Cat Bordhi, Cubics & June Giveaway Winners

Earlier this month, we blogged about the many ways there are to knit and crochet socks (click here to read our last post if you missed it). In today's post, we'd like to spotlight one of our best-loved products by sock knitters: Knitter's Pride Cubics DPNs. Even Cat Bordhi, who is known for disliking double-pointed needles, has praised our Cubics DPNs and given us the ultimate compliment: they are the only DPN she will use!

Cat is a prolific designer (click here to view her designer page on Ravelry), and her sock designs are as revolutionary as they are unique. Her books and e-books (such as New Pathways for Sock Knitters, pictured at right) feature a wide variety of techniques and patterns that will challenge knitters of all persuasions on their sock knitting journey.

Of course, it's always good to start any journey out with the right tools, and Cubics DPNs are a great choice for many reasons: first, their ergonomic shape provides a more comfortable knitting experience; second, there is no roll-away to worry about should you drop one of your DPNs while knitting; finally, the cuboid shape yields uniform stitch definition!

To get a closer look at these needles (which includes a guest appearance from Cat Bordhi herself), you can watch our short YouTube video below!

June Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to this month's blog winners!

Raveler knittybing has won Karbonz DPNs.

Raveler sherryglover1 has won Nova Fixed Circular Needles.

Both of our winners have been contacted to arrange for delivery of their prizes. For more chances to win great prizes this month, click here to enter our Ravelry group giveaway!

Winner + Choosing the Right Needles for YOU!

Thanks to everyone who entered our blog contest this month! We were impressed with the variety of answers we received when we asked the question, "how do you like to knit socks?"  Our winner is Patrick Lyddy who said "Two at a time, Toe-up! Have an actual pair when you're done and no Second-Sock-itis!!" Please contact us at support@knitterspride.com (or Ravelry PM knitterpride) to arrange delivery of your Knitter's Pride Sock Blockers. Congratulations! 

Though many of our fans know which style of needle they prefer, we'd like to offer anyone who is new to Knitter's Pride a few suggestions to help select the right needles for your next project. 

First, consider what you'll be making: Projects that are knitted flat are well-suited to single-point needles, which beginning knitters are often more comfortable using. However, if you are knitting something large such as an afghan, you'll want to use circular needles so that you have plenty of room for all of your stitches. 

Karbonz DPNs

Cubics Fixed Circulars

Projects that are knitted in-the-round can be made on circular needles or double point needles (DPNs). As we noted in our last blog post, small circumference projects can use either needle option if you know how to use the magic loop technique for circulars. Larger-circumference projects such as sweaters work best on circulars. 

Lace knitting is often faster and easier with sharp-pointed needles such as our Nova or Karbonz needles, while sock knitting (as we learned in our last post) lends itself to various needle and material types. This brings us to our next point: your knitting style.

Yes, how you knit can play a part in your needle choice. Do you hold a lot of tension in your hands as you work and are often sore after a few hours of knitting? Give our ergonomic Cubics needles a try! Knitting on-the-go? Consider using circular needles - there's no need to worry about dropping a needle and never finding it again! Our new line of Karbonz needles is also great for traveling knitters; they are virtually unbreakable while still being lightweight and warm to the touch. Both Karbonz and Nova needles can endure being packed away in your purse or bag without fear of snapping.

Nova Deluxe Interchangeable Set

If you're trying to decide between fixed circular needles or investing in an interchangeable set, it's especially important to pay attention to how you knit: knitters who tend to twist their knitting while working in the round will be happiest with fixed circular needles, while looser knitters who use less twisting motions in their knitting will enjoy working with our interchangeable sets. 

Ultimately, personal preference is often the deciding factor in choosing needles. Once you've tried various materials and styles (such as in our Comby Sampler Set), you'll know what works best for you! 

Winners!

