Needle choice is really a personal preference. For socks, I use 4 dpns
(occasionally 5), but for mittens, I use magic loop or two circulars.

I like the Knit Picks Harmony (wooden) sock needles. I don't have any
of the Harmony fixed circulars yet, just the Harmony modulars, but I
like to use the metal Knit Picks circulars for magic loop because the
cables are so very flexible, and that's what I'm using for my mittens,
which sadly are currently being neglected. :-(

Nancy in Carlisle, PA

On Jan 29, 2009, at 2:56 PM, Pat wrote:

> Mary,
>
> I use 5 needles because I like finishing a needle & starting the
> next in
> a different spot. It helps me avoid ladders. (not that there aren't
> many
> ways to avoid them). So for a while I am using 4. That's the only
> advantage for me. Personal preference.
>
> I prefer wood for DP work in wool. Aluminum for work with cotton and
> other non stretchy fibers. If I was a looser knitter I might use wood
> for both. I don't want to break my nice wood needles manipulating
> stitches (e.g. k2tog).
>
> Personal preferences only
>
> Pat
>
>
> maryschrempp wrote:
>> I have made one pair of mittens and was using 5 needles, but
>> eventually switched to using 4. That is how I knit socks and it just
>> seems so much easier for me to manage the needles that way--do most
>> of
>> you use 4 or 5 needles and is there any advantage to using 5
>> instead of
>> 4?
>>
>> When you knit a pair of gloves, what are the best needles to use for
>> the fingers, I am thinking my new metal knitpick dpn's may be too
>> slick
>> for so few stitches like a finger. Are wood needles the best choice
>> here for the fingers and what length is good?
>>
>> Thanks so much for your help.
>>
>> Mary
>>
>>
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