needle moved under the other is more efficiently deployed if a user can see led 117 as an indication of when to stop moving that needle in a forward direction under the other knitting needle led 39 s 118 119 and 120 provide additional illumination for counting stitches in a row of stitches on a shaft 107 wires 121 connect led 39 s 116 through 118 to battery power and switching means in knob 108 switch means include switches capable of causing any one two three four or five of the led 39 s to become lighted fig7 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention needle 122 wherein an led 123 is located along the length of shaft 107 alone in about the location of led 117 of the knitting needle of fig6 wires 124 connect led 123 with battery power and switch means fig8 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention needle 125 wherein a group of led 39 s 126 are located close together to provide a relatively unified illumination source for greater light levels and even lighting of a work field fig9 shows left needle 115 a bearing a number of stitches 129 and a loop 128 being initiated by a tip of right needle 115 b led 39 s 117 a and 116 b illuminate virtually all of the required work field for a user to see the yarn and needle surfaces needed for forming the loop 128 led 116 a provides an u201c umbrella u201d lighting generally downward from a.