Confused about Knitting Needle Options?

There are so many different kinds of knitting needles out there, from circulars, straights and DPNs of different lengths to those made of wood, bamboo, metal, plastic and other materials. How do you know which needle type is right for you and the project you are working on?

You can’t try every single needle type that is out there, but once you’ve given a few a test you’ll begin to develop your own preferences (I love wooden straights and circulars and tend to use interchangeables a lot). In the meantime, you can check out the free (with free signup to Knitting Daily) ebook Free Guide to Knitting Needles.

This nine-page PDF covers the pros and cons of the major types of knitting needles you’ll find out there and gives some tips for choosing the right type for you. If you like speed, for instance, consider fixed circulars with metal tips. If you love cute stuff, go for candy-colored plastic and acrylics.

The guide also includes a chart with the basics on all the models they tested and a handy knitting needle conversion chart, just in case you’re looking at a pattern that calls for a 4 mm needle and you don’t know what that means (size 6 US, by the way).

[Photo by Knitting Daily.]

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?