Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

I am new to knitting with DPNs. However, on my first project I found I liked it far more than knitting with standard needles or with circular needles (my least favorite). I also found I much preferred wood to steel tips. I very much liked the lightweight feel and how the project could stand up under their weight allowing me to see the shape of my project as I continued to work it. Now, I am interested in purchasing a lot of DPNs. I have some HiyaHiyas in several sizes, which are nice, but are too flexible for my taste. I also have a set of Crystal Palace, which I love. However, I was looking online and saw the Addi in different colors, which I think would be great for keeping track of where you are while working a project.

Given that my experimentation with DPNs has been limited, I am curious what people with experience would recommend for a knitter who likes using wood DPNs. What has been your experience and what has been your preference in this category?

 -  Jeanne the new DPN-er

 

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Comments

[Sue]

I would recommend Clover DPN’s. Personally I try to stay away from my DPN’s. I always end up feeling like I have been handling a hedgehog after using them.

[Linda Furtaw]

I love DPN and wooden needles. I recommend Clover. I find them easy on my hands. I tried Addi and found them to be hard on my hands. If you like Clover stick with them. Everyone has different taste.

[Kathy]

I really like knitters pride wooden cubic needles. They are light and the stitches stay on the needles better for me.

[Nicole]

Stick with the Crystal Palace—I think they’re superb (and hard to find!)

[Renee Anne]

DPNs are not my jam. However, I have accepted that there are times I need to use them. With that said, I can't do wood/bamboo needles in smaller sizes as I apparently snap them (as evidenced by those DPN sets that have missing DPNs). I have the full set of Signature DPNs (both sizes) and they work for me but they're metal. For wood/bamboo, I would go with Clover but that's my personal choice. Almost all my non-Signature DPNs are Clover. I tried the Kollage Square DPNs and hated them. They hurt my hands. I've also got the Addi FlexiFlips in a couple sizes (I'm not sold on them yet).

[Christina Smith]

Knitters pride karbonz might be a good option

[Megan]

I much prefer wooden needles— most of mine are Brittany birch needles, Lykke, and some Knit Picks. I use circulars more than DPNs but I know Brittany makes wood DPNs in a wide range of sizes and lengths. They have. 5 year warranty as well, though I’ve yet to break any of mine.

If you have a good LYS near you, ask if they’ll let you “test drive” some needles by knitting a small swatch in store. That way you could see if you like the feel of the Addis, Flexflips, or any other options.

[Lisa Smith]

Wooden DPN's are by far my most favorite way to knit socks. I like the Knitter's Pride Cubics. I have tried others and always go back to these.

[Ann]

Knitters's Pride Cubics are my choice.

[Cathy S]

Knitters pride mar on eventually snag

[Donna]

I would highly recommend the Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNs. The have the slight drag of wood but are slightly more flexible which makes them not only kinder to your wrists & forearms but also less likely to break. I think they’re slightly lighter weight than wood. Clover Takumi bamboo DPNs are a less expensive, more widely available alternative to Crystal Palace. Joann’s carries them & has 25% off sales several times a year. (Bamboo DPNs are my favorites.)

[Donna]

Since a couple of people have mentioned the Addition Flexi-Flips, I’ll add my 2¢. I bought some a couple of years ago & then just put them aside & never used them until this summer. I took them along on a train trip to visit my daughter. At first I absolutely hated them. Using them felt like wrestling an eel. But after awhile, as I grew more adept at using them, I began to really like them. I think I still prefer bamboo DPNs especially since the FlexiFlips are ridiculously expensive (~$25 for the metal & $32 for bamboo vs $9-15 for Clover Takumi bamboo DPNs). But I think the construction of the metal DPNs with the short cable makes their affect in your wrists & firearms similar to bamboo.

[Jessica]

I like cubic dpns. I have an unusual situation: about four years ago, I had numbness and tingling in my pinky and ring fingers of my dominant hand. It got worse, to the point where I was sent to a neurologist and found to have severe ulnar nerve compression. I had surgery to reroute my ulnar nerve, and part of my ulna was removed. I have recovered as much as I will be able to (did not recover full range of motion or strength in my hand). I find the cubics easier to hold onto. However, in small sizes such as for sock knitting, the metal cubics are more durable. The wood/bamboo products break more easily in sizes 0-4.

[Nancy]

I am a long time fan of short dpn. Starting with random ones I found probably 10 plus years ago. (Suzanne's if I recall correctly sold for fingers.) I also found Darned Pretty Needles/DyakCraft. I liked the colors and the points and 4" length then in all sizes. I have found I warp a lot of the other brands in the smaller sizes. But I don't find that makes a difference in my comfort. I do find I wear down wooden points. So I prefer my needles start with nice points. (4-5 length when ever possible) I do not like the ones with a pointy end and a more blunt one. I spend more time trying to remember which way to hold it when switching hands than it is worth. Also, avoid using them as a tool to open something (especially on a road trip). I might rather break a nail, than break off another dpn point.

[Rhonda]

I like cubic DPN but I also love Signature DPN's. They are expensive which is a drawback but so sharp and slick for good movement of the yarn.

[Judy]

My preference for socks is 9" circs. Otherwise I like sharp points, whether I am using metal or wood. Never cared much for plastic.