My JoAnn order arrived today and in it were my Sock-Ease yarn and size 0 ChiaoGoo Red 40" circular needles. I’ve been wanting to add a size 0 circ to an order that has free shipping (yeah, I’m cheap!) They’re rather different than other needles I’ve used. The cable is a bit thicker than Knit Picks Options cable but it is extremely flexible. It’s actually nylon coated steel. The tips are stainless steel and have enough taper that I’m comfortable with them. They’re “ergonomically designed to ease hand fatigue” which means they’re bent. I’m not sure if I like that but I’ll decide soon. I’m using them with right now with my Lollipop color Sock-Ease. I’ve found that Sock-Ease can be a little splitty but it’s not seeming to be much of a problem so far and knitting the first round of 2@a time toe up socks was pretty easy. I don’t think shorter than 40" would work for 2@a time socks. Has anyone else used these needles? Do you like needles that are “ergonomically designed to ease hand fatigue?” I think I want to try the ChiaGoo Lace needles also.
I don’t own those,…yet. :teehee: I have a couple friends who do on occasion. One of them loved them for the socks we were knitting, one didn’t although she liked them for some other things. It seems dependent on the yarn to some degree for some people. I’m loving my Hiya Hiya, btw.
I haven’t tried these yet, either but I have tried other bent needles. I really can’t detect a difference between the straight and the bent needles on circulars. I’ll be interested in what you think. Less tiring on the hands?
I have several of these needles. I got them when I started knitting again a couple of years ago. I liked them at the time, but then got hooked on Addi’s and when I went back to the ChiaoGoo needles for something I was working on the yarn didn’t seem to slide on the needles as easily as the Addi’s. I know they are much cheaper than the Addi’s and that’s why I started with them. I do like the bend at the cable. I also have a pair of old nylon circular needles that are bent and also like working with those.
I will also say that I like the less slippery needles for casting on as I still use the knit cast on. I know it takes longer, but can’t quite get the hang of long tail cast on:teehee:
Glad to hear you got your yarn and needles (I’m still waiting for mine to be [B][U]sent[/U][/B] from WEBS and I ordered it last weekend). I’ve not even heard of the needles you mentioned, but I’ll certainly note them down as an option. Of course, with the needles I should hopefully maybe someday in the not-to-distant future get from Webs, I’ll have about three different kinds of needles in all sizes! Do I really need more? (That’s a rhetorical question!)
Speaking of ergonomics, have you tried the Cubics needles from WEBS–the square ones? They’re “supposed” to cut down on hand fatigue, too. I can’t tell that they help one iota with fatigue, but I do love their squarishness, and they’re nice and slippery. And most importantly, they’re square!!–something that’s really appealing to someone with a box fetish (it’s also nice for those of us who are certifiably insane).
Jan, I still want to try the Hiya Hiyas, I will too, it’s a matter of them being part of another order. I had never seen the ChiaoGoos before, watched a review on youtube and decided to try them.
salmonmac, after it all seeming very awkward at first with the first rounds of stitches on my socks, I think I like the bent needles. These seem really long, I don’t know if that is perception or reality, I’ll have to do some measuring and comparing. One nice thing, when the stitches are pushed back on the cable they don’t slide off as easily when I don’t want them to.
ABC’s Mom, I have one set of Addis fixed circs…I don’t like them. They seem very blunt and the cable is kinky. The most expensive needles I own and I don’t like them. I guess every person has a different experience. I’m glad you are happy with yours. These aren’t as slippery as say the KP Options NPs but that’s not too bad for me with sock yarn. I am clumsy enough that I loose the stitches off the needles very easily.
Antares, may your order arrive soon! Mine actually got here faster than I expected. I have a set of sz. 3 Cubics and they are OK. I think I prefer round needles, the stitches seem to hang on the square needle but maybe it’s because I knit sort of tight. Dunno. Also on the set I have the join could be smoother. Still, they are quite usable and I don’t intend to get rid of them. Certifiably insane? Are you talking about me? LOL I guess we can share that?
These have the smoothest join of any circs I’ve used. The cable is taking some getting used to but it wasn’t all curled up right out of the pkg and the fact that it is thicker is balanced by it’s being easy to deal with the loops on ML. It just doesn’t twist around and get in my way as much. These are my first sz 0 needles and I’m wanting smaller ones…I think sz 00 needles are out there, I’ll have to get them. I cannot work with fine yarns in crochet even after all the years I crocheted because my fingers just won’t cooperate; knitting with thread is a different matter. I love looking at those itsy bitsy teeny weeny stitches that [I]I made![/I]
So I think I will buy more of these needles…when they’re part of an order with free shipping.
I solved the bluntness of the regular Addi’s by getting the lace version the last time I bought them. I wanted something a little sharper as had to go into the back of the second stitch for a twist left pattern and thought it would be a little difficult to do without splitting the yarn with the regular Addi’s. They worked great!! Will probably get the lace version for any other sizes I need.
I like Addi’s, but I only buy them if I’m in the yarn store for social knitting and I don’t have what I need. They not only aren’t sharp enough they are too expensive for me regardless of what type I get.
I love my Knit Picks NP and the Hiya Hiya. Hiya Hiya has a lovely join and flexible cable. Plenty sharp and reasonably priced.
I love my KP Sunstruck needles. They are wonderful and I feel very indulged when I use them, I feel they are a real luxury. I’ve decided I’m a knitting needle junkie, I want them all!
I have a friend who has full sets of so many types including Signature circs, ChiaGoo, Hiya Hiya, KP, etc. and now she’s bought a few of the new carbon fiber needles (not Webs brand) to test. I think she’s made of money. :lol:
I have a few of the Sunstruck and a few of the Harmony and like them a lot. I prefer the plain ones, but I bought the few Harmony a few years ago. I’m using them now for the hats I’ve been making on Encore. Lovely!
Unlike your friend, I can’t have them all so I will enjoy the ones I have. I think it’s great that there are different needles so we each can use the best we can get for our individual knitting styles.
Agreed! I can’t possibly afford them either and to be honest if I’m happy with something I don’t [I]usually[/I] feel the need to try something else just for the sake of trying it. I was happy with my KPs, but I did need another set of fixed circs for the socks and since they were close in price I did give the Hiya Hiya a try. :teehee:
Yeah, I’ve spent way too much on needles already but do need the small size circs, hence ordering them as I order other things and getting free shipping. I look for discount codes too.
I think she’s made of money. :lol: