Knitting Tip: Using Interchangeable Knitting Needles

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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It’s been well documented that I love a knitting pattern with a bit of whimsy, so when I saw the Mine! Pullover from Sarah L. Kelly recently I knew I had to share it with you.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to knit a sweater with a yoke full of seagulls? And another seagull at the waist? Chasing little crabs?

The story behind the sweater (and you knew there had to be one, right?) is that while Sarah was traveling around Europe there were a lot of cheeky seagulls about. They reminded her of the scene in Finding Nemo where the seagulls say “mine, mine, mine” and thus the Mine! series of patterns was born.

Oh yes, there’s a whole set. It was the sweater I saw first but there’s also a pair of socks (and the pattern says there’s a cowl, too, but I couldn’t find it as of this writing. If you see it let me know and I’ll add the link here!) so you can totally deck yourself out in pesky seabirds if you want.

But back to the sweater for now. This is worked in DK weight yarn from the top down in the round. The yoke and a section at the bottom are worked in stranded colorwork, with stripes on the body, though you could make the body a single color if you wanted. Details like the beaks and eyes are added with duplicate stitch to make the knitting a little easier.

The colorwork sections are charted. The pattern comes in 10 sizes, with a finished chest circumference ranging from 32 to 68 inches, or 80 to 170 cm.

The socks are worked in sock yarn and come in three sizes. There worked from the cuff down and change needle sizes to accommodate the less stretchy nature of stranded colorwork. You can choose from a side profile or a seagull that’s looking out from the sock. Make a matching pair or mix it up.

Both patterns are available on Ravelry: sweater and socks. If you make them I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah L. Kelly]

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