Customer Question: Knitting Needle Help!

I had a new yarn supplier visit me recently and as part of our discussion, we got onto the subject of needles… I was told they could supply me with aluminium or plastic. As I currently stock bamboo needles at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com. I wondered if extending the range would help my current offer and provide customers with more of what they needed. So I asked customer’s what they thought;

‘Have just found a new supplier for aluminium and plastic knitting/crochet needles, to sit with my Bamboo knitting needles in the shop… Which do you prefer? Or do you use both?’ (http://sarastexturecrafts.tumblr.com/post/3348944884/knitting-needle-help)

The response was really helpful and so I think I have an idea of which way to go… but the question that came out of this was what sort of needles (in terms of materials they are made from), are there on the market?

One of my social networking buddies, Ionwen of http://whitejanuary.tumblr.com/ had mentioned Milk Protein Needles… I’d never heard of these, so promptly did a google search and found a review by www.Knittersreview.com. It’s American based, so language may differ depending on where each of us is in the world… but a quite nice review none the less. It turns out that Milk Protein needles are otherwise known as  Swallow Casein needles.

Swallow Casein

Benefits: Ideal for knitters seeking a total organic experience, these are made of a natural, nontoxic milk protein; they are available in a full range of colors including bright pearlescent pastels and classic tortoise-shell patterns; they feel warm in your hands; their surface is smoother than wood but not quite as slippery as aluminum; they bend and flex gently and offer a quiet knitting experience.
Drawbacks: Even though they are made of totally organic materials, Swallow casein needles can look plasticky and artificial; because they are only manufactured by one company, availability can be limited.

(posted at http://www.knittersreview.com/article_tool.asp?article=/review/profile/010405_a.asp)

 

I do recommend reading the full article as they list the following needle materials;

1. Wood
2. Bamboo
3. Aluminum
4. Nickel and nickel-plated aluminum
5. Swallow Casein
6. Bryspun
7. Pony Pearls

Do let me know if you have used needles for knitting or crochet made from a different material… I’d love to do an update!

Written by: Sara at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Needles and yarn available at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com