Someone in the Craft Group has asked where she might find fine diameter knitting needles for miniature knitting (1 mm and finer). The ones I can find in my online searches are around the length of DPNs (20 cm or so). She's interested in longer ones, perhaps approaching the standard length of straight needles.

Does anyone have any ideas for a supplier of these longer-length fine diameter knitting needles?

make your own out of wire?

do they have to be rigid or can they bend? I assume under any weight they are going to bend a little at the least.

How wide is a wire coathanger?

make your own out of wire?

do they have to be rigid or can they bend? I assume under any weight they are going to bend a little at the least.

How wide is a wire coathanger?
Well I thought about that too, but apparently the needles used for miniature knitting are tempered stainless steel (or something; I can't remember off hand the correct term). Anyway, it means that they don't bend like wire would. I think the needles warp and flex (like fine diameter bamboo DPNs do with use), but they don't bend like, for example, thickish wire would (unless you actually attacked them with both hands :lol:).

I think wire coathangers are a bit thicker than 1mm. Aren't they about the diameter of a fine sock DPN, say 2.25 mm or so?

You can get them from here (http://www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk/patterns-materials.asp) (scroll down for needles) :)

what about cocktail sticks?

I am not a knitter....but this is amazing!

The 'cloth' produiced must be so fine! What do people use instead of wool?

You can get them from here (http://www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk/patterns-materials.asp) (scroll down for needles) :)
Thanks, but I had a browse through their online store last night and they seem only to do the shorter length needles (up to about 18 cm). I was hoping to find something of a more standard straight needles length.

Not having investigated (or much thought about it) before, I suspect that the fine diameter precludes the needle length being much longer than 'long' DPN length, due to their propensity to bend and flex. 18-20 cm is the longest I've seen.

what about cocktail sticks?
I've knitted on cocktail sticks before, a long time ago when I had to make little mini badges of tiny needles, balls of yarn and a little bit of knitting hanging from the 'needles'.

It's a good idea, but they're a bit short for what the person was looking for.

I am not a knitter....but this is amazing!

The 'cloth' produiced must be so fine! What do people use instead of wool?
It's very fine, and the stitch work is incredibly intricate. This (http://www.bugknits.com/) site shows such work at its most impressive.

Some people do miniature knitting as an art and craft in itself, while others knit items for their 1/12th scale dolls houses.

The yarns used can be 1-ply wool, crochet and embroidery cotton etc. The wool used for crewel work and some canvas work can be separated out into individual strands and used according to the requirements of the pattern.

Good Lord, that's amazing.

Thanks - I'm suitably impressed. The jacket with the little figures on it in the main picture is amazingly intricate.

Thanks, but I had a browse through their online store last night and they seem only to do the shorter length needles (up to about 18 cm). I was hoping to find something of a more standard straight needles length.

Not having investigated (or much thought about it) before, I suspect that the fine diameter precludes the needle length being much longer than 'long' DPN length, due to their propensity to bend and flex. 18-20 cm is the longest I've seen.

I wouldn't have thought that you could have them longer for the reasons you've said. I'm curious now why your friend wants such fine needles but of standard length?

I wouldn't have thought that you could have them longer for the reasons you've said. I'm curious now why your friend wants such fine needles but of standard length?
It was actually a poster in the Crafts Group who mentioned that she'd like longer needles, and feeling public-spirited I took up the request :lol: .

I might have misinterpreted her question though. She mentioned that the needles she uses for miniature knitting were on the short side, and so would like to be able to get some longer ones. From that, I took that she was using what looks to be the standard finer-diameter length (18-20 cm) and wanted longer ones, approaching the standard straight needle length.

I posted a few links to shops which sell the 20 cm ones, just in case.

You can get most things from the lady in Castle Market (also works for the hardware store). I don't know her name, but she got me some 1mm/20cm sock needles when I was having gauge problems! She'll order pretty much anything in for you - and my needles were £1.75 for five.

1mm sock needles? *boggles*