Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Knitting Needles
Joe Pack
>I have a request to make knitting needles for an alpaca farm to sell at their booth during their shows. They have access to a fairly unique market, and I can probably make the needles, but I have never made one, and have no idea even how to size the things.
Any experienced knitting needle folks out there who can share information. Anybody who just wants to take a stab at a logical answer as to how to go about this?
Re: Knitting Needles
AndiWolfe
>How about going to the local yarn store to get some knitting needles to use as patterns? You can ask the help there what would be the best sizes to make. They might even be interested in buying some from you once you're into production.
Re: Knitting Needles
John Lucas
>I agree with Andi. I've seen a lot of knitting needles and they are vastly different in size. Not so much in length but in thickness.
Re: Knitting Needles
mike foster
>I have considered making some for my wife who is an avid knitter (and pretty good too). Problem is the sizing has to be rather exact. Nice wooden needles are manufactured (and I'm sure they use a pattern making jig of some kind) and available. I decided it wasn't worth the headache. If you come up with a good way to make them, I'd be interested.
I'm a WW wet blanket here
Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level
>Sorry to be the wet blanket here but....
I don't know jack about knitting or needles, only that knitters are kinda picky about their needles. Hey, I'm up for making just about anything but I have to wonder if making needles is worth all the trouble? Maybe they are but if it were me I would just advise buying them.
Maybe I'm missing the point?
Tommy
I just punned myself
Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level
>"missing the point"....knitting needles....unintentional pun but cracked me up none the less. ;-)
Tommy
and "Wet Blanket"= knitting get it?
steve antonucci
>
Re: I'm a WW wet blanket here
John Lucas
>Thomas
It's the challenge. That and making something for someone special. Almost all of the realy unique things I make have been to give away.
Re: Knitting Needles
Russ Fairfield
>You might find someone, or a library, with a collection of WOOD Magazine. There was an article on making knitting needles in Wood Magazine, Issue No. 77, February 1995, page 40
Not to Needle you, but *LINK*
Phil Joines in Krum, Texas
>Larry Hancock has a crochet hook how to on his site. Should be somewhat simular.
Hookers
Re: Knitting Needles
Russ Fairfield
>WOOD Magazine lists that one on their list of back issues for $8
Re: Knitting Needles
Brad Vietje
>Whenever I've looked into making long, thin turnings, I come to the conclusion that while a small steady rest of some sort is needed, a live center that PULLS instead of pushing would be handy, too. Anyone know where to find/how to construct such a thing ?
Safe Spinning,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT
Re: Knitting Needles
Ed Thomas, Leaside (Toronto) Ontario
>From personal experience, long thin turnings are best turned: vertically so they can't sag; without a steady so the wood can "relax" as material/stress is removed; with a small screw drive so that little pressure (plus or minus) is required at the bottom tailstock, again so they can "relax"; and slowly so they can't whip. Turning slowly necessitates using a router for milling. Although steadies are problematic, vibration dampers can be useful. Once the stick is almost to final size it can be spun up for sanding on a normal lathe, and at higher speeds won't whip, as it is in balance. Admittedly, my sticks are over 6 feet long, about 1 1/8 inch dia. and tapered to about 5/8 both ends, but the same principles would apply.
Ed, turning "?" in Leaside :-)
Evidently, some folks pay good $$$
Joe Pack
>Evidently, some folks pay good money. The lady who wants me to make them has called twice, and says that, at the last Alpaca show she was at, a guy sold out at $15-$25/pair, depending on length.
I would just go to Big Lots and buy plastic bowls, but some folks pay big bucks for wood. Go figure.
Always pursuing the "happy buck," I'll give it a shot....if I figure out what I'm doing.
Great site...thanks.
Joe Pack
>
Re: Knitting Needles
Jeff
>I just got my first lathe this year and have been turning pens for about 4 months. My wife crochets and for fun one evening, I grabbed a scrap of white oak, probably not the best choice, and turned it down with some knobs and such on it. The end with the hook I left round almost like a snake that swallowed a golf ball, but just big enough to carve the hook. It took about a half an hour, but I just looked at one of her hooks and carved and sanded until it was the right shape and very smooth. She used it and liked it, but she didn't like the fancy crap I put on the handle. I'll try to find a picture if you like. Good luck.