Knitting sticks are a niche tool in the knitting world, used primarily by knitters who work with circular needles, especially those who knit on the move. They are not essential for knitting, but offer some convenience. Here’s a breakdown of knitting sticks:
Purpose:
- Supports weight of project: Knitting sticks take the weight of your knitting project off the circular needles, making it more comfortable to knit for long periods, especially when using heavier yarns or bulky projects.
- Enables mobile knitting: They allow for more comfortable knitting while walking, commuting, or otherwise on the go, by preventing the project from pulling down on the needles.
Design:
- Simple and small: Knitting sticks are typically small devices that attach to your clothing or clip onto the cable of your circular needles.
- Not widely available: Unlike knitting needles, knitting sticks are not a common sight at craft stores. Knitters may improvise using hair clips, safety pins, or other household items to achieve a similar effect.
Overall:
While not essential, knitting sticks can be a handy accessory for knitters who enjoy the flexibility of circular needles but want more comfort and support for their projects, particularly when knitting on the go.
There seems to be some confusion about knitting sticks. In the world of knitting, there are two main tools that might be referred to as “sticks” but have different purposes:
- Knitting needles: These are the essential tools used to create knitted fabrics. They come in various lengths, materials (like metal, plastic, or wood), and sizes. Knitting needles have a long shaft to hold stitches and tapered ends for manipulating yarn to create new stitches.
- Knitting sticks: While not as common as knitting needles, knitting sticks are a separate tool used by some knitters, particularly those who knit on the go. A knitting stick is a small device that helps support the weight of knitting projects, especially when using circular needles. This allows knitters to knit more comfortably and quickly, even while walking or moving around.
Knitting sticks are not essential for knitting, but they can be a helpful accessory for some knitters. They are not widely available at craft stores, so knitters may improvise using hair clips or other household items.