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Needles and Tools

You can t do anything with-out knitting needles. But there are also many other useful tools that make knitting easier and morę fun.

Knitting Needles

Straight knitting needles (that have rhe same thickness ovcr their entire length) and Intcrchangeable needles (that come in a set of varying sizes with uuerchangeable ups that are at-tached to the same needle shalt) are availablc in sizes from 0 to 15 m lengths of 10" and 14"; straight knitting needles are also available in a length of 16". Ilury are madę from aluminum. plastic, bamboo, or wood.

Circular Needles

Circular knitting needles. eitłicr nickclpłntcd or madc of aluminum, are available in lengths of 11" to 60". and si:cs from 0 to 15. Bamkxi noc-dlcs are aeailable in a length of 29“ and si:cs 5 to 15.

Circular knitting needles can also bc used in regular knitting. Thcy are eas> ter to handle łhan regular needles, es-pecially when knttnng large piece*. Also, thcy can bc used to knit puttems in w hich rwo rows on the nght side or the wrung side havc to bc knit one right after the other—for example. in 2-color shaker knitting. You simply push the sntches to the end w herc the yarn you need is locatcd. Neck band* are knit using short circular needles.

Flex Needles

Flex needles cnnsi*t of n t hic ker rip and a thin, ruund plastic strip with a length of akmt 20". These needles are also easier to usc when knitting large picces. such as a sweater with dolman slecvcs. Thcy are aeailablc in sfres 0 to 15.

Bamboo/Mooden Needles

Bamboo knitting needles are espedally light. They have the additional adrantage ihat persons with allcrgies can use them, hccausc they arc guarantccd to be tree of nickcl. Bamkio knitttng needles arc avail-able in doublc-pomted sets in sizes from 0 to 11 and as straight knitting needles in sizes from 0 to 15. Wooden knitting needles. such as hirch and walnut, are availablc in sizes 4 to 13.

Cmndur

needles

Fltx needles

Cablc Needles, Needle Sets,

Needle Sizer

Cable needles ate availablc as str.ught or anglcd. The angled ones prcecnt stitches from acctdentally slipping off the needle whilc you arc making cahles.

Needle sets or sock knitting needles consist ot Ux.it or fivc douhle-poinieJ needles. The stitches are divided among thrcc or four of the needles, and you knit with the fourth or tifrh needle. They arc avaibble in lengths of 4" to 12". Tl te >hon needles work parricularły weII for knitting baby boottes or glove>. Needle sets arc a\-ailahle in sizes from 0 to 15.

Needle sizers make it easier to chcck the size of knitttng needles such as double-pointed needles. Ganges come in Jifferent vaneties.

Carble needles, needle sets. needle u ;er

Stitch Gauge

This practical aid can be used to count stitches for knitting a gauge saniplc, to rcad off rhe requircd mim-ber of stitches, and to check the size of knitting needles.

Stódt gauge

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