You can knit a shawl on straight needles. Many shawls are knit flat, back-and-forth in rows, so a long set of straight needles would be a fine option for knitting. If it’s a heavy shawl (using thicker yarn), it might be easier to use a long circular needle so the cable can hold the bulk of the weight of the shawl.
Can you knit with straight needles instead of circular?
Circular needles are great for distributing stitches evenly, but can’t be easily used for small diameter knitting. … Fortunately, you can knit a tube open on both ends using straight needles for the entire project. You may want to use a cable needle or DPN to help with casting on and off, but this is up to you.
How many stitches should I cast on for a shawl?
Directions: Take out 30 yards of yarn for fringe and set aside. Chain 54 stitches or desired width of shawl.
What size needles for shawl knitting?
32″ Circular needle: Hands down the most common length for knitting shawls or pieces of a sweater. It’s long enough to accommodate the majority of widths for either of these projects and the cable is long enough to allow the weight of a project to rest on your lap rather than on your wrists as you work.
Are shawls easy to knit?
Shawls are larger than a scarf, you will have more time to hone your knitting skills. They are a great way to experiment with interesting yarns or something luxurious, like cashmere or a hand dyed yarn, because they only require a skein or two. … Just use the recommended yarn weight and needle size and start knitting.
How hard is it to knit a shawl?
Depending on the pattern and construction, knitting a shawl can be just as easy as knitting a hat or scarf, but after months of making the same thing, many people find them more satisfying and versatile to wear.
What makes a prayer shawl?
Prayer shawls are often knit with a symbolic pattern or use colors of yarn that are meaningful to the religion of the person giving or receiving the shawl. For instance, stitch patterns with multiples of three are common in prayer shawls knit by Christians because of the idea of the Trinity.
What is the most common knitting needle size?
The most common knitting needle size is US size 8, or 5mm. These needles are most common because they match up with worsted-weight yarn, which is the most common type of yarn for most knitting patterns. These needles are generally considered a normal size for beginners to start knitting with, too.
What knitting needles are best for blankets?
The Best Knitting Needles for Blankets
Circular needles are great for any blanket project. They’re long enough to hold a whole blanket, and the size 8 is perfect for any worsted weight yarn. The best circular needles for a blanket are ChiaoGoo Circular Needles (US8).
Does knitting needle size matter?
Why Does Size Matter? The size of the needle affects the length of the stitches and thus your finished product. … Usually, larger needles will produce a larger gauge, but the type and weight of the yarn also will make a difference.