"Back To Nature" Wooden Knitting Needles

"Back To Nature" Wooden Knitting Needles FARM HOME Miscellaneous 31-5-31 "I use the gifts provided by Mother Nature to create æone-of-a-kind' natural knitting needles," says Sarah Pollard, Missoula, Montana. Her æback to nature' wooden knitting needles are made from birch wood, sanded and then cured with beeswax. Each pair of knitting needles is displayed in a "bolo" crafted from pine logs. The bolo is sliced to the proper thickness, preserved with olive oil and then sealed. Each bolo case is adorned with leather lacing that also supports a pair of beads made from deer antlers. The needles' "top hats" are whittled from a variety of twigs (chokecherry, pine and apple) that Pollard gathers on walks, or from friends who have pruned their trees. The top hats are cut and polished to give them a distinct character and represent recycled materials from nature. "Many companies make wooden knitting needles that are sealed with a synthetic finish. By choosing to cure my needles with beeswax, it's possible to keep the wood from becoming brittle and it allows the natural oils from your hands to keep them conditioned," says Pollard. "After the beeswax conditioning, I polish them with a soft cloth. My natural wooden needles are softer to the touch and easier on your hands than metal needles. They're especially useful for people with arthritis." The needles are available in eight different sizes ranging from no. 4 through no. 11 and are 8 to 10 in. long. A pair of needles retails for $18 to $20. Pollard also sells Cowboy Chopsticks, Crochet hooks in three sizes, shawl/scarf pins in a buckskin case, and Hair Sticks adorned with leather and bone beads. New to her line are antler buttons in various sizes. Special orders of sizes and lengths are available upon request. Dealer inquiries are welcome. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Sarah Pollard, Natures Nitting Needles (ph 406 207-6234; gramiepollard@bresnan.net; www. montananeedles.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.