Knitting Needles that I Love

[jumpuphigh]

I finally graduated from Clover circular needles this past summer when the tips of a pair that I hadn't had that long started to split.  KnitPicks was having a sale so I bought one set of size 7 wooden needle tips with attachable 47" cables to try them out.  You can check them out here. I admit that a large part of the attraction was the rainbow-colored wood.  They are just so pretty.  When I got them, I loved how they felt in my hands.  The wood is just so lovely and I found it lovelier than the bamboo I had been using.  The needles were so nice to knit on. But, and here is where I tell an embarrassing story, the darn needles kept unscrewing themselves.  Every single row, I'd have to reattach them to the cable.  After reaching a point where I just didn't want to pick up my knitting at all, I finally thought, "well, maybe there is a trick to it."  I found the package they had come in and thank goodness I had saved it because there were instructions on the back.  *facepalm*  Who knew knitting needles came with instructions?  Now that I am attaching them properly (it requires a metal key), I love, love, love them.  They are really lovely needles and I hope that they stand the test of time.  I expect I will be buying more as other bamboo needles wear out or I need needles that I don't currently own.

ETA:  Also, the cable is so bendy.  It's thinner than the Clover cables and really, well, I want to say "lovely" again.  Lovely, lovely, lovely. 

Comments

[scribbulus_ink]

I love the Harmony needles so much that I've almost reached the point of not wanting to use any other kind.

[jumpuphigh]

I admit to only wanting to make things with size 7 needles now. :D And with the little doo-hickeys for the ends of the cables to hold a project on, I can have two size 7 projects going at the same time.

[clare_dragonfly]

I know! I ended up needing size 13 needles for my mom's Christmas present (clapotis in bulky ribbon yarn), and I had to run out to the craft store to get some since there are no Harmony 13s (and I wanted to get started). I've been spoiled by the Harmony needles. These Clover needles aren't pointy enough, aren't slick enough, and the cord is just a pain--it won't uncurl all the way. I hope I never have to use 13s again!

[jumpuphigh]

Oh, the Clover large sized needles I find especially bad. They are so blunt.

ETA: I just found size 13 tips on the KnitPicks website so if you have to use size 13s again, you can now buy them.

[clare_dragonfly]

Ooh, that's exciting! Thanks!

[dcgelfling]

How heavy are they, comparatively? My wrists aren't in the best shape, and the lightness of bamboo is my favorite thing about it.

[jumpuphigh]

This is completely subjective, of course, but I just pulled out my 24" Clover size 7 bamboos and the Harmony needles seemed slightly heavier (although really not by much) but the cable on the bamboo needles was much heavier than the Harmony cable and it was half as long.

[dcgelfling]

I'm guessing not as heavy as aluminum, then. I may have to check them out when my finances recover from Christmas. :)

[jumpuphigh]

Definitely not as heavy as aluminum.

[rainbow]

I have both in several sizes since I had a huge stash of bamboo dpns and circs.

IMO, the harmony are both lighter and smoother on my fingers than even the highend bamboo.

The knit pick harmony's are light

[jazzypom]

I used to knit on bamboo, moved to the nickel plated knitpicks and then moved on to their harmonies. Their harmony's are comparable to bamboo. They are a lot slicker, too.

[suncat]

Glad you found the trick. I've been using the KnitPicks metal Options needles and love them. They attach to the cables the same way.

[jumpuphigh]

I felt really, really stupid when I realized. Oh, well. Now I know and anybody who reads this post and hasn't used interchangeable needles before won't have to make the same mistake. I know some yarns work better on metal needles and I am knitting baby booties out of KnitPicks cotton yarn on some metal needles and really like them better than bamboo so I think I'll probably start a collection of their metal needles as well as the wooden ones.

[rainbow]

I adore my harmony woods; I have several sizes of cables and needles, plus some dpns that my greatuncle sent me.

They're SO LIGHT and SO COMFY! And the cables are plenty flexible for doing stockings and things with the pull out a loop to the side and do each side separately, which I lovelovelove

Plus, of course,

rainbow

:)

[jumpuphigh]

I've never been successful doing magic loop on my Clover needles and so, I am excited to try it on these.

How do I not have an appropriate icon to use to express my delight in rainbow needles? Must remedy this travesty.

[rainbow]

You must remedy it!

[pinesandmaples]

Most interchangeable sets attach the same way. I have a Boye Needlemaster with keys and grips and all the good stuff.

[jumpuphigh]

Well, now I know and won't make the same mistake again. This was my first experience with interchangeable needles.

[vilakins]

Oh yes, I love my KnitPick / KnitPro (they're interchangeable) circular needles too. They're beautiful, functional, and easy to use, and I often use them for straight knitting too.

[jumpuphigh]

I don't think I have any straight needles except my dpns. I used to have some but they walked off after a Stitch 'n Bitch at my house. I like doing all my knitting on circulars. I think I will like it even more as I build my Harmony collection.

[vilakins]

I do have straight needles, but I'm finding more and more that I'd rather use the circs. Apparently in Norway you can't even buy straights!

[jumpuphigh]

I learned on straights but then a long time passed where there were many moves and no knitting. I have no idea what happened to my needles. When I picked it back up, I was making a baby blanket for a friend and got bamboo circs for the project. That was the end of straight needles for me.

[vilakins]

[nods] They're so much lighter and easier to use when you're knitting a large item.

[jumpuphigh]

Then a friend told me that she only had really long circs and so I started getting longer and longer circs and now I can't use my 24" ones that I bought for that baby blanket. :D

[vilakins]

I got really long cables to knit a Moebius scarf, but I use all lengths depending on what it is. 80cms is great for mitts (magic loop).

It's coming up to midnight here, so good night!

[jumpuphigh]

Goodnight.

I like knit pick harmony needles

[jazzypom]

My only bugbear is when they 'pop' out of their metal holders, because when it comes to quality control, it's a bit odd. The good thing is that you can just tell knit picks the problem and they send you a replacement. The key works, and the join is smooth, but I've moved on to addi clicks. Just as light, a bit slicker (and a tad more expensive). I can't bring myself to give away my knit pick harmonies though.

The knit picks cord can't be beat.

Re: I like knit pick harmony needles

[jumpuphigh]

Popping out of metal holders would be upsetting but it's nice to know that KnitPicks stands by the product. I believe that the needles I tried out at my LYS were Addi and they didn't make my heart sing. However, I know a lot of people who just love them.

Re: I like knit pick harmony needles

[suncat]

I began using the Addi Turbos some time before KnitPicks was around. I still enjoy the pairs I'd collected. But I love the freedom of the interchangeables, and find myself acquiring longer and longer cables.

[epershand]

Oooh, I might have to check these out. I didn't know they made wood interchangables!

Side note: I mostly use Clovers, and I've gotten into the habit of holding my circular needle cables over a pot of boiling water as soon as I buy them. It makes them WAY more flexible if you've steamed them.

[jumpuphigh]

Have I mentioned that they are lovely? ;) You should definitely check them out.

That's a great tip about the cables and boiling water. I'll have to try it.