Miss M and Square Needles

I have been getting more than a few complaints that Miss M hasn't been featured lately. Well rest assured she is growing like a weed. Now that the weather has improved outside is a place she really enjoys. Here's a couple of pics for your consumption.

This is her tricycle stroller. She loves it and the bonnet

All dressed up in her lemur jacket ready to take on the day

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Square knitting needles aren't a new product by any means, but I am in need of a few new lace circular needles and thought I would check them out. They were first introduced by Kollage in 2006 so yes, I am late to the game on this one. As you can see from the photo below theirs are metal with very sharp points and the edges are very well defined. Before we move into a review, let's talk about what is purported to be the advantages of knitting with these needles.

They are supposed to be easier on the hands of the knitter meaning they are easier to use than round needles. Apparently the flat surfaces of the square needles add better grip so a knitter uses a much looser grip than on round needles.
The square needles help improve consistency of stitches. Somehow with an easier grip the stitch tension is improved ultimately improving the overall look of the fabric being knit.

Shortly after other manufacturers entered the field using wood and bamboo in addition to metal and there are now circular as well as DPN available. In this post I looked at several reviews about Kollage as well as KnitPicks and Knitters's Pride brands. As one might expect there was a range of dissatisfaction to satisfaction with each. However, one thing was clear, the square needles gauge is consistently smaller (meaning you get more stitches per inch/cm) than round needles of the same size. This was a comment from both those with a tight tension and and those with a loose tension. To reach gauge one needs to purchase a larger size.

Since I am contemplating another set of circular needles in my favorite size I think I will try square circular needles. Kollage will be my squares of choice because these will be used for lace knitting and I like a sharp point for that work. Expect a review in a few weeks.

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