Knitting 101: an essential guide on the different types of knitting needles

There are a quite a few knitting needles so which are the best ones to use?  Well some times it comes down to how you knit - whether you knit tight or loose or the type of needle you prefer to knit with. There are also knitting needles that are better suited for certain yarns, projects or can help you.  Wait certain needles can help you with your knitting?  Yes they sure can and other types of needles can make it harder to knit. Come and learn about the different types of knitting needles and which ones to use!

Start of image description: A wooden table top with a wooden table top with a pair of metal needles, a pair of plastic needles, a pair of wooden knitting needles spaced out.  In the middle is a sage green rectangle with a red boarder around it.  Inside the rectangle are the words "knitting 101 essential guide of knitting needles" in smaller writing is the words " By Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits".  At the bottom is a pair of straight needles, 5 double pointed needles and a circular needle spaced out. End of image description.

Part 1 -  What type of knitting needle is the best to use?

All straight knitting needles are the same and it does not matter which you use right? While these are all straight knitting needles they are all made from different kinds of materials. Knitting needles are made from bamboo, metal, plastic and wood some of these can make it easier for you to knit with while reducing your frustration and strain on you knitting needles.

Start of image description: a wooden table top with a pair of metal needles, a pair of plastic needles, a pair of wooden knitting needles spaced out. End of image description.

Metal needles

• The most common knitting needle used
• Metal knitting needles are slippery, smooth and easy to drop stitches. 
• Can be hard to use if you are just learning how to knit.
• Ideal for complicated cable patterns, lace and light weight yarns.
• Can be a bit cold in your hands
• Perfect for you if you knit tightly as it’s easier to get the stitches to slip off the needles.

Start of image description: a wooden table top with a pair of metal knitting needles sitting on top.  End of image description.

Bamboo and wooden needles

• These will be perfect for you if you have arthritis and carpal tunnels as they warm up with your hand and are not cold. 
• If your a beginner they will help stop your stitches from sliding off the needle making it easier to knit. 
• If you love to knit with fluffy or furry yarns bamboo knitting needles or wooden knitting needles will be also be perfect for you as they help grip the yarn.

Start of image description: a wooden table top with a pair of bamboo knitting needles sitting on top. End of image description.

Start of image description: a wooden table top with wooden knitting needles sitting on top. End of image description.

Plastic needles

• These bend easily but have a flexible core so they don’t break
• Plastic knitting needles Warm up with your hands
• These will also be perfect for you if you have carpal tunnels or arthritis.

Image description: a wooden table top with a pair of plastic knitting needles on top. End of image description.

Part 2 - Find the perfect knitting needles for your project

There are a few different types of knitting needles used in knitting which all have different uses. The most common knitting needle is the straight knitting needle which are the perfect kind of knitting needle for a beginner to start knitting with. There are also 3 other types these are circular knitting needles, interchangeable knitting needles and double pointed knitting needles (DPN'S).

Start of image description: a wooden table top with a pair of straight needles, 5 double pointed needles and a circular needle spaced out on top. End of image description.

Straight needles

• These are the most common needles used in knitting.
• They come in lengths of 18, 20, 25, 30, 33, 35, 40 cm (7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 inches)
• Straight needles come in a pair 
• Knitted back and forth by changing the hand the needles are in at the end of each row.
• Used for small and medium sized projects and projects which need to be stitched together.

Start of image description: a wooden table top with a pair of straight needles on top. End of image description.

Circular needles 

• Circular knitting needles have a knitting needle tip on both ends with a cord in between them.
• Fixed into place between the knitting needles, so either the cord or knitting needle tip breaks you have to replace the whole thing.  
• The needles come in various lengths, the most common are 15, 20, 23 cm (16, 24, 29, 36 and 40 inches).
• Circular knitting needles are used for seamless knitting that gets joined in a round circle 
• Can be used like straight needles, knitted back and forth instead of in a round.
• Often used to knit jumpers, beanies, cowls, and you could also knit a bowl in the round.
• These are also used to knit heavy projects such as blankets, shawls and ponchos as they cord takes the weight of these on the needles without holding it in your hands.
• If you have carpal tunnels or arhritis these help you by taking the strain off your hands 
  

Start of image description: a wooden table top with a circular needle on top. End of image description.

