steel or bamboo?

Darby · 03-16-2011, 01:28 AM

Which do you like better - steel needles or bamboo?

Jan in CA · 03-16-2011, 02:52 AM

I prefer nickel plated which is metal I guess. I do use bamboo for DPN though. Try them both and see what works for you.

crazykntter83 · 03-16-2011, 03:03 AM

I haven't tried bamboo yet. But I love my nickel plated needles, which I suppose would qualify as steel. I probably should try some different types of needles, now that I think of it.

Mazie · 03-16-2011, 11:32 AM

Both -- it depends on what I'm knitting. Metal for most things and Bamboo for socks.

ZoeS · 03-16-2011, 01:05 PM

I've tried all sorts of needles and my favourite is metal. I won't know with anything else now (well, I suppose if I were in an apocalypse situation, I would).

fatoldladyinpjs · 03-16-2011, 07:10 PM

I have a set of Harmony wood interchangeable needles and don't know how I ever got along without them. Clover bamboo needles are good, too, but I've gotten spoiled on the Knitpicks pointy tips. It makes knitting so much faster. I think I read somewhere that you can't take metal knitting needles on a plane but you can take wood and acrylic ones.

TEMA · 03-16-2011, 10:05 PM

I have nickel plated in my circulars. My dpns are metal, I guess... the grey things...
But the needles that I really love are my plastic and colourful straights... size 7 and short. Long needles get in my way; the short ones don't and I seem to be able to knit faster and purling is not a pain.

What I love about the nickel plated ones is the sound they make as I knit... so soothing and solid...
TEMA

Wanda Witch · 03-16-2011, 11:13 PM

Love my nickel-plated KnitPicks and also their Harmony needles. I have not tried bamboo as I am so satisfied with the sharp points on the KnitPick needles I don't see a reason to change, at least not at the time being. I suppose it is whatever feels best for the project at hand.

Ellieblue · 03-17-2011, 12:06 PM

I too like my metal Knitpicks. I tried one bamboo circular and found that the tips lose their tapered point. I tried to sharpen the points with a pencil sharpener - big mistake - it just splintered.

ArtLady1981 · 03-18-2011, 10:04 AM

I prefer nickel plated needles such as Addi. I always go for metal first.

If my project dictates the use of a wood needle, I go for KnitPicks "Harmony".
They're wood, but not bamboo.

The best bamboo I've ever used is Crystal Palace. They're wonderful.
However, most times they aren't pointy enough for me.