Bamboo Knitting Needles....how do you tell them apart?

[nanette0269]

I just bought some, but there is no size indicator on them!  So, if you have more than one pair, how do you remember which is which?

[*farmergirl*]

well sometime you can tell just by the difference in size but the best -more sure method would be to pick up a little gauge thing- not sure what its actually called but it has a row of little holes with the size printed above it. you just stick the needle in question in the hole and the one that fits it is it' s size. you can be sure cause if you try to stick it in the one smaller it just won't fit. they usually also have a spot to measure your gauge when you swatch. i hope that makes sense.

[rn]

I agree with pp. those little gauge thingies are great. 

I also try (doesnt always work) to keep needles I buy in the original package which has the size on them. 

[Owen'nZoe]

My bamboo needles have size guages on them, but if they didn't, I'd be inclined to mark them with a dot of nailpolish, with one color for each size. I keep all of my needles together in a zippered pencil case, so I'd probably then attach a key to the case.

ETA: Using different colored Sharpie markers would also work, I would think.

[nanette0269]

i got a little guage thing.  i just dont understand why it would be so hard for them to carve the size into the end of the needle :)

[butterfly_mommy]

All  my bamboo needles the size is laser etched in the side. I got a knitting accessory kits and it had a plastic needle gage card and I was wondering why I would need that if all the needles are marked but now I know they aren't all marked!

[Llyra]

This bugs me on circulars, too. My Addi turbos don't have the size on them-- I have 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s and it's so tedious trying to keep track of which is which.

[Stitches]

IMO having a knitting gauge is indispensable.  I have a large collection of different brands and types of needles and the printed size doesn't always match the actual measurement, I have some Boyles that are really off. Plus I have some antique Canadian/British needles which have a totally different numbering system, to the US/metric sizing.  I always double check the gauge on those ones.