Double pointed needles also called DPN’s

• These needles have a point at each end and are used to knit in the round like circular knitting needles.
• Double pointed knitting needles come in packs of 5 knitting needles.
• These come in 3 lengths 15, 20, 23 cm  (6, 8, 9 inches)
• Sometimes 4 or 5 knitting needles are used at a time depending on what is stated on the knitting pattern you are using.
• Used for seamless knitting for small items such as baby beanies or socks.
•  Double pointed needles are also used when it gets too hard to knit the stitches on circular needles.
• You can also use these as short straight knitting needles and add a needle point protector at the end of one needle so the stitches do not fall off the needle. If you don't have a needle point protector you can use a hair clip or a hair tie or rubber band.  I like to use these for knitting small soft toys, baby mittens, dishcloths, coasters or baby beanies

Start of image description: a wooden table top with five double pointed knitting needles. End of image description.

Interchangeable knitting needles

• Interchangeable knitting needles come with knitting needle tips and cords that are not fixed like circular knitting needles. eg. you can use the same length cord on all the different sizes.
• These tighten up with a key to keep the cords in place between the two knitting needle tips.
• Able to change the size knitting needles by just changing the tips rather than a whole different needle like you do with a circular knitting needle.
• With these you do not need to have different knitting needles with the same length eg. the same 20cm cord can be used for both 4mm needles and 9mm needles as the tips are changed.
• The needles come in various lengths, the most common are 15, 20, 23 cm (16, 24, 29, 36 and 40 inches).
• Used the same as circular knitting needles
• Often used to knit jumpers, beanies, cowls, and you could also knit a bowl in the round.
• These are also used to knit heavy projects such as blankets, shawls and ponchos as they cord takes the weight of these on the needles without holding it in your hands.

Free printables

I created these infographics to help you know what knitting needles are the best to use and what knitting needles are perfect for your project.  You can download them and put them on card in a knitting bag/basket, add them to your knitting journal or keep them in a pattern book. Download the infographics here or click on any of the images of them, please note both images go to the same link.

Start of image description: a sage green rectangle with the words "knitting needles 101: What is the best knitting needle to use". At the top it has a picture of metal needle on the left and on the right information about them with a red line underneath. Next is information about wooden and bamboo needles on the left and a picture of wooden and bamboo needles on the right with a red line underneath. Next is a picture of plastic needles on the left with information about them on the right with a red line underneath and the words "come and join our facebook community cozy woodland cottage knits place"! At the bottom is a sage green rectangle and the words "Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits" and underneath it has the words "cozywoodlandcottageknits.blogspot.com".

Start of image description: a sage green rectangle with the words "knitting needles 101: find the perfect knitting needles". At the top it has a picture of straight knitting needles on the left and on the right information about them with a red line underneath. Next is information about circular knitting needles on the left and a picture of circular knitting needles on the right with a red line underneath. Next is a picture of double pointed knitting needles on the left with information about them on the right with a red line underneath and the words "come and join our facebook community cozy woodland cottage knits place"! At the bottom is a sage green rectangle and the words "Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits" and underneath it has the words "cozywoodlandcottageknits.blogspot.com".

Thank you for visiting Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits!

We hope you have found our knitting 101 essential guide on the different types of knitting needles helpful and have found best knitting needle for the yarn your working with, project your working on and most importantly for you.  Have fun trying out and using the different types of knitting needles.  What is your favourite type of knitting needle to knit with and why?  I'd love to know leave a comment below. 

Start of image description: three light blue flowers on a branch next to Arjaye's signature. End of image description.

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Start of image description: a pair of straight, double pointed and ciruclar needles on a wooden table top. Underneath it a piece of ripped off white grid paper and a piece of ripped off sage green paper.  On the sage green paper are the words "knitting needles 101" and at the bottom of paper are the words "cozywoodlandcottageknits.blogspot.com". End of image description.

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