Which Needles Should I Use?

Bamboo needles. Bamboo is warm to the touch, strong, and tends to be lighter than aluminum. As bamboo has a slight grip, knitted stitches remain in place and bamboo makes for an excellent beginner needle. The material also lends itself to working will with arthritic hands. Bamboo needles are excellent for all types of yarn, especially smoother and lighter weight yarns. Bamboo needles are more flexible than metal, but less than casein or plastic needles. In smaller sizes, however, bamboo can bend or break.

Metal needles are the heaviest needles, but are stronger and do not easily bend. Metal needles are cold to the touch and slippery. More experienced knitters sometimes prefer them, because the stitches move quickly on the highly polished surface. These are not the best needles for beginning knitters, as stitches can quickly slip off the needle's tip. Metal needles are good for all types of yarn types and weights, especially wool, wool blends, and acrylic. The most common types of metal needles are aluminum, steel, and nickel-plated. Newer stainless steel needles like the Signature and Addi Turbo’s are now available.

Plastic needles used to be readily available and very popular. They are smooth, sleek, and stitches move quickly. Plastic needles are very flexible. Larger size needles are often made from plastic to reduce their weight. Plastic needles are excellent for all types of yarn and yarn weights.

Wooden needles are smooth but not slippery, making them a great choice for beginning knitters and when using slippery yarns. The finishes are different depending on the brand. These needles come in a variety of woods, the best being made of hardwoods. In very small sizes, like bamboo, wooden needles can break disappointingly easily.