Just curious as to what other knitters use, or if you have a preference? I personally prefer aluminium needles...but i really dont want to...i think bamboo needles look lovely (both on your work and in books) i've tried knitting with bamboo ones and they're fine and everything (well except for the fact mine have got a little nick near the end of the needle..on both :o stupid manufacturers) but i seem to be able to knit quicker on aluminium ones, i suppose because your work slides easier.

I started off using the aluminium needles, but I found that they were far too slippy, especially when knitting lacey patterns which have a lot of slipped stitches etc. I also think they're a bit heavy and cold. I suppose the one advantage is that they're a bit cheaper than the alternatives, which is the main reason I started off using them.

My choice is bamboo needles too, though I agree with your point about some of them having a little chip or nick at the tips. This seems to be especially the case with the really fine bamboo needles. I mostly use a set of 2.5 mm bamboo needles for knitting socks, and the last set were dreadful. I had to send them back, as they kept catching and snagging the wool. I guess it's to do with the structure of the bamboo.

I have found that going for the more expensive bamboo needles does make a difference, at least if you need to buy the really fine ones. I'm in the middle of getting all the recommendations for various links together at the minute, and I'm sure I've got one to a good source of high quality bamboo needles. I'll dig it out.

Bamboo if I knit with metals ones now my fingers tingle after a while and I have to stop. The only trouble is my needles always bend so it can be difficult measuring.

Following on try a fine piece of sandpaper and gentle rub the tips .

Hello All, I'm so happy I've found this group! :)
I used to use aluminium because that's what I learnt on as a child and I inherited knitting needles from my gran so when I picked up the knitting again about 5 years ago I used those. Then about 2 years ago I decided to try the bamboo needles as I'd heard great things about them and I haven't looked back since. I even tried to go back to aluminum a couple of months ago and just couldn't get used to them again. I love my bamboo needles and am a total convert now! :hihi:

Hello All, I'm so happy I've found this group! :)
I used to use aluminium because that's what I learnt on as a child and I inherited knitting needles from my gran so when I picked up the knitting again about 5 years ago I used those. Then about 2 years ago I decided to try the bamboo needles as I'd heard great things about them and I haven't looked back since. I even tried to go back to aluminum a couple of months ago and just couldn't get used to them again. I love my bamboo needles and am a total convert now! :hihi:
Welcome to the group sazzat! I did exactly the same thing with my aluminium needles. I have a stash of them and it pains me to see them sitting there unused. I tried casting on a few stitches - dreadful! they were sliding everywhere. I suppose I'd get back into using them if I persevered, but the bamboo needles are so much nicer. I'm considering giving mine away, as I'll probably never go back to them now I've discovered bamboo.

On a related note, have you ever tried using a thickish set of four or five aluminium needles for knitting in the round? I have a set of 4 mm ones I used to make a hat a while back. I dug them out a few days ago and couldn't believe I'd managed to use them, they were so heavy!

I eventually bit the bullet and took loads of my aluminium needles to the local charity shop! Part of me wanted to keep them but I know I'll never use them again.
And no, I've never tried that with the needles. They are too heavy to use though although sometimes I find the bamboo ones too light! My hands seem to cramp up more with those than they used to with the aluminum or maybe It's just because I just knit more now!!!! Probably!

I still prefer aluminium - does that make me weird? ;)

I still prefer aluminium - does that make me weird? ;)

Each to their own Moonfire. Wood is nice. Wood is good. Try it out. You know you should. :hihi::hihi::hihi:

I think aluminium does the job just as good as ever, but my set of knit pro is fab too. Aluminium is cheaper.

Bamboo (or wood) every time! I do have some aluminium straights which I use very occasionally, and circulars which I use less occasionally, but I prefer the feel of bamboo; it's warmer and more comfortable to use.
Plus when I'm knitting in the round I don't drop as many stitches :D aluminium is far too slippery!!

I don't mind either but as a tight knitter I think my tension is a little better on the bamboo needles.

For straight knitting it is generally aluminium though if its a particularly slippy yarn I like bamboo. Hated Brittany Birches. I love my Knitpicks interchangables with metal ends (whatever they call them now) and still like Addi turbos but the ends are a little blunt to be honest. I also like Knitpicks Harmony either circulars or dpns for socks.

I have real problems when using aluminium needles, so bad so that I ended up with tendonitis (sp?)

I know have a starter pack knitpro needles - all wood ones - and can knit as much as I want. The same goes for another pair of wooden needles. So my collection of wooden needles will grow in the future.

Sounds like I need to get meself some more bamboos! At present I find them a bit disconcertingly light, but I suppose it's whatever you're used to.

Speaking of knitting injuries - this happens to me less now, but I used to find that the tip of my left index finger got really really sore after knitting for a while. This was/is at least in part due to my clumsy way of knitting and the fact that my tension was a little on the tight side so I had to push the end of the needle, but I'm wondering if I can blame my needles?! Or am I just clutching at straws?

Mine is usually the same thing by pricking my finger with the tip of it when I'm moving the wool down the needle, I guess it's just practice where you learn all about tension - I think I'm still learning :)

I'm a bamboo convert. I used them when myhands were particularly arthritic and I am all clear now. I recommend them to anyone with problems with their hands. My mum didn't think she'd be a ble to knit again as her fingers were twisting with arthritis, she's a mad knitter onher bamboos and her fingers have straightend.
Fabulous. i do thing if you enjoy the metal ones, use them. each to their own. Knitting is tactile from the needles to the yarn.

Rosewood ................. nothing like them.