TOOLS USED IN KNITTING (Hand knitting):-

Tools used in knitting:-

For hand-knitting the process of knitting had three basic tasks;

1) The active (unsecured) stitches must be held so they don't drop.

2) These stitches must be release sometimes after they are secure and 

3) New bights of yarn must be passed through the fabric, usually through active stitches; thus securing them. In very simple cases knitting can be done without tools, using only the fingers to do these tasks , however, hand-knitting is usually carried out using tools, such as knitting needles or rigid frames. Depending on their size and shape, the rigid frames are called knittin boards, knitting rings (also called knitting looms) or knitting spools (also known as knitting knobbies, knitting nancirs or corkers). Others tools are used to prepare yarn for knitting, to measure and design, knitted garments, or to make knitting easier or more comfortable.

NEEDLES:-

KNITTING NEEDLES:-

image of (knitting needles in a variety of sizes and materials. Different materials have varying amount of friction and are suitable for different yarn type).

There are four basic types of needles (also called " knitting pins"). The first and most common type consist of a two slender , straight sticks tapered to a point at one end and with a knob at the other end to prevent stitches from slipping off. Such needles are usually 10-16 inches long but due to compressibility of knitted fabric, may be used to knit pieces significantly wider

 Most important property of needles is their diameter, which ranges from below 2 mm to 25 mm (roughly 1 (one) inch) . The diameter effect the size of stitches, which affect the guage of the knitting and the elasticity of the fabric. Thus a simple way to change guage is to use different needles , which is basis of uneven knitting. Although knitting needles diameter is often measured in millimetres, there are several different size systems, particularly those specific to the United States, The United Kingdom and Japan , a conversation table is given in the knitting needle article. Such knitting needles may be made out of any materials, but the most common material, are metal, wood , bamboo, and plastic. Different materials have different friction and grip the yarn difficulty: stick needles such as metallic needles are useful for swift knitting. Whereas rougher needles , such, as bamboo are less prone to dropping stitches. The knitting of new stitches occurs only at the tapered ends , and needles with lighted tips have been sold to allow knitters to knit in the dark. 

Image of the needle(Double pointed knitting needles in various materials and sizes. The come in sets of four, five or six).

The second type of knitting needles are straight, double pointed knitting needles (also called "dpns"). Double pointed needles are tapered at both ends , which allows them to be knit from either end . Dpns are typically used for circular knitting, especially smaller tube shaped pieces such as sleeves , collars, and socks ; usually one needle is active while the others to hold the remaining active stitches. Dpns are some what shorter (typically 7 inches) and are usually sold in sets of four, or five.

Image of (circular knitting needles in different lengths, materials and sizes, including plastic , aluminium, steel and nickle plated brass.) 

Cable needles are , special case of dons although they usually are not straight, but dimpled in the middle. Cable needles are typically very short (a few inches,) and are used to hold stitches, temporarily while others are being knitted cable patterns are made by permuting the order of stitches; although one or two stitches may be held by hand or knit out of order. Cables of three or more generally require a cable needle.

The third type needle consist of circular needles which are long, flexible double-pointed needles. The two tapered ends (typically 5 inches(130 mm) long) are rigid and straight, allowing for easy knitting, however the two ends are connected by a flexible strand (usually nylon) that allows the two ends to be brought together. Circular needles are typically 24-60 inches long , and are usually used singly or in pair adainst the width of the knitted piece may be significantly longer than the length of the circular needles. Special kits are available that allow circular needles of length and diameters to be made as needed, rigid ends of various diameter may be secured into strand of various lengths. The ability to work from eithernend of one needle is covinient on several type of knitting, such as slip-stitch version of double knitting . Circular needles may be used farnflat or circular knitting. 

The fourth types of needle is a hybrid needle. It is a straight needle with a point on one end and a flexible strand on the other end with a stopper , such as a large light weight bead , at the end. This type of needle allows a larger project to be worked at one time than a straight needle, while folding up quickly and more compactly for travel. 

MEGA NEEDLE:-

The largest aluminium circular knitting needles on record are size US 150 and are nearly 7 feet tall. They are owned by Paradise Fibers and are currently on display in the Paradise Fibers Retail Showroom.

