Different Types of Knitting Needles – Finding What Works Best
Not sure what you need in a knitting needle? This guide will help you navigate different types of knitting needles!
There are so many types of knitting needles available. If you are new to knitting it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the options. This guide will help you understand what to look for in different types of needles for different knitting projects to find the right needle for you.
When you are choosing which needles you will use for your next knitting project, there are many things to consider. What do you want it to be made out of? Which style of knitting needle will work best? What size needle do you need?
We will take a look at different aspects of knitting needles so you can find the perfect set for your knitting.
Check out these posts for more knitting knowledge!
Knitting Needle Size
Knitting needles come in a wide range of sizes. Some knitting needles are as thin as a sewing needle and others are as big as your arm!
The size of your knitting needles affects how big your stitches are. Bigger needles make bigger stitches, while smaller needles make smaller stitches.
When you are following a knitting pattern, there will usually be a recommended needle size listed. These are usually in millimeters, but many countries have standardized sizes that line up with different diameters. The US knitting needle sizes start small (all the way down to a US 000) and get bigger with the size of the needles. With UK needle sizes, the smaller the number the bigger the needle.
For example, A 5.00 mm knitting needle would be a US 8, but it would also be a UK 6. Be sure to pay close attention to what needle size is listed and what measurement system is being used.
Size isn’t the only thing that matters
Just because a pattern recommends a certain needle size doesn’t mean it is the right size for you to use. Because everyone knits a bit differently, different knitters will make bigger or smaller stitches, even when they use the same yarn and needles.
Even the same knitter can make different size items with the same materials. I recently did a small knitting experiment where I tried out five different knitting styles, all using the same pattern, yarn, and needles. Each knitting style produced a different result!
What is more important than needle size to make sure you are knitting the fabric you want to, is to check your gauge. Knitting gauge is how many stitches and how many rows your are knitting over a certain area of fabric.
For example, you might use a 5.00 mm needle and in a four inch square you have 20 stitches and 20 rows. Another knitter might knit 15 stitches and 18 rows in the same square. If both knitters made a project following the same stitch count, the first knitter would make something smaller than the second knitter.
So what size needle should I use?
Needle size, tension, knitting style, stitch pattern, and yarn choice can all affect the gauge of a knitting project. To know for sure you are knitting something how you want to, you need to check how you are knitting with the yarn and needles you plan to use, before you start your project.
With that in mind, for some projects it really doesn’t matter. For a scarf, shawl, blanket, washcloth or other project where the final size isn’t super important, you are probably fine using the recommended needle size.
One thing to keep in mind is if you are knitting at a bigger gauge than what is recommended, you will use more yarn.
For projects like socks, hats, sweaters, and anything else where size does matter, the best thing you can do is make a gauge swatch before you start. The recommended needle size is usually a good place to start, but you may need to adjust your needle size accordingly.
Having a set of needles in a variety of sizes ensures you can get the right gauge for every project.
Knitting Needle Materials
Knitting needles can be made out of just about any solid material. The most common types you will see are wood or metal, but you can find some other knitting needle materials as well.
Wood Knitting Needles
The most common woods for making knitting needles are bamboo and birch, but you can find other woods like rosewood or beechwood being used as well.
Wood knitting needles have a slight texture that can grip onto yarn as you are knitting. For some knitters, that is helpful in keeping stitches on the needles, for other knitters, it can slow them down.
Wood knitting needles are warmer when you hold them. Metal knitting needles can feel quite cold when you pick them up and starting knitting.
If you like a very sharp point on your knitting needles, wood may not be the best choice for you. Wood tips are often blunter than metal tips and can dull over time.
Another thing to keep in mind if you are working with wood knitting needles is they can be more easily damaged. If you accidentally leave your knitting on the couch and then sit down on it, you might break a needle. And if you have a dog who likes to chew on sticks, they may not notice the difference between your needles and what they might find outside.
Not that this handsome boy would ever chew on my knitting needles so that I had to replace a set…
Personally, I often reach for wooden knitting needles first. I think they are beautiful and I like the way they feel in my hands.
Metal Knitting Needles
Like wood knitting needles, metal knitting needles can be made out of a variety of materials. Aluminum and stainless steel are very common, but you might also see nickel, brass, copper or other metals.
In general, metal knitting needles are sturdy, long lasting, and have sharper tips. A set of smooth metal needles with sharp tips can be a lace knitter’s best friend.
Certain metals have some characteristics that make them desirable for certain knitters. Aluminum needles are particularly known for being lightweight, which helps increase the amount of time you can spend knitting in one sitting. Stainless steel needles aren’t as light as aluminum, but are very durable and particularly smooth.
