Whats Better???

shaylen12 · 01-11-2010, 05:09 PM

Bamboo Needles or Metal??I have the metal ones right now and some Bamboo ones coming....which do you like best and do i need to do anything to the bamboo ones before i use them?

I'm new at the needle thing...when i first started knitting about a year ago i just went down and bought the cheap ones but now im told that the bamboo is better and easier to use.

Whats you opinion!!

Crycket · 01-11-2010, 10:12 PM

It is all preference...

But mine is actually my harmony wood ones right now.

I haven't enjoyed bamboo cause it seems every set I have owned has ended up catching the yarn at the tip at one period or another...

I do like metal, but it is nothing but nickel plated for me! no going back to Susan Bates...and NEVER boye!!!

suzeeq · 01-11-2010, 10:29 PM

It depends on the yarn and the individual knitter. Some people hate bamboo and wouldn't use them, others love it and wouldn't use anything else. Stickier yarns do bettern on metal, slick yarns are better on wood. Thin yarns like laceweight and sock are probably better on wood. Get a pair of inexpensive bamboo and try them out.

gotta knit · 01-11-2010, 10:46 PM

There is no better, it's totally a personal preference sort of thing.

I had used metal & plastic before, preferred whichever had the pointiest tips (meaning it changed in different situations). When I bought my first bamboo needles (a circular for socks & some dpns), I wasn't sure what to expect. Ended up loving them. I'm sure it didn't hurt that they were really pointy! Found they didn't slide quite as easily, but they didn't grab either.

Be careful though, esp if you get them in small sizes. I bent a dpn with use and a tip of my circs got broken in my bag.

AngelaR · 01-11-2010, 11:13 PM

It is totally personal preference. I love Susan Bates Quicksilver needles so much I just ordered some circs to do a sweater for my husband. The aluminum needles are fine, and I use them quite a bit. I tried bamboo, but had it catching so much fiber that I chunked them in the trash. I know of folks who won't knit with anything BUT bamboo or wooden needles. I like the slidey feel of the Quicksilver needles, others like the more stable feel of wooden or bamboo. It's just like yarn, you like what you like, and not everyone will agree with you.

Mike · 01-12-2010, 01:19 AM

Bamboo is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me, but in a bad way because I actually like fingernails on a chalkboard, can't stand the bamboo scraping together.

traceleighj · 01-12-2010, 01:52 AM

I would totally agree that it is all about preference. I have both wood- bamboo and hamony and also metal options. I use certain ones for certain projects. If the yarn is really slippery or I am knitting lace, I prefer bamboo. My Norwegian sweater used wool and that was sticky so I used metal to help me go faster. Try some of each type and use what you like!

ArtLady1981 · 01-12-2010, 01:53 AM

For a new knitter: bamboo

suzeeq · 01-12-2010, 02:19 AM

Quote:

For a new knitter: bamboo

I disagree. A lot of new knitters tend to knit tight and bamboo makes it that much harder to move the sts. Again, the right answer is - it depends.

ArtLady1981 · 01-12-2010, 02:35 AM

Originally Posted by suzeeq

I disagree. A lot of new knitters tend to knit tight and bamboo makes it that much harder to move the sts. Again, the right answer is - it depends.

Must disagree with your 'disagree'.

Teach the new knitter to cast on with a larger needle, and then knit the first row with the smaller, gauge needle (bamboo). In my experience, a tight cast-on row is a 'lead-in' or 'set-up' for tight knitting. This can be avoided by the teacher's recommendation. Tight cast-on's are the first thing I watch for, and immediately correct. I teach & emphasize that their needle should always be able to slide back and forth through the stitches on them. Tight knitting can be an impossible strain, and very discouraging.

So, I still maintain that given the two choices she asked about, metal or bamboo, bamboo is best. When I'm teaching a new knitter, I'm called on to make a recommendation to her. I can't tell her 'it depends'. Bamboo will give ultimately give her more control, and fewer dropped stitches. If she has the budget, I would recommend Harmony's. If not, JoAnn's has inexpensive bamboo for a learner.

I think the 'right answer' is a decision.