Thing One: We are in the midst of our annual Hot August Knits Yarn Crawl here in Northern Colorado! If you’re local, pop in and check out two trunk shows we have going on. (If you’re not local – you should still get some of this new Blue Sky Extra yarn and patterns. It’s a new line just out this summer and it’s super soft and cozy and knits up quickly!) Check out the Blue Sky Extra and the Hunter Hammerson trunk show pictures:
Thing Two: Remember last week’s Thing Two? New addition Lexi? Today’s picture is deceiving. She spent the first day with us snoozing and being snuggly and cozy as pictured here. And then starting the next day, she has been non-stop attack-and-play. HELP!! (Seriously – any suggestions for getting her to chill out a little? Or do I have to wait until she’s a year old before that happens?) She is a handful. I probably deserve that, since I’m the one who wanted her and had to really talk my husband into adding her into our household …. She is still cute, though. 🙂
Thing Three: We have Stephanie Pearl-McPhee coming for our Fall Fling Retreat (which is full), but we booked her a day early so we could invite everyone else to come hear her talk, too! She will be providing us all with an evening of fun at the Embassy Suites in Loveland on Wednesday, September 10th from 7-9 pm. Grab your knitting friends and come join us! Tickets available here.
We’re celebrating our Eighth Anniversary this month! We already shared this year’s Anniversary Kit with you in Monday’s post. (Still some available, but they are limited edition so when they’re gone, they won’t be back. I know some of you have collected all eight kits over the years!)
To further celebrate, we’ll be having Anniversary Contests in our next EIGHT blog posts! (Today, tomorrow, Friday, next week Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Labor Day Monday.) All you have to do to be entered is to leave a comment, answering our question for the day. We have lots of fun prizes that we’ll be sending out!
Today’s question: What is your favorite type of knitting needle: wooden, metal, or plastic?
Sheri whofavorsanyneedlethatisSHARP
depends on the yarn….. but never plastic!
I have been using the knitters pride a lot lately.
I really love my metal circular Hiya Hiya needles – with the 4 inch tips. I tried a bunch of different needles and kept having issues with my hands – it doesn’t help that I use a computer 5 days a week! And these needles worked the best. I also have a bunch of old metal straight needles that were my grandmothers and I keep them for sentimental reasons.
Absolutely wooden. They just seem more comfortable to me.
I am a big fan of wood but some wool needs the slipperiness of metal.
My favorite needles are bamboo for socks, metal for almost everything else. Sharp points are a must!
Wooden, they have a warm feel.
Wood, very definitely wood!!!
My favorite are wooden. Especially the Knitter’s Pride ones.
It’s a toss-up between wood or metal. I think it depends on the tips. The pointier the better. I am hooked on the new KnitPicks Caspian needles. I love the colors, warmth and pointy tips.
Thanks!
Betsy
P.s. – you need to make that kitty *tired* so that she’s not a maniac. I found that with my kitties, they love most to play with the stick toys-you know the stick with some string on the end and a crinkle ball or feathers or Pom poms, etc? The Cat Whisperer says to play with them until they are panting. Aerobic exercise it good for kitties, too, I guess. Laser pointers and flashlight play are really good, too. My cats still can’t resist a crinkled up piece of paper. I’ve gone thru many post-it note pads just for them. I’m careful that they none of them eat the paper, too. You can increase the attractiveness of any of these toys with a pinch of catnip if Lexi is hesitant to try any of them. Oh – and my cats have always played with one of those round plastic trays that have a cardboard center and a ball in a track around the edge. That’s a favorite spot for a pinch of catnip if they seem restless. They will go to town on that thing, taking turns, for quite a while.
I hope that helps!
Betsy in the overcast Seattle suburbs
Thanks so much, Betsy! We will definitely try to do a better job of tiring her out. I think that might be key.
My favoite needle is metal. I find that I like the feel of the stronger stainless steel needles, especially the smaller sizes because of their strength when knitting and their sharper points compared to bamboo and plastic.
Metal–I’m a Addi Turbo girl!
I don’t have a favorite. It depends on what type of yarn I’m using. If the yarn is really slippery, I’ll use wood/bamboo. Otherwise, I’ll use metal. It also depends on what I already own. I try to use what I have instead of buying more. I’m currently using a very old plastic set of circulars. I’ve never used plastic for a project, though I did learn using plastic straights. These circs were my grandmother’s. She gifted me all of her knitting supplies when her hands became too afflicted with arthritis to knit any longer. It’s nice to feel her presence while knitting with her needles.
