Knitting needles

[danaeris]

I'm thinking of picking up a set of knitpicks interchangeables. If I do, I'm wondering:

Nickel plated vs. Birch wood  --  fight!

I'm also wondering how these options in your opinion compare to plastic or bamboo?

Comments

[awfief.livejournal.com]

While everyone has their favorites, you should also consider your favorite yarns. Basically the pointier the needle (addi turbos are *really* pointy, knitpicks are more blunt), the more likely you are to split a multi-plied yarn. Also, you should think about how slippery you like your needles.

I happen to find nickel plated too smooth/slippery. But I also happen to find that bamboo has too *much* friction. Most folks *love* their bamboo needles, but I didn't like the set I got because of the friction.

I found plastic to be in between bamboo and metal in terms of slipperiness. I have a set of Denise interchangeables that I love. I also have Knitpicks interchangeables, which I like a lot but not as much as the Denise (plastic). This is partly because the Knitpicks screw (and can come unscrewed while knitting) and the Denise clicks in (it's possible, but harder, to pop them out while knitting).

FYI, I also have rubber needles (advertised as bendable), and I found them to have too much friction, though I think bamboo had even more friction than the rubber ones.

My exact desired slipperiness is actually aluminum, specifically the aluminum that Susan Bates uses, with the "powder" finish. Regular aluminum needles end up having the paint flake off eventually, but that doesn't happen with the powder-finished aluminum.

It's really a matter of personal preference (don't let anyone tell you otherwise). :) I like my Knitpicks a lot (I don't want to sell them/give them away) but I love my Denise interchangeables more.

[geekosaur]

FWIW my bamboos started out with a lot of friction, but with use have become quite slippery. You need to break them in.

[blueelf13.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of my denise needles. I don't like the slipperiness of metal needles. I like bamboo for my double-points, so if I ever got knitpicks, I'd get the wood ones, but I'm quit satisfied with my plastic ones. :) It's all about personal preference.