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Circular Knitting Needles
Circular knitting needles are two needles attached with a flexible cord of different lengths, usually 24-60 inches long. The flexible cord of the needles holds the active stitches which makes it easier for knitting. Circular knitting needles are usually made with materials such as bamboo, metal, plastic and resin and can also be used for flat knitting too. Kits are also available which allows you to change your needle type or size and the length of your cord.
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Bamboo Knitting Needles
Bamboo is technically a grass from Asis and India and is the fastest growing plant on earth, making it a very good renewable resource. Bamboo knitting needles are flexible, strong, and are not as slick as metal needles making them easier for beginners and less likely to drop them while knitting. They are lighter than metal needles of the same size, feel more comfortable in the hands, often cheaper and usually come in a wider variety of sizes. Bamboo knitting needles also come in a single point, double point or circular and don’t split yarn as easy as other types of knitting needles.
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Knitting Needles Sizes
When it comes to knitting needles and crocheting hook sizes it can be a bit confusing. There is no international standards for the sizing of knitting needles and crochet hooks and size is very important when it comes to creating your pattern. The U.K. uses the standard wire gauge to size their needles which makes the larger needles end up with a smaller number on it. With U.S. standards the larger needles end up with a larger number on them. When sizing your needles it is best to use a gauge to match your needles with the patterns you are creating so it will turn out to match your pattern.
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Knitting Patterns
With all the different knitting and crocheting patterns available today you can create anything you like, also there is patterns you can follow to make a combination of them both. Not only will a pattern guide you from start to finish it will also tell you what type of yarn or wool to use, how much of it you will need and also give you the size of needles to use. There is patterns for sweaters, hats, clothes, toys, home decor or whatever you could possible imagine.
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Yarn and Wool
Craft yarns are usually measured by weight and this is done at a standard temperature and humidity, so the length of yarn on a ball varies because of the thickness of a strand and the different fiber types. Hand craft yarn has labels on them which include information on the gauge of the yarn which tells you how many stitches and rows are produced per inch or centimeter depending on your knitting needle or crochet hook.
Wools quality is determined by it diameter, crimp, yield, color and strength. Its diameter being the most important of these because this will determine its quality and price. The finer the wool, the softer it will be, so this would usually be used for garments and the coarser wools would be used for outerwear and rugs.
April 6th, 2009
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