The Yarn Stash

A friend of mine sent me a set of very beautiful bamboo needles because she heard I only had one set (plus my birthday is coming up)

I also have purchased a set of metal circular needles. My first set was plastic with a metal core.

I'm wondering what everyone else prefers? Straight, circular, DPN? Metal, plastic, wood, other?

So far I have pros and cons for all of them (though I don't have DPN yet!), but the plastic is the worst. I haven't actually made anything with the bamboo ones, but I love the way they feel. They're so warm and silky. I might have rubbed my face all over them.

All of my needles are metal in some way. I have a bunch of cheapo needles - strong, sturdy, hollow metal ones. Of the same set I also have 3 circulars. The only downside to the circulars is that the cables are not flexible enough. That's why I bought two more expensive pairs of a smaller size. They're chrome needles, SUPER smooth, it's like a feather sliding off a baby butt. I have to watch my work closely because the stitches drop really easily, but I freaking love those pairs. They're awesome.

I only use single pointed and circulars. No DPNs for me. I'm not even going to bother, magic loop takes care of all my knitting in the round. I may consider getting some in case I have a very special project where you need additional needles or move the project around to whatever reason, but I haven't missed them so far.

The chick who taught me to knit has metal needles, but swears by bamboo. I've got one pair of regular metal needles, and one set of 4 double-tipped metal needles (that I haven't used yet). S'all I got at present.

I only have a pair of plastic knitting needles from the class I took to learn how to knit.

Though I have a bunch of crochet hooks, most of which are metal. There's one that is wood and one that is plastic. I love the wooden one so much and would love to get a whole set of wood crochet hooks but the only one's I've seen in stores are so expensive. Plastic is the worse...

I'm only using the plastic when I am making things that aren't wide because the circulars curl and it's a pain in the butt. I'm hoping to get a nice set of interchangeable ones for my birthday maybe.

I really do love the sound of the metal ones, but I have a feeling I will fall even more in love with the bamboo ones, but I can't just throw them in my purse and go - I'd be too afraid to lose them. It looks like my metal circulars are always going to be my "on the go" needles because they're so portable and aren't going to break easily.

I have so many needles. SO MANY. No plastic ones, really, but an assortment of metal circs and DPNs (and one of those interchangeable circular kits, where you can combine needles and cables as you like; it's not a really high quality one, but it works for now, until I can get myself one of the nicer HiyaHiya types), and a bunch of bamboo straights, circs, and DPNs.

My fondness for wood or metal really depends on what kind of yarn I'm working with. A catchy, tweedy yarn is frustrating to knit on bamboo, but great on metal. A shiny, slidy yarn falls off metal like water, but works beautifully on bamboo. My overall favourite brand is probably Addi; the Turbo circular series is amazing.

Style-wise, I definitely prefer circulars. I usually use the magic loop method for knitting everything in the round, and use them for plain ol' straight knitting, too. There's some places where DPNs really come in handy, even when working the magic loop, though, so I have a bunch of those hanging around, too.

Ohermichi, I've had a lot of success ordering knitting items from Ebay. (Particularly from Chinese sellers who offer free shipping.) I'm pretty sure there are some wooden crochet hooks that you can buy cheap from there!

I'm a little broken, so I'm not able to use much other than acrylic or cotton (which I don't like the feel of), so I don't think I'll have a problem with things getting caught or sliding off too easily.

I went out and while I was at the second hand shop, I got some DPN, so I might try them out later.

I'm a big fan of circulars, mostly wood. (Not a good enough knitter to handle "slippy" metal.) Nice thing about circs is you can always use the magic loop method to get something smaller (or two-at-a-time socks, mitts, etc.) Plus no dropping the straights/DPNs on public transit.

If you have the money (or a birthday/holiday/anniversary coming up?), I recommend an interchangeable set. Big investment, but infinitely useful.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FWJW2XM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1K2VPSK2EE7SK&coliid=I1PKOY091HSL6C

I wish for this set more than anything but not even with birthday or holiday monies can I justify spending so much money on this.

Edit: I also see that they've now been totally sold out and I can't get them anymore. *weep*

If you are ever in the United States or Canada (or you have a friend who will ship to you), try KnitPicks?

or http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-needles-needle-sets/
I believe the second one ships everywhere.

I could order them off Ebay perhaps? I'm looking for a whole set though, 3-8mm at least. I'd buy the remaining sizes from the other brand I have (because I love them so much) but I don't think they come in interchangeables.

Also they're brass with a chrome coating, not fully chrome.

http://www.lanagrossa.com/nadeln/Messing

They also cost at least 5 euros each. 50 euros for the remaining needle sizes if a bit much.

I'm looking at these for my birthday. Since it's this weekend if I can't find anything else for my partner to get me in town (I'm seeking a bag), I am going to ask him to order them for me.

Those're the ones I have, Cacophony. They're okay, although I find that the cable parts are kind of stiff, and if you try to join together cables to create an even longer version, the joins are stiff and clunky.

I've been admiring these folks's interchangeable sets for a while, though.

Stiff cables are the worst for these things. x_x Dragonfire, those guys' needles got flexible cables?

I don't have any of their needles myself, but from what I've heard from reviewers, they're quite thin and flexible, yes.

Late to the party, but I have mainly bamboo needles, and I use circulars whenever possible because I have a bad habit of losing the one needle and then not being able to knit until I find where it rolled off to.

I've been considering getting a set like Cacophony got, but I'm worried that bamboo needles will break easily. Especially the smaller sizes. I sometimes knit tightly and sometimes my projects weight heavily, I fear the combo will snap the needles. I know of people who had that happen to them.

I never use tiny needles period, so I think I'm safe from that, but yeah- I can see where you're coming from there.

Mine are mostly Knitter's Pride and Clover brands. I'm a pretty tight knitter that's never snapped a needle, but then again, I never use anything smaller than 3.25 mm (and even that was only once). Little ones are too fiddly. FWIW though, the KP needles (made from birch wood) seem sturdier than usual bamboo.