Thanks to everyone who watched our latest YouTube video and entered our giveaway! Those of you who guessed Ursula and Uma the Understanding Monsters by Rebecca Danger (or any permutation of that pattern name) were entered into our drawing to win a Knitter's Pride Shawl Pin. The Random Number Generator chose Karin, aka kvitsvart on Ravelry as our winner - we have PM'd you to arrange for the delivery of your prize. Congratulations!

We also have another prize winner to share with you - last month's winning entry in the Share Your Pride Video Contest! Congratulations to Esther, whose winning entry will receive her choice of a deluxe needle or crochet set from Knitter's Pride and a free shawl pin!

Watch her video below to see her "most interesting filming location" (last month's theme). We hope this inspires you to work on your submission for this month - our theme is "best animal guest appearance." You can view the full contest rules and upcoming themes here!

Winner + Where Your Needles Come From!

Congratulations to our winner, StaceyD!  Her comment was randomly selected to receive a pair of US #7 Nova fixed circular needles:  "I'd love to try the Nova needles. I've been frustrated with blunt points and am in search for a good sharp needle.Thanks!" Please e-mail support@knitterspride.com with your shipping address so we may get your prize sent out ASAP!


Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway this month. You'll have more chances to win great products from Knitter's Pride beginning next week. All of our fans and followers will be automatically eligible for our weekly drawings each Friday. Be sure to join the Knitter's Pride family for your chance to win! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and of course - tell your friends so that they can win great prizes, too!  

If you've ever wondered where your needles come from, here are some shots of our brand-new factory. We broke ground in January of last year, and seven months later, our first shipment went out the door!  At the new factory we make close to 1 million needles every month. A major part of the production is the Symfonie wood needles, Cubics and Dreamz. We have close to 300 people working in the factory - nearly 100 of our employees are female. This is notable because most women living in rural India tend to stay at home while the men are the breadwinners. However, we encourage female workers to join the Knitter's Pride family, training them extensively since it is quite often the first job they've ever had. The joy when they receive their first paycheck must be seen to be believed!


To see more photos of our factory, click here! 

Cubics Winner + Customer Comments

Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway this month!  We are pleased to read so many fantastic responses.  Congratulations to RoamingKnitter, our winner for the US#10 Straight Cubics giveaway.  Please e-mail support@knitterspride.com with your shipping address so we may get your prize sent out ASAP!


Here are a few of our favorite comments and self-care tips from our last blog post:


"Those Cubics look nice, would love to give them a try... I always stop and stretch my hands after knitting or crocheting: I shake out my wrists, then putting my hand up in a "stop" position, i use my other hand to gently bend back my fingers towards me to give an easy stretch..hold it and release, and shake it out." -Michelle 

"I sent some Cubics DPNs to my grandmother, and she loves them. I usually don't think to stretch until I feel an ache; even then, I usually take a quick stretch (stretch each finger individually and all fingers down toward the inner arm) and keep on knitting." -Rebecca

"I have arthritis in my hands and elbows, and have found it helpful to always knit with my elbows supported. The padded arms of my chair are too far apart to rest my elbows on while knitting, so I use small pillows. It felt odd at first, but makes a big difference!" -Quinn

Cubics DPN's - image courtesy of LaurenS

"I take breaks every 20 minutes or so. I make sure I unkink my shoulders and neck as well as my hands. As a beginner, my hands tire and stiffen up easily. Giving my hands a massage with nice smelling lotion is also a little treat I give to my hands. I really like the Dreamz circular pair I have. I would love to try out the Cubics as well!" -hipstamom on Ravelry

...As well as some great comments from our Ravelry group:

"During the holidays last year, I was crocheting lots of dishcloths for my MIL. I found that my hands started cramping after two hours until I switched to the Knitter's Pride aluminum crochet hooks. Now I can work for hours and never feek any cramping or tiredness in my hands. I would highly recommend them!"  -djuseless on Ravelry  

"I have the 0 and 4 Cubics DPN's and love them. Had a sock class with Cookie A this past weekend and these were the needles of choice. I will be buying more of these." - LaurenS on Ravelry 

Comfortable Crafting + A Contest!

