Needle Dilemma

20 Responses to “Needle Dilemma”

On January 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm KateM said:

Hiya Hiya makes metal DPNs in small sizes, though they are a little shorter. They have the virtue of being quit inexpensive. Also, did you know that Brittany will replaces snapped DPNs for you? Check out their website.

On January 29th, 2008 at 1:56 pm Jessi Koput said:

I had the same dilemma with bamboo, and in my search I found ComfortZone needles - they are some form of plastic. I’m not affiliated, I just really like them because they flex with me and seem to bounce back after I abuse them pretty well. They come in pretty cool colors too! You can find more info at http://www.knittingonthego.com/ . Again, not affiliated, just really happy with them.

On January 29th, 2008 at 2:28 pm Lucinda said:

I would definitely recommend the HiyaHiya needles. I just bought more from the knitting zone. They are great to work with in all sizes and types for socks or just anything.

On January 29th, 2008 at 3:11 pm Lise said:

I’ve had good luck with Crystal Palace bamboo needles. They flex well and, even with zeros and ones, have never broken on me. Some of them have a slight curve from the pressure though it doesn’t affect how well they knit.

On January 29th, 2008 at 3:26 pm Tara said:

On a recommendation from my LYS I bought the Crystal Palace bamboo circs in size 0 this Sunday. I’m loving them. I don’t know if it is important or not, but the package has a pink label that says “New Design”. They have a nice rigidity and the great slick yet grippy feel of smooth wood needles.

On January 29th, 2008 at 3:58 pm Ronni said:

I broke or bent badly or cracked about 5 Lantern Moon ebony needles last year on my Inside Outs. (Expensive socks. LOL) But I really like working with wood/bamboo. I switched to some really cheap bamboos from a LYS and they worked fine. They are Japanese I think. They’re imported by Unicorn Books and Crafts and say KA in big letters and Kinki Amibari in fine print. It’s a white with pink and green package. That said, I tried the Knit Picks Harmony DPNs next and I really really like those. A lot. I’m pretty much using them exclusively now. hth

On January 30th, 2008 at 4:44 am Chrissie said:

Knit Picks Harmony dpns seem a bit stronger to me than the bamboo needles I had in tiny sizes. Plus they sell them in sets of 6 so you have an extra if you lose or break one.

On January 30th, 2008 at 6:48 am Cindy said:

I just got the Harmony wood needles and I love them! Before that I used Clover bamboo and never had any problem. I tried the Brittany needles in size 2 and broke one almost immediately and haven’t really cared to try them again since. I didn’t know about the replacements, though.

On January 30th, 2008 at 7:21 am happystasher said:

I second the plug for the KP Harmony dpns! I love mine. They are strong as well as smooth and pretty. Great needles for the money. I also love my Crystal Palace bamboo dpns. I find the Clover dpns too long and the Britanny dpns to be too short and blunt tipped for my taste.

On January 30th, 2008 at 7:45 am Lisa said:

I had no idea that Brittany replaced broken needles. Thanks, KateM. I have a small graveyard.

Here’s a dark horse:

My favorite bamboo needles are from Colonial. They come in sets of 5 and are 5.5″ long. They are the only needles that can pry my away from my circs. They’re not terribly expensive, so purchasing 2 sets at a time works well. For the most part, I can get them locally, so I don’t have to wait on shipping. I covet their rosewood, but it’s either a skein of Lightweight or a set of DPNs. It’s yarn all the way.

On January 30th, 2008 at 9:11 am Gale Bulkley said:

Crystal Palace and Clover bamboo needles seem to do it for me. I do end up with a rather large flex in the needles though, but I don’t find it bothersome.

On January 30th, 2008 at 6:03 pm Eileen said:

I really like the Knit Picks Harmony needles. The points are really sharp for non-metal and I haven’t broken any yet (and I knit pretty tight).

On February 1st, 2008 at 9:54 am Juliet said:

I broke several Brittany’s last year on my Inside Out socks, switched to Clover and all was fine.

On February 1st, 2008 at 12:25 pm Mary Hine said:

I too love the harmony circulars, doing magic loop for the club sock. The needles are beautiful, the price is right, they don’t set off my nickel allergy and my cat doesn’t chew on them like she did with my bamboo needles. I love the cable on the circulars too. I am disabled and nearly house bound so it’s to my advantage to use mail order for supplies.

On February 1st, 2008 at 7:36 pm Kathie said:

My favorites were Crystal Palace needles until I tried KP Harmony needles. Love them!! Epecially love the 6th needle! Clover’s seem so rough now - even the improved ones. Knit on!

On February 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm Marseille said:

I agree with the last poster–my faves were the Crystal Palace needles (and some older Plymouths I found….) because they were infused with resin or something plasticky. It gave them more substance.

But now, I’m *loving* the KnitPicks Harmony needles……especially with the Blue Moon yarn…..the two together are really fun to work with!!!

On February 4th, 2008 at 6:46 am RoxyKnits said:

Looks like I’ll have to try the Harmony DPN’s. My current favs are Crystal Palace but the ones I use the most have lost their coating and aren’t smooth any more so no good now. Has this happened to anyone else, or is it just me?

On February 9th, 2008 at 8:22 pm Meg said:

I knit with bamboo, or KPharmony. I sat on a metal INOX #2 and took two stitches (really!) in my fanny. The nurse about blew snot bubbles when I told her. So I don’t leave my knitting where it can get sat upon

On February 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm Jen G. said:

Thank you for all of these suggestions. I actually did contact Brittany, and they sent me a whole new set. Of course while waiting for them to arrive in my mailbox I managed to get caught in sock hell, starting sock after sock and not being able to find a single pattern/needle/yarn combo that would work for me. I bought a metal circ (and love it!) and tried to do the serendipity socks on that but it was 2.5 size 1 instead of 2.25 size 1 so my gauge was off and the yarn was pooling. Eventually I got tired of waiting and went and bought another set of brittany dpns (that was what my lys had in stock) because I KNEW that those needles would give me a pair of socks that I didn’t have to rip out. Of course I went home and the new sock needles were in my mailbox. Brittany sent a set of 4, so now I have an excess of size 1 2.25mm dpns but no complaints here because I’m finally out of sock hell and am happily knitting along on my serendipities. But yes, thanks for all the advice. Now I feel like I have lots of choices for all my future sock needle purchases.

On June 24th, 2008 at 12:25 pm brittonsmom@verizon.net said:

I used to just use lantern moon dpn but, now i like the crystal palace and knit picks harmony.
I like the cost of kp harmony, a whole of sizes for 10$ more than 1 size of lantern moon.

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