Knitting Needles

There are three types of knitting needles. The traditional material for making knitting needles is aluminium. However, there are lots of other materials worth considering.
Plastic – These are great for a beginner, as they are the least expensive. Should you decide that knitting isn’t for you, you won’t have wasted a huge amount of money.
Wood – Far less slippery than metal needles, which is great when you’re a beginner. Far fewer lost stitches if you use needles made of wood. Bamboo is a popular choice, as they feel warm to the touch and are lightweight.
Aluminium – These are the most traditional, and many of you will have fond memories of granny clicking away with her colorful, metal knitting needles.

Straight Needles

These can be used for anything that’s knit flat. However, we do have a word of warning. Using them on really heavy projects will take its toll on your wrists. Holding up needles that are heavy, for any length of time, is going to be a bit of a workout. Long circular needles might be a better option in this case. Straight needles are the most recognized tool for knitting projects. Quie simply, they are a straight slender stick, tapered to a point at one end. Hence, they are also known as single-point needles. There is a knob at the other end which serves to prevent stitches slipping off.

Circular Needles

Circular needles are two needle heads connected to a cord. You need them for larger projects, like blankets, because they can hold more stitches than straight needles. They are also used for projects that are worked in the round, like hats or the body of a seamless sweater. These needles vary by needle size and by cord length, from 9″ to 60.″ If you do a lot of knitting you might want to get a circular needle kit which will offer greater flexibility: Rather than buying a needle for each project, a kit allows you to mix and match the cord length and the needle size. Plus, if your project calls for changing needle size part way through, all you have to do is scrunch your stitches onto the cord and switch out the needle heads.

Double Point Needles

These are best used for knitting tiny circles and tubes. Most often they are used for knitting hat crowns, but are also vital when knitting an I-cord. These are the oldest type of needle. Tapered at both ends means they can be used to knit from either end. Typically, they are used and sold in knitting needle sets of four or five, and are most often used for circular knitting. Since circular needles came on the market they are used mostly for tube-shaped items such as sleeves, socks, and collars