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Signature Needles – The New Kids on the Block

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To test these, I ordered a size 5, stilletto tip, with the bell cap, 7″. As a straight needle user I do like them.

I like the length which may be why the ends don’t seem so unbalanced to me. If they were longer, I might feel the heaviness of them but I really don’t notice it using them. I used it on a slubby cotton 2 ply baby sweater that I split easily with other needles but not using these, as I thought I would due to the pointy tips, surprise to me!

I didn’t notice any change in gauge between these needles and the wooden ones I used on the front piece.
The yarn slides very nicely across the metal needle, no dull drag and not too slippery. I might even get more from time to time as they don’t get splinters like my bamboo and even some of my wooden ones do.

“Hand-crafted, hand-polished and the perfect fit for any knitter’s hand, a Signature Needle is at first a luxury — and then a necessity. No other needle makes a more perfect, uniform stitch, which is why it’s the true hobbyist’s choice.”

On their website, http://www.signatureneedlearts.com/products/ you actually “build” your own needles. Choosing a size, length, tip and cap options.

The company was born out of a “why don’t they make needles with tips that don’t split yarn” statement. “We had many people involved in the design and manufacturing process here at Bothe Associates Inc. Machinists who were non-knitters became experts at crafting needles perfect for avid knitters and they rose to the challenge with a great, reliable product made here in America. In addition, we met with focus groups of knitters who had lots of great ideas to give us a push in the right direction – and so Signature Needle Arts was born.”

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Comments

  1. They sound great, all round. I would like to get some longer ones, though, like the 14″. If you have since tried them, do you find them heavy? I have a few sets of my grandmas (definitely not signature!) and they are weighty devils.

    Thanks!

Have you read?

Knit and Felt Some Tabi Style Slippers

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical. 

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique. 

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead. 

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit. 

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern. 

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like. 

[Photo: Maymade Knits]