The KA Needles that are so popular among knitting enthusiasts today take their name from the Kinki Amibari Manufacturing Company.  Founded in 1916 in Nara, Japan, KA is the oldest manufacturer of bamboo knitting needles in that country. KA’s first product for the handcraft industry was bamboo ribs used to stretch and dry the traditional Japanese Kimono.  It wasn’t long before the company’s technological expertise and innovation helped them develop the world’s finest line of Bamboo knitting needle products.

Why bamboo?  This material is certainly plentiful throughout Japan, with more than 500 different varieties available. But the experts at KA selected only two kinds of the finest aged bamboo to create its knitting needles. The bamboo used by KA for their needles are selected based on superior quality in color, gloss, density and flexibility. Hold a KA Needle in your hand and there is a distinctive lightweight and warm feeling, with a smooth satin finish and luster that is achieved only through the quality and craftsmanship put into the manufacturing process.

KA offers its Classic Bamboo Knitting Needles in six different styles. Single Point Needles come in white bamboo in sizes from 3.00mm to 10.00mm. Double Point Needles, available in sets of five, measure from 6 to 12 inches in length.

White bamboo 14 inch Afghan hooks and 12 inch Double End Afghan hooks are two more popular styles. White bamboo 6-inch crochet hooks are sized from 2.00 mm to 7.00 mm, with wood crochet hooks in both 15.00 and 20.00 diameters. If you prefer a grooved grip on your crochet hook, KA’s “Yuraku” 5-inch crochet hook in white bamboo is a very popular model.

KA is the premiere manufacturer of circular knitting needles, constructed of the finest white bamboo and available in five sizes: 9-inch, 16 inch, 24-inch, 32-inch and 40 inches.

KA Bamboo Knitting Needles make an excellent choice for beginning knitters because they are less expensive than wooden needles and come in a wider variety of sizes.  All knitters agree, novice and veteran alike, that the warm feel of KA Needles in the hand makes them a pleasure to work with.

Size

Standard knitting needle sizes in the United States generally run from 000 (the smallest) to 50 (the largest).  However, it is also common to see the diameter measured in millimeters (MM).  Please be aware that U.K./Canadian sizing is very different.  For example, 000 in UK/Canadian Sizing is equal to 10 in U.S. sizing, but they both have a diamter of 10MM.  You need to be aware of the sizing standard used by the pattern.  Many knitting needle companies will indicate the standard (US or UK) as well as the MM diameter.  If you are in doubt, please ask for help at the knitting counter.

Style

For most beginning knitters, the best knitting needle style is the straight needle. The capped ends by which they are recognized help stop stitches from falling off the end of the needle. The specialty needles are used for more intricate knitting projects.

Material

The most popular materials used to make knitting needles are plastic, metal, wood and bamboo.  Not only do each of these materials will feel different in your hands, but they will also interact differently with the thread you have choosen for your project.  Plastic and metal needles are very smooth and cool to the touch, but they allow the thread to glide so easily that many beginning knitters can have some difficulty using them.  Wood and bamboo needles are warm to the touch, a bit more flexible, and have enough friction to help a beginning knitter to manage the stitches better, but they break more easily than metal or plastic.  You may want to try them out to help you choose which are the best knitting needles for you.

When buying knitting needles, there are many options for you to choose. Not only do you have to decide on what type you need, but you also have to choose what type of material the needles are made from. Both decisions are influenced by what you will be knitting and by personal preference. To help you choose the best knitting needles for your project, here is a brief description of these two factors.

Materials Used For Needles:

Knitting needles are made from a variety of materials. The type of material used provides friction that will influence how easy the stitches come off the needle. Sometimes a needle that is rougher is preferred so that the stitches don’t slip off the needle; while other times a smoother needle is required to increase knitting speed.

Wood: These needles have a rough surface. They are light weight and considered environmentally friendly because it comes from a renewable resource. Bamboo is a popular choice when buying wood needles. Bamboo is particularly environmentally friendly because it can grow as fast as 3-4 feet in a single day.

Metal: Metal needles are very smooth. This allows the stitches to easily slip from one needle and onto another needle. Experienced knitters who want to complete their project very quickly prefer this type of needle. Metal needles are very durable and hard to break. The most common type of metal needle is aluminium.

Plastic or Acrylic: These needles are light weight, flexible and inexpensive. They usually have a different colour for each size the needle comes in, especially when they are sold as sets.

Types of Needles:

There are three main types of needles: circular, double pointed and straight. Each type of needle, often referred to as flat or circular, is used to produce different results. Flat knitting creates flat pieces, such as scarves, while circular knitting creates circular pieces or tubes without seams. Some needles can only produce one type of result, while others can create several different types of results.

Circular: Circular needles have two needles at both ends with a flexible cable in the middle. The cable is long, anywhere from 24 to 60 inches. The needles at the end are short, inflexible and have tapered ends. They make it easy to add new stitches, while the cable holds the stitches after they have been added. Hold one end of the circular needles in each hand when knitting with them. The advantage of circular needles is that they can hold hundreds of stitches, the stitches won’t fall off the needles and the flexible cord in the middle can rest on the knitter’s lap so that the weight of the stitches is not felt. Circular needles can be used for flat or circular knitting.

Double Pointed (Dpns): These needles are short and straight, but both ends of the needle are tapered. Stitches can be added from either end of the needle. Double pointed needles are used for knitting tubes, such as socks and sleeves. Four to five needles are used at the same time when knitting with dpns. One needle adds the stitches while the other holds the stitches in place. One specialized type of dpns are cable needles, which look like dpns, but they are shorter and have a dimple in the middle of the needle.

Straight Needle: The needle is long and straight. There is a knob or cap at one end, which prevents the stitches from falling off the needle. At the other end, the needle is tapered, similar to a sewing needle but it is blunt instead of being sharp. When knitting with straight needles, two needles are used. Straight needles are used for flat knitting, for example scarves or shawls.

Please visit Beautiful Creations to see the different types and sizes of knitting needles that are available. Are you still unsure of which ones to get? Or are you looking for an easy project to do? Check out these Knitting Kits that come complete with all the supplies you need, including yarn, needles and pattern instructions.