Not too long ago, I needed to make a few swatches of worsted weight yarns. Size 8 US is my usual tool of choice for tasks like this. Although I’m not exactly suffering from a dearth of circular needles, I find the stitch consistency of the straights are key when gauge swatching. If you’re dealing with wool or similar fiber, in my opinion aluminum straights seal the deal.
Easy-peasy, right? Unzip needle case, remove my trusty old (as in, had them since childhood) blue size 8s and begin casting on. Except I hit a snag. Literally. Next comes the purple invective and not a little anger as I recall my needle being pressed into service as a plumbing implement by my family. The tip of one of the needles had been scraped against a pipe as my brother tried to retrieve a fallen gasket. Grrr.
Fast-forward to last week’s Knitter’s Review article on Signature Needles: colorful, customizable aluminum beauties that promised a sleek finish and a lifetime warranty. Momma wants.
These are size 8 US with the stiletto tip and a bell end cap. The needles are also available with either a middy or blunt tip, as well as two other styles of end caps.
I knit a sample with these babies this morning. Talk about your precision instruments. A little stockinette, a little garter plus a center panel of left and right decreases and yarnovers were no match for these smooth operators. Priced from $28 to $32, they’re most definitely spendy, but if straights are your thing I’d say these are worth the investment.
And the next time someone wants to use my tools for unintended purposes, you’d better believe they’ll get a resounding, “No Way!” from me.
How shocking! I would have been pretty ****ed off if anyone would have dared to do the same with my old aluminium (they were my mom’s)!! Your new needles, however, are a worthy replacement – I too saw the article on Knitter’s Review and made a mental earmark to get them at some stage. The price is higher than for some, but then with the favourable exchange it’s not too steep…and then they will last forever! Happy knitting!
Those needles just look good all by themselves. Are they heavy? It’s incredible, that there is always something new out there, a knitter wants/must have! :o)
Gorgeous tools!
Nothing like some *stiletto* to bring it…
Those are beautiful needles. I’m glad to hear a review of them. I may want to check those out!
I hope your brother bought those for you ;-> They might have me if they included all the tips and ends in the package . . . variety is the spice, eh?
Boy, knitting tools get no respect from others. My family always ask to borrow a needle. I have learned to ask “what for?” before giving it up. No way would I give up one of those beauties.
Plumbers don’t use knitting needles to plumb and neither should any of us.
I do like the replacements though. I’ve oggled those needles for a while. I don’t use straight needles though. They get in the way when knitting on the bus.
Ack! I can’t believe they’d use a precious knitting needle for plumbing. They would have been in big trouble at this household, and the perp would have bought those fancy new needles for me out of his own pocket. Gorgeous needles, those, btw.
Oh my gosh. I was reading along and when I scrolled down to the pic I literally gasped! They are so exquisite!
I like straights for scarves, especially lace ones. But not bus scarves, which usually aren’t lace anyway.
those are some gorgeous needles. i use circular, and am very tempted to just buy them in order to hold them!
Momma knows best! Those are some gorgeous knitting needles.
Beautiful tools, even though straights are not my preference. Enjoy them. Maybe they’ll jump start the knitting for you.
You can do the job without the right tool – beautiful needles!
Those needles really look like a work of art – and I always use circulars. Beautiful.
those needles deserve a “jazz hands” introduction! 😉
Those needles are so sexy! 🙂
I guess that these are like Addis for the people who do not do circulars
Are we clones or something? I didn’t buy mine last week, but mine are size 7s……
mmmm, yummy and shiney. I don’t tend to use straight needles as I had a bad experience a few year’s ago with them but I guess aluminium ones are pretty light, right?
really purty… the points on those babies look good to me… I guess I will have to try them…Thanks for sharing
Beautiful !!! Also, stop by my blog. You were one of my main inspirations to getting back into crocheting. Thanks !!!
What Mamma wants, Mamma must have !!! What beautiful knitting weapons !!!
Mmmmm, plus, they’re purdy! Thanks for the review!