If you're like many people, the image you most closely associate with knitting is probably that of a woman knitting with straight needles, the needles with one pointed end and one knobbed end. For non-knitters, these are usually the only needles they visualize when they think of knitting (when they're not confusing crocheting with knitting, that is, to many a knitter's chagrin, but that's another article).

If you've been knitting for a while, however, you know that straight needles are only one type of needle. There are other types of needles and they all have their particular uses. Also, needles come in different materials and most knitters find a preference for one or two. Wooden needles may work well with one yarn, but not well with another, so you may find several types of needles in your collection.

Type of Needles

• Straight

These needles are, like the name implies, straight, with one pointed end and one end with some type of knob to prevent stitches from sliding off the end.

• Circular

These needles are used for knitting in the round, but can be used to knit straight pieces as well. They consist of two needles connected by a cable and are sold not only by diameter, but also by cable length. A 12" cable needle can be used to knit a sleeve in the round, while a 24-36" length is useful for knitting sweater backs and fronts. They're especially useful if you're knitting a large, heavy object like an adult sweater or afghan because the entire weight of the piece won't be supported by one needle (or one hand), but by the cable, and the bulk of the project can then rest in your lap.

• Double Pointed

These needles come in sets of 4 or 5. They're very popular for knitting socks or other small items in the round where even a short-length cable needle is too long.

Materials

• Metal/steel

Metal needles are generally economical and easy to find. They come in fun colors and many knitters prefer them for their slippery quality which allow the yarn to easily slide along them. Addi Turbos are a more expensive brand that some knitters swear by. Nickel-plated, well made and durable, some consider them the "Cadillac" of knitting needles. Metal needles can make a distinct clicking sound when knitting, a sound that annoys some people (usually non-knitters).

• Wood/bamboo/rosewood

Wooden needles are quieter and warmer in the hands than their metal counterparts and not as slippery, which makes them a good first needle for new knitters, who need their stitches to stay in place as much as possible. If Addis are the Cadillac, then Rosewood are the Rolls Royce. Elegant and smooth (and a bit pricier than bamboo), they make for a pleasing knitting experience.

• Plastic

An inexpensive option, plastic needles are warmer to the touch than metal. Lion Brand manufactures a straight set geared toward children, with one blue needle and one red needle, that's useful for teaching (you can instruct by using color instead of "right" or "left" needle).

• Glass

Not as easily available as other types of needles and more for luxury or show, a knitter would have to be extremely careful with glass needles.

Size

Needles come in an array of sizes, but even here, there's not one standard. Needles are sized by a few systems: the US system, the UK system, and the millimeter system. If you look carefully at needles sold in the US, you may find two numbers: one is typically the US size and the other is the diameter (in millimeters). A US needle size 8 is 5mm. 5mm is equivalent to the UK size 6. US sizes increase as the millimeters increase; UK sizes decrease as the millimeters increase. If you ask two knitters for a size 1 needle, you may get two very different sizes indeed. For a knitter using US needles, this needle will be very thin; the knitter using UK needles will hand you something much fatter. If you have needles with no size marked on them, a needle sizer can be used to help you determine what size they are (a necessity for some knitters who've inherited needles that are older).

Pointiness

How pointed the needle tips are is usually a minor consideration, unless you're knitting lace. The more complex techniques you use (knitting 5 together is a trickier operation than knitting 2 together), the pointier the needle needs to be. This is because a sharp point can more easily go through multiple stitches. You don't want needles so pointed that they routinely split your yarn, however.

Needle manufacturers are listening to knitters' concerns. The Skakel company has introduced a line of Addis specifically made for lace knitting and if the response is any indicator, these needles are a huge hit (if you find them in stock--anywhere--you better buy them when you see them).

Needle preference can vary not just from knitter to knitter, but also from project to project. Like many knitters, you may find cotton yarn drags so much on wood needles that it's quicker to use metal, even though you prefer wood. For a knitter who loves metal needles, wood may be a nice change if you want something warm and more traditional. Whatever needles you like, there are some out there for every knitter--all you have to do is look.