Have you ever wanted to knit, but you didn’t have any knitting needles on hand? Then you’ve probably wondered what you can use instead as a substitute.
So, can you knit with chopsticks? Yes! You will be happy to know that you can use chopsticks as knitting needles. It’s a unique way to knit and several people even learned to knit with chopsticks. You will usually find it easier to use rounder chopsticks because they will have tapered points similar to knitting needles.
While you can use chopsticks, you have to remember that they won’t work the exact same way as your knitting needles. Take into consideration the size of a chopstick compared to the size of a knitting needle. Chopsticks are an easy alternative if you don’t have knitting needles on hand, but just make sure you’re aware of the differences before you start using them.
How to Knit With Chopsticks
Knitting with chopsticks is pretty easy, but there are some steps you need to take before you can use them. First you are going to need to sharpen the chopsticks. Snapped the chopsticks apart and use a pencil sharpener to sharpen the tips.
Next, you will need to sand the chopsticks. They will usually have a rough surface that can easily catch your knitting threads. Use a coarse sandpaper and follow up with a fine sandpaper until the surfaces are smooth. You can run your fingers across the chopsticks to determine if you need to sand more or if they are smooth enough.
If you want to take extra precautions, you can apply a varnish to your chopsticks to fill in any holes that might have appeared after sanding. This will also act as an additional barrier between the chopstick and the knitting thread to prevent any tearing.
When you start knitting, you might notice that your stitches are falling off the bottom of the chopstick. To prevent this from happening, it will be beneficial to tie a couple small rubber bands around the non-pointy ends of the chopsticks. This will act as a stopper and keep your stitches in place.
Can You Knit With Pencils?
Since you connect with chopsticks, you are probably also wondering if you can knit with pencils. While you can knit with pencils, it’s important that you use the right kind. If you don’t use the right type of pencil or the right type of yarn your project might not turn out at all.
Make sure you have two pencils that are the same size and smooth on all sides. If you are using an older pencil that has pieces missing or isn’t smooth. You might deal with yarn snagging while you’re knitting, completely ruining your project. You’ll also want to make sure that your pencils are sharpened but not too sharp. An extra sharp pencil can harm you if you’re not careful.
When you have your pencil sharpened, you’re going to cast onto one of your pencils just like you would on a knitting needle. You can then knit as you normally would, but since pencils are shorter than knitting needles, so you should only try this on smaller projects.
Can You Make Your Own Knitting Needles?
If you are interested in making your own knitting needles, it’s absolutely possible and extremely easy. When you make your first set of knitting needles, it might take you longer as you’re getting the feel but after that you’ll have an easy time making them quickly. You only need a couple supplies to get started.
The very first thing you need to do is choose the dowels that you will make your knitting needles out of. The dowels don’t need to be straight at this point, because you will be able to fix it during the process. The biggest thing is just making sure that the dowel doesn’t have any large bumps.
Oak is not the best choice for knitting needles because they are porous and won’t move the yarn very well. You will have a better chance using birch dowels. These are generally cheap, and you can usually find them at your local craft store. If you can’t find Birch, another type of closed grained hardwood will work as well.
When you have your dowels, you will want to sand it to ensure that it is completely smooth. You should start with a 220-grit sandpaper and move up until you finish with a 2000-grit sandpaper. This will ensure that you have the smoothest surface possible.
After you finish sanding the dowel, you will need to cut it to length. The easiest way to cut your dowel is to score it all the way around and snap it. You will have a rough end after, but you can sand it down.
When your needles are cut down to size, you will work on shaping the ends into a point. You can do this with an Xacto knife, sandpaper, chisel, or even a pencil sharpener. While a pencil sharpener might not give you the right shape for a knitting needle, it can remove the majority of excess wood.
To protect your knitting yarn extra, it will be beneficial to add a varnish on your new knitting needles. This will make your needles completely smooth and prevent any knicks or tears on the yarn that might ruin your project.
What Is the Easiest Thing to Knit for Beginners?
If you are just beginning to learn how to knit, there are several things you can try to knit to get the feel. Some things that are easy include baby booties, a baby blanket, a scarf, a bag, a baby hat, a pillow, a dog sweater, a play crown, and so many more options.
If you want to stick to smaller stuff while you are beginning, you can consider knitting cuffs, a cowl, or small hats. These will not only allow you to start small, but also practice some techniques like knitting in a circle.
You should be able to easily find patterns for beginners online or in your local craft store. I like to use this Knitting Pattern Book for all my ideas and projects.
Final Thoughts
Chopsticks look incredibly similar to knitting needles, so it is commonly asked whether they can be used as knitting needles or not. With some preparation, you will easily be able to use chopsticks as knitting needles. You just need to make sure that the surface of the chopstick is smooth before you start.
You can also use pencils or make your own knitting needles. These options are a great way to try something new if you have been knitting for a long time. You can truly put your skills to the test and see how you knit with different types of needles! However, if you are a beginner, it is best to stick with real knitting needles until you are comfortable using them.
As a beginner, you are going to want to stick with some simple projects until you understand how the hobby works. You can start with simple things like a baby blanket or a scarf to get your bearings, then move on to learning harder techniques.
Make sure to follow my tips and recommend products to ensure your knitting project turns out amazing! Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your sewing Q&A’s. Happy knitting!