amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

thrifty_sahm · 01-19-2005, 10:15 PM

My good friend got me a Stitch and B*tch book to learn how to knit for my bday, and now I need needles. Tell me about the needles you make.

cherrysberries · 01-19-2005, 10:57 PM

2 wooden dowels cut to the desired length (obviously about the same length. A pencil sharpener to get your point and some sand paper to make the needles VERY smooth.

Then take some Fimo or other oven fired clay and make you something to go on the end (like a ball or something) and form on the blunt end of the needles. Then take a piece of scrap dowel, put your two clay pieces on the ends of it and put in the oven according to the directions on your clay. Then let it cool, take it out of the oven and glue it on the end.

Its really easy.

lovebugsmama · 01-19-2005, 11:03 PM

Heather (CarterNOwensMom) made me two lovely pair of knitting needles. I

them.

TipToe Fairy · 01-19-2005, 11:04 PM

Dd and are in the middle of making some for the Spring swap. They are easy to make.

veghmschlmommy · 01-19-2005, 11:10 PM

After you do what cherrysberries said, using a rag, you can rub the dowels with lemon or lavender oil until they're extra smooth.

You can also use acorn caps on the ends of the dowels.

thrifty_sahm · 01-20-2005, 12:36 AM

Can I buy or trade a pair from anyone? Can someone show me a picture of the ones you made? I want to start learning and since I am moving, I don't have time to make my own pair. However, thanks so much for the instructions. I totally plan on trying my own pair once settled in MI.

mamatoabigail · 01-20-2005, 06:56 AM

What size needles do you need? My paternal gma gave me all her knitting supplies including needles. I have a few duplicate pairs and would be happy to mail them to you. Making them sounds more fun, though. =)

mommy2maya · 01-20-2005, 08:15 AM

Here's a pic on the ones I made for the Winter swap

mamatoabigail · 01-20-2005, 08:16 AM

Very cool! What size dowels did you use? And do you just sharpen them in a pencil sharpener?

Erin

mommy2maya · 01-20-2005, 08:19 AM

I don't remember what size dowel I used, but they were size 11, but could easily do any size needle, depending on size of the dowel. I did use a pencil sharpener. Lots and lots of sand paper!

kkdmommy · 01-20-2005, 08:29 AM

I'm using some of Mary's right now

I made several sizes, you can use a Dremel to further shape the tip if it doesn't come out of the pencil sharpener looking right (lol, I think I got some oak dowels, they were harder to work with).

I used sanding sponges, they were easy to hold onto. And you can wax them when you're done sanding too, for a really smooth surface, some of my funky yarns will still snag if I don't--wax paper or a candle rubbed on them does the trick.

Carolinerenee · 01-20-2005, 09:04 AM

This sounds like fun--thanks for the instructions! Actually its given me a great idea for a gift for my mom for her birthday--mama made knitting needles in a mama made needle case!

Should we sticky this in the FAQ?

lisa_dragon · 01-20-2005, 10:17 AM

What kind of pencil sharpener did you all use?

I only have the little kind, not the bolt to your desk kind... I wonder if they would be sturdy enough. Ive got a hankering to do up a set of DPNs since I cant find the right sizes locally.

Thanks!

cherrysberries · 01-20-2005, 11:30 AM

Ooopppps I did forget to say that you needed to wipe all the dust off from sanding. You will also need several grits of sand paper, I ended up using very very fine sand paper to finish mine up. I never put a finish on mine but you can.

I just used an electric pencil sharpener that I had bought when I was in college to sharpen my art pencils (trust me when your working on a big project with a lot of pencils you grow to appreciate an electric pencil sharpener). If you buy a mechanical pencil sharpener I'd reccomend getting the kind with the large and small sharpener just in case you get dowels too big.

They really aren't hard to make. I used the cheaper dowels but I checked them over for flaws really well when I was looking for them. I bought some oak at the same time but they had more texture and I didn't feel like sanding them that much. But I do plan on making some oak ones as well.

If you get one of those knitting needle gauges, then you can bring that with you to the hardware store when you buy the dowels to see what size needles you are making.

cherrysberries · 01-20-2005, 11:37 AM

Here are some I made for another group for swap. I made some ends to look like candy and one set look like pumpkins.