When I was asked many moons ago from a new to me Japanese haberdashery company of the name TULIP to review and try out their bamboo circular needles, I was definitely interested - but not too keen on the bamboo material itself:
All my relationships with wooden or bamboo needles had failed miserably in the past and I only kept some bamboo DPNs for knitting socks on planes (because there is nothing worse than having one's needles confiscated by security and the project destroyed).
My own old travel-set always seemed somehow splitty, dry and too blunt for my taste. That's why I decided that I must simply be a metal-girl and to avoid all other material in needles!
Case closed and my knitting life exclusively went on with metallic clicking sounds...
This was until that day when the parcel from Tulip arrived!
All my relationships with wooden or bamboo needles had failed miserably in the past and I only kept some bamboo DPNs for knitting socks on planes (because there is nothing worse than having one's needles confiscated by security and the project destroyed).
My own old travel-set always seemed somehow splitty, dry and too blunt for my taste. That's why I decided that I must simply be a metal-girl and to avoid all other material in needles!
Case closed and my knitting life exclusively went on with metallic clicking sounds...
This was until that day when the parcel from Tulip arrived!
I said yes, because I was mostly intrigued by the fact that Tulip is a Japanese brand - and as a paper and pen lover, I have always been admiring the incredible quality products and industrial design philosophy of anything that comes from Japan!
So I knew that I needed to check these circular needles out in person and I happily accepted their kind offer to try them out and to give my honest opinion on them (and maybe even give some away...).
So I knew that I needed to check these circular needles out in person and I happily accepted their kind offer to try them out and to give my honest opinion on them (and maybe even give some away...).
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...and I definitely did try them out and gave them a very complete and long testing period of many months! I also send a couple to friends of the knitting industry. Friends that know what to look for in their tools - and I gifted some to participants of my workshops. I did ask for feedback on everybody's opinion, since I wanted to provide you with a truly objective review...
the review
So let's take a closer look on what these needles are supposed to do: On the Tulip website one can find the following claims about the KNINA bamboo circular knitting needles:
They are supposed to have sharp needle tips that make knitting comfortable, to have an exceptionally smooth and rotary cable-needle join that prevents twisting and they are supposed to work great for magic loop knitting because of their flexible cable!
Well, let me tell you right from the start, that I have to agree on most of these points and that these bamboo circulars by Tulip absolutely changed my opinion on my own preference about material in needles!
They really have a super smooth surface and lie in the hand very agreeably right from the first usage. From the moment one takes them out of the simple, practical and durable red storage bag, the cord is unfolding with ease and laying flat without any effort. It just moves softly into the right position and never gets entangled into any annoying loops or knots.
But the best part is the connecting section of the needle tip to the cord: smooth and with ease of movement, it can swivel promptly to prevent any twisting! This motion has been the smoothest in all the circulars in any material I own. It just turns like a well tuned instrument... I am very impressed!
The only thing I didn't care too much about was the slightly blunt needle tip - I didn't find that it is sharp as described. But I do have to add that this is truly a very personal thing, since I like my needle tips to be extra-super-sharp and most of the needles I encounter do feel blunt to me.
Since I have gotten feedback on the needles from three friends, let me insert their opinion here below:
They are supposed to have sharp needle tips that make knitting comfortable, to have an exceptionally smooth and rotary cable-needle join that prevents twisting and they are supposed to work great for magic loop knitting because of their flexible cable!
Well, let me tell you right from the start, that I have to agree on most of these points and that these bamboo circulars by Tulip absolutely changed my opinion on my own preference about material in needles!
They really have a super smooth surface and lie in the hand very agreeably right from the first usage. From the moment one takes them out of the simple, practical and durable red storage bag, the cord is unfolding with ease and laying flat without any effort. It just moves softly into the right position and never gets entangled into any annoying loops or knots.
But the best part is the connecting section of the needle tip to the cord: smooth and with ease of movement, it can swivel promptly to prevent any twisting! This motion has been the smoothest in all the circulars in any material I own. It just turns like a well tuned instrument... I am very impressed!
The only thing I didn't care too much about was the slightly blunt needle tip - I didn't find that it is sharp as described. But I do have to add that this is truly a very personal thing, since I like my needle tips to be extra-super-sharp and most of the needles I encounter do feel blunt to me.
