chopstick/dowel knitting needle tutorial

[cassiemarie]

    
Well I know someone posted a "how to" about making your own knitting needles somewhere on this board, but I wanted to show you my take on these.  
     First of all, anyone can make their own needles out of a lot of different things, for example, I made a set of circular needles out of chopsticks that were free thanks to my many Sunday night visits to the china king buffet(I am addicted)  all I did was sharpen the ends with a pencil sharpener, sand them down with some fine sandpaper,rub them with a cloth, rub them with wax paper to fill in the cracks and make them extra smooth, and then re-smooth them with a cloth.  
 
I also love to paint them, but usually I just paint at least 3 to 4 inches away from the tips so it doesn't get chipped.  Also, I use plain old acrylic paint.
     You can do many things to the ends of the needles as well.  For example, my favorite things to do are bake sculpey clay onto them (as you can see on the red pair)  and find beads with big enough holes to fit on the end.


    This project is fairly easy and quick, but the comments you will get on your beautiful needles will be well worth the work!
Happy Knitting!
--Cassiemarie

[thecynthesizer]

How did you make the chopsticks into circulars exactly?

[cassiemarie]

thecynthesizer, I just made a set of 4 double pointed needles, that is what i meant to put, sorry to get your hopes up, hehehe
-cassie

[tinygoatstacker]

They are so cute!
 I'm ever so pleased to read this post-  I've been nabbing chopsticks for the same purpose! I haven't made any yet (no pencil sharpener) but I will soon.
Are those little pom-poms on the ends of the red sticks? Aww!

[cassiemarie]

actually, it is fimo clay that i used on the tips of the red ones, if you cook it while it is on the needle, it shrinks to fit the needle very snugly, and there is no need to worry about glue.  
-cassie

[punkrockmom]

did you use regular kitchen-type waxed paper?
ps hi cynthesizer!!

[cassiemarie]

yes, i did take plain ol' kitchen wax paper, you have to rub it quite quickly, and using a lot of pressure so it gains enough heat to kind of melt on (hahahah, that sounds quite perverted....)  
-cass
ps-- please post some pics or e-mail some pics to me when and if you make some

[kategirl]

very pretty.  

I have two sets of needles I made out of dowels.  they're the only things I use.  I love the things.  so cheap and easy.  I find rubbing them down with a thick hand cream helps.  

I have a friend who helped my try to get really creative and make circulars out of dowel and some cheap clear rubber tubing from home depot, but then we got bored and didn't finish.

[fozzy]

holy crap, you are brilliant! i am going to do this immediately!

[anjalita]

oooh I am so all over this...ty for the instructions...I was just thinking yesterday over sushi that the chopsticks should be reusable...