We’re celebrating comfortable crafting this month at Knitter’s Pride! For those of you who have carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, arthritis, and other issues which hamper your crafting time, we’ve developed our Cubics needles and ergonomic crochet hooks with you in mind.


Our ergonomic products will help you craft the hours away when combined with a little self-care.  Taking frequent breaks to stretch is essential - here are some great stretches for crafters from knitfreedom.com. For minor pains, ice is a great way to reduce inflammation and get a little relief.  Of course, if your pain persists, it's important to stop what you're doing and go see a doctor to ensure you don't have a serious injury or other illness.  Once you get the go-ahead from your physician, you can pick up your needles or hook and get back on the crafting horse!


What makes Cubics so special? The unique ergonomic shape (a cuboid cross-section) provides comfort to the hand and yields uniform stitch formation. Because of the shape, you don’t need to grip the needles as tightly, easing tension in your hand and wrist.

Our Aluminum single-ended crochet hooks (available in gold or silver finish) and Steel single-ended crochet hooks feature ergonomically designed handles which are easier to grip, encouraging hours of comfortable crocheting. They are lightweight, durable and great for all crocheters, from beginner to advanced - even those with arthritis!

We'd like to give you a chance to see for yourself - we're giving away one pair of US#10 straight Cubics needles to one lucky winner!  Leave a comment on this blog post sharing either your favorite tip for self-care or why you'd like to give Cubics a try.  Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you (ie, Ravelry ID) in case you win.  We'll randomly choose one winning comment on Friday, April 27 to announce on this blog.  Good luck! 

Rave Reviews & Customer Feedback

Dreamz Interchangeable Set

Our core belief at Knitter's Pride is that the best way to satisfy our customers is listening and learning from them. We welcome your comments which enable us to grow and meet the standards of all knitters and crochet enthusiasts; of course, compliments are always nice to hear, too!  Here is a recent sampling from our fans: 

"Love the Cubics needles because your hands don't get tired from gripping like with the regular needles and they are just wonderful to work with."-Ginny S. (via Facebook)

"I bought five Dreamz fixed 40” circulars in sizes US 0 - 2, and they are a great pleasure. I use them for flat knitting so far. They’re beautiful tools, they feel good in my hands, and they are neither too slick, nor too sticky."-Dave-B (via Ravelry)

"A friend told me about these new needles, well they are flipping amazing! Slick, great joins, flexible cables! functionality is superb! I will order [Nova] in fixed circulars as well. YEAHHHHHH!!!!! Love 'em!!!" -Kirstin (via Jimmy Beans Wool)

"I did cast on something immediately on a set of the [Cubics] dpn’s…and all I can say is..WOW! I could lay one down and not have to get up, find that it had once again rolled off onto the floor and under my chair. And the fact that the yarn didn’t slip off my dpn either..and the tips on the dpn’s….so much better than my bamboo/wood ones I have a ton of! I want to replace every dpn and circular needle I have in my collection..with the Cubic needles of course." -TXgal (via Ravelry)

Besides getting rave reviews directly from knitters and crocheters alike, we're pleased to hear such great things from our retailers, such as the Loopy Ewe, who added 10 feet of wall space just to make room for Knitter's Pride needles.  We can't think of a greater compliment - click here to read more on their blog! 

Hillsborough Yarn Shop reports that the Dreamz Fixed Circulars "have quickly become our bestselling circulars, and as such, are forever being reordered." They've even added our shawl pins to their roster of Knitter's Pride products - click here to read their shop blog!

Finally, Halcyon yarn had this to say about their latest addition to their shop:"You’ve heard the buzz about the new needles from Knitter’s Pride… When they first debuted we heard comments like “they’re [the needles] going to change the knitting needle industry”.  They’re the talk of the town so we had to take a look. What did we find upon close inspection? – Terrific, good quality, high performing needles at affordable prices."  That's just the beginning of their recent post welcoming our Dreamz and Nova needles to their shop - click here to read more!