ANCILLARY TOOLS:-

image of ancillary tools.

Some ancillary tools used by hand-knitters. Starting from the bottom right are two crochet hooks, two stitch holders (like big blunt safety pins), and two cable needles in pink and green. On the left are a pair of scissors, a yarn needle, green and blue stitch markers, and two orange point protectors. At the top left are two blue point protectors, one on a red needle.

Various tools have been developed to make hand-knitting easier. Tools for measuring needle diameter and yarn properties have been discussed above, as well as the yarn swift, ballwinder and "yarntainers". Crochet hooks and a darning needle are often useful in binding off or in joining two knitted pieces edge-to-edge. The darning needle is used in duplicate stitch (also known as Swiss darning), while the crochet hook is also essential for repairing dropped stitches and some specialty stitches such as tufting. Other tools such as knitting spools or pom-pom makers are used to prepare specific ornaments. For large or complex knitting patterns, it is sometimes difficult to keep track of which stitch should be knit in a particular way; therefore, several tools have been developed to identify the number of a particular row or stitch, including circular stitch markers, hanging markers, extra yarn and counters. A second potential difficulty is that the knitted piece will slide off the tapered end of the needles when unattended; this is prevented by "point protectors" that cap the tapered ends. Another problem is that too much knitting may lead to hand and wrist troubles; for this, special stress-relieving gloves are available. Finally, there are sundry bags and containers for holding knitting projects, yarns and needle.

FINGER KNITTING:-

Finger knitting is a form of knitting where a knitted cord is created using only hands and fingers, instead of knitting needles or other traditional tools.

Image of (Scarf finger knitted)

Uses of finger knitting:-

image of (a child finger knitting)

Though finger knitting may be performed by people of all ages, it is cited as a teaching tool for children because of its comparative simplicity in contrast to traditional knitting. It effectively demonstrates that knitting involves a series of loops strung together. Finger knitting may also be safely practised on aeroplanes that prohibit knitting needles.

DOUBLE KNITTING:-

Double knitting is a form of hand knitting in which two fabrics are knitted simultaneously on one pair of needles. The fabrics may be inseparable, as in interlock knitted fabrics, or they can simply be two unconnected fabrics. In principle, can be knitted simultaneously on one pair of knitting needles with n yarns, as long as one is careful.

DOUBLE KNIT FABRIC:-

image of double knit fabric ref by shutterstock.com

Double knit fabric is a fabric where both sides of the fabric are identical, for example, Interlock and Rib. These fabrics are knitted with two sets of needles on the circular knitting machine that form a material with the same face and back, unlike a single knitted fabric, for instance, a single jersey that has a different appearance on the front and back.

Double knit fabric became popular within 1970s fashion; in the 1988 Grammy Award–winning song "Parents Just Don't Understand", Will Smith comically excoriates his mother for forcing him to wear outdated, 1970s-era "double-knit reversible slacks". However, the double-knit fabric referred to is a machine-made, double-thick construction with some similarities to handmade double knitting (durability, reversibility) but none of the unique colorwork and construction possibilities.

Scuba knit fabric is a lofty double knit fabric, that was designed to mimic neoprene, made from finely spun polyester fibers commonly with 2 way stretch that has a super smooth hand on both sides, low luster sheen and a full-bodied drape. Techno knit fabric is lighter weight and drapier than scuba knit fabric.

image of double knit fabric ref fabricclore.com

METH ODS:-

There are several methods for double knitting, including flat knitting on double-pointed knitting needles; after one row has been worked with one yarn, the knitter slides the stitches to the other end of the needle and begins the same row with the next yarn. Only half the stitches are knitted with any one yarn; the rest are slipped. After both passes are done, the knitter then turns the work and begins another row.

Another common method is to alternate a knit stitch of yarn A with a purl stitch of yarn B. Since the yarn is held to the back for a knit, and to the front for a purl, this results in two sheets of stockinette stitches, with the wrong (purl) sides facing each other. Switching colors ties the two sides together for a single, double-thick fabric. This method is often used for elaborate, two-color designs, as there are few constraints on how the colors may be used. The finished item from this method is reversible, each side holding the negative image of the other.

Ref:-https://en.m.wikipedia.org