Wondering what everyones favorite needles are. I’m looking for something pointy but not too slick. Im fairly new to knitting and have trouble when doing M1L and trying to pick up the stitches. I have bamboo and stainless ChiaoGoo. Thank you all in advance
Every knitter has a preference. I have HiyaHiya interchangeable needle sets which I love.
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Do you have difficulty with the M1L regardless of the type of yarn you’re using? I find certain yarns really quite tricky to do certain maneuvers with and it’s not the needles but the yarn causing the difficulty.
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Maybe the lace points available in some needles will help because of the sharper points.
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I find M1L to just be awkward, regardless of yarn or needles. I’ve switched to doing lifted increases instead.
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Hi Cynkel, sorry this isn’t actually a needle suggestion but a M1L and M1R suggestion. Although there are many ways to do increases, I usually use a M1L and M1R for general increases. But, what I do to work them, is on the row/round before is do a YO (for a M1L) or BYO for a M1R where the increase is to go on the next row/round. This simply elongates the “strand” you’d ordinarily pick up when you come to it. Have a go with a swatch, when you get to the YO, just drop it (obviously, not when you’re knitting your pattern but just to see what you’ve created the row before, a nice, longer easier strand to work) - it doesn’t even matter if you get the YO and BYO the wrong way, just drop it, and go in front of back and then work the L or R increase. I much prefer this because if you’re working M1L and R’s without the YO/BYO’s, it tends to pull the fabric up a bit and contract the line. Needles, well, all my needles are KnitPro, metal, pointy. They’re all circular too, even for flat knitting. You play and decide, everyone’s different
Happy knitting
Sarah x
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This video has a great comparison of the M1 increase and the YO increase @Doubleknitmadness describes. In it there is a comparison of the same increase method with 3 different types of needle and another comparison of the 3 increase methods shown all done with the same needle.
I also really like the YO increase in place of the M1 increase, it’s easier to work the stitch with the extra yarn in place and roxanne richardon shows a great way to remember which way the yarn should be brought around the needle depending if it’s to be left or right leaning.
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It’s also worth noting when doing the YO/BYO to use use the least yarn possible (or at least be consistent-full wrap or half wrap over/around the needle) on the previous row/round. I usually use the least yarn possible to close the hole. So, say, a YO required for a M1L on the next row, say, between 2 purl stitches, I’d do a BYO then flip it next row and work the M1L. Not even sure if I’m wrong here, but if I don’t do it, the stitch is a bit loose compared to the mirrored increase. Gosh, sorry, bit long winded 
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It’s all very helpful experience that you’re sharing. I think my knitting is quite messy compared to most (which I don’t really mind, it’s the relaxed look! ) but I get a bit fussy over increases and little details so it’s always good to know how to improve the look.
Rox give the BEST explanations, and her videos are always so clear and detailed. Sometimes more detailed than I want, if I’m in the middle of something and itching to just get on with it, but always informative.
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