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Anny
Warming Up
Canada
79 Posts |
 Posted - 04/06/2005 : 05:51:22 AM
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I am very curious to know what other knitters prefer knitting with needle wise. I have seen and worked with needles made from metal, plastic and bamboo. Personally I prefer the bamboo ones over metal and plastic by far. Lighter and the least amount of rubbing and clicking noises.
What are your favorite to work with and have I excluded other types of needles I'm not aware of?!
Thank you,
Anny |
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sallyjo
Permanent Resident
USA
2401 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2005 : 06:27:27 AM
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Overall, I guess I'd say wood needles, although I like my metal #1 DPNs - I don't think I'd be comfortable with wood in that size, because I'd be afraid they would break. I do like Baylene needles, except for that *thump* when the yarn goes over the bump to the actual needle. I would like to try Swallow casein needles someday.
"as if God had shrugged his shoulders (and) presently our civilization will once again belong to the misshapen, the moonstruck, and the damned" Woolcott Gibbs |
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SweetJane
Chatty Knitter
168 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2005 : 06:31:19 AM
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I use Addi's exclusively for my socks and shawls. Good joins, smooth needles.
I like Susanne's Rosewood needles for straight knitting. They are warm in your hand, I like the old-fashioned look of them.
Jane |
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2005 : 10:34:01 AM
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I use all kinds of needles and often choose the material based on the yarn I am using or even the color I am using. If I am using dark yarn I use light colored Clover or Crystal Palace bamboo or Brittany birch and for light yarn I use Susanne's ebony or Lantern Moon rosewood. Right now I am knitting socks with self-patterned Opal on turquoise plastic Cristal Nacre dpns; the last pair of socks was Lorna's on rosewood Lantern Moon dpns.
There are times that I use my old Boye aluminum needles (I love the coolness in my hands and I love the click). For afghans I might use circular Addis or circular bamboo. Scarves are made on 10" palmwood Lantern Moons or 9" CP and I have made many baby things on 3mm coated Aeros. I actually have favorite pairs of needles, such as the ones I used to make baby sweaters when DS was born or my 3mm Bryspun dpns from the original factory that I use for knitting socks with Koigu.
I am always buying needles and when I was on my "stash only" knitting time I bought an awful lot of needles. I also have every needle I've bought since I started knitting so that covers all materials - metal, aluminum, coated, bamboo, birch, ebony, palmwood, rosewood, nylon, plastic, & casein. I have accumulated various lengths in straight, circular, & dpns in US, UK, and metric sizes.
There is something about knitting needles that I can't resist and often I would rather buy needles than yarn. Years ago when only Boye or Hero was available in the US I asked people to bring me needles when they travelled to Europe. If I am buying yarn on the internet and have room left on the shipping charge I add a pair of needles. I have bought needles on eBay, in thrift shops, in LYS, on the internet, & through mail order. I keep track of all these needles on my PDA on KnitAble and I customized sections for each type. They are all in needle rolls in a travel duffle in my closet and nobody knows how many I have. If I take the whole bag out of the closet I lock the bedroom door because DH or DS would think I am truly out of my mind if they saw this collection.
The only needles I have that I don't especially like are straight Addis and Karabella. They are heavy and the yarn doesn't seem to like these needles. Also, I use dpns quite often and I don't like the metal ones.
Only KR people would understand this obsession.
GFTC of NYC |
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4299 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2005 : 2:20:37 PM
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I think I'm going to end up like you, GFTC! I have serious needle cravings these days, only I haven't acted on them -- yet. I want Lantern Moon DPNs, and more Addi circs, and more Crystal Palace circs too. Oh, and Lantern Moon straights, but I haven't used straights in years! I have only about 60 pairs/sets, though, all categorized in KnitAble on my PDA.
I do like to have all kinds of needles available to suit the project and the yarn (I don't color-coordinate yet either, but I can see it coming!). A knitter can never have too many needles, don't you agree?
Jane
"Books are where things are explained to you, life is where things aren't and I'm not surprised that some people prefer books." Julian Barnes
I've updated my album! -- Jane's Pages
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busygirl
Permanent Resident
Australia
1672 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2005 : 3:51:57 PM
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I love working with bamboo needles,as I find them smooth and easy to handle.Unfortunately, I only own two pairs of bamboo needles at the moment; the rest of my needle collection consists of steel and plastic needles which I have had for many years.
