This month I’m thinking about the very basics of knitting and crochet. No, it’s not the yarn this time, but those humble sticks we use to push, pull, loop and twist that yarn into fabulous fabric. I’ve got to admit, I have quite a collection of needles and hooks going, and am gradually replacing my older ones with fancier modern alternatives as I get the chance. Here then, is my quick and very subjective history of needles and hooks:
Steel Yourself
Knitting needles have changed. I remember my gran knitting when I was a child, and the soft clicking of the metal needles against each other. They were always metal, always grey, and didn’t seem to get any thicker than about 5mm. The same went for crochet hooks. Okay, you could find plastic ones sometimes as well, but for some bizarre reason the manufacturers thought they would be best in grey too. I have a selection of my gran’s metal knitting needles in my collection, along with a set of grey steel crochet hooks and a fair few of those dull grey plastic ones. They form the early core of my hook and needle collection, and I’m strangely sentimental about them despite finding them rather ugly and in the case of steel, unpleasantly cold to hold.
Plastic Fantastic
Then, about ten years ago something started happening. The plastic started getting funky. This was around the time I picked up crochet again and I was overwhelmed by the choice of hooks. I bought a set of clear plastic coloured ones in sizes up to… wait for it… a whole 10mm! Wow! I even found ones with glitter in that made me insanely happy to use. Yes, I really am that easily pleased by sparkly trinkets.
Got Wood?
But that wasn’t the end of this explosion of consumer choice in craft tools. There were other, traditional materials still waiting to be explored. Wood and bamboo came onto the market and with hefty price tags attached. I have to admit, I was drawn to the natural materials from the outset. Not only do they look warm, but they feel warm and they don’t make that annoying “tic-tic-tic” sound when you’re knitting. Even better, the stitches are far less likely to slip off a wood or bamboo needle than a slippery steel one. I am now a devotee of fancy turned wooden hooks and needles, and one of these days plan to replace all of mine with the gorgeous birch ones from Brittany.
There is one major disadvantage, though: wooden needles snap far too easily when you sit on them and I’ve had to repair quite a few of my finer ones. It’s also not a suitable material for really fine crochet hooks, where you end up having to go for steel again. Fortunately, I’ve now found a more comfortable compromise: crochet hooks with a plastic and rubber grippy handle and a metal shaft. After my initial qualms (looks more like something you’d find in a tool box than a craft kit) I was converted. What makes these hooks particularly suitable for me is that the hook end is tapered rather than inline, which I find much easier to work with. For an explanation of why that’s so important, check out this excellent illustrated post explaining all about what to look for when choosing from different hooks.
Going in circles
I used to think that when it came to circular knitting needles, I’d have to go with plastic or metal. Fortunately that’s no longer the case and I’m now the proud owner of a set of beautiful coloured wooden Symfonie KnitPro needles. Better yet, they’re interchangeable! Now I need to learn how the use the things, as I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never dared use them before. It can’t be that hard, though, right? After all, I can knit socks on double-pointed needles.
Everybody get funky
Yes, these days there’s almost too much choice when it comes to hooks and needles. Metal ones are now available in a rainbow of colours, as well as with lots of different types of easy-grip handles. Plastic is brighter than ever, and even the wooden ones are starting to appear in all manner of colours. KnitPro do all different kinds of needles and hooks in their trademark rainbow striped wood, or if you want something unique you can even buy ones direct from artisan woodcarvers who will make them in the wood of your choice.
Of course, all these funky tools cost money, but if that’s an issue you can make your own knitting needles with absolutely minimal woodworking skills. Children in Steiner Waldorf schools make their first needles when they learn to knit. Apparently they just use a pencil sharpener on a piece of wooden dowelling then sand off the end. The cap end is made of a lump of beeswax, but it would be easy enough to glue on something more appealing like a brightly coloured bead. You could even make your own custom end caps using polymer clay.
There really is no excuse to stick with the boring grey hooks and needles!
Anyone else out there a helpless addict when it comes to funky hooks and needles, or do you not care what they look like so long as they do the job? What’s your favourite material for knitting needles and/or crochet hooks, and why?
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Josephine Myles first learnt to crochet when she was eighteen. After making one beret that turned into a teacosy and frustrated at the crappy choice of yarn in her local shops, she decided the craft just wasn’t for her. Fast forward ten years, and having a bun in the oven prompted Jo to pick up her hook again to crochet some teeny-tiny baby things. Fortunately, by this time the world had caught up with her and there were all kinds of sexy yarns out there to indulge in. A few years later she taught herself knitting and dressmaking, and she hasn’t looked back since.
