Searching for Needle Nirvana
There has been much written of late about the pros and cons of Knit Picks' new needle line. Meanwhile, burbling in the background, is the battle over the hard-to-find hardwoods.
Holz & Stein (3.25 mm) and Colonial Needles (3.5 mm)
I have personally received close to a half-dozen emails from folks searching high and low for Holz & Steins. These much sought after needles are produced in small batches of recycled ebony and rosewood from musical instruments, and are always on backorder -- sometimes for years. I have only been able to locate three sources on the Internet in the past 15 months. While there is absolutely no guarantee that they're still available, here's what I've found:
You can try Catherine Knits. If you click on Knitting Needles, the first up is Noble Needles aka Holz & Stein. You cannot order online. You'll have to email or call Catherine to see if she has any more in stock.
There is a place in Germany, http://www.stricknadeln.dasstrickforum.de/ . Don't know if you read German, but the site owner, Suzanne, speaks English if you email her SchulzeWettendorf@t-online.de).
The third place is Velona Needlecraft, though I can't find any mention of the needles on their website anymore.
I recently found a pair on Etsy that were going for $50. No, I didn't spend that much but they are hard to come by. She also doesn't have the needle size variety I found last year.
Fairly new on the high-end hardwood circular scene are Colonial Needles. These Indian rosewood needles are highly polished, with brass joins and flexible "coiless" cables. Though usually on backorder as well, these arrive in weeks instead of months or years. Mine came in the mail earlier this week.
Knitting with the Holz & Stein is wonderful, as it seems that the lightweight needles don't really come between your hands and the yarn. Yes, the "lift and separate" capability of the tapered points is nice, too -- even in the larger sizes.
While I've yet to knit with the Colonials, I suspect that there will be a slight difference in how they handle (quite likely because of the weight) with these needles having additional hardware and thicker cabling than the Holz & Stein. That aside, the Colonials may have the advantage in their coiless cable and their relative availability. Time (and knitting) will tell.
(Updated to add) So, what's your favorite woody circ and why?
Holz & Stein (3.25 mm) and Colonial Needles (3.5 mm)I have personally received close to a half-dozen emails from folks searching high and low for Holz & Steins. These much sought after needles are produced in small batches of recycled ebony and rosewood from musical instruments, and are always on backorder -- sometimes for years. I have only been able to locate three sources on the Internet in the past 15 months. While there is absolutely no guarantee that they're still available, here's what I've found:
You can try Catherine Knits. If you click on Knitting Needles, the first up is Noble Needles aka Holz & Stein. You cannot order online. You'll have to email or call Catherine to see if she has any more in stock.
There is a place in Germany, http://www.stricknadeln
The third place is Velona Needlecraft, though I can't find any mention of the needles on their website anymore.
I recently found a pair on Etsy that were going for $50. No, I didn't spend that much but they are hard to come by. She also doesn't have the needle size variety I found last year.
Fairly new on the high-end hardwood circular scene are Colonial Needles. These Indian rosewood needles are highly polished, with brass joins and flexible "coiless" cables. Though usually on backorder as well, these arrive in weeks instead of months or years. Mine came in the mail earlier this week.
Knitting with the Holz & Stein is wonderful, as it seems that the lightweight needles don't really come between your hands and the yarn. Yes, the "lift and separate" capability of the tapered points is nice, too -- even in the larger sizes.
While I've yet to knit with the Colonials, I suspect that there will be a slight difference in how they handle (quite likely because of the weight) with these needles having additional hardware and thicker cabling than the Holz & Stein. That aside, the Colonials may have the advantage in their coiless cable and their relative availability. Time (and knitting) will tell.
(Updated to add) So, what's your favorite woody circ and why?
posted by La Cabeza Grande at 7/29/2006 02:34:00 PM
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3 Comments:
I am mad crazy in love with my ebony needles from Susanne's. I bought them from Judy at theknitter.com. They took maybe a month to come in. So smooth and tasty, my circs have a brass join but it has never, ever snagged anything.
lantern moon are doing circs now. i haven't tried them yet but do like the rosewood dpns i bought.
FYI_ Verona does still carry a few H&S needles - I dropped and they have them in a box in the back office. Mostly only larger sizes when I was there in July and evidently what they get is potluck... the owner recommended calling or emailing with a variety of sizes and they'd do the best they could. They also have Suzanne ebonys in stock on the wall.
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