[Knitting] "Square" DPNs

[kniteracy]

Back in November, I posted a review of Kollage's "Square" circular needles. I hated them, because the cable is sticky like Gumby, even though the advertising is accurate in that the cable is definitely flexible. In fact, it's too flexible-- but you can read my review above if you're interested in knowing more about them.

On Saturday, I taught a beginning sock class at IKL, and we put everybody on 2.75mm DPNs. I think it's confusing, especially for relatively inexperienced knitters, if teacher is using a totally different method, so I borrowed a pair of the square circulars to knit this sock.

And you know what? I like them. For somebody who magic loops just about everything, that's a pretty big admission for me. They are comfortable in the hands, slick, and fast. If anything could make me go back to DPNs, at least for some projects, it's Square Double Point Needles. Of course, they're still very expensive (£8! for a single set of 5 needles at IKL), so I'm doubtful I'll be stocking up any time soon, but I really like them. Down sides are that just like other DPNs, it's easy to lose one, and at this price, yow. Plus, as they're metal, they won't fulfil my usual reason for having any DPNs at all, which is airplane knitting.

I'm beginning to think that using Brittany DPNs for so long may have coloured my judgment about DPNs in general. Perhaps if I'd tried some metal ones earlier, I would like them a little better in general, although I do have a set of Addi DPNs that I don't like at all. mithranstar has some cool electric purple aluminium DPNs that I'd like to check out, if only because they are PRUPLE. :) But the Kollage ones are a lovely brass colour, and they do make with the happy metallic clicky-clicky, so perhaps I can be satisfied with a few pairs of these. Because of the hefty price tag, I've committed to keeping the plastic shop cases around and storing them in those, in the needle case. Because losing one would be annoying, but losing two would be a disaster. :-/

Comments

[otherdeb.livejournal.com]

I used teh Kollage ones on my firswt Harika sock (I have yet to tackle the second one) snd found them very nice to work with (an, I tend to Magic Loop socks rather than use DPNs, so that's quite an admission from me. The other DPNs I like are the Rhodo-Cristal Nacres, which are plastic covered steel. They are a nice weight and fairly fast.

Kollage needles

[mithranstar.livejournal.com]

I love my Kollage DPN's, but I also used thm to knit that first Harika that came out too small. My guage with the Knit Picks options that i'm using for the Harika's is much much looser now.

I like the grippy surface of the Kollage needles, and the kength is perfect. I think they will become my got to sock needles of choice.

[mithranstar.livejournal.com]

I meant to add that the purple ones, also nice to work with, are from "Purple Pins".

Re: Kollage needles

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Yeah; I think it's somewhere on the Kollage packaging that you should use a needle size larger than you would ordinarily use, as people's gauge tends to tighten with them. Or maybe G at IKL told me that. I forget. I actually experimented with the 'sock' length ones last night when I was in to teach and ended up buying a pair on my way out of the store.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

They seem to be only available through Knit N Kaboodle, but their site is either down or the company no longer exists. :(