Knitting With Straight Needles

Comfort is my main reason for knitting. It really does eliminate stress and gives me calm. To me it is therapeutic as well as good mood inducing. The most comfort that I get from knitting comes from using certain knitting tools. My single pointed or straight knitting needles in bamboo and wood are the most comfort giving. They are warm to the touch, have a peaceful neutral and natural color, they make a nice click sound, they are not too slippery and they look very classic and nostalgic.

I know circular needles are popular and can be used in new ways that were not possible a hundred years ago. In fact, I have circular knitting needles. I have many plastic and aluminum circulars, but I want to eliminate all plastic from my knitting and I am making the decision not to use them anymore. I don’t want to use the nylon or plastic cord that connects the needles. I have switched to bamboo and wood single points and double pointed needles. I’ve gotten so used to them that now it is very easy and comfortable for me. I hate plastic cord and tools and now I am seeing the toxicity and the unsustablity of using them. I don’t even want to use any synthetic yarns but only natural fiber yarns. After a year of using mostly cotton yarn, it is super easy for me to use. I know how it performs and washes and stretches. I know how it holds colors. I now know what kinds of items look best in cotton. In a few years, I’m probably going to be an expert in making cotton knits.

Unfortunately, many of the patterns today use circular needles even if they use them to knit back and forth in flat pieces. But daily I’m looking at, downloading, researching and even buying patterns that are for flat knitting on two needles or can be knitted on double pointed needles. (DPNs) I have plenty of patterns and resources and love to post them up daily on X Social Media. I post my finished items up on Instagram and Pinterest. I hope you will follow me on one or more of my social media sites. I love hearing and talking to people, too, so don’t hesitate to ask me a question or comment or even correct me on something.

As far as all the new knitting patterns that use circular knitting needles, I am less concerned with wearing what is trendy. For sustainable knitting to happen, it’s got to last longer than this year’s trend. I’m expecting it to last 10-20 years. And I expect to mend or embroider the ‘wear and tear’ holes that will no doubt happen. When the garment’s time is finished, I plan to bury it in the yard and use it as compost in a year or less. My knitting tools, too. That’s why I want to use very natural yarns and materials. Not only will they bio-degrade quickly but they will be compostable.

It is also important that garments are well-made and durable. I’m happy and satisfied if some are classic or retro style and I am also happy if some represent my fashion style and they look presentable and can be used for multiple types of occasions. There are plently of ways for me to express myself artistically without using circular needle patterns and please remember that there is such thing as long double pointed needles that people have been using for hundreds of years. We can knit garments in the round if we want to. I don’t feel limited by my knitting choice of bot wanting to use plastic-corded circular needles. It’s something I have grown to love and treasure. It also connectes me to the people of our past generations. Our great grandmothers used two needles to knit sweaters. Short and thin double pointed needles are great, too. I love knitting fingerless mitts and socks and hats. The double pointed knitting needles have the same comfort, tradition and nostalgia.

Traditional knitting using single pointed or double pointed needles is the best way for me going forward and beyond and I am eager to pass on the traditions to the next generations and be conscience of my eco-friendly journey of sustainable knitting.