TLE

• Three types of knitting needles:

  • Classic straight pair
  • Double-point needles (sold in sets of four or five)
  • Circular needles
• Straight needles are used for most rectangular projects like scarves and washcloths
• Circular needles are necessary for larger projects like blankets and for projects worked in the round, like hats or seamless sweaters
• Circular needles vary by needle size and cord length, from 9 inches to 60 inches
• Frequent knitters usually invest in a circular needle kit for flexibility in cord length and needle size
• Double-point needles are used for smaller projects joined in the round, like mittens or the crown of a hat
• Smooth yarns are perfect for color work and lace stitch patterns
• Textured yarns are useful for adding interest to solid knits
• Multicolored yarns introduce a variety of color with a single strand
• Yarns are commonly sold in balls, hanks, or skeins, with larger ones in cones for machine knitting or weaving
• Wool is ideal for knitting, lightweight wool yarn like DK or worsted is perfect for novices
• Cotton produces crisp textured and lace stitch patterns
• Bamboo is strong, flexible, soft, and comfortable
• Silk and cashmere yarns have a luxurious feel and finish
• Synthetic fiber yarns like acrylic are economical and easy to care for
• Mohair yarn produces a fluffy effect and creates a warm fabric
• Metallic yarns add sparkle to a project
• Tape or ribbon yarns form distinctive, bold knit stitches
• Slubbed and boucle yarns create highly textured effects
• Variegated cotton yarns have thin strands of different colors twisted around a core yarn
• Variegated wool yarns have two strands of different colors twisted around each other
• Sock yarns are space-dyed to create color work patterns
• String is ideal for knitting practical items like containers
• Recycled rag strips produce strong knitted items suitable for accessories or household items
• Recycled strips of plastic bags can be knitted into bags, placemats, and other household items
• When reading a yarn label, check the care instructions, fiber content, ball length, and dye-lot number
• Circular needles are two needle heads connected to a cord. They are necessary for larger projects like blankets. 
• Double-point needles are used for smaller projects joined in the round, like mittens or the crown of a hat.
• Yarns are packaged for sale in different ways. It is most common for knitting yarn to be sold in balls, hanks, or skeins. You can also buy larger ones in cones, although these are more commonly sold for machine knitting or weaving than for hand knitting.
• Wool - Traditional pure wool is still the ideal Knitting yarn, and lightweight wool yarn, like DK or worsted, is perfect for novices since the needle glide smoothly in and out of the elastic loops. Wool takes dye beautifully, is durable, and comes in machine washable versions.
• Cotton and Bamboo - With a smooth finish and easy care, natural cotton and bamboo yarns are popular for knitted garments. Cotton produces crisp textured and lace stitch patterns. Bamboo is similar to mercerized cotton and is strong and flexible yet soft and comfortable.
• Luxury Yarns - Silk and cashmere yarns can be an expensive option but have a luxurious feel and finish. Check the care label for special after-care instructions.
• Synthetic Yarns - Synthetic fiber yarns, like acrylic or synthetic and natural fiber mixes, are economical choices and produce yarns that are easy to knit and easy to care for.
• Mohair -  This yarn produces a fluffy effect and creates a very warm knitting fabric.
• Metallic Yarn - These yarns add sparkle to a project
• Taped Yarn - A variety of tape or ribbon yarns are available. They form distinctive, bold knit stitches.
• Slubbed and Boucle Yarns - These highly textured yarns look very seductive in the ball. 

  The lumps or knots in the strands of slubbed yarn produce a bobbled effect. Boucle yarn is made with a loose strand that forms a loop around an anchor strand and produces a curled texture.
• What are the 4 smooth yarns?

  Wool, Cotton and Bamboo, Luxury Yarns, Synthetic Yarns
• What are the 4 Textured and Novelty Yarns?

  Mohair, Metallic Yarn, Taped yarn, slubbed and boucle yarns
• Variegated Cotton Yarns -  Thin strands of different colors are twisted around a core yarn to create this fairly smooth multicolored yarn.