I love bamboo for slippery yarn…but love my sharp point metals for most everything else!
sharp wood! Can’t do metal, it triggers migraine aura
I love hearing the click of my metal needles 🙂
They can be slippery but I love how slick they feel!
I prefer metal for most knitting projects!
Love my metal Hiya Hiya Sharps for most everything. My wooden DyakCraft Darn Pretties are a close second. Have never tried plastic needles.
Depends on the yarn, but I use mostly wooden needles. For socks I always use metal needles. Can’t believe it’s been eight years already! Congratulations, Sherri and crew.
wooden
My favorite type of needle is wood unless I’m knitting silk in which case I use metal.
As for Lexi, there are few things as unlimited as the energy of a kitten. The only hope you have is adopting a second kitten who will hopefully tire Lexi out with late night racing.
Metal for most everything, though I prefer bamboo (wood) for double point knitting.
Wood I think, for the most part, but a nice sharp metal set is nice too!
It depends on the yarn-wood or bamboo DPNs for socks, metal circs for everything else. I threw away the plastic ones from 40 years ago. Our cat is almost 15 and she still gets the cat crazies at 3:00 AM. It helps if you wear them out. Ours have always liked to chase the laser light.
Metal, or whatever space age composite that is, b/c I love the speed, the slickness, and I’ve had bamboo ones split on me in the midst of a project. I still have my mother’s old wooden needles (which belonged to HER mother) and use them once in awhile too.
Generally my favorite is wooden, but I worry a lot about breaking them when I’m commuting (they go in my backpack and can get squished). Wooden are not too slick, not too sticky. I do have all kinds, though, and use them all!
I am enjoying the carbons lately. Especially the double points for socks.
My favorite is metal. thanks
I love to knit with wood – warm and not too slick. But then, I started knitting with some lace weight and the only options was some metal lace points and I LIKE them. I depends on the project.
Thanks!
Wooden only. I don’t care for metal.
Eileen
WiscKnitter
My favorite needles have changed over time. I used to absolutely love the INOX teflon coated circular metal needles and would hunt them down. I then transitioned to double pointed birch needles when I started knitting socks. I then to circular interchangeable wood. I agree, since mostly what I knit right now is socks and lace, that whatever needle I use must be pointy and sharp. I have purchased the ChiaoGoo red lace needles and the Hiya Hiya steel sharp needles, but have not used them yet as I am so happy with my Knitters’ Pride needles.
I have really become addicted the the Hiya Hiya metal interchangeable a. Nice and sharp and I love the needle # on the side!
My favorite type of needle isn’t on the list – it’s carbon fiber. And I got my first set right here at TLE.
I really prefer metal and really do not like plastic. I have quite a few bamboo from my early days of knitting and use those when all my metals are in use.
metal circulars are my favorite type of needle… no matter what i’m knitting! happy 8th anniversary!! 🙂
metal circulars are my favorite no matter what i’m knitting! happy 8th anniversary!! 🙂
I love my Signature needles. I also use bamboo needles and carbon fiber needles depending on the project.
Mostly I use metal unless the yarn is slippery and I’m trying to do a circular cast on. Then it’s wood.
Wooden, easier on my hands
My favorite type are metal. I prefer addi sock rockets or addi turbo lace.
I prefer pointy metal needles most of the time. I still haven’t found the perfect wooden needle for me. I have been using Knitter’s Pride needles on some of my projects, and I do like them.
DEFINITELY metal! Because I’m a tight knitter, so I prefer sharp and slick, so metal works best. 🙂
I love wooden needles – especially my set of interchangeable needles.
Is bamboo considered wood? Then my answer is wood!
Happy Anniversary! I prefer metal needles!
Depends on the project, but I usually prefer metal.
My needle of choice is metal especially the Signature needles and Addi Turbo.
a toss between wood and metal..NOT Plastic ever.
I almost always use metal needles! As a tight knitter they are easiest for me.
My favorite knitting needle is a circular metal, 24 inches in length and then whatever size I need to make gauge for my project.
I use all three but, although I never thought I’d say it, I prefer metal. And sharp!