Here are the supplies you'll need:
A dowel in the desired size, a ruler, a knife or saw to cut the dowel, sand paper, a pencil sharpener, a drill and a length of weed eater line.
Cut two six-inch lengths of dowel.
In one end, carefully drill a hole about an inch deep (or so). Do be careful with this part. Once the hole is drilled, sharpen both ends in the pencil sharpener.
Sand both pieces until they're smooth, paying special attention to the drilled end. You want the join to be as smooth as possible.
Once the pieces are sanded smooth using finer sandpaper to finish, insert the desired length of cable with a dab of wood glue and let dry for 24 hours or so. If necessary, lightly sand the join so that it doesn't catch. If desired, you can lightly oil and buff the wood to a nice sheen.
There you have it. I suggest that when you go to pick out the dowelling, take your needle gauge with you. That way, you'll know what size of needles you'll end up with. I do know that 5/16" is equivalent to 8 mm. For anything larger that that, you may need a different pencil sharpener. That's about the biggest my sharpener will handle.
Have fun!
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21 comments:
Well aren't you the many talented knitter!!!!? Those look wonderful Ev...but knowing me...drilling the hole would also drill thru my finger leaving me knitting handicapped for an unlimited amount of time!!! LOL
I found the bits to make some of these today :) Found dowels that'll fit US 8, US 3, and US 15ish (it falls between US 13 and 15)
Thanks so much for posting your idea! :) Hopefully I'll be sporting some new circulars in a few days!
Thanks for sharing, i knew how to make regular knitting needles but never knew how to do circular ones . lol now ill have to have hubby get more dowel rods lol
Ok I will bite could one make your own in say zero and one?
Just curious..rofl thanks for the info I am considering this after I get your answer...
Tonya, if you can find dowelling that small and a drill fine enough to drill it, you probably could. I don't think I'd try it, though. I'd be afraid of drilling into my fingers!
This is the greatest! Thanks for this!
Thanks for this. I'm want some big circular needles. I've seen them in online stores but not in any actual shops in the UK.
For the people who said they were worried about drilling into their fingers: Do not attempt to drill into the dowel while holding it. Use a vice to hold it near the end you are drilling.
Do you think this would also work with really heavy fishing line? I have some that I think would work, but not sure it's the right stuff. I can't wait to try this!
Oooo, oooo, oooo!!! Couldn't you just get some wood/bamboo dpn's, and drill one end, too? That would make it easy to get circulars in the exact size you might need for a project, and uniform ends, without all the endless saaaaaaannnnnnnndinnnnnnnng. ;o) I know that Brittany makes 5" dpn's, and I'm gonna get a set today and experiment. That would be about $8 total for two sets of circulars, with one extra needle in case I foul up the drilling. lol Well, it'll be more if I go get some super-thick and flexible leader fishing line for the cable.
Thanks so much for the great post!
Annalea, that sounds like a great idea except for one thing. Because dpns are pointed at both ends before you start, it will be a little difficult to set the drill in place with any steadiness. I'd be afraid of splitting the dpn at the very least and putting yourself at risk for injury for sure. At least with a dowel, it's a flat surface you're trying to aim for the center of.
Hi Ev -
I was wondering what sizes you have made. I took my needle measurer, and the dowels jumped from a size 3 to a 7. What size of dowel should I use if I want to make 5 and 6?
Hi Mary,
What I did was take my needle gauge to the hardware store where I bought the dowels. Offhand, I don't remember what sizes were available, but I do know it was somewhat limited. You also want to be careful not to go too small, as you'd have a greater risk of injury. I would NOT be happy if anyone got themselves hurt doing something that's supposed to be fun.
Wow, that was quick! Thank you. I am so accident prone, I would probably injur my self with a 5 inch dowel and a plastic drill.
I have an idea for a sock needle, but I am trying to find smaller dowels. Thanks for the advice.
Do you think you could make very short needles (maybe only 3 inches in length) and connect them for circular needles with a cord maybe 5 inches long or so. Then you would have circular needles for making SOCKS!
I'm about to start learning to knit and I would love to make my own needles. I need 16" circular needles, so does the weed eater cable need to be 16" or from needle point to needle point 16"? Thank so much for any help you can give me. :)
Kelli (jnksmith at cox dot net)
Kelli- It would need to be 16" from point to point. :)
hi, for the love of me, don't know why I can't see the photos of how to make a circular needle, can you send me the link as to where I can see these step by step, I've been making my own knitting needles using dowel, and would love to know how to make a circular one...thank you very much..
Hi, I just wanted you to know, that I used your info and made my first pair of circ needles[rough set]. I asked hubby to do it, but he grunted due to the lack of interest. So armed with the instructions [no photos,just the written word], some chopsticks & a bit of plastic washing line, up to the shed to see if I could do it. I have no knowledge of the drill, I was unsure of how to use it, put my mind into gear and just went ahead. Success. Only injury was a bit of skin off my knuckle. Thank you, I am now very eager to go & get the dowel, sand paper etc to make some more. Hubby was asleep, while I did this, I cast on a few stitches to see if they work, but i needed fine sand paper. Before he went to work [nightshift] he informs me there is some around somewhere. I think he was happy, that he wasn't required to do the needles for me. Once again thank you for your very easy instructions. Cheers Val:>
Wow, this sounds nice and easy :3
ish~ xD
I don't really understand the part about sharpening both ends and minding the hole?
The pictures don't show up D:
The instuctions are Great! I can't
wait to try them!... I knit alot of
socks and mittens, dpn's work but
they are a pain!!..I'm going to try
to make 5" circulars.. Just a question though, Why don't companies just make small lengh circulars for sock knitters?
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