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Knitting Tip: Using Interchangeable Knitting Needles

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I love interchangeable knitting needles, especially when working projects in the round that use multiple needle sizes. But it’s great to have an interchangeable knitting needle set (or two!) in your collection because it’s an easy way to get most of the sizes of knitting needles that you could need, and you can use them for circular or flat knitting.

What to look for in interchangeable needles

To me, the main thing you need to look for in interchangeable knitting needle sets is a strong, smooth join between the cable and the needle tip. I’ve had needles fall apart at the join under the weight of a big project, spilling stitches everywhere.

Interchangeable needle sets are available in lots of different kinds of materials, so if you already have a preference for wooden or metal needles, for example, you can find a set that suits.

Look for a set that has a wide variety of needle sizes. Usually the range seems to be around size 4 or 5 to 15 US.

Pay attention to the length of the needle tip as well; the shorter ones can be hard to work with at first.

The material of the cables should be pliable so it can easily bend to the shape of your knitting. I love sets that also allow you to join cables together so you can make a longer cable in the middle of a project (great for those increase rounds in a top-down sweater, for example).

An interchangeable tip for the disorganized knitter

I shared this tip about interchangeable knitting needles on Instagram the other day and I don’t know if it’s common knowledge (or if many knitters are as disorganized as I am!) so I wanted to share it here, too.

What happens if you want to knit with a particular size needle and you can only find one tip of that size?

In knitting, the size needle that really matters is the one that is forming the stitches. So make sure you cast on over the tip of the correct size, and use a smaller needle tip on the other side.

Then when knitting, make sure you are always knitting onto the needle that’s the correct size. If you’re working in the round this is easy because you can always keep that needle in your right hand.

This doesn’t work as well if you’re knitting flat, because you’d have to remember to change out your needle tips at the end of each row, but I have used this for circular knitting and it keeps me from going crazy trying to find a missing needle point.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for more Cable-styled knitting patterns? Check out these Cable Knit Patterns on Etsy

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Comments

  1. I think the needle you’re knitting onto is in your right hand! (At least for most knitters.). Good tip, though.

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four. 

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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