Button ended needles can be used for any kind of flat knitting, and as they are usually quite long, are wonderful when a large number of stitches have to be worked. The only problem with these needles is that the knitting hanging on the plastic extensions tends to twist around under your hands as you are working, and the plastic strands curl. Run very hot water over the plastic and hold the extension straight until it cools and the problem will be lessened.

4.

Double pointed needles have no substitute if you make garments that have a neck, cuffs or bands that are worked after the seams of the garment have been joined. They are the only needles to use for classical caps, gloves, socks or stockings. As they are not usually marked you need a needle gauge (see 18).

5.

Collect all possible shapes and sizes in cable needles. Keep the pointed end of a broken needle. Use it for a cable needle. So that cable needles don’t fall out of your knitting, use a larger size than the other needles being used for the garment. You will also find that this will stretch the crossed over stitches and make them easier to knit.

6.

A complete set of crochet hooks gives you the chance to find the correct size to use for any crochet trim. Usually, unless you are trying to gather an edge, or make it smaller, match the hook size to the needle size.

Loop buttonholes are easy to make with a crochet hook, and there is nothing better to use to pick up dropped stitches (see here).

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