Needles!

[kareila]

I've discovered that perling isn't actually that hard! The reason I was discouraged the first time I tried it was that I was using shiny metallic needles, which were so slippery that I couldn't pull the loop through. I despaired of ever managing to perl without using a crochet hook. But then I tried bamboo needles, and all was right with the world.

I mentioned this to another knitting acquaintance of mine and she replied that she always knitted on metal needles because they let her knit faster. She wanted her needles as slippery as possible. Whereas I find that bamboo is good for me - not too slippery, but not as sticky as plastic.

So: a poll!

Poll #1656 Favorite material for knitting needles?

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 83

View Respondents

Which material for knitting needles is your favorite?

View Answers

metal
39 (47.0%)

plastic
5 (6.0%)

bamboo
49 (59.0%)

other (specify in comments)
13 (15.7%)

Comments

[rainkatt]

Bamboo or wood, mostly.

I have the KP Harmony interchangeable circs that I do most of my larger projects on, and I like the KP sock needles, too. I used to love metal, because I liked the slippiness for some things (plus, I couldn't bend or break them as easily), but I have a severe nickel allergy, so I had to quit using them.

When I was at Sock Summit, I bought a set of Signature Needle Arts sock needles in my favorite size, and while they do slip sometimes if there's only one stitch on a needle, and I set the knitting down, I love, love, love the way I can knit twisty stitches with them. I absolutely adore them, and SNA guarantees they are hypoallergenic. I've had no reaction, so I think they're right.

I also own an old set of Aero Bernat straights, with the coating, and they're OK, but I find that the plastic feel of those and the acrylics I've tried really drives me nuts, but it depends on the yarn, too.

So, for me, it depends on project, mood, and with socks, what's available. I have sock needles in bamboo, the SNA metal ones, and the KP wood set. There may be some other wood ones in there, too... Until recently, I had about five sock projects going at once.