I love to knit! At the moment I am in the process of making scarves, baby booties and dish cloths for our church bazaar in November. I have several projects going on at the same time, and my Clover Bamboo knitting needles are a must! I own multiple sets and a variety of sizes.
I used to knit with some old aluminum needles that were handed down from my mom, but I never liked the scratching metal-on-metal sound they produced. If you’ve ever been around anyone who was knitting in public using metal needles, I’m sure that clickety clack sound was irritating to you as well. Metal needles do make knitting projects go faster, since there is no resistance, but because they are so slippery, my yarn often slipped off the ends. My sister-in-law gave me some bamboo needles two years ago and I have been hooked ever since.
What a joy these Clover Bamboo Needles are to use! First, they are shorter than the same mm width in the metal needles. I use sizes 5, 7, and 8 the most, and my bamboo needles are perfect for small projects, measuring 9″ in length. My metal needles are a good 6″ longer and really get in my way, making knitting cumbersome.
The ends of the bamboo needles are rounded, unlike the pointed metal tips. Having the rounded ends means I don’t split my yarn nearly as often. The bamboo is very uniform, giving me a great feel and smoothness while knitting. The difference is amazing, the yarn slides easily and quietly from one needle to the other. They are also super lightweight, and having some arthritis in my hands, I appreciate that. My only complaint is that after months of use, I have had the tips wear down a bit. They are still very usable, but they can become much sharper than when new. I had been told from other knitters that after using the bamboo needles for a long time, they develop a nice patina surface. This has only happened with my larger needles, sizes 10 and up.
Another benefit to knitting with bamboo is that the needles actually feel warm and comfortable in my hands. If I am knitting a large project, this is really appreciated. I have artiritis in my finger joints, and using bamboo needles have made a difference. I have less strain, since the yarn stays on the bamboo much better than on metal needles, and the bamboo needles are incredibly light weight.
The little bit of friction that the bamboo surface causes does tend to make my knitting go a little bit slower, but I find that my stitches are much more even and precise. The finished project is very uniform.
My bamboo needles are made by Clover Needlecraft Manufacturers, and the front of the plastic pouch reads Takumi, which means “craftsmanship” in Japanese. Clover makes a nice variety of these bamboo knitting needles, from size 0 (2mm) to size 15 (10mm). They also come in double pointed, single pointed, flex and circular styles.
If you knit, I highly recommend these bamboo needles. I can knit for hours without hand fatigue. They are available in knit and craft stores, but I purchased mine at JoAnn’s for $4.00 a pair. I think you’ll love them too. If you are just being introduced to knitting, try the bamboo needles. Your stitches won’t slip off as easy, causing you much less frustration. Dropped stitches can ruin a project for a new knitter!
The only down side is that they are not nearly as accessible as metal needles are, and they are more expensive. I can find a variety of metal needles in my grocery and discount stores, but the only place I’ve found bamboo is at knitting shops and crafts stores like JoAnns and Michaels. You can, of course, purchase them online at a variety of places. Do yourself a favor and give them a try, your hands will thank you.
