"Ah. The first thing you need to know is what you're making; one cannot set out to make socks with single-point needles, for example." Anton held out the array in his hands so Gene could see it more clearly. Anton's looked more complicated than it was, since he was using multiple double-pointed needles instead of one circular.

"These are double-point needles," Anton explained. "They're used to create circular items. Circular needles perform the same function, though they were only created at the opening of the twentieth century and I confess some reservation toward their use. Single-point needles can only create flat surfaces such as blankets, scarves, the front and backs of clothes."

He made a stitch, doing so slowly so Gene could see. "This is a stocking stitch, which is among the simplest and fastest, though there are many other stitches which can be combined to create different patterns or textures. It's created like so--" He made another few stitches, all slow and easily visible.