A knitting needle or knitting pin is a tool in hand-knitting to produce knitted fabrics. They generally have a long shaft and taper at their end, but they are not nearly as sharp as sewing needles. Their purpose is two-fold. The long shaft holds the active (unsecured) stitches of the fabric, to prevent them from unravelling, whereas the tapered ends are used to form new stitches. Most commonly, a new stitch is formed by inserting the tapered end through an active stitch, catching a loop of fresh yarn and drawing it through the stitch; this secures the initial stitch and forms a new active stitch in its place. In specialized forms of knitting the needle may be passed between active stitches being held on another needle, or indeed between/through inactive stitches that have been knit previously.
Bamboo knitting needles
A little dexterity is helpful in working with knitting needles
Knitting needles in a variety of sizes and materials. Different materials have varying amounts of friction, and are suitable for different yarn types.
Flexi single-pointed needles. The upper one is constructed from an interchangeable circular knitting needle, a cable and a stopper. The lower one is ready-made.
Hand knitting is a form of knitting, in which the knitted fabric is produced by hand using needles.
Flat knitting. The loops on the metal needle are the active stitches, and the yarn coming out of the knitting on the right is the working yarn.
Circular knitting on a circular needle
A woman in the process of knitting
This woman is knitting at a coffee shop; although it can be done by one person alone, knitting can be a social activity. There are many knitting guilds and other knitting groups or knitting clubs.
