Stitches

Can you use something as a replacement for knitting needles?

If you couldn't find any knitting needles, could you use something else like paddle pop sticks with a hole...pencils, etc? PS. Not French knitting, like normal knitting say...to make a sock. Thanks in ad.

Public Comments

1. Yes, you could use something like pencils or dowling. I don't think paddle pop sticks would be easy to knit with. The main thing is to find two sticks that are smooth and evenly rounded (so your stitches remain even), and to make some sort of rounded point on one end of each 'needle' so you can easily get under the stitches to lift them and knit them. You could push some foam onto the other ends to keep your stitches from falling off. I once knit a coat called a 'broom stick' coat. I used large pieces of dowling that were as thick as broom sticks - the stitches came out long and loose but the effect was nice ;) There is a craft called 'broomstick lace' where you knit or crochet using broomstick needles too: http://vintageknits.com/zen/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=101&zenid=ui4qv87ga3s5dp34bdin018vn6
2. If you can find something else with a point on one end and a bump on the other that is perfectly straight, smooth, round, and just the right diameter and length, of course it will work.
3. Check out the kitchen to see if you have any of the wooden skewers used for grilling shish-ke-bobs.