Needle Review: Knitpro Karbonz DPNs

Thursday 15^th May 2014

I love knitting needles. Well, no shizzle, Sherlock? Yