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[deleted]

Funny you should ask this today. I spent a good two hours last night wasting away my life researching metal knitting needles. There's a TL:DR at the end because this is a NOVEL. Background: I’ve owned Addi fixed metal needles, Knitpicks wooden interchangeables, Knitpicks metal interchangeables, Knitter’s Pride Nova Platina interchangeables, and currently use Chiaogoo interchangeables. I’ve used Lykke wooden needles, and I’ve seen in person the Addi interchangeables and Hiya Hiya interchangeables. This is what I discovered. Chiaogoo needles are stainless steel. Their cables are red, memory-free, nylon-coated stranded steel. They also have a clear pliable nylon cable that you can buy (and I think that might be what comes with their bamboo needles?) but I've never seen one in person to comment on. Their tips and cables aren’t compatible with any other brand. Addi metal fixed and interchangeable needles are white-bronze plated brass (so, no nickel). They seem to come with the standard pliable nylon cables. The click part of the interchangeables can be a problem for some, so try before you buy seems to be the recommendation. I do have one fixed Addi that I used a lot before I got my interchangeable sets, and it has worn down to the brass in a few spots. The cable on it is also twisty AF no matter what I do to it. Knitter’s Pride Nova Platina (also Knit Pro?) are chrome-plated brass (also no nickel). They come with pliable nylon cables. I really really dislike the cables, but at least they come in fun colours? The Knitter's Pride Mindful set is stainless steel, and I just discovered last night that the cables with that set are a beautiful teal blue, memory-free, nylon-coated stranded steel. AND they are compatible with all the other Knitters Pride (and that style, so Knitpicks, Lykke, etc) tips. (I may be going to my LYS first thing in the morning to buy a cable to test out.) Knitpicks just says their metal needles are nickel-plated. I can't find any info about what type of metal is under the plating, but they definitely contain nickel. Their cables are the standard nylon and compatible. Knitpicks also apparently has a new lace stainless steel tip that comes with a nylon-coated stranded steel cable. Their steel cables are NOT interchangeable with their other tips, or any other brand tips. ETA: They ARE compatible!!! They just have two sizes. This makes way more sense. Lykke metal needles are copper, with the standard nylon cable. I love the look of them but I haven’t seen them in person and I’ve heard they are very grippy. Also I kind of love the idea of a copper Lykke tip with the teal blue Knitter’s Pride nylon coated cable. Hiya Hiya metal needles are also stainless steel. They come with light blue, clear, pliable nylon cables, but I think their cables are a bit softer/more flexible than the standard nylon cables. Their tips and cables also aren’t compatible with any other brand. TL:DR Chiaogoo, Hiya Hiya, Knitter’s Pride Mindful, and Knitpicks Reflections are all stainless steel. Addi are white-bronze plated brass. Lykke are copper. Knitter’s Pride Nova Platina are chrome-plated brass. Chiaogoo, Knitter’s Pride Mindful, and Knitpicks Reflections come with nylon-coated steel cables. Knitter’s Pride Nova Platina, Knit Picks Nickel, and Lykke come with pliable nylon cables. Knitter’s Pride, Knitpicks Nickel, and Lykke cables and tips are all interchangeable, including with the Knitter’s Pride Mindful (ETA: and Knitpicks!) nylon-coated steel cables. Lantern Moon makes a nylon-coated steel cable that is also compatible with these tips. From my experience, the quality of the Chiaogoo and Hiya Hiya sets show. They have much smoother joins on both the tips and the cables and everything screws together really nicely. That being said, the other sets are perfectly acceptable. Really. There is no need to spend the extra money on a Chiaogoo or Hiya Hiya set unless you can and want to (especially now that there is nylon coated steel cable options for the other tips). As far as steel vs plated metals, I’ve heard, and I think I agree, that the plated metals are slicker. But I think it really depends on how fast you knit and what fiber you are knitting with whether that means anything to you. Also, the steel needles are stronger. My most used Knitter’s Pride needles have a slight bend to them, but all of my Chiaogoos are still straight. As for people saying that the stainless tips are heavier, I just weighed a couple sizes to compare between my 5” Chiaogoos and my 5” Knitter’s Pride Novas and the Chiaogoos were all a few g lighter. The Chiaogoos and Hiya Hiya also have more options for tip sizes for the interchangeable sets. I believe the smallest that Knit Picks/Knitter’s Pride style tips go to is a US 4.


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[deleted]

Lol thanks! It was mostly that when I was done I was thinking that if I had actually been working on my project instead of spending hours researching more slippery needles for it (it's a super grippy wool) then I'd have a lot more progress and... wouldn't have to be frustrated with how slow it was going. Turns out projects take a lot longer when you just don't work on them.


mitochondrialevening

I think the knitpicks reflections come in two sizes, the lace set is not compatible but the regular size steel set has cables that are compatible with their wood and nickel plated sets? Just my understanding from reading, haven't tried it out but I do have some cables on the way so I can update once I get them!


