I think I am starting to crack - I recently realised all my 0-3 bamboo needles are chipped from knitting with cotton too vigorously - but first if anyone wants to indulge me I have a little questionnaire:
do you like your metal ones, or do you wish you’d bought hardwood? or plastic?
when you put them down for 5 seconds, does all the yarn slide right off?
anything else to say about them?
thanks!
i have a pair of size 2s in metal that i used on my first pair of socks. yes, they were a bit slippery, but as long as i turned my needles parallel when i put them down, i had no trouble with stitches falling off. i was pleased with them, and didn’t wish for anything else.
to be honest, i would still love a set of rosewood, but i don’t want to pay for them, so the metal works for me!
i have a pair of size 2s in metal that i used on my first pair of socks. yes, they were a bit slippery, but as long as i turned my needles parallel when i put them down, i had no trouble with stitches falling off. i was pleased with them, and didn’t wish for anything else.
to be honest, i would still love a set of rosewood, but i don’t want to pay for them, so the metal works for me!
Hi there! I have all kinds! I like my wooden needles because they aren’t so slippery, but as long as I put my work away carefully, it hasn’t slipped off the metal ones. I also have some little flexible plastic needles, I think made by addi, and they are terrific! Mostly what I like in dpns is short lengths. I hate long ones now! Not sure this is terrifically helpful, but good luck with whatever you choose. samm
I only have metal dpn’s … well I do have some Brittany birch little ones but I don’t like them as I find them too sticky. I knit tightly btw.
I like wood over metal but I’m currently knitting socks (and new at it) so the metal are too slippery for me.
I just ordered some Pone plastic needles. I’ve definitely decided I like shorter DPN’s (5-6#) for socks.
Happy knitting 
I use the Options ones and I like them MUCH better than the bamboo ones! The stitches really do slide off a lot easier so I don’t feel like I’m struggling like I did sometimes with the bamboo.
I love the Options since they are not only smooth but very pointy. Great for splitty yarn or lace patterns. I will use them instead of bamboo when the size is right. The Brittany birch ones kept breaking so I’ve given up on those.
I love metal and own no wooden DPNs, I’m sure I’d break them anyway! But I’m tight.
I recently got some much better aluminium metal needles which were far better than my more-slippery metal ones, they were still metal but not extra-slippery. Occasionally I have to pause in the middle of a needle to readjust the others I have let go of as they start to slide down the knitting. Try out a couple of sets with different finishes and see how you like them!
Sarah
I’ve only ever used metal needles of any kind, even my DNPs with socks, and I’ve never had a problem. I think I would prefer metal to wood regardless…
I’m knitting some worested weight cotton socks right now, and I have not had a stitch drop off once, even when I have to shove them in my bag. So, either I am a tight knitter (wouldn’t be surprised), or metal needles are perfect for cotton!
I’ve used Clover bamboo, Brittany birch, Colonial rosewood, Susan Bates aluminum, and Knit Picks nickel plated, and the nickel plated are my favorites, with the aluminum at #2. The bamboo have nice points and get a nice finish as you use them, but they’re too long. The Brittanys are a little too blunt for me, and the finish is too sticky, and they’re too short (5") – they poke me in the palms. The Colonial rosewood have some too sharp points and some regular sharp points, but they’re good for light-colored yarns. The aluminum is slightly tacky, but doesn’t really slow me down. The Knit Picks are juuussst rrright. Perfect length, perfect finish, perfect points. I don’t knit as tightly as I used to, but I’m still not a loose knitter – anyway, I don’t have a problem with the needles going anywhere unless I drop one when it only has one stitch on it or something.
thanks!
I bought them.
hopefully I’m safer than I think…
I just ordered metal dpn’s. I keep breaking the Bamboo 0’s when I’m knitting socks. I like my 0 Addi circulars and I’m making 2 socks on 2 circs right now, first time. I still prefer making socks on 5 dpns.
Patricia