The Best Knitting Needles in 2021 - How to Use Them

THE BEST KNITTING NEEDLES IN 2021 & HOW TO USE THEM

Knitting Needles – Uses, Pros And Cons

Knitting is a creative activity that most people make a habit of because this simple craft lets you create unique stuff with your own hands. But knitting is not just as easy as you think. You might think that all you really need is yarns and needles for knitting, but there is much more to it. As soon as you intend to shop for tools, you will see several options for knitting. The knitting needles are a basic tool that is required for knitting, and choosing the best knitting yarn is obviously an important aspect of good knitting. But if you are new to the world of knitting, it might get difficult for you to select the perfect knitting needles for your project.

In this blog, we have covered the different types of knitting needles, how to use them, and their pros and cons as well. So, keep reading and find out which type of knitting needle is perfect for your project. An extremely extensive and exclusive variety of knitting needles are available at Fillory Yarn just so you can purchase your first knitting needle online without any hassle and put a start on your knitting journey.

What Are The Different Types Of Knitting Needles? 

There are several knitting needles available in the market which you can choose according to your project needs, so follow this blog to know about the various types of knitting needles.

CIRCULAR KNITTING NEEDLES

Circular needles are the ones in which two needles are joined together through a simple cable or cord made up of plastic material. There are two tips, short single pointed needles that provide the function of knitting in the round or even flat knitting.

 

How To Use Circular Knitting Needles?

1. The first step you need to do is cast on the stitches and let the stitches slide onto the cord.
2. Make use of your left hand by holding the needle end with the stitches. Similarly, in your right hand, hold the empty end.
3. Knit across each of the stitches.
4. To start work on the next row, you need to begin swapping the knitting needles' ends to link the yarn with the needle in your left hand.
5. Continue as per the pattern of your project.

 

Pros

•     One of the best benefits of circular knitting needles is that they are ergonomic because it provides an ease to the knitter that the project's weight sits on the lap instead of pulling down on the floor and reduces wrist soreness.
•     These needles are easier to store and transport as compared to any other type of needles. And you have the benefit of circular needles that you can knit while traveling.
•     In comparison to straight or double pointed, circular knitting needles hold more stitches.
• The project's weight is distributed over the cord's length that leads to less pressure on hands and relaxed body, arm positions.
•     You can knit your garments like socks, scarves, shawls with round knitting needles without seams.

Cons

•     Consumes time in discovering the actual way of connecting the needle and the cord.
•     It is hard to get the locked position.  

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DOUBLE POINTED KNITTING NEEDLES

These are the type of knitting needles that have small, short needles. These short needles do not have any stopper at the end, but they are pointed from both ends. Double pointed needles are also known as DPN's and are considered the best knitting needles for beginners because you can start knitting by practicing small projects like hats, sweaters, baby clothes, mittens, etc. They are often sold in sets or packs of 4 or 5.

How To Use Double Pointed Needles Knitting Needles?

1. Begin with casting on stitches onto one needle.
2. Divide the stitches over 3 needles evenly and make sure that each needle has the same number of stitches.
3. Arrange the needles so that the needle with the working yarn is positioned on the right.
4. Make sure that needle 4 has no stitches on it and arrange Double Pointed Needles in a pyramid so that the needle with the working yarn is on the right side.
5. Pick up needle 4 to push into the first stitch on the needle 1.
6. Make use of needle 3 working yarn and wrap it around the needle 4.
7. Knit into the first stitch on needle 1. After this pull it off the needle (you have just joined in the round).
8. Use needle 4, knit into the 2nd stitch from needle 1, using the working yarn from needle 3.
9. Continue from knitting needle 1 using needle 4. You will notice all the 4 double pointed needles are now connected together in a mix.
10. Turn the needle pyramid so the needle with working yarn on the right.
11. Continue knitting around the needle pyramid, using Needle 4 to knit into Needle 1.
12. After knitting the 3 legs of the needle of the pyramid, Congratulations! Now you have completed one round.

