Whoa. Has anyone seen these new Speed Stix by Lion Brand? At a whopping size 50, they are 25mm in diameter, and using chunky yarns, you can knit a scarf in an hour. And I thought size 35 was big!
It retails $11.99 which is fairly reasonable for plastic needles. The knitting freak in me wants to get a pair just to see if I can do a scarf in an hour - the knitting geek in me wants it to add to the ever-growing needle collection!
Most beginning knitters use Single-pointed straight needles, which are sticks with a pointy end and a knob end. They come in all sorts of widths and materials, and it is up to you to which you prefer. I’ve posted a picture of the most popular ones above: aluminum (show in size 19), bamboo (shown in size 15), and plastic (shown in size 6).
Aluminum and plastic needles are the most economical. Aluminum needles are lightweight and slippery, which is easier for sliding in and out of loops with. But I’ve found that it is very easy to drop stitches with aluminum needles. Aluminum needles are also very cold to hold and loud to knit with. If you plan to knit in bed with someone sleeping next to you, the clang clang of the aluminum needles could keep someone awake. Plastic needles are a good option. They are cheap and widely available, but sometimes the tips are not well-made and can snag and pull your yarn.
Continue reading “Knitting Needle Types” …
