Knitting needle
A knitting needle islong stick or rod used astool inmanufacturehand knitted fabric. The needleusedreach throughknitting stitchordersnagbightyarnpulllength back throughstitchformnew loop attop ofcurrent walestitches. The simplest requirements knitting needlesthatmust be smooth, thinlong enoughreach throughstitchstrong enough notbreak while manipulatingbightyarn. Knitting needles, commonly usedpairs, areonly essential toolshand knitting (Thomas, 1938; Hiatt, 1988).Knitting needles have also been called knitting sticks, knitting pins, knitting wires, or simply wires or rods (Rutt, 2003). Lengththickness ofneedles vary depending ontypeyarn used (e.g., fine or thick) andtypefabricbe produced (e.g., firm or loose).
The most widely recognized formknitting needle, probably invented inmid 19th Century,usually calledstraight needle. Straight needlesnarrowed nearly topoint at one endcapped atother withknob or head (likehead ofstraight pin), andused almost exclusivelyknitting flat two-dimensional fabrics like rectanglessquares. The needlespopular becauseknob atendeach needle preventsstitches from inadvertently falling offneedles. Fictional depictionsknittingmovies, television programs, animation,comic strips almost always show knitting done on straight needles. Both WallaceGromitMonty Python,example, show knitting being donestraight needles.
The oldest known knitting needles, still very muchuse,double-pointed needles. Theygenerally usedform tubular (coiled) fabrics such as socks andbodies or sleevessweaters. Asname implies, double-pointed needlestapered at both ends nearlypoints. Theynormally usedsetsfour or five as depicted innumber14th Century oil paintings, typically called Knitting Madonnas, depicting Mary knittingdouble-pointed needles (Rutt, 2003). Typical 21st Century double-pointed needles range from about 4 in.15 in.length. Shorter needlesusedknitting socks andfingersgloves. Longer needlesusednearly all other work, including sweaters, shawlsblankets.
Both tubularflat knittingalso done on circular needles, today consistingtwo pointed needles joined together byflexible wire or lengthnylon. Some manufacturers selltwo needles andjoining lengthnylon separately. Different authorities, however, disagree on whetherneedles should be thoughtassingle needle or pair. Mary Thomas (1938)June Hemmons Hiatt (1988) both imply that a circular needle (notesingular) consistsa pair needles (noteplural). Richard Rutt (2003), however, calls a circular needle (notesingular) a double-pointed needle (singular again),so considers itsingle needle. In any case,two endsused exactly like two needles, insense thatknitter holds oneeach handknits as if having two.
Modern knitting needlesmadebamboo, aluminum, steel, wood, plastic,casein.
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2 Controversy 3 References 4 External Links |
Other uses
Beforelegalizationabortion, knitting needles weresome countries notoriously usedperform illegal abortions. Advocateslegalized abortion sometimes usephrase "knitting needle abortions"emphasize that whenprocedureillegal, some resortdesperatedangerous measures.
Controversy
Knitting needles were, forshort while, banned from USinternational commercial flights, being perceived by some as potential weapons afterSeptember 11, 2001 attack onWorld Trade CenterThe Pentagon. Eventually,US Transportation Security Administration, or TSA , created afterattacks, beganlist knitting needles amongstpermitted itemsits list"PermittedProhibited Items".
References
- Thomas, Mary. (1938). Mary Thomas's Knitting Book. Dover Publications. New York. (1972 Reprint Edition ISBN 0-486-22817-7)
- Rutt, Richard (2003). A historyhandknitting. Interweave Press, Loveland, CO. (Reprint Edition ISBN 1-931-49937-3)
- Hiatt, June Hemmons. (1988). The principlesknitting: Methodstechniqueshand knitting. SimonSchuster, New York.
