Tools to Use: Knitting Needles

Kelly Rand — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:24:21 +0000

Learning to knit can seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you are familiar with long-time knitters and all of their tools and many needles. At the basic level, all you need to get started is a pair of needles and some yarn. Beyond that there are some very helpful tools to consider and Victoria has already complied a great list on what to get a novice knitter. But what about those pesky needles?

When deciding on what needles to invest in, you’ll want to consider what type of knitter you are and what type of projects you’re interested in. A fair amount of patterns, from sweaters to scarves, call for U.S. size 8/5 mm or 10/6 mm needles. So you’ll probably want to own these sizes. If you find yourself enamored by sock making you’ll want to stock up on U.S. size 0/2mm and 1/2.25mm.

So how do you go about acquiring these needles in an eco-conscious manner?

Choose Bamboo - Bamboo is a fast growing natural material that is used in a wide range of sustainable products. Over at Core77, you can read the pros and cons of bamboo as a “green” material. Needles made from bamboo are widely available at any craft store and are lightweight, virtually noiseless and easy on the hands. They are just the right texture to have ease of movement and are able to hold your stitches without fear of them falling off of your needle.

Green Options » stitch 'n' bitch

Tools to Use: Knitting Needles