner yarns = thinner knitting needles, fatter yarns = fatter knitting needles. But not always, it really depends on the fabric you want to make. Denser fabrics are made by using much thinner needles in relation to the thickness of the yarn. Less dense fabrics are made by using fatter needles in relation to the thickness of the yarn. A fabric that is not too dense or too loose is achieved by matching the thickness of the yarn and needle.
Choosing the length of needles is determined by the project and, yes, your preference. It would be difficult to knit something that is 20” wide has a lot of stitches on 10” inch long straight needles.
Straight knitting needles, also called single point knitting needles, come in a variety of lengths, the most common being 10” and 13”. These needles are used primarily for back and forth knitting, or knitting flat pieces. In the case of sweater, the back, front(s) and sleeves are all made separately and then sewn together.
Circular knitting needles are incredibly versatile. They are my preference. Anything you can knit with any other type of needles can be knit with circular knitting needles – even things you would knit with double pointed knitting needles, like socks.
Jumper knitting needles are straight needles with flexible ends. Sort of like circular needles that had the cable cut at the mid point. These are useful for knitting items that have a lot of stitches, like an afghan, for example. They allow the bulk of the fabric to rest in your lap while you are knitting. They are good for those that want to knit large flat pieces, but hate circular needles.
Double pointed needles are used to knit tubes, think hats, sweaters, socks. They are much easier to work with than it seems at first sight.
If you knit a lot, and make a variety of things, you will eventually end up with a lot of, and a variety of knitting needles.
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