By Toby Russell

In this brief article we aim to just give a basic understanding of knitting needles, their sizing and what you need to look out for.

Size IS important

Knitting needles come in different sizes. It is important to know the size of your knitting needles because their size is related to the size of your stitches and, implicitly, to the appearance of the finished work.

Knitting needles are given different numbers according to their measure. Do not think of their length! It is important how big round the needles are. However, these numbers can differ from one country to another. For example, a knitting needle of 3.75 mm is number 5 in American measurement and number 9 in British measurement, or you may see on the bag of the knitting needles you buy it is simply written as a 3.75 mm needle.

Notice that the American measurement has low numbers for needles with smaller diameters, and the numbers can go up to 50 for a larger diameter like 25 mm, while the British measurement has high numbers for low diameters and the numbers decrease when it comes to high diameters; for example, 000 for knitting needles of 10 mm. Therefore, you need to look up a knitting needle conversion chart to ensure you end up with the correct needle size.

To confuse you still further if you have a 4.5 mm knitting needle, in that case the size number coincides, with both countries calling it size 7.

Understanding Gauge

In knitting, there is the concept of gauge and it means the number of stitches in a given length. This concept is related to the pattern you have and, if in your pattern it says there are supposed to be, for example, 5 stitches to an inch and you can make only 3, then you should and need to change the size of your knitting needles. Each pattern requires that you knit a certain number of stitches using a particular yarn and a specified needle.

However, it is not necessary to stick to the yarn or the needles specified in the pattern, but it is important to get the correct number of stitches per inch in order to have the right size, length and other characteristics of the pattern.

Different Kinds

You can also choose between circular needles and straight needles. Some people prefer circular needles because they are more comfortable to use and you can knit both in the round or back and forth like straight needles. You can find circular knitting needles, double point knitting needles and also single pointed knitting needles made of different materials such as steel, wood or bamboo. There are also different types of knitting needles like Addi knitting needles, Clover knitting needles, Misc knitting needles, Crystal Palace, Rosewood and HiyaHiya.

To find out more, pay a visit to a good knitting or haberdashery store & ask for advice.

Toby Russell owns & operates http://www.knitting4beginners.com‚ an information site dedicated to helping knitters just starting out.

Article Source: Toby Russell ==> Understanding Knitting Needles

By Jo Black

Adding your own flourishes and embellishments to your knitting can be a really satisfying thing and only takes a bit of confidence and know how. It’s a lovely thing to be able to take a basic pattern shape and make it your own –adding different buttons, ribbons or embroidery can really release your creative juices and allows you to customize your knitting to suit your own individual style and produce something completely unique.

Adding a fancy edging can be a simple but very effective way of transforming a simple knitting pattern into something really special. One of the simplest edgings is a picot. Picot edging is deceptively simple to do, yet gives a delicate, pretty and, dare I say, ‘whimsical’ flourish to your knitting!

It is made from a combination of casting on and off – the more stitches you cast off, the wider the gap between the bobbles. One Basic picot is done by casting off 2 stitches. It’s done as follows:

*Cast on 5 stitches. Cast off 2 stitches. Slip stitch on Right Hand needle back onto Left Hand needle* (3 stitches should now be on the Left Hand needle.) Repeat from * to * until you have the desired number of stitches on needle to begin the rest of your pattern, e.g. if your pattern requires 47 stitches to be cast on, follow from * to * until you have 47 stitches on the left hand needle.

Continue in the rest of your pattern as normal!

Jo Black has a passion for knitting and craft and believes that everyone can find their bliss through knitting. She’s a working Mum living in England with her son, partner and a rather large stash of knitting yarn! You can find more knitting tips and techniques are http://www.blissedoutknitting.com.

Article Source: Jo Black ==> How To Add A Picot Edge To Your Knitting