Pros

•     It is a traditional way of knitting that most circular small-ish objects are already written for Double Pointed Needles.
•     Knitters have the facility that they no longer have to tolerate the magic loop method's wings.
•     Double Pointed Needles are easily available in shorter sizes of the needles.
•     With Double Pointed Needles, it is easy to count on stitches.

Cons

•     While working with double-pointed needles, there are chances that the yarn slips off the needles because these needles don't have ends.
•     These knitting needles are not often available in larger sizes.
•     Knitting with double-pointed needles can be risky, especially for beginners, because it feels like you are dealing with sharp pointy wooden spiders, and due to their short sizes, double pointed needles are more likely to break. 

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SINGLE POINTED KNITTING NEEDLES

These needles have one sharp pointed tip, and the opposite side has a stopper at the end. Single pointed needles come in a set of two, and it is suitable for smaller knitting projects. Straight knitting needles can only be used for flat items knitting because it allows the working from one end of the needle.

How To Use Single Pointed Knitting Needles?

1. Start by casting on your number of stitches.
2. Slip the stitches on the other needle and make sure that the working yarn is toward the back end of the needle.
3. Knit the stitches now.
4. Again, slip the stitches back to the other needle as before and continue knitting again.

Pros

•     Single pointed knitting needles are the easiest type of knitting needle to locate, even in remote areas.
•     Single pointed needles can comfortably hold the yarn for about 60% wider than the needle's length or even more if the fabric is light.

Cons

•     These needles are not a good choice for the knitting of large items. Sometimes, it gets difficult to cast on as many stitches on single pointed needles because of the limited space available for the material.

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CABLE KNITTING NEEDLES

The cable knitting needles are small, straight on the edges but bent from the middle to do the stitching. The bend in these knitting needles helps the knitter by holding the stitches currently in use. Hence, cable patterns are formed.

How To Use Cable Knitting Needles?

1.         Start by overlapping the two left stitches with the two right stitches.
2.         Pullover the stitches you want to cable with on top of the needle.
3.         Turn back to the cable needle which you had in your left hand, and in the same way, knit again for the next two stitches.
4.         Now, focus on the little cable stitch holder. According to the pattern you are creating, keep knitting the stitches to the left needle.

Pros

•     The combination of the cables' sinuous lines with the other stitches creates appealing patterns, which can be obtained from a single cable. Therefore, they are one of the best knitting needles for beginners.
•     They create warm and comfortable garments.

Cons

•     The fabric used in cable needles is denser; therefore, more yarn is required.
•     It is difficult to make the count and remember the rows and rounds between crosses.

INTERCHANGEABLE KNITTING NEEDLES

The interchangeable knitting needles are similar to circular needles. They also consist of two-needle tips and a cable. 

How To Use Interchangeable Knitting Needles?

These knitting needles work like circular needles.

1.         Gather all the pieces you need and start by twisting the needles into every cable. The tighter the twist, the better it is.
2.         With the cable and the tips connected, make use of the key from the set of your interchangeable cables to slip into the metal end of the cable equal to a pin-sized hole.
3.         Twist the needle in the clockwise direction while making the pin stay in place.

Pros

•     The biggest advantage of using interchangeable knitting needles is that they allow the knitter to take apart or assemble the needles they need at the moment.
•     With the best interchangeable knitting needles, you can work on multiple projects at a time. Just detach the tips and secure the cable with a cap, and no stitch will be lost.

Cons

•     The size range of these needles is limited to 3mm.
•     Most times, the cable of these needles is brand specific. Meaning that it can't be used with tips from any other brand.

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Where To Get Them?

We, at Fillory yarn online store, are proud to offer you the best knitting needles of all types from the top brands in the USA. So, get started by choosing the best needle type and follow this guide to begin your knitting journey. 

As you are now aware of all the knitting needle types, their pros and cons and how to use them. There should not be anything left that you don’t know which stops you from starting your first knitting project. So, start your knitting journey by purchasing the best knitting needles as per your project. 

Happy Knitting!