Knitting Tools of the Trade
Knitting is one the oldest crafts known. The tools used in knitting have progressed tremendously over the years and this has benefited knitters everywhere by allow them to create more elaborate designs and work more eficienly. Knitted clothing is created with yarn. The actual knitting is the process of stiching the yarn in a series of loops stiched through each other. By varying the type of stiches and color and type of yarn you can create many different patterns of cloths and fabrics. But of course, this all starts with having the right knitting tools. We'll describe these below.
Yarn
Yarns used for knitting are generally sold in the form of balls or skeins. Yarn balls will usually
have bands around them which provide you with specific details about the yarn you are purchasing
These details include the yarn's weight, length, dye lot, fiber content, and washing
instructions. They will also usually tell you which needles are the best ones to be used for that
particular yarn. A good tip is to keep the yarn bands on file so that if you run out of yarn on a
project it is easier to go out and buy the same yarn again without having to remember all of the specifics about the yarn. Yarns will indicate which dye lot they came from. You will want to use
yarns from the same dye lot whenever possible as small color variations can occur between lots. Most yarns are relatively inexpensive so it's always a good idea to keep plenty on hand so you don't get stuck running out to the fabric store every time you run out of a particular yarn.Knitting Needles
Knitting needles are your basic tools of the trade. You can't knit without needles. Knitting
needles serve 2 main purposes. First, the long shaft holds the active (unsecured) stitches of the fabric, to prevent them from unraveling. Second, the tapered ends are use to form new stitches. The size of a needle is described first by its radius, and second by its length.Knitting needles have also been called knitting sticks, knitting pins, knitting wires, or simply wires or rods.. Length and thickness of the needles vary depending on the type of yarn used and the type of fabric to be produced.
The most widely recognized form of knitting needle, probably invented in the mid 19th century, is usually called a straight needle. Straight needles are narrowed nearly to a point at one end and capped at the other with a knob or head (like the head of a straight pin), and are used almost exclusively for knitting flat two-dimensional fabrics like rectangles and squares. The needles are popular because the knob at the end of each needle prevents the stitches from inadvertently falling off the needles.
The second type of knitting needle is the straight, double-pointed knitting needles..
Double-pointed needles are tapered at both ends, which allows them to be knit from either end. Double point needles are typically used for circular knitting, especially smaller tube-shaped pieces such as sleeves, collars, and socks; usually one needle is active while the others hold the remaining active stitches. Double point needles are somewhat shorter (typically 7 inches) thank straight needles and are usually sold in sets of four or five.
The third type of knitting needle is the circular needle. These needles are long, flexible double-pointed needles. The two tapered ends (typically 5 inches (130 mm) long) are rigid and straight, allowing for easy knitting; however, the two ends are connected by a flexible strand (usually nylon) that allows the two ends to be brought together. Circular needles are typically 24-60 inches long, and are usually used singly or in pairs. Circular needles are typically used for flat or circular knitting.Other Useful Knitting Tools
Other knitting tools include crochet hooks and darning needles. The crochet hook has a hook at one end that is used to draw thread through knotted loops. Only one crochet hook is needed to make crochet stitches. The crochet hook's earliest use appears to have been in the late 1700s or early 1800s. Crochet hooks can be made out of wood, plastic, casein, or aluminum. The handle of a crochet hook may be shaped to fit the hand for easier use. Some hooks are made with wooden or plastic handles with the hook made of metal and inserted into the handle.
A darning needle is a long needle with an eye large enough for heavy darning or embroidery thread. Darning is a sewing technique for repairing holes or worn areas in fabric or knitting with needle and thread alone. It is often done by hand, but can also be done on a sewing machine. Hand darning employs a darning needle and the darning stitch. This is a simple running stitch in which the thread is "woven" in rows along the grain of the fabric, with the stitcher reversing direction at the end of each row. Darning is a traditional method for repairing fabric damage that does not run along a seam and where patching would create undue stress for the wearer, such as the heel of a sock.
