Hi Pudsickle. We had a similar conversation about this last month. I don't mean to stop anyone from posting now if they didn't see this last month, but I thought I'd give you the link to that conversation so you could see the responses to it.

Here is a link that might be useful: needles

If you read the previous discussion, you can see that I absolutely love Addi Turbos. However, I did purchase a set of Denise on ebay. So far, I like them a lot. Besides a little trouble figuring out which way to twist the connector when putting them together, I like them. The cords do not twist into little spirals like other needles. I don't like the fact that they are more pointed than my addi turbos, but it hasn't affected my knitting any. As others have said, I will probably continue to buy addi turbos, but I like having a whole set if I start a new project and don't have the right size in my addi turbos. Sorry if this rambles, but it is early and I'm not quite awake yet!

I have the Boye Needlemaster and my mom gave me a canister full of knitting needles that she picked up for $1 at a local garage sale. There are all different sizes of needles in this can, I bet there must be 40 pairs in there, some duplicates, plastics, metals, bamboos. I just love them! But I've been reading all the stuff about circular addi-turbos and I just got my first 2 pair of them. I'm going to use them for the first time today to attempt to make socks on 2 circulars. I've been reading the book, so I think I'm ready. Wish me luck!!

I am currently using a pair of Red Heart Brand circulars. For cheapies they are working very nicely. About a third of the price of "Unique" brand - which look exactly the same but the finish is decidedly UNSLIDEY. No matter what kind I have tried, I still have to make an effort to help the knitting up that bump on the left needle, nothing slides across effortlessly as I knit. But with these at least it is an easy slide. With the Unique, it was a hand-cramping pain in the arse.

I tried a really really expensive set of bamboo ones, and hated them. So a friend said "Well, they weren't properly conditioned yet" (which apparently means that as you use them they sort of polish themselves or something) and lent me some of hers that she loves loves loves. It was all I could do not to jettison them out the car window. HATE HATE HATE! Instant hand cramps.

I tried a pair of addi-turboes (note TRIED. I can't buy them locally, I know somebody who mail ordered them and she watched me like a hawk the entire time to make sure I didn't try to steal them LOL). I liked them. I guess I am a "slidey needle" girl.

Susan Bates or Boyle has inexpensive coloured metal ones, but the connection to the cable is very very tiny and my stitches snag each and every time. I have a set of those that I take out and admire, then put them back because I can't deal with the catching.

Boy, am I picky!

Dances.