I am looking into making my own knitting needles and was wondering about dowel sizes. Now, I have done the dirty work in calculating (or actually just googling mm sizes). I am asking someone who has had experience in making these things, have you had to use the same size dowel for a needle? For example, I am finding that sizes 3, 4, and 5 looks like they will be the same (and those are sizes I want as DPNs). I also know that precision won’t be in this case.
You need a needle sizer. You can get them in local stores like Joanns or order online.
My husband made me some needles once… I hated them. No matter what we did they were just never the same smooth finish as the nice Clover Bamboo or other wood.
And now, I NEVER use straight needles anyway. I prefer nickel plated circulars.
Sizes 3, 4, and 5 are not the same, there’s .25mm difference in them which is .5mm between size 3 and 5. Are these going to be used for knitting socks? They’re a little large unless you’re going to use sport or dk weight yarn; most socks are knit with size 1 or 2, sometimes 3s. A set of skewers might be closer to 1s or 2s. But you need a needle sizer or calipers to measure them more accurately.
I’m planning to do fingerless gloves and don’t want to spend more $ on more needles. Lol
It’s a pattern that uses sz 4. I have sz 3 circs which if all else fails, I’ll use those with matching gauge.
I was asking because when I’m buying dowels, the size may be the same (even with the difference). I do have a gauge with the sizer (it’s missing in action though) so I’ll check out the sizer.
I’ve done my own needles and enjoy making them, but…if you’re making fingerless gloves, why not just double-knit the finger parts, if that’s what you’re making the extras for? It seems easier to me and I do that a lot.
Also, I tried the I-cord half-fingers and that worked great (picking up the ladders as two extra stitches.)
We have a KH member who used to (maybe still does) make knitting needles using old drumsticks. She then donated them to a South American girls’ charity. The drumsticks were just the right kind of wood. Not sure how she managed to ‘size’ them. Maybe she didn’t get too scientific. I thought it was such an admirable undertaking!
