Needle for knitting sueded fabrics

1. A knitting needle for simultaneously knitting and abrading yarn, comprising:

a shank;

a hook;

a latch; and

an abrasive surface defined on at least one of the shank, the hook, and the latch for simultaneously knitting and abrading the yarn without cutting the yarn.

2. The knitting needle of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is defined at a front region of said shank.

3. The knitting needle of claim 2 , wherein the abrasive surface is defined circumferentially about the shank.

4. The knitting needle of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is defined at an inner region of the latch.

5. The knitting needle of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is defined at an outer region of the latch.

6. The knitting needle of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is defined at an inner region of the hook.

7. The knitting needle of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is defined at a region selected from the group consisting of an inner region of the hook, a front region of the shank, an inner region of the latch, an outer region of the latch, and combinations thereof.

8. The knitting needle of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is selected from the group consisting of a knurled region, a scuffed region, an abrasive coating, an abrasive paint, an abrasive element, and combinations thereof.