Knitting is an art from using yarn or thread to create various pieces of cloth ranging from sweaters and blankets to gloves and socks. With the use of loops and stitches strung between two needles, the cloth takes shape both by hand and by machine. Different products are made by using various types of yarn and needles, thus creating many colors, textures, and sizes.

Yarn and needles are the only absolute fundamentals of kitting. Many options are available when it comes to choosing a pair of knitting needles. For starters, you may have straight, circular needles, double-pointed, or cable needles. Straight needles are perhaps the most common type of knitting needles and will be used for a majority of basic knitting projects.
There are several things to consider when using knitting needles as well. Wider needles will produce larger loops and stitches while smaller ones will give a tighter, more compact stitch.
You will find that knitting needles are generally made out of four common materials, those being metal, wood, plastic, and bamboo. The wood and bamboo needles are rougher, therefore offering more traction and ensuring you are less likely to drop stitches. Metals needles are great for smooth, quick knitting as the yarn will slide much easier over the surface.
Straight needles are most often used for flat knitting such as blankets or scarves. They produce straight, even rows. Circular knitting needles, long and flexible with a double point, are used for flat or circular knitting. Straight double-pointed needles are also used for circular knitting but used to achieve a smaller tube such as for a collar or sock.




There you may also store something known as a needle gauge which will help you determine the size of each knitting needle.
Executive Summery by E. Sullivan

1. Know your fabric.  Determine first whether you will need a blunt or sharp needle by knwoing your embroidery fabrics.  Tight weaves such as cotton and synthetic blends tend to need sharper needles.  On the other hand, loose weaves like needlepoint canvas and linen will need a blunt needle. Note that tapestry needles have blunt points, while chennile needles have sharp points. 
2. Know your thread.  They sized of the thread will help you determine the size of the needle's eye that you'll need.  As a rule, the smallest possible eye is often used so as to avoid having large holes in your embroidery collection.  Embroidery yarn is usually used with crewel embroidery and needlepoint.  Pearl and embroidery floss are typically used in cross stitch projects.
3. Know what you're doing.  Knowing the type of project you intend to do will also determine the size of the embroidery needle you will be using.  Typically, thicker projects will need longer needles.  Counted cross stitch and needlepoint will normally need a blunt tapestry needle.  Embroidery needles are used for stamped cross stitch and floral embroidery. Crewel projects will need either crewel or embroidery needles.  A beading needle is best for attaching beads to other fabrics or embroidery work.
4. Know your needle.  Once you have determined the fabric, thread, and project you will be using, you can start picking the size of your embroidery needle.  Note that embroidery needles have a longer eye, a feature that differentiates them from other sewing needles.  The longer eye also makes it easier for threading the needle.  As stated earlier, you should always use the needle with the smallest eye to avoid damaging your project.  The size of the eye becomes smaller as the number goes higher. A No. 13 needle is generally used for sewing the thickest yarns onto a rug canvas.  A No. 28 needle will be better for very fine point work on gauze canvas.  Some embroidery fabric, like needlepoint canvas and cross stitch fabric, have a gauge or count.  This tells you the size of the openings within the fabric.  The lower the count, the larger the openings.  Larger openings would mean it is best that a thicker yarn or needle be used on it.  10-count fabric would use a No. 18 needle, for example.  Meanwhile, a No. 22 needle will be just right for 18-, 20-, and 24-count fabric.

Select and Input Design

1. Computer embroidery machines work off a programmed digital design that is either submitted to the machine's computer or transmitted to the machine from an external computer. The design must be within the size that the machine is capable of producing and in a format that it recognizes. In many cases, the design is programmed directly into the computer embroidery machine either through a memory card or computer disk, but some machines connect directly to a standard laptop or desktop computer.

Prepare Thread and Fabric

2. The fabric is placed on an embroidery hoop that fits onto the machine. The hoop is similar to a standard hand embroidery hoop, except that it is designed to fit onto a special arm on the machine. The fabric must be taut in the hoop. In most home computer embroidery machines, only one thread color is used at a time. After the embroidery design has been transmitted to the machine, either the machine will indicate which color thread it will use first or the user will tell the machine which thread color has been placed on the machine.

Monitor Progress

3. Once the fabric and thread are in place, the machine begins its work, following the design it was given. The computer, either in or attached to the machine, directs the embroidery arm. The embroidery arm moves the hoop in the directions needed to complete the pattern. Since most home computer embroidery machine models can embroider only one thread color at a time, all of one color will be embroidered according to the pattern. Once a color is complete, the machine will stop so the user can switch to the next color. 

by carlye jones