Types of knitting needles that produce beautiful fabrics

Before knowing about the different types of knitting needles, you must know the basic tasks of knitting. What different processes are accomplished during knitting. Let me explain them first.

knitting compromises of three tasks-

1). Holding the new stitches (unsecured) in order to save them from dropping.

2). Releasing those new stitches at some stage when they are secured.

3). Passing the new bights of yarn through the fabric.

In easy cases, these tasks can be performed without using any tools, only by using our bare hands. But today there are many knitting tools like knitting needles, knitting boards, knitting frames and knitting machines to perform those tasks effectively. There are some more tools which help in preparing the yarn, measuring and designing the fabrics. These tools are invented for making the process of knitting comfortable and lot easier.

If we only consider the knitting needles then they are of different types which include single pointed knitting needles with a knob at one end, double pointed knitting needles and circular knitting needles.

Single pointed knitting needles

These are the most common type of needles and used frequently by most of the people. They consists of a tapered point at one end and other end has a knob which prevents the stitches from dropping and slipping off. The size of these type of needle varies from 10-16 inches and their diameter is roughly 1 inch. The diameter is the most important property of a needle because it affects the size of stitches and in turn elasticity of the fabric is affected.

Double pointed knitting needles

These type of needles are straight and have tapered points on both of the ends. The benefit of these type of needles is that they allow the knitter to knit from both the ends. They are somewhat shorter about 6-7 inches and are generally sold in a set of four or five. They are mainly used in circular type of knitting which includes making of socks, collars etc. One of the needles remains active and other one holds the active stitches during knitting.

Circular knitting needles

These type of needles are long and double pointed with tapered ends. They are flexible and the two ends are rigid and straight which makes knitting easy. The two ends are brought together by using a flexible strand mainly nylon. The size may vary from 24-60 inches. They are usually used singly or in some cases in pairs. Flat knitting and circular knitting, both types of knitting can be accomplished by using circular knitting needles.

Among these type of needles, single pointed needles are used most of the times by the beginners of knitting.

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 17th, 2009 at 7:22 pm and is filed under Knitting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.