Using these Jimmy's SmartStix Double Pointed Needles is a breeze. Just pick up your yarn and start knitting as you normally would. The color - coded intervals at one - inch marks are great for quickly measuring your work as you go. To measure your gauge, simply count the number of stitches or rows within one of those color - coded sections. When it comes to wraps per inch, you can wrap the yarn around the needle and count how many times it fits in that one - inch area. As for maintenance, keep them in a dry place to prevent the aluminum from rusting. You can clean them with a soft, dry cloth if they get dirty. And be careful not to bend the needles as that might affect your knitting.