If you like to listen to the clicking of your needles as you knit along, you will love working with metal needles. They make a more noticable sound than other needle materials.
If you like to knit at a very fine gauge, metal needles might be a better choice for you as thin wood knitting needles are very easy to break. Thin metal needles might bend, but they are less likely to snap.
Don’t limit your choices
Knitting needles aren’t limited to only wood or metal. You can find them made out of acrylic, carbon fiber, even bone!
What material will work best depends on what you, the knitter, prefer, and what your project is.
One knitter might love the sound of metal needles clicking away while they make intricate lace patterns. Another knitter might love the warm texture of wood needles as they make hat after hat.
Keep an open mind, and try as many different materials as you can and find what works best for you!
Knitting needle styles
Knitting needles can be made in several different general shapes. The most common categories of knitting needles are straights, double pointed needles, and circular needles.
Straight Knitting Needles
Straight knitting needles are the classic knitting needle that you probably picture when you think of someone knitting. They come as a set of two straight needles with stoppers at one end to keep stitches from falling off.
These needles are easy to find and come in a variety of lengths, depending on what the knitter prefers and how big their knitting project is.
When to use straight knitting needles
Straight knitting needles are best for knitting flat. When you reach the end of a row, you flip the needle with the stitches on it over and use the empty needle to work all the other stitches.
If you have a pair of long knitting needles, you can use them to knit lever or Irish cottage style, which is a very fast and fun way to knit.
They can be good for new knitters for several reasons.
First, they are very easy to find. You probably know someone with an extra pair of straight knitting needles lying around that they would share with you. Otherwise, any craft store will carry some straight needle options. Because they are generally longer than the other needle styles, there is more to hang on to, which some knitter prefer. With the stoppers at the end of the needles, it is harder to drop stitches off the needles.
Double Pointed Needles
Double pointed needles, also known as DPNs, are similar to straight knitting needles, but like the name suggests, each end is pointed. Having points on both ends means stitches can come off of either side, but it also means you can knit from either side as well.
When to use double pointed needles
DPNs are a great way to knit in the round, especially if it is a small circumference, like socks, hats, and sleeves. When you buy DPNS they usually come in a set of about four to six needles. You need at least four double pointed needles to knit in the round.
You can also knit flat with double pointed needles, you just want to be aware of each side of your knitting and not forget that the stitches can come off.
New knitters can get very intimidated by DPNs. When someone is knitting with four or more needles with points sticking out all over the place, it can look very complicated. In reality, learning to knit with DPNs isn’t any more difficult than any other style of knitting.
Double pointed needles don’t always get as much love as other knitting needles. I have found them to be quite versatile and I enjoy using them.
Circular Knitting needles
Circular knitting needles have two knitting needle points joined by a cable. The length of the needle and the length of the cable can vary from needle to needle.
Circular needles fall into two categories: fixed circular needles and interchangeable circular needles.
Fixed circular needles mean that the cable and the needle are permanently attached. You have one size of needle and one length of cable.
Interchangeable circular needles have some sort of mechanism where the needles can be switched on the cables, giving you a variety of needle sizes and cable lengths to mix and match. These are often sold as a set to give you a range of combinations.
Because of the attachment mechanism, interchangeable circular needles have a limit to how small the needles can be. This is usually somewhere around 3.5 mm/US 4. If you want to work with smaller circular knitting needles, you may need to use fixed circular needles.
When to use circular knitting needles
There really isn’t anything circular needles can’t knit, as long as you have the right needle size and cable length.
You can knit flat with circular needles, just like you would with straight knitting needles. They are particularly useful for large knitting projects, like blankets or cardigans. The long cable gives you room for lots of extra stitches.
Circular needles can also be used to knit in the round. There are two ways to knit in the round with circular knitting needles. If the length of your needles plus the length of your cable is about the length of the edge of your knitting or a little smaller, you can just knit around and around without any trouble.
If your circular needles have cables much longer than what you are trying to knit, you can use the magic loop method. This when you pull sections of the cable through your knitting and cinch up the stitches. If you want to knit with the magic loop technique, make sure you have a flexible cable or it won’t work very well.
If you only want to get one type of needles, circular needles will work for the most situations. Interchangeable circular needles are more and more common and a wide variety of brands make them.
What type of knitting needle will you try?
There is an endless variety of knitting needles to try! This has been an overview of different aspects to consider when picking knitting needles, but there is so much more out there.
Part of what makes knitting such a fun hobby is there is always a new skill to learn or a new skill to try. Mixing up your type of knitting needle is an easy way to expand your knitting horizons.
I hope this guide is helpful when you think about what you like in a knitting needle. I can wait to dig through my collection and cast on a new project!
If you want to learn more about knitting, click here.