Knitting Needles

Plastic knitting needles 
-flexible
-warm to touch
-springy, smooth
-chance of stitches slipping.



Casein knitting needles
-milk protein derived from milk processing
-flexible
-warm to touch
-short blunt point
-organic, biodegradable


Wooden needles
Bamboo
-warm to touch
-organic, bio-degradable
-cheaper than wooden
-strength, flexibility
-difficult to break
-stitches do not slip as easily as with metal or plastic
-lightweight, smooth
-may benefit from light sanding occasionally


Birch knitting needles
-Birch

• Light weight; 1 gram as opposed to 9 grams for a metal needle the same dimensions.
• Warm to the touch
• Smooth finish
• Beautifully turned ends
• Made from birch from sustainable source
• Yarn glides across them like it does with metal needles

Size 9 Birch knitting needles with sterling silver and sapphire Swarovski Crystals

Rosewood needles

-smooth

-lightweight

-hardwearing

-warm to touch

-expensive

Size 10 Cocobolo with sterling bezel set Baltic Amber.


Size 9 Cocobolo knitting needles with sterling silver and Baltic amber.

Ebony Needles
-smooth
-wooden needles can hold onto yarn, slowing you down but this also means the stitches slip less
-lightweight
-warm to touch
-luxurious, expensive.


Size 10 Gabon Ebony Knitting Needles in sterling silver and Swarovski Crystal


Size 9 Gabon Ebony knitting needles with sterling bezel set mosaic opal triplet.

Bloodwood needles
-hard, durable
-deep cherry colour




Size 10 Bloodwood knitting needles in sterling silver and freshwater pearls.

Tulipwood needles


-hard, durable


Zebrawood needles


-hails from Africa and South America


Bocote needles


Whalebone Knitting Needles


-Sailor made whalebone knitting needles decorated at one end with donut shaped beads of coconut shell, whale tooth ivory and wood capped with a geometric carved whale ivory knob.  These are some of the longest whalebone knitting needles I have seen at 18"

This fine and rare pair of sailor-made knitting needles measure nearly 15". There are three baleen spaces near the feet to enhance the overall appearance.

Ivory Needles

 

Material: Palm wood, ivory, baleen, other woods or shell 

Date: c. 19th Century 
Pigment: Red in serpent mouth, nostrils 
Tool used: lathe ? knife 
Design description: Ivory tip, palm wood shaft, multiple bands of materials, carved ivory end, serpent, with large eye, folded back on itself