Homemade Wooden Knitting Needles (size 10 1/2)

Materials Needed: 

Two 1/4" boxwood dowels (they usually come in 36" lengths)
Two 1" wooden wheels from craft store
Pencil sharpener
Extra fine sandpaper
Wood stain and/or polish

Decide the length of the needles you desire, and cut the dowels accordingly. Sharpen one end of the dowel almost to a point. The dowels are usually color-coded on one end, and this is the end I sharpen. Sand the dowels along their length and especially at the tips, making sure the tips are rounded. Make sure you sand well so that your yarn will not snag on any rough spots. You can stain the dowels and the wheels if you wish. I stain them with a cherry stain and when dry, apply a few coats of lemon oil. A few days later, I apply a few coats of paste wax to ensure the needles are smooth. The wooden wheels should fit snugly over the flat ends of the needles. If they are loose, apply a small amount of wood glue. 

This was shared by Trudy, a member of 19th IN Co. A Civilians