Lengths of wooden dowel (available at lumber stores) sharpened to a rounded point in a pencil sharpener, sanded smooth, painted black, waxed with wax paper – voila! – knitting needles.
These have been personalized with rock 'people' (beach stones and acrylic paint) glued to the ends. The others are large wooden beads, painted black, with birds painted on them. The wool threaded through them is a record of what was knitted previously.