Choosing a Knitting Needle

There are several things you want to consider in choosing a knitting needle. At the end of the day, it's your personal preference as to which one is best.

Material
The most common material for a knitting needle is bamboo/wood, aluminum, or plastic. Plastic ones tend to be flimsier and bend too easily on your hand. Personally I think that's only for kids because it doesn't hurt as much when they poke themselves with it.

Most people choose between bamboo or aluminum. Bamboo is a green renewable material, which a lot of manufacturer boasts themselves about. However, aluminum is just as green because it can be recycled. Bamboo tends to stick to your yarn a little more than aluminum. If you're used to using aluminum like I did for 20 years, when I switch over to bamboo, I really have to adjust to it. You have to loosen up your tension as you knit. Otherwise, every knit is going to take a lot of effort to just stick through the loop. Once you get used to it, bamboo works just as fine as aluminum. Aluminum is smoother, so it's easier to move loops across, which I like a lot. Comparatively, you need to apply slightly more tension to the yarn as you knit because it does slide out if it's too loose. Some people prefer the bamboo because of the clicking noise of aluminum needles. I've never notice this problem, probably because I've got used to it long time ago. But it may be something you want to consider if you plan to knit before bedtime while someone's trying to fall asleep next to you. ;-)

Style
There is straight needles with one pointy side or two pointy sides, and flexible circular needles. When using straight needles, you need a pair. Circular needles are essentially two short straight needles linked together by plastic tubing.

When you're doing big pieces such as a sweater that's 36" across, you definitely need the length of flexible circular needles to simply hold it. Straight needles only come in limited length, understandably, because it's practically impossible to hold super long sticks in your arm to knit. It would just be too bulky and cumbersome. Circular needles also has the potential to knit on either side of the working piece, as required by some pattern. This can also be achieved by straight needles with two pointy ends. Since circular needles usually have maybe 4"-5" of rigid needles on either side of a flexible tubing, it's best if you plan to knit in crowded spaces such as in public transportation. That way you don't keep on poking the guy next to you.

However, I would say for most of what I've done, straight needles with one pointy end have been sufficient - until I decided to do that Super Easy Toddler Sweater which has an overall length of 30" from cuff to cuff.

Knitting Needle Ideas