The following is a Girl Scout project which I've made and elaborated on slightly. It is a great project to introduce kids to woodworking and knitting. The result is about a #10 needle set. If you have never used wooden knitting needles, then you have to try these. They are quieter than metal or plastic needles, smooth in the hand and yet feel alive in a way that...well, you'll never want to use commerical knitting needles again. Also...well, I don't want to tell you what they charge for wooden knitting needles, but it is a good deal more than the cost of metal ones. Requirements: 1 - 1/4" hickory or hardwood dowel (36") 2 - 1/4" hardwood knob-top wood plugs (look like wooden mushrooms) 2 - 1/8" brass brad nails 3-4" thin 1/4" metal strip Elmer's Wood glue sand paper in various grits (the finer the better) an Exacto knife a pencil sharpener fine drill hobby clamp Step One. Using the Exacto knife, cut the dowel exactly in half. You are going to have to saw it rather make a single cut. Step Two. Using the cut ends so that the commerically cut ends are untouched, trim to a point about 3/4 to 1" to end, using a combination of the Exacto knife and the pencil sharpener. Step Three. Sand until the wood feels like silk, gradually stepping up in paper grit in grit count, until not even ridges in your fingertips catch. You want to make sure the taper to the point is as perfect and smooth as it can be and that the sharp point is dulled, rounded, and smooth. (You may consider them finished at this point. The remainder adds ends to the needles to prevent the yarn from slipping off the back.) Step Four. Sand the plug ends. Glue the plugs to the commercial cut end of the doweling. Allow to dry. Step Five. Wrap the joint with the metal strip with slight overlap. Drill through metal into the dowel for a pilot hole and fix in place with small brad nail. You may wish to use the hobby clamp to hold the strip in place while you do this step. -- AngelPie_Mouse. Return to Wood Working Return to Main Page This page and its graphics were created by exclusively for The Yahoo! Crafter's Place Chat Club. It is best viewed on a 800x600 screen set for True Color with or and is hosted by . Get them NOW!