Knitting needle

Since the invention of the circular needle, they have been most commonly used to knit smaller tube-shaped pieces such as sleeves, collars, and socks.

The two tapered ends, typically 4–5 inches (10.5–13 cm) long, are rigid, allowing for easy knitting, and are connected by the flexible strand (usually made of nylon or coated wire).

In using circulars to knit flat pieces of fabric the two ends are used just as two separate needles would be.

Using circular needles has some advantages, for example, the weight of the fabric is more evenly distributed, therefore less taxing, on the arms and wrists of the knitter and, the length of the cable may be longer than would be practical with rigid needles since the cable and fabric rest in the lap of the knitter rather than extending straight out past the arms.

Knitting ITR with circulars is done in a spiral, the same way as using double-pointed needles (usually called DPNs).

Much larger tubes may be knit ITR, too, helping items to be completed more quickly.

Numerous techniques have been devised for the production of narrow tubular knitting on circular needles.

This technique is known as Magic Loop and has recently become a popular method of producing tubular knitting, as only one needle is required.

[1] The current holder of this title is Elizabeth "Betsy" Bond who is a British art student and creator of the world's largest knitting needles, which are 14 feet long.

To achieve the world record in 2018, Bond needed to knit at least 10 stitches and 10 rows of yarn with her needles.

The yarn she used for the feat was made of 35 pounds of machine knitted, hand-twisted cotton material.

Modern knitting needles are made of bamboo, aluminium, steel, wood, plastic, glass, casein and carbon fibers.

A tall, cylindrical container with padding on the bottom to keep the points sharp can store straight needles neatly.

If older circulars with the nylon or plastic cables are coiled for storage it may be necessary to soak them in hot water for a few minutes to get them to uncoil and relax for ease of use.

[4] Occasionally, older lace patterns will refer to these smaller needles in the old measurement system.

Bamboo knitting needles
A little dexterity is helpful in working with knitting needles
Knitting needles in a variety of sizes and materials. Different materials have varying amounts of friction, and are suitable for different yarn types.
Flexi single-pointed needles. The upper one is constructed from an interchangeable circular knitting needle, a cable and a stopper. The lower one is ready-made.
Double-pointed knitting needles in various materials and sizes. They come in sets of four, five or six.
A cable needle is sometimes used.
Circular knitting needles in different lengths, materials and sizes, including plastic, aluminum, steel and nickel-plated brass.
The Magic Loop method may be used to produce narrow tubular items such as socks.
Julia Hopson and her former world record needles
Container for needles
Knitting needles with yarn
Four double-pointed needles in use. One double-pointed needle creates new stitches while the remaining needles hold stitches in place. This is called " knitting in the round ".
Needles with their size in mm