This page will have tips to help knitters
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| Knitting needles |
There are many different kinds of needles out there. Plastic, bamboo,
wood, metal, and glass are just a few of the different types of
materials that knitting needles come in. There are also many different
shapes and sizes--circular, straight, and even double point. Needles
with a large radius are for thicker projects and small needles are for
making a fine project, ranging from 2 to 15. The radius of needles
affect the stitches, gauge, and the elasticity of your project. Choosing the right size of needles is very important in how
your finished project will look. It's best to use needles that are a different color than your yarn. That makes it easier to see the stitches.
One of the best things about knitting is choosing yarn! There are many different types and brands. As a beginner, it's best to start with something that is inexpensive and I strongly suggest using a solid, light color. Save the fancy more expensive kinds for later when you're more experienced. And it's better to buy too much for a project than to run out and can't find the same dye lot when you're trying to finish. You can always use the leftovers for small projects or even use it as stuffing for toys and pillows.
Different fibers of yarn will result in completely different results in
your piece or garment. You want to be familiar with the different kinds
of yarn fiber and how they will work in a knitting or crochet project.
Synthetic Fibers
Nylon, rayon, acrylic, viscose, and polyester are all synthetic fibers
that appear in yarn. 100 % acrylic yarn is a common choice as it is the
most inexpensive yarn. This makes acrylic yarn a good choice for those
just
learning
how to knit or crochet.
Blends
Many yarns blend different natural fibers, synthetic fibers or natural
fibers with synthetic fibers, such as for a softer feel. If you want to
felt your knitted or crochet project, you must ensure the yarn is at
least 80% wool, but the other 20% can be synthetic.
Natural Fibers
Cotton- Made from cotton
plants,
many types of cotton yarn are treated with chemicals to make them more
durable, mildew resistant, and able to accept dyes better. Some
environmental concerns have been raised with traditional cotton production though.
Wool- Many different kinds of wool exist and are spun
into yarns with different weights and textures. Wool accepts color very
well and is very warm. Merino wool yarn is a popular choice in making
garments.
Cashmere- Cashmere, from the soft undercoats of
cashmere goats, is a more expensive yarn which is especially smooth
while still retaining warmth.
Alpaca/Llama- South American llamas or alpacas produce
very soft, warm yarn. Llama wool yarn is less soft and bulkier. Alpaca
and llama wool is non-allergenic, since it does not have the lanolin
found in lamb’s wool. This yarn does not accept color as well as wool
though.
Mohair- Mohair is a thick yarn from the Angora goat with an especially fuzzy look.
Angora- Angora is an especially soft rabbit fur yarn which has a fuzzy appearance.
Linen- Linen yarn is made from the flax
plant and is a lightweight yarn perfect for summer garments.
Silk- Silk comes from silkworm larvae and is very
smooth and light. Since silk does not have much stretch, silk is
generally combined with other fibers for yarn, often cashmere for a
truly-luxurious yarn.
Eco-Friendly Yarns
Organic Cotton- Please see
this article for more information on organic cotton created without synthetic
fertilizer or pesticides and, when made into yarn, without chemical dyes.
Bamboo- Bamboo yarn has the feel of silk and is very
strong. Bamboo is a renewable resource because it can be harvested
without killing the plant, which then regenerates the removed bamboo in a
couple of months.
Hemp- Hemp is another renewable resource which can be
grown without pesticides or herbicides and is the strongest natural
fiber. Hemp yarn garments are softer with each machine washing and can
be treated for softness as yarn. Check out
LanaKnits to read about and purchse Hemp yarn.
There
are a lot of things that can help make your knitting experience a
pleasant one. I'll list some and describe how they're used. They can be
purchased separately or sometimes in a kit. You might want to consider
putting the items in a small closeable pouch or small bag that fits in
the bag you have your project in. This way you have everything ready
and available. A nice pair of small scissors are also a good thing to
include as well as a pencil and paper.
Stitch Markers:
Placed on the needle and carried throughout the knitting to mark points
of increase, decrease, or changes in pattern. The split-lock design can
also be slipped through completed work to mark for buttonhole placement
or any other necessary marking.Stitch markers can be purchased at your
local yarn store, or sometimes found objects can be used as stitch
markers. The white plastic rings in the picture were in a container of
blank CDs.
Row Counters: Used
to record the number of rows completed. Some counters slip onto a
needle and are manually advanced as each row is completed. There are
also electronic counters and apps for digital devices.
Point Protectors
are used on the points of your needles to keep them from damage, or to
hold your knitting on the needles while stored in your knitting bag. I
will even use them on double point knitting needles to convert them to
short single points. Do your double points like to slide out of your
yarn when knitting in the round? Cap each end with a point protector
and your stitches are safe and secure. And when knitting in the round,
you can write numbers on the point protectors so you'll know which
needle is which!
Stitch Holders: Used to temporarily hold stitches which will later be worked into a garment.
Cable Stitch Holders: used to temporarily hold a few stitches to the front or back of work while forming a cable.
Yarn Bobbins: used
in multi-colored knitting. Each color being used in the design is
wrapped around a bobbin, and the bobbins are allowed to hang from the
work, a short distance from the needle. Since the bobbin stores the
yarn, there are no long strands to tangle or become knotted while
knitting, so the colors are much easier to manipulate while creating the
design. Bobbins are available in several sizes to accommodate
different weights of yarn.
Yarn or tapestry needles:
used to sew knitted or crocheted pieces together. The large eye allows
easy threading of various thicknesses of yarn and the blunt end
prevents splitting the yarn.
Crochet hook: Used
in picking up dropped stitches and to correct mistakes. It is best to
work with a crochet hook the same size millimeter as your knitting
needle or slightly smaller.
Knitting needle size and stitch gauge tools:
They come in a variety of configurations and usually have rulers and
cutouts for each needle size for ease in determining the size of
double-pointed or circular needles that no longer have a label attached.
Retractable tape measure: small size easily fits in your project bag and makes measuring easier.
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