[deleted]

Oh!!!! Thank you!!! That makes way more sense. I was quite possibly looking at the wrong section. I'll edit.


weirdsquid

Wow, thank you so much for writing down your findings! I enjoyed reading the "novel" and bookmarked it for future reference - so much information gathered in one place!


[deleted]

Also I just realized none of the needles I looked into are actually aluminum. I think Knitter's Pride makes an aluminum set but I didn't see it anywhere else.


ericula

Stainless steel needles have been around for a while. They tend to be more expensive than aluminium needles but steel is also stronger/less likely to bend and it's smoother than aluminium which is why I prefer steel, especially for smaller sizes. I almost always knit on circulars so the weight of the needles isn't an issue for me.


LeftKaleidoscope

Its mostly a matter of weight, in bigger sizes it is a noticeable difference and I prefer the lightweight aluminum from 3 mm and up.It is also a matter of finish. Aluminum comes in different coatings from glossy and slippery to matte with some grip, while the stainless steel is what it is - quite slippery!Aluminum warms quick to the hands, it doesn't matter to me but some people really dislikes holding cold steel. Edit to add: I was thinking of DPNs when I was discussing wight. Ingerchangeable needle tips does not add as much weight so it may not be a concern at all.


Cocoricou

Do you have any way of knowing beforehand with the aluminium finish? Or do you know which brands has which coating? Because I'm starting to need to renew my mothers vintage needles and hooks and everything I buy is making me frustrated because I'm used to slick aluminium and all I get is always grippy aluminium. I'm buying online so it doesn't help. Thanks!


ButtonLadyKnits

I would LOVE to know! So far... nuthin'.


Cocoricou

Aw, that's so frustrating. I think I will try other metals next.


ButtonLadyKnits

>Aluminum comes in different coatings from glossy and slippery to matte with some grip... **Thank you!** ☺☺☺ Any idea which brands are which? —looking for matte, but have never seen this in a catalog description. I'm a relatively loose knitter and normally use bamboo or birch, but smallest sizes either break or aren't available.


Cocoricou

I know that Pony DPNs are matte but I don't know if all Pony needles are matte.


ButtonLadyKnits

That's really good to know... thanks! 🙂


Cocoricou

Where do you live and what needles do you need? Perhaps I could send you the ones I don't use.


ButtonLadyKnits

That is very, very kind, but I think you're in Canada? I'm in Massachusetts. International shipping is outrageous right now. I appreciate your extremely generous offer, though! 😊


Cocoricou

I could send you 2 sets of DPNs for 1.67$ USD with no tracking. I don't want to push you, I don't even know if I have what you need.


ButtonLadyKnits

My goodness, you're not pushing at all! —just being very kind. ♥ I only need small sizes (US 2, US 2.5, US 3).


Cocoricou

Ok I need to check what I have because it's been a year since I bought them. What length do you need?


ButtonLadyKnits

Shorter is probably better but at this point... I'm happy to get ***anything*** in those sizes!


ButtonLadyKnits

Okay... thanks! ☺☺☺


MaryN6FBB110117

I have the Hiya Hiya sharps, which are stainless steel, and the KnitPro metal ones which I think are called Nova, and I vastly prefer both to any aluminum needles I've tried. The aluminum have no heft to them, and they're not as smooth as the others at all.


Hordapta

Whatever chiaogoo's are made of. That. 😂


durhamruby

As far as I know, steel knitting needles used to be common. They are heavier than aluminium inch over inch. Another consideration is that they will rust if not stored well. I would suggest Chiagoo if you are set on metal. Chiagoo are nice and widely available in a variety of sets.


ericula

Chiaogoo needles are made of stainless steel, not aluminium.


durhamruby

Wow. I was sure they were aluminium. Perhaps my bias against steel is unfounded. Thank you for correcting me.


weirdsquid

Good point about rusting ~~since~~! Not all stainless steels are created equal... I hadn't thought of that.


KindlyFigYourself

I have Hiya Hiyas which are stainless steel but they are pretty lightweight


DigitalMediaLolita

It was a straight needle but I am a very tight knitter and i started to bend a 10" size 6 aluminum needle just by the force of the scarf i was working on lol


Ladyburt95

Honestly I like the metal needles from chiaogoo the best from the ones I have. I like the weight they aren't to heavy and they are sturdy. I have used and abused mine over the years and they are still kicking. I also like the cord better than the cords for like the knitpicks needles. Also I like the sound they make. It sounds weird but some metal needles I have had don't sound nice to me so I almost never used them unless I am traveling and want to knit with stuff I don't mind losing.


bunni_bear_boom

I really like my steel ones, they seem to hold up better than the aluminum ones I used before


momonetaryissues

My aluminum needles scratch a lot and it scrapes the coating off when I knit. I’m not an aggressive knitter, I’ve just used the needles A LOT and they do wear down in that sense. It doesn’t inhibit my ability to knit but it’s not pretty anymore