Today I found a place that still had some Holz and Stein circular needles and crochet hooks in stock, the ones made from leftover wood from making musical instruments. How they had them I don’t know; the company quit exporting to America around 2000.
They are the best knitting needles I have ever used.
I had a pair that I had knit nearly every project in my book on. I had it in my bag when I went to a booksigning by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee in Santa Rosa, about a ninety-minute drive from here.
It vanished there. I still miss them. I can only hope that whoever found that circular either used them and loved them too or found someone who would appreciate what they had.
The only thing I’ve found that comes close–and they definitely come close–are the hand carved ones by Tom Diak in Vermont. After a hand injury sidelined him for awhile, he’s gone back to making interchangeables but not the plain circs I’ve bought in the past. I keep hoping. Full confession: I have never bought interchangeables, period. I once had a tip come unglued from a cheap needle with hundreds of lace stitches smushed together on it and the idea of the tips coming off, even deliberately, just gives me the heebie-jeebies.
This vendor had the size my current afghan is being worked on. It was slippery yarn on slippery needles, which got traded a few days ago for a dinged-up old wooden pair that just hasn’t been doing much for me either. And now! Actual, sturdy, perfect-tipped, perfectly finished Holz and Steins! I can’t wait till they get here!
The price was about what I paid thirty years ago. Which was very expensive then but they were tools for a lifetime.
As long as they don’t hop out of your knitting bag at bookstores.
What Holz and Stein pairs I have now have been mostly knit-at-homes since then. Just because.
Do you have favorite needles? Am I being silly about interchangeables?