Knitters, what kind of needles do you prefer?

[soonermomma]

I learned on straight bamboo needles. Now I'm shopping for some new straight needles in other sizes. Just curious what kind of needles everyone else prefers? If you have a specific brand that would be good to know as well.

[amey311]

I prefer metal circulars. I can knit flat things with a circular needle (and they didn't look like swords to my young children when I was first knitting).

 

The only downside to metal needles for me is that they can be cold when i'm knitting at the hockey rink.

[Bug's Mom]

I prefer circular needles for everything. I'll sometimes used double-pointed needles for socks, because I have them, but prefer circulars for that, too.

 

I used to love Addi Turbo needles, but have been using various brands of bamboo needles lately. I also have a set of dpns that are square...I like them, but they're size 0...great for socks. I see that they're available as circulars as well, so I may try them in a larger size.

[LaxMom]

Depends on what I'm knitting and what kind of needles I'm using. I prefer my KnitPicks nickel interchangeables for circulars, wood or bamboo for worsted weight dpns, metal or bamboo for sock and lace weight.

 

I never willingly use plastic, and I despise the craft store aluminum needles. And I like my needles pointy, so brand matters to me.

[Cinder]

I prefer wood/bamboo, my favorite being Knit Picks Harmony. I learned on the cheapo Bates aluminums; they're way too slippery and not good for learning. And while I dislike Bates aluminum, I've found that I like Boye fine. I guess it's just a different finish. The Boyes have about the same stickiness as the Harmony woods but are cheaper. I have a few plastics and don't like those either; they're way too sticky. I prefer dpn's for sock knitting, but circs for most everything else.

[hsbeth]

It all depends what I'm knitting. For circulars, I prefer Addi turbo. For straight knitting I prefer bamboo of some sort. I also prefer bamboo for double pointed needles. In general I prefer a shorter needle length as this speeds things up for me as I work. I'll often use end caps when transporting a project b/c of the shorter needles.

[TexasRachel]

:iagree: love knitpicks. I prefer their bamboo, but their metal doesn't annoy me like most other brands. Although I do like my one addi.

 

There's supposed to be a sale tomorrow.

[Avila]

I prefer wood/bamboo, my favorite being Knit Picks Harmony. I learned on the cheapo Bates aluminums; they're way too slippery and not good for learning. And while I dislike Bates aluminum, I've found that I like Boye fine. I guess it's just a different finish. The Boyes have about the same stickiness as the Harmony woods but are cheaper. I have a few plastics and don't like those either; they're way too sticky. I prefer dpn's for sock knitting, but circs for most everything else.

 

I love the Harmony needles! They are so pretty! Knitpicks is my choice too.

[Mothersweets]

I chose metal in the poll.

 

My favorite needles are Addi turbo circulars. I never use straights. When I use dpns, I really like wooden ones. I have a set of metal dpns and I don't really like using them. They feel too dangerous. :)

[abbeyej]

I like good quality metal needles. I have some that are just junky. Wood is easier for learning on, but metal is faster once you can knit comfortably.

[FairyMom]

Wooden needles. Sometimes circular, sometimes straight. :)

[ThatCyndiGirl]

Addi turbo circulars, hands down. I knit everything on circulars, nothing on straight needles anymore. :001_smile:

[Mommy22alyns]

KnitPicks, the metal tips, are hands down the best needles ever!

[blondeviolin]

Either Addi Turbos (metal circs) or Knitpicks metal circs. The only straight needles I own are DPNs and I strongly prefer wooden ones. My favorite DPNs are the most cost-effective and durable ones: KnitPicks Harmony DPNs.

[annlaura]

I much prefer metal. I do wish I had another couple of sets of bamboo dpns, though.

[Heather in OK]

It depends on the yarn I'm using.

 

A softer yarn = bamboo

 

A coarse yarn = metal

[catz]

I knit everything now on good quality metal circular needles. And I never use double pointed needles for in the round - then I use 2 metal circular needles (or 1 circular if it will work with one). I like Addi or knitpicks metal circular needles.