We've been receiving lots of feedback from both customers and retailers alike about our Nova needles;  the quality is unparalleled for the price point, and whether you're using the straights, circulars, or DPNs, the points are perfect for a variety of projects.  Nothing says it better than a video review, though - Kristen from Jimmy Beans Wool and Kirstin from Muench Yarns give you a fantastic overview of the Nova Interchangeable Set, highlighting their favorite aspects such as smooth joins, pointy tips, and flexible cables. 

Meet our Newest Needle Sets!

After hearing feedback from enthusiastic knitters and yarn store owners alike, we have developed several new needle sets for your knitting pleasure!

Cubics Deluxe IC

Perhaps the most talked-about needles from Knitter's Pride (though we're pleased to say it's a rather close competition), we have two new Cubics sets you'll want to try.  The Cubics Deluxe IC needle set features 7 needle tips ranging in sizes from US #6-11.  You'll also receive 4 Cords (to make 24'', 40'' & 2 of 32''), as well as size markers, end caps and cord keys, all in a fabric case with see-through vinyl. 

 The Cubics Special IC (Interchangeable) needle set features five needle pairs ranging in sizes from US #6 to US #10, 2 cords to make 16" circumference total (when tips and cord are joined together), plus other useful accessories (size markers, end caps and cord keys), all packaged in an attractive fabric case with see-through vinyl.  What makes this set special is the 4" needle tips which allow for knitting smaller circumferences when used with the set's cords.

Cubics Special IC

Both sets feature the unique ergonomic shape of our Cubics line, providing comfort to the hand and uniform stitch formation as you knit the hours away.  The easy-to-connect cords have smooth joins that enables easy stitch glide and no snagging; they're also resilient and flexible, lying flat with ease, and won't kink or twist as you knit with them.  Beginners and advanced knitters alike will appreciate these thoughtfully-packaged sets.

Dreamz enthusiasts can also rejoice - our latest set in your favorite color-coded wooden needles was designed with you in mind!  The Dreamz Special IC set comes with seven of the most-used needle sizes, ranging from US #4 to US #10, 2 cords to make 16" circumference total (when tips and cord are joined together), plus size markers, end caps and cord keys.  Like our other sets, they're attractively packaged in a fabric case with see-through vinyl.  The needles tips measure 4" in length, featuring perfect points that are flawlessly tapered.  When used with the included cords, you'll be able to knit smaller circumferences in the round - perfect for hats, and cowls!

For those of you who prefer metal needle tips, but also want to knit smaller circumferences with circular needles, look no further than the Nova Special IC set.  Again, you'll receive seven of the most-used needle sizes, ranging from US #4 to US #10, 2 cords to make 16" circumference total (when tips and cord are joined together), plus size markers, end caps and cord keys - all in a fabric case with see-through vinyl.  Each 4" needle tip is engineered from hollow brass pipes and plated with high quality nickel; the polished surface and sharp tapered points are a delight to knit with. 

Finally, if you're new to Knitter's Pride needles and don't know where to start, our revamped Comby Sampler Set gives you a taste of our most popular needles types and sizes.  This affordable set contains a pair each of Dreamz (US #6), Cubics (US #7) and Nova (US #8) tips along with cords in two useful lengths (to make 24'' & 40''), end caps and cord keys.  Packaged in a lovely fabric case with see-through vinyl, the Comby Sampler Set is ideal for introducing interchangeable needles to new knitters and makes a great gift!

Winner + The buzz for Knitter's Pride!

A big thank-you to everyone who entered our blog contest this month!  We've enjoyed reading the many wonderful comments on our blog post. Our lucky winner is Ravelry user aewsimmons, who said,"I would like to try the cubics needles. The design is very intriguing."

We've contacted you on Ravelry so that you can claim your prize.  Congratulations!

