I made some a few years ago, and they feel really nice to work with :) I rubbed some wax into the wood, so it wouldn't stick to the yarn. I can't remember what kind of wax I used... I just remember rubbing it in, then polishing it with a cloth till it wasn't waxy anymore.

PS - this site is great, I love your projects!

i read somewhere that you can use furniture wax (or just about any kind of wax) to rub on the needles, and like you said, polish it afterward. i think i also saw someone mention you could use wax paper even!

I made a set of double pointed needles resently by take thin dowels and sharpened then in a pencil sharpener. The pencil sharpener that I used was the kind that attached to the wall so it was old and heavy duty. I then sanded them smooth with fine sand paper. they worked out fine but they snagged the yarn just a little bit. i really like the suggestions above. i may give them a try.

If you can get pure peices of beeswax, it is the best for waxing down wood surfaces.
I made my own needles over ten years ago, and beeswax is perfest. it is hard,
but can be softened over a warm heater(but not melted) applied to the needle shaft and rubbed in throughlly with a soft cloth, and presto!

also, any good furniture wax made with beeswax will suffice.

great to be in here!
rebecca