Leslie |
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Fraggle
Seriously Hooked
USA
747 Posts |
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vicky by the bay
Permanent Resident
USA
4768 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2005 : 8:46:45 PM
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I love DPN's and Circs. I use alot of bamboo and the nickle plated metal needles either addi, Bates, or Inox. I'm inclinded these days to buy the Inox because I don't see any difference from the addi's and they are at least 1/2 the price. Susan Bates also now has this type and are pretty good except the cable is a bit stiffer than the other two brands, but does soften nicely w/ the hot bath treatment. I only use wood dpns to knit sock because I don't lose stitches on the wooden needles. The only dpn's I have in metal are the 00,0, and 1's. I used to have them in wood but I've broken every one! So now only use the metal ones. I have several pairs of the balene type dpns and straights that I love and will buy more. I saw a site selling circs in the balene materials, but now can't find them....anyone see it too and if so do you remember where you saw them? Please PM me if you can help. Thanks.
Vicky (Queen O'Yarn archivist-QYA) |
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Kelly B
Permanent Resident
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 05:55:48 AM
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| Oh, this sounds so sad, but -- I really like plastic. Love my Denise set, love my old solid molded nylon one, like the old Bates ones, except those cords are too stiff. |
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4299 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 09:45:19 AM
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I have some of those nylon needles, too, and for some reason I love them, even though the cords are a curly pain. I learned on them, so that must be it. And the tips are wonderfully pointy.
Jane
"Books are where things are explained to you, life is where things aren't and I'm not surprised that some people prefer books." Julian Barnes
I've updated my album! -- Jane's Pages
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Anny
Warming Up
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 3:13:34 PM
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Thanks to everyone who chimmed in with their preferences, it is great info. Before this thread, I didn't even know that bamboo circular and dbpn even existed! I will be getting some shortly :)
Vicky: What are you knitting with on 00 size needles? Thread?! I haven't even heard of needles so small!
GFTC: I love buying them too, not as much as you though! (yet that is, lol!) BTW, what are KR people?
Keep the answers coming!
Anny
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knitz2
Permanent Resident
USA
1800 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 3:21:12 PM
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| I've never used bamboo or wood needles. I have the Denise set, some aluminum straight left over from the "old days", some plastic big needles (17 & 35) and addi turbo circs in sz 1-4 for socks. As for which I prefer - depends on the project. I tried socks on bryspun dpns and while I liked way they felt, dpns totally frustrate me so for socks it is addis. the aluminum are fine for acrylics. and I've not yet found a yarn my Denise don't like although they are a tiny bit slippery for the bamboo yarn. |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 3:37:16 PM
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Addi for everything. I love how the stitches move so quickly and the needles are light weight with smooth joins.
"I firmly believe the Bible is the misinterpreted word of God." Mokey
www.femiknits.blog-city.com |
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 3:47:55 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Anny
BTW, what are KR people?
We are KR people - the people who post on Knitter's Review.
GFTC of NYC |
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cozystitches
Gabber Extraordinaire
507 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 7:38:21 PM
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Addis are my favorite!!! I have given away almost all my straights, and Boye (blech) circs. :) If not Addi Turbos, then it's my Inox circs. :) :) Love the circs....
Hugs,
tammy
Tammy
http://www.cozystitches.com |
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slaggyc
Permanent Resident
USA
1216 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2005 : 7:49:18 PM
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Oh, I love bamboo! I love how it feels and how it's smooth enough to slide the yarn (most types) but still holds the stitches well. I really do not like metal for some reason, I guess the sound and how it feels in my hands. I'm all for the bamboo! :)
Chelsey
(Current Projects: Clapotis, Misty Garden Scarf- Scarf Style)
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onealees
New Pal
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2005 : 6:33:49 PM
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I'm a Circ bamboo girl!
als
On the needles:
-- Fall 2004 Vogue Knitting shawl collar pullover in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
-- Debbie Bliss Shawl from Special Knits in Baby Cashmerino
-- Classic Elite Pattern 849 (Woodstock Revisited) in Cottonease |
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KnitSteph
Chatty Knitter
121 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2005 : 6:35:46 PM
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Anything wood really. I do like my Denise set though.
My Knitting Blog
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
Albert Camus (1913 - 1960) |
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knittingnirvana
New Pal
Belgium
25 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2005 : 10:13:25 AM
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| Addi Turbo circulars are my needle of choice. I love how they feel in my hands and how fast they allow me to knit. I haven't tried bamboo and am very tempted to try them after reading the posts on this thread. I used wooden needles years ago. At first they were great but began to splinter, which surprised me, given how expensive they were. Addi's are pricey, but well worth the investment. My goal is to get every size Addi so I don't have to use my "backup" aluminum needles ever again! |
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SerMom
Permanent Resident
Canada
6412 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 7:23:42 PM
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I have 'way too many needles, and yet never enough. I really shouldn't leave them in UFOs, should I?
I like my Denise, love my Inox Express, like Addis, haven't actually used wood or bamboo. I only use circs, and I find both the cords and the points on the Inox better than Addis.
Barbara
Remember, we're self-selecting!
My photos:
My blog:
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isel
Chatty Knitter
USA
112 Posts |
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