[ChemMommy]

I learned on bamboo and loved them....until I tried addi lace turbo needles. WOW what a difference. I think they'd be a bit too slippery to learn on, but once you are a decent knitter, I think the addi needles really slide the yarn nicely. I like the sharper points, too!

[joannqn]

The only kind I've ever used are cheap craft store aluminum. I hate circular needles. The part attaching the two ends are always twisted funky, in the way, and I have trouble getting the stitches back onto the ends sometimes.

[GailV]

Depends on the yarn and the pattern.

 

For example, I usually love Addi Turbos, but I was doing a fine lace in Kidsilk Haze and the Addis about drove me insane -- the yarn kept slipping off the needles. But for a simpler pattern, the Addis are great for Kidsilk Haze.

 

Usually I like pointy needles for lace, more rounded points for lots of mindless knitting or splitty yarn. Wood or bamboo or certain plastics for slick yarn, metal for sticky yarns.

 

But I've probably been knitting longer than many people here have been alive -- I still have the first pair of metal needles I bought back in about 1970 -- before that I borrowed from my mom or Grandma. And people give me their needles when they give up knitting, or someone dies and leaves a pile of knitting needles behind, or whatever. So I have an unusually large collection to choose from.

[ThreeBlessings]

I actually LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my acrylic needles. I never thought I'd say that! :) I have the Denise interchangeable circular needle set. They are made in the USA and guaranteed for life! They do not get cold in the winter like metal needles. I despise cold needles, they hurt my hands. They knit quickly and I love the way the needle joins the cable. It clicks right in place easy peasy. The metal interchangeable circulars I have need a tool to help you screw the needles on tightly. No big deal, though one time one did begin to unscrew and kept ripping my yarn. Took three rips before I realized what was happening. I thought it was the yarn! I prefer to knit everything in the round on two circular needles if at all possible.

 

I do use DPN's sometimes. I have bamboo, which I like as well. I've never used other DPN's to compare with though. I like that they aren't slick nor cold. I got the bamboo DPN's on amazon super cheap for a whole large set of sizes, sorry don't know what brand. I'm able to knit quickly on them as well.

 

ETA: I forgot another good thing about the acrylic needles is that they are quiet. Metal needles are noisy! :)

Edited November 28, 2011 by ThreeBlessings

[Wendy Inman]

I pretty much exclusively use my Knitpicks nickel plated interchangeable circular set. I use them for straight knitting, circular knitting, magic loop for knitting in the round... love how easy things curl up and fit in my bag for portability. And nothing beats those pointy tips!

[FairyMom]

Umm.... have you noticed this is very personal? It's so amazing to see the differences in knitters. My friend let me borrow her harmony wood needles from knitpicks.com. They are beautiful, but I cannot stand them. They unscrew and have too pointy of a tip for me. Give me circular bamboo over anything, any day.... :)

 

A room full of knitters, a thousand opinions. Buy what you are comfortable with.

[TrixieB]

I actually LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my acrylic needles. I never thought I'd say that! :) I have the Denise interchangeable circular needle set. They are made in the USA and guaranteed for life! They do not get cold in the winter like metal needles. I despise cold needles, they hurt my hands. They knit quickly and I love the way the needle joins the cable. It clicks right in place easy peasy. The metal interchangeable circulars I have need a tool to help you screw the needles on tightly. No big deal, though one time one did begin to unscrew and kept ripping my yarn. Took three rips before I realized what was happening. I thought it was the yarn! I prefer to knit everything in the round on two circular needles if at all possible.

 

I do use DPN's sometimes. I have bamboo, which I like as well. I've never used other DPN's to compare with though. I like that they aren't slick nor cold. I got the bamboo DPN's on amazon super cheap for a whole large set of sizes, sorry don't know what brand. I'm able to knit quickly on them as well.

