I Made My First Needles!!!! :o)

Arielluria · 05-17-2007, 03:32 PM

I needed size 13 DPNs and couldn't find it at the store nor to trade here. So I made them per the instructional video. It's the last link here:http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/misc.php

They were SOOOOOOOOOOO easy to make and I got 6 needles for $1.49!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I started whittling away, but then I grew a brain and decided to use that makeup pencil sharpener that has a larger hole (which I never use)! I might still whittle away a little just to make that pointy angle less, but it works!

marykz · 05-17-2007, 08:42 PM

you rock!

Braden · 05-18-2007, 12:54 AM

So cool! I wish you could make your own Nickel plated needles!

charmy · 05-18-2007, 01:04 AM

Great idea, greater bargain!

larudden · 05-18-2007, 01:20 AM

OMG, those are so cool! Thanks for sharing! Whatcha gonna make with 'em?

I had some dowels in my hands the other day when I was at JoAnn's but then put them back because I figured I'd never get to them. However, when I was in the aisle where the kid's craft stuff was, I found a bag of really neat round rubber cord in all kinds of pretty colors which I think might be the ticket for making your own circular needles. They had pastel colors and brights and florescent colors. And each piece was 1 meter long.

When I get a break, I'm definitely going to try my hand at making my own circulars.

kblue · 05-18-2007, 02:31 AM

Thats so awesome

I like making my own needles too I did circulars and i got 4 sized with 1 dowel ( 16", 24", 32" and 40")

G J · 05-18-2007, 02:44 AM

I made size 11's a while back. FUN! and cheap, too! To get them REALLY smooth, try wiping with a damp cloth and then sanding again. I also rubbed my very lightly with mineral oil and it made them look so pretty. Wipe VERY dry! So pleasing to MAKE them.

Has anybody had luck with smaller sizes? The dowels look kind of flimsy, so I haven't tried.

SandraEllen · 05-18-2007, 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by G J

I made size 11's a while back. FUN! and cheap, too! To get them REALLY smooth, try wiping with a damp cloth and then sanding again. I also rubbed my very lightly with mineral oil and it made them look so pretty. Wipe VERY dry! So pleasing to MAKE them.

I used a matte polyeurethane on mine when I made them. one coat of poly, sanded, 2nd coat of poly, sanded again with very fine sand paper.

Turned out perfectly. ...until one got shoved under a couch cushion and i broke it...

larudden · 05-18-2007, 12:40 PM

So, where's the best resource for the dowels? Michaels? JoAnn's? The hardware store?

And what size did you use for the 13's? I just realized that I need 13 DPNs and I don't have them. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

I need them NOW!

G J · 05-18-2007, 05:29 PM

I got mine at Home Depot, but I've heard HObby Lobby has a big selection, too. Take your needle gauge thingy along and find a dowel that fits size 13. A LITTLE too big is okay--you can sand them down.

Here's a tip: When my son was helping me make mine, after cutting the dowel into equal pieces, he put one end in the drill (as if it was a drill bit) and turned the drill onto a grinder. I did the same thing against sandpaper to make it smooth. It went pretty fast this way. It works better on one end of the needle than the other, but that way one side is SUPER easy to do. If you don't have the equipment to do this, a pencil sharpener works, too, but makes the tips a bit longer. HAVE FUN WITH THIS!