Since I have gotten feedback on the needles from three friends, let me insert their opinion here below:
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the feedback
Petra:
For me it is important that the cable is smooth enough for magic loop and not too smooth when knitting in the round - the cable of this needle is perfect for both of it!
I also like that the needle tips are not too sharp and not too round ...and these are perfect.
Rebekka:
The Tulip Needles are very light and feel nicely in the hand. The surface is extremely smooth and nothing is getting entangled while knitting. All the wooden needles I have had before did break at the joint at some point, but this needle seems very robust to me and it passed the test of using it in different projects really well!
Susan:
I tried the Tulip KNINA Swivel needles I received to test.
I was impressed by the utter smoothness of the bamboo - far smoother than any other bamboo needles I've tried and on an equal level with hardwood needles. The tips are pointy rather than stabby - personally I might want them pointier for knitting lace or for complex cables, but otherwise they were absolutely fine. What impressed me the most was the smoothness of the join between the body of the needle and the cable: it was so smooth I could barely feel anything with my nail and my yarn flowed well over it without hesitation. The fact that it swivels and unfurls any peculiar twists that develop in knitting (particularly when you use magic loop like I do, this can get quite fiendish at times) it absolutely amazing - a feature I absolutely love. The heft of the cable too is just right: it holds the stitches without them sliding away into your lap (i.e. it can take the weight of the knit - admittedly I didn't try a full sweater! but rather a small accessory) but is still soft and supple with no memory at all.
I would definitely use these in fingering weight and above yarns, particularly for small circumferences with magic loop: they're perfectly designed for that. I probably wouldn't for complex lace designs, where I want something a bit pointier.
For me it is important that the cable is smooth enough for magic loop and not too smooth when knitting in the round - the cable of this needle is perfect for both of it!
I also like that the needle tips are not too sharp and not too round ...and these are perfect.
Rebekka:
The Tulip Needles are very light and feel nicely in the hand. The surface is extremely smooth and nothing is getting entangled while knitting. All the wooden needles I have had before did break at the joint at some point, but this needle seems very robust to me and it passed the test of using it in different projects really well!
Susan:
I tried the Tulip KNINA Swivel needles I received to test.
I was impressed by the utter smoothness of the bamboo - far smoother than any other bamboo needles I've tried and on an equal level with hardwood needles. The tips are pointy rather than stabby - personally I might want them pointier for knitting lace or for complex cables, but otherwise they were absolutely fine. What impressed me the most was the smoothness of the join between the body of the needle and the cable: it was so smooth I could barely feel anything with my nail and my yarn flowed well over it without hesitation. The fact that it swivels and unfurls any peculiar twists that develop in knitting (particularly when you use magic loop like I do, this can get quite fiendish at times) it absolutely amazing - a feature I absolutely love. The heft of the cable too is just right: it holds the stitches without them sliding away into your lap (i.e. it can take the weight of the knit - admittedly I didn't try a full sweater! but rather a small accessory) but is still soft and supple with no memory at all.
I would definitely use these in fingering weight and above yarns, particularly for small circumferences with magic loop: they're perfectly designed for that. I probably wouldn't for complex lace designs, where I want something a bit pointier.
the giveaway
Finally, I do want you guys - my loyal readers - to experience the super smooth Tulip KNINA needles by yourself. Thanks to The company's kind offer, I'll give away 10 of their circular KNINA needles to you!
Just comment below and tell me your own personal preference in knitting needles and what you like to work best, and I shall randomly draw 10 people and post the results on my instagram in the beginning of the new year... so there is plenty of time to participate during this hectic season!
THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED - THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING!
Happy Holidays everyone.... whatever you are celebrating this time of the year!
If interested, you can find these needles in many shops online, like the Amirisu shop (US+) or the Wool Warehouse (UK), to name a few.
Just comment below and tell me your own personal preference in knitting needles and what you like to work best, and I shall randomly draw 10 people and post the results on my instagram in the beginning of the new year... so there is plenty of time to participate during this hectic season!
THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED - THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING!
Happy Holidays everyone.... whatever you are celebrating this time of the year!
If interested, you can find these needles in many shops online, like the Amirisu shop (US+) or the Wool Warehouse (UK), to name a few.
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Disclaimer: For this review and giveaway the needles were kindly provided by the company Tulip, but no sponsoring of any kind was provided otherwise.
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