What would you say are the best needles (budget friendly of course). I just bought some at hobby lobby and they are already bending. I like doing finer work plastic needles don’t slide as well so I really don’t like those. I’ve only been knitting for a couple of months.
Best knitting needles?
I think everyone has a favorite needle or two, depending on the type of knitting. Overall, I like Addi Turbo circulars. They’ve lasted, been free of defects and have a nice flexible cable with a smooth join.
I like Clovers but they’re grabbier, and also Boye and Bates metal needles because they have sharper tips. Knit picks are great too.
My most used needles are Knit Picks Options Sunstruck and I got them when they were 20% off, still a fairly large outlay for me but I’d been saving up and got them a little sooner than I expected. I have aluminum dpns, don’t know the brand(s) probably Boye and a set of bamboo dpns and again it was whatever brand was at the store that day. I have some fixed circs I got from Lion Brand but mostly they’ve never been used, maybe someday. I decided fairly early on that interchangables were going to be less spendy in the long run because I wouldn’t need to buy a different fixed circ in each length that I needed and because the tips can be removed and a project left on the cable I didn’t need to get multiple sets of the same size. Geeze, I know I have others, I gotta quit buying needles!
I’m a huge fan of Denise … though the ones I bought do have sizes missing occasionally. See SHOP, here, to buy them. I love them.
I like Bamboo and I have straights and circulars …Love them!
Oh you’ve really opened up a can of worms here. Everybody’s got a fave, and most of us have very compelling reasons why they like them.
Since I learned from a pro, I got to try several different brands before I bought any of my own. The first ones I bought myself were Clover bamboo circulars, which I like but in the larger sizes (US 10 or larger) the cables tend to be a little stiff and if they’re stored for any length of time at all, it takes them a while (or a bath in hot water) to unkink. But all of my DPNs are made by them, except for one set of Crystal Palace US 8s that I didn’t buy for myself.
I’ve used Addi circulars, and they’re nice enough (the stainless steel ones at least). I like the long “back” where the join is for Magic Loop because it makes it easier to get the needle into the stitches backwards when you’re changing sides. But they tend to be rather dear in the pricing department. I’ve also heard from the folks at the yarn store that some of them (I’m not sure which ones) “turn green”, which I’m guessing is caused by oxidation of the nickel plating. Can’t confirm or deny this since I’ve only used the stainless and didn’t have any such problem myself. Also, I’ve heard people who use their interchangeable sets complain that the tips can unscrew without warning. Again, can’t confirm or deny, just repeating what other people have said.
My “go to needles” though are Hiya Hiya stainless steel circs. The cables are limber (up to a US 11 anyway… I don’t have any bigger than that) the joins are smooth, there’s no plating or anodizing to wear off, they’re durable and despite being steel, very lightweight. Plus you can get them in a HUGE selection of sizes and lengths from US 00000000 to US 15 in lengths from 9" to 60" And they cost less than the Addis too. I haven’t tried their interchangeables but reviews suggest that they’re equal to or better than most.
My girlfriend is a huge fan of Knitters Pride Dreamz (I think that’s the name). She got their interchangeable sets (both the base and the “bulky”) and swears by them. I have some 10.5s made by them that I just got and have no complaint with them (except that the 10.5s have a dark finish and I’m working in a dark, multi-tonal yarn). They’re also color coded by size, and made of hardwood (rosewood?) so they’re smoother than bamboo and less prone to get scratched up or gouged.
I’ve also got an ancient interchangeable set (antique actually) made by Boye that is… well, there’s one cable in the set that I can actually use, the rest of them make great stitch holders. I use the tips for binding off sometimes, but for the most part they’re just collectibles that somebody gave me.
I’ve used plastic needles, but in general I don’t like them much and I couldn’t tell you who made them anyway. But in smaller sizes – especially with straight needles – they flex too much for my liking. Larger sizes don’t have this problem – usually.
But as for the “best” needles? You’ll get as many answers to that question as there are replies to this post.
I could tell MY favorites and least favorites, but as you can see there is no one best needle. Personal preference plays a huge role in needle selection and the best way to learn this is through experience.
At a few online stores you can get small sampler sets which is a great way to test.
http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/TRY_IT_Needle_Set__D90589.html
http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-needles-circulars/knitters-pride-new-comby-interchangable-sampler-set-with-cubics/
Most knitters end up preferring circulars because you can knit flat and in the round with them.
Personal preference plays a huge role in needle selection and the best way to learn this is through experience.
Those sample sets are great. I found that I detest :gah: acrylic needles that way. Others, I’m sure, love them.
I like the acrylic ones, however, on my current project, I’m finding the tips too sharp. I have my eye on a couple of the bamboo circs from eneedles.com. I like clovers for bamboo, but they don’t come in 7mm or size 17s.
eneedles.com doesn’t work, suzeeq. :gah: Not fair, how can I drool endlessly if I can’t get there? Be a nice co-dependent and give us a link, please. 
Gee, I even saw a banner ad for them here the other day, maybe there’s a hyphen in the name, let me check…
Oh here we go - http://www.eknittingneedles.com
Their shipping is $5 for an order of $15 or less - today there’s free shipping over $15!! And it was the size 16/12mm I was looking at. A 17 is 12.75mm, but that’s close enough…
Oh, they have Clover circs in small sizes and long lengths. I might have to order them. For free shipping, I’d have to get 2. Tsk tsk.
I’m looking at eneedles.com. Do you need a code for the free shipping? I don’t see anything about it.
Some of my pet needles are Susan Bates circulars that I got off Ebay in a big ole grab bag of circulars. In particular, those satiny Susan Bates with the white cable. I love 'em.
Yes, I admit…I have the entire lineup of other circs obsessively collected over years…ranging from KnitPicks Options right on up to Signature Needle circs…I won’t bother you with the entire list.
But if you want good circs at a really inexpensive price point…give Ebay a try! I love those old vintage circs!