Knitting needles - what should I buy?

[Chulita]

I've just knitted my first hat and it's come up a good size smaller than it should have. I've only got 4mm needles that came free with the magazine but I'm really enjoying knitting and I'd like to make a hat that actually fits DD before the winter's over! What needles should I buy, sizes/recommended brands/sets or any advice would be brilliant. I thought trying on bigger needles would give me a slightly bigger hat...is that right?

yes bigger needles should give you a bigger hat. ask on freecycle for the sizes that you want. you should get a few pairs this way.

a kntting pattern should come with a tension guide. 10 stitches by 10 rows should be a certain size. you adjust the nuber of stiches and rows accordingly.

Thank you! The pattern was just in a cheapo magazine so it didn't have a tension guide - should've checked the wool I suppose.

Charity shops are a good bet as well. We sell our needles at 20p a pair, although we are Very Cheap.

There are tons of free patterns online that include more precise instructions, incl. a tension gauge. Try here

(another one from the August 2010 club, knitting like mad!)

Hi Chulita!

Welcome to the joy of knitting! Congrats on finishing a project - more than many manage on their own.

Great website for beginning knitters here. Lots of help and tips.

One of the first important things to learn is knitting to gauge -- casting on the number of stitches and knitting the rows indicated and getting something the right size.

When you buy yarn there will be on the label a bunch of symbols that look like an obscure code! First there will be a pair of crossed needles and a crochet hook. These are the recommended needle sizes. There is also a grid with r and sts (rows and stitches) on the side teeling you the number of sts/rs to get (usually) a 4in square. Patterns usually quote sts/r to get 1in so you can use these two numbers to find a suitable yarn if you can't get/don't like the recommended one.

Together the size and gauge mean if you knit with the recommended size needles, to the average tension (that means that your loops are not really loose or really tight on the needle) you will get more or less the stated gauge, and it won't be absurdly tight or loose and will look nice. If you take a tape measure and measure an inch in the middle, and count the stitches, you will see how much too tight or loose you are still knitting and can see how much larger/smaller a needle you need to try to make your gauge. Knitting a swatch of any new yarn and checking gauge is a must to see if you will get something the right size.

So it sounds like (if the needles and yarn came in a kit) that you are knitting a bit tight, which is normal for beginners. You can look for some yarn that recommend a 3.5 mm needle and use your 4mms for a scarf, say. You may find that as you get more experienced you 'loosen up' and knit more closely to recommended gauge.

Also look for patterns for (I am not kidding) knitting scrubbing cloths, with cheap cotton yarns. It's a great way to practice knitting nice square pieces, with an even tension, edges that are neither too loose or tight (important if you want to knit a garment that fits!). And it does't matter what size they are, and you still get a useful object without having to endure the frustration of ripping out and starting again...

I like knitting with circular needles and don't have anything else now because anything you can knit on straights you can on a circular, but not v versa (you can't knit in the round with straights. Another great thing is) you don't lose them (ask me how many orphaned single straight needles I have because having finished a row, and set the knitting aside on a train/in a class etc I have lost one). Addi Turbo can be hard to find but are the best of the best. Don't bother with ponys from John Lewis -- nasty. Try some sites like GetKnitted or your LYS (local yarn shop) and see what you like. Some people like the slight bendy-ness of wood, but I prefer the smooth glide off a metal needle.

Addi needles are lovely, but they can be a bit pricey. Personally I prefer to knit on bamboo or wooden needles rather than metal (and anything but Pony!). They tend to be less slippery which makes them easier to hold and also means the stitches don't slide off so easily, both of which can be v. helpful when you're just beginning. You can usually get bamboo straights pretty cheaply (though like Gocha I tend to use circulars for pretty much everything these days).

If you feel you are going to become an avid knitter I would urge you to check out Ravelry.com, but then I am completely addicted!

Found you on Ravelry Mootthing. Wonderful invention isn't it?

Ooh, Ravelry, what's that ?

Ravelry.com. Well may you run, it's fab

Right, avoid Pony and maybe try circular. My mum's a brilliant knitter but lives hours and hours away - she was so excited about me actually knitting something! My tension is very tight, with more practice I'm sure I'll get more confident and not be so paranoid about it unravelling. Thanks for the links, I'll have a look while I eat my toast

Mmm, have joined and found your page, Oma (and Mootthing too!). Thanks! Must have an explore.

DH found me sobbing over lunch things yesterday at the end of Archers Omnibus ... haven't done that since John died.

Good luck Chulita and look at knittinghelp -- it's brill. Don't worry, it won't unravel if you loosen up, and if it does she has a video about picking up dropped stitches (I think that is what you mean by 'unravelling'?).

I listened to the repeat this pm and sobbed too.
Ravelry is wonderful, glad you could join so quickly.