I would like to start knitting and crocheting and would like to get the best tools. What are the best materials for crochet hook and knitting needle in your opinion and WHY? Wood, metal, bamboo, plastic, anything else?

Thanks a lot.

Having used hooks and needles of a number of materials, I prefer metal (non-aluminum) and wood, although I have some borosilicate glass needles I love, depending on the yarn I am working with. Metal needles hold up well and work well, for experienced knitters and crocheters, for nearly all yarns, but some yarns, notably cotton and other plant fibers, silk, llama and alpaca, are very slippery to work with and are easier to control on wood or bamboo needles, since these materials have rougher surface that holds on to the yarn more firmly. I don’t use aluminum needles, since I have found over time that these needles aggravate the arthritis in my hands, although other metal needles do not. I find plastic needles in combination with acrylic yarn squeak and it drives me crazy.

As for best, the suggestion that you try out various needle materials is well given. Many companies make fairly inexpensively priced needles in aluminum, plastic and bamboo. Buy or borrow a pair of straights, or circulars and practice on them to see if you are comfortable with them. Hit yard sales to get them even cheaper or thrift shops for some just to try, or borrow some from another knitter. Look at the yarn you generally plan to use. If it is acrylic or wool, you’ll likely find metal needles to your preference, but other yarns may lead you to other types of needles.

You also need to understand needle tips. Did you know there are several types of needle tips that also affect the comfort of the needle in what you are trying to knit? There are blunt tips (large rounded points), pointed tips ( not so large, but still rounded points), and sharp points (very pointy tips). For general knitting, or working with several strands or bulky yarns, blunt or pointed tips work well–usually the larger the diameter of the needle, the less sharp the tip, but for lace or cable knitting, very sharp needles are preferred to pick up the tiny yarns used in lace or to easily move through the twists in cables.

BTW, spending money for quality needles isn’t an extravagance, if you love knitting, having good tools can often make a difference.

http://purplesagedesigns.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/cable-heart-tam-joins-the-celtic-child-flock/

http://www.p2designs.com/images/patterns/Set-Hearts.html

http://www.polarknit.com/files/Lacy%20Heart%20Slouch%20Hat.pdf

download the attachment here too: http://sites.google.com/site/clwork332/HeartMonkeyHat.pdf?attredirects=0

http://joann.lionbrand.com/patterns/kcw-heartHat.html

http://www.klaam.com/sheknits/PDF%20files/Valentine%20Hat.PDF

They ARE hard to come by….

hope you like, heehee (I better win best answer for this…haha)

I am planning to make a baby blanket. I can use the bamboo needles/circular needles I have . But I wanted to know If I knit a pattern (may be basic one) with crochet hook, is that faster?

Thanks

If you’re using a crochet hook, that’s usually called crocheting, unless you’re knitting with the handle part of two crochet hooks.

If you’re asking if CROCHETING is faster than knitting, the answer is "yes – usually." The blanket will be thicker and will use more yarn, but crocheting is usually quicker. Which technique to use is decided by what final product you want.

There’s a great website for baby patterns in both knit and crochet: www.bevscountrycottage.com

There are some free ones for hats. I think there are some for socks, but I haven’t used them since I can design my own.

I think if you google "____ generator", you will be able to find what you need.

http://www.interweaveknits.com/

http://www.knit1mag.com/

http://www.knitsimplemag.com/

http://www.knittinguniverse.com/flash/kn…

http://www.creativeknittingmagazine.com/

http://www.vogueknitting.com/vkm/

http://www.knitnstyle.com/

http://www.knitnet.com/ online magazine

http://www.simplyknitting.co.uk/

http://www.magknits.com/

But since there are a lot of hooks and needles available I don’t think they are worth as much in monetary value as they are in sentimental value.

P.S. Which do you think would make a better beanie, a crocheted one or a knitted one? Thanks

You may want to consider visting bizeen. Its a website which contains Businesses and stores in the philippines. you may easily find any products there, or if you have something to promote ther yourself you can create a profile of your own business.

This may not be true for all patterns using this symbol. But it does make a lot of sense that it would mean to twist the stitch.

* the pattern that I’m referring to is the Koolhaas hat from the Interweave Knits Holiday 2007 issue.