When she’s not busy with yarn or sewing machine, Jo can be found with her head in a book, pottering in the garden or running around after her daughter. She should probably get back to writing the steamy manlove novels, shouldn’t she?
Jo’s website and blog: http://josephinemyles.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JosephineMyles
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/josephine.myles.authorpage
Ravelry profile: http://www.ravelry.com/people/Anna-Jo
All photographs either the author’s own, or manufacturer’s publicity shots.
The Armchair Reader 
Tash
My crochet hooks are aluminium multi coloured and my knitting needles are bamboo. Scratchy to use at first but when they get oiled up they are smoother than metal and lighter.
Josephine Myles
I think I need to get some of those gorgeous brightly coloured aluminium hooks, especially in the smaller sizes when wood just doesn’t cut it.
Bamboo needles are great, aren’t they? Especially nice for the thicker sizes which do get horribly heavy in metal.
kate
I seem to have inherited needles, hooks and strange objects which I think are for making rag rugs from every elderly relative in the family when they’ve passed… I’ve a small tapestry carpet bag full of them….nearly all metal, and an awful lot of between 3 and 5 mm
As much as I’d love to be able to knit with bamboo needles, the longest I’ve managed to keep a working set is about a week …. they appear to be like crack for one of my dogs when it comes to her search and destroy missions! So I shall be sticking to my metal needles…… I mainly knit on dpn’s and circs as arthritis in my hands make big needles a pain (literally!)…. which is fine, though I have been known to curse a lot when trying to magic loop
Josephine Myles
Ooh, I think I have one of those rag rug making hooky things! It is amazing how many fine metal needles women used to collect, isn’t it? I have no idea why my gran had so many of the same size.
Naughty dog! Actually, I can see why big needles wouldn’t work for you. I find they get pretty heavy myself. I’m pondering using my new circular ones with end stoppers as a pair of normal needles.
Liam
I like bamboo needles, but I’ve been working with my Addi Turbos so much at this point, that the “catching” from the bamboos (even my better quality ones) annoys the heck out of me.
I’ve done socks on both DPS and two circulars. For the DPN method, I like the bamboo to get started (without fail, I will drop the LAST stitch when you knit the cast-on row and have to start over), but once I get going I prefer metal.
I don’t crochet, so can’t give an opinion on hooks. ;-]
Josephine Myles
You must be an incredibly fast knitter, Liam! I think I prefer to be a bit slower as I make all kinds of mistakes if I go too fast. Perhaps it will come with time.
I can definitely see how metal is faster, but that slipperyness makes me paranoid I’m going to drop stitches (or that my daughter will pull the knitting off the needles, which has happened before…)
Sadonna
The needles and hooks I have I inherited from my Auntie and they are quite a collection! All types of materials and sizes. Someday I’m going to find the time to actually use them 🙂
Josephine Myles
Yes, you must! You’ll soon figure out which you like best, but I bet you keep the rest anyway for sentimental reasons. I know I will with my Gran’s 🙂
Cel
I prefer bamboo double points and nickle-plated or stainless steel metal circulars. I also like some nylon circulars that they quit making in the ’80s that came in soft pastel colors – pink, ivory and lavender, mostly. Those are nicely pointy, warm to the touch, flexible and just slick enough for fast knitting.
I agree about big needles and hand pain – I very rarely use anything bigger than 5.5mm and I’ve had to train myself not to grip my needles too firmly.
Josephine Myles
Oh, that’s a shame they stopped making them if you get on with them.
I’ve had to train myself to knit with a looser tension as I was getting hand pain. Big needles are fun, but only on something you can pick up for ten minutes then put down again. I couldn’t use them for too long in one sitting. Very useful if you want to make crochet broomstick lace, though, which is why I have the 25mm needles!
Cornelia Grey
I’m very fond of bamboo knitting needles. But they do tend to bend out of shape over time… loving the fancy wooden ones!
Josephine Myles
I haven’t had any of mine bend out of shape yet, but I’ve certainly snapped a few of the finer ones and lost one of the end stoppers.
The turned wooden ones are just gorgeous, aren’t they? I love the multicoloured wooden ones too. It seems a shame to put them away in a drawer when they’re not in use. Those things need to be on display!
lindaghio
Reblogged this on Linda Ghio | writer.
Josephine Myles
Thanks, Linda. Nice looking blog you’ve got there. I’m a steampunk fan too 😀
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