What Equipment Is Required To Learn Easy Knitting?
1. Knitting does require very little equipment for any one
garment, but it must be the best if you are to attain the
greatest enjoyment and relaxation from your endeavor -
although good equipment alone will not automatically
result in perfect work. For example, if your knitting
needles are too heavy, too rigid or too pliable, or if the
needles have blunt points that split the yarn, or for that
matter, sharp points that hurt your fingers, knitting
becomes a chore and the finished garment will reflect this.
Due to all the factors noted in the example, it is advisable
to get precision-tapered knitting needles. The precision-
tapered needles points are designed to slide easily
through the stitches without splitting the yarn, have good
balance, are light in weight, and are flexible enough to
permit long hours of work without tiring the hands and
2. There are a variety of good knitting needles on the market
today, some of which are:
3. • Silvalume (special aluminum alloy with a smooth
permanent finish that does not soil light-colored yarns and
is a firm needle.• Luxite (a plastic-like material) is
more flexible• Tonewood is a highly polished hard
wood, but usually is only available in larger sizes of
needles (for ribbons or very bulky yarns or for a loose
mesh effect).
4. Knitting needles are made in single-point, double-point, or
circular types. Often the single-point knitting needles are
referred to as straight needles and are used for any back-
and-forth knitting. Double-point needles (Sock needles)
are often recommended for many knitted pieces where
seams would detract from appearance and fit; also for
neckline finishes and many other purposes.
5. Circular knitting needles are used for many different types
of work. They may be used for sleeves, round-neck
ribbing, and small garments, sometimes for making
sweaters, coats, skirts, and dresses.
6. Strange as this may sound, whether or not you
crochet, knitting equipment is not complete without a few
crochet hooks. These crochet hooks are necessary for
finishing a knitted garment and for picking up "lost"
stitches.
7. The following knitting aids are not necessary, but are
designed to easier complete some little tasks necessary to
the working, finishing, and adding to the proper fit of
garments.
8. 1. Yarn needle - to sew the seams of knitted garments and
for wool embroidery
9. 2. Knit Count - by twisting the little dials, you can easily
keep count of rows as you make them
10. 3. Stitch holders - to hold stitches securely when not in
use. They are available in aluminum and plastic
materials, in small, medium, and large sizes. There are also
Midget Stitch Holders which are ideal for holding a very
small number of stitches.
11. 4. Cable stitch holder - the curve holds the stitches
securely, making cable stitching easier. Use the holder in
all cases when instructions call for a spare needle. The size
is just right for all types of yarn, regardless of the size of
knitting needle you are using.
12. 5. Yarn bobbins - for multi-color knitting and argyle socks.
These yarn bobbins allow the yarn to unwind smoothly
and evenly; lock and unlock the yarn as wanted. This
knitting aid prevents knots and tangles as well as holding a
generous quantity of yarn.
13. 6. Ring markers - to slip onto the needle to mark work into
designated sections for increases or decreases, etc.
Invaluable when making skirts or sweaters where counting
of stitches is difficult.
14. 7. Knit Chek - designed to check stitch and row gauge more
easily and accurately. The importance of checking your
gauge cannot be overemphasized.
22. Most of the above-noted things that are necessary for the
home knitter are available to you in your own home; some
you have to purchase.
23. Just a few hints on equipment before you go shopping (if
you haven't already) - if your equipment is old, keep steel
needles and hoods from rusting by putting them in a
long, covered bottle with a small piece of camphor
(available from any Watkins dealer) wrapped in cloth.
24. Wooden needles that develop rough and catchy spots can
be remedied by dipping a very slightly dampened cloth in
a fine-grain kitchen cleanser and rub your needle with
this. Let the needle dry thoroughly, then rub off all the dry
cleanser with a rough cloth and polish by rubbing hard
with a thick fold of waxed paper.
25. When your fingers get sore when working with harsh or
knotty yarn cut the finger from an old kid glove and slip it
over the offended finger - amazing how that works!
26. Always listen for hints wherever you go - keep track of
them and note them somewhere. You never know when
these tips and/or hints may come in handy.
27. Do you home knit any garments, and if so, what is your
most useful tip for the beginning home knitter?
