What is your favorite type of knitting needles?
By Esmy27
@Esmy27 (47)
United States
November 29, 2006 4:47pm CST
I prefer wood knitting needles, because they are easier to learn with and are warm. However, I like the speed of aluminum (not to mention the click, clack). Wha is your favorite type of knitting needle and why?
7 responses
@theartofmegan (33)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I like bamboo needles the best because they are smooth, easy to work with, but still have just enough grip to keep me from dropping loops. However, my nana had a pretty large selection of aluminum needles, so that's the majority of what I have to knit with. So far, however, I've started stocking my knitting equipment stash with double pointed needles in bamboo in two sizes, as well as a great set of size 6 bamboos that I use almost all the time! Great stuff, I love em.
@auburndreams (838)
• United States
2 Dec 06
My favorite knitting needles are the double pointed needles I made myself out of dowels. I'm sentimental about those.
I've used aluminum, jumbo needles, circulars, steel, doublepointed needles and bamboo.
I tend to warp the bamboo needles (never stick them through a ball of yarn) and I've broken one. I travel a lot with my knitting and the bamboo ones are too fragile for me. Heck, I even bent an aluminum one recently. I think I slammed it in the door of my truck. Now that takes talent.
You really have to match your needles to your yarn and your project. A little project like a doll dress needs shorter needles than, say for example, an afghan.
Ebay has a plethora of needles, so if you are just starting out, try there.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
29 Nov 06
I buy whatever is cheap so I mostly have plastic with a few aluminum ones in there. Plastic is okay because they bend and have give which helps after hours and your hands get sore. But the smaller sizes feel like they could snap in half. In fact I think the center shaft did break in my size 5 set from the kids messing with them. I hear this rattling in them when I use them.
@nannacroc (4049)
•
29 Nov 06
I use aluminium mostly but I have one pair of steel ones which are really smooth and nice to use, sadly I can't get any more.
@kiiizu (1901)
• Estonia
29 Nov 06
Yes, wood needles are very good but I personally prefer circular needles. If you are working on something big, it's easier to handle with circular needles. When I'm working on a jumper or a dress I usually knit front and back together in rings, and i separate them only when I'm reaching the armhole.
@faithfulheart (18)
• United States
16 Dec 06
I have several favorites. I guess, like you, it depends on the project that I'm working on. For socks, I prefer bamboo dpn's. For other projects I like the slick speed of metal needles. I have a set of plastic interchageable needles, which are convenient, but plastic is really my least favorite material for knitting needles.
@SimplyMe (373)
• United States
30 Nov 06
I like the sound of the aluminum ones too! The bamboo ones bug me because the yarn sticks to them and it makes my teeth hurt! The aluminum and plastic ones are the ones I choose because they are more affordable and the yarn doesn't stick.