We're thrilled to hear from so many happy knitters and crocheters who are using our products.  Here are some of our latest customer comments from our Facebook Fan Page:

Cubics Deluxe
Interchangeable Set

Cubics are wonderful! They have beautifully tapered points. The circular needles' join and cable are perfection. The best part is how gentle they are on hands. - Carol H. 


I already have the Dreamz but would love to try the Nova! I love my Dreamz: super pointy, light weight, warm and flexible - everything a knitted could ask for! - Bobbie W.


I love my Dreamz needles as well as the Cubics, but my favorite ones are my Symfonie Rose needles and Symfonie Rose crochet hooks. They are so smooth and wonderful to work with. Love them all. - Ginny S

Dreamz Interchangeable Set

I'm a somewhat persnickety knitter, I like to use only the best b/c it's my time and my time can't be replaced, renewed, or recycled.  Just got a circular size 7 Knitter's Pride needle, lovely wood, very smooth join (so laceweight yarn won't snag) and non-kink cable - now I'm stalking the interchangeables! - Carole Ann G.

I have the circular Dreamz needles and love the way they feel in my hands.  - Sarah B.  


Please keep sharing your comments and compliments with us via this blog, Ravelry, Facebook and Twitter.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Getting to Know Your Needles

You may have noticed a new line of needles at your LYS - Knitter's Pride needles and crochet hooks are soon to be your favorite tools for the crafts you love!  With the help of an international advisory panel of knitters and crocheters, we developed our range of needle styles and types to suit the needs of artisans just like you.

If you're new to the Knitter's Pride family, we're pleased you've found us - allow us to give a brief introduction to our product lines:

Dreamz

This line of wooden needles is color-coded for each size, making it easier to find what you're looking for!  Choose from DPNs, Fixed Circular, Interchangeable, and Single-Pointed.  We also have Interchangeable Circular Needle sets, DPN sets, and Single-Pointed needles sets to ensure you always have what you need to cast on!  You can also click here to read Clara Parkes' Dreamz review on Knitter's Review.

Cubics

These cuboid-shaped needles are easy on your hands and available in a wide range of options:  DPNs, Fixed Circulars, Interchangeables, Single-Pointed, and Interchangeable Circular sets, too! They are truly needles with all the right angles - once you give them a try, you won't want to knit with anything else!

Nova

These needles are lightweight, durable and soon to be your new favorite metal needles. Choose from DPNs, Fixed Circular, Interchangeable, and Single-Pointed.  You can also build your needle library with our Interchangeable Circular Sets, DPN sets, and Single-Pointed sets!

Basix

Everyone needs a few good Basix!  Available in DPNs, Fixed Circulars and Single-Pointed needles, they're a great option for the beginning knitter.  These lightweight birch needles are polished for superior glide - they work effortlessly with every type of yarn without slowing down your rhythm!

Crochet

We've developed both Single-Ended and Tunisian crochet hooks in a variety of materials.  Choose from our color-coded Dreamz or the lightweight and ergonomically-designed Aluminum with a soft-feel handle.  If you prefer single-ended crochet hooks, choose from our Dreamz and Aluminum lines as well as our durable Steel hooks which feature an ergonomic handle for maximum crafting comfort, or the polished wood Basix, which glide effortlessly with every type of material.

Try Knitter's Pride for Free!
We know that once you give our needles a try, you'll fall in love - which is why we're giving you plenty of chances to win FREE Knitter's Pride needles and crochet hooks this month.

Chance #1: Click here to sign up for our brand-new e-newsletter (you can also use the sign-up on the right sidebar), and you'll automatically be eligible to win a prize!  We'll announce our first round of winners (yes, plural!) when we send out the inaugural issue.

Chance #2: Follow us on Twitter, join our Ravelry group, or become a fan on Facebook - because you never know when or where we'll announce our next giveaway! 

Chance #3: Leave a comment on this blog post sharing which needles you're excited to try - or, if you've used some already, let us know what you think! We'll pick one lucky person to win a prize on Friday, February 24th.  Good luck!