:iagree:

 

I love my Denise needles! And for projects that require DPNs, I prefer Clover bamboo needles, though I do use metal DPNs when working with sock weight yarn ('cause I worry that very small-diameter bamboo needles would break -- and can you even buy them in size 0 or 1?).

 

ETA: Oooh, lookie here! Denise now makes crochet hooks! Dear Santa, I would like....!

Edited November 28, 2011 by TrixieB

[ThreeBlessings]

Forgot to say I use the Denise circular needles for straight knitting when I need to do that as well. You can knit back and forth on one circular or there are little buttons you click on the ends to make them just like a straight needle. I have a bunch of aluminum straight needles, some my dh bought super cheap at a yard sale, some my mom gave me because she gave up on knitting. I really should give them away because I don't see myself ever using a straight needle like that again!

[ThreeBlessings]

:iagree:

 

I love my Denise needles! And for projects that require DPNs, I prefer Clover bamboo needles, though I do use metal DPNs when working with sock weight yarn ('cause I worry that very small-diameter bamboo needles would break -- and can you even buy them in size 0 or 1?).

 

ETA: Oooh, lookie here! Denise now makes crochet hooks! Dear Santa, I would like....!

 

 

Those crochet hooks are cool. :) I've done tunisian crochet a couple times and it is neat to do something different and make a totally different fabric than regular crochet.

[Carol in Cal.]

Metal--Addi Turbo, especially the lace ones. I use circular needles for almost everything except the bulkiest yarns, and for those I use Lantern Moon wooden ones--they are beautiful and almost silken in their finish. I learned the hard way that long wooden needles are unreasonably fragile.

[WiseOwlKnits]

I prefer circular needles for every project too. My favorites are my Knit Picks Harmony needles. They're to swoon for! :001_wub:

[lailasmum]

I prefer wooden because they are warm and easier on the hand but in practice use metal circulars for most things simply because between my mum and I we have pretty much every needle we could need. I did have a big set of wooden circulars but the the smallest sizes snapped easily.

[Lizzie in Ma]

I love my metal turbos for circular knitting but bamboo for dpns.

I don't have a preference for straight needles, either will do.

[Jayne J]

Another vote for the KnitPicks Harmony wood needles. I have the interchangeable cable set and several sets of DPNs, including the sock set. I do all my knitting with either cables or dpns. I own bunches of metal sets of both flats and dpns (I somehow inherited a whole bunch) and I only use them very occasionally when I don't have the right size in wood. I hate the feel of the metal needles--they are too heavy, too squeaky, and too cold. The wood needles are soft, warm, flexible, light, and comfortable, and they have a nice pointy point. I have a wish list full of Harmony fixed cables and dpns on my Christmas list this year to finish my set.

[macpuffins]

I use different needles for different fibres. The gauge &/or length of needle required also affect my choices. The biggest thing is that I'm a "anything but metal, unless they are Addi's" person :)

 

I have the Zephyr set from KnitPicks, and *ADORE* them. I have many bamboo needles, and love them too. My straights that are metal are so rarely used now, they could easily become a yard sale item!

[lcelmer]

The best needles I ever bought were a set of bamboo Plymouth interchangeable tips circulars. Sizes 4-10

http://www.knittersreview.com/article_tool.asp?article=/review/product/060309_a.asp

 

LOVE THEM!

 

The best part is I got them for under $40 shipped... thank you ebay!

 

I always have the right size, and enough cable to do whatever. I have made socks, scarves, sweaters, etc without having to grab more tools. I also knti flat with circular needle, just don't join, but turn like regular

 

The only thing I have added is circs in teensy sizes for fancy sock knitting with thinner yarn... 1,2,3

If you ever decide to go circular, I HIGHLY recommend the two circs at once method, simple to learn, and you will never have to seam things together again. :-)

 

So, If these ever fail, I am goign for a similar kit.. something like this.. http://www.fabulousyarn.com/needles_exchangeables.shtml

Edited November 28, 2011 by lcelmer

[bluemongoose]

Audi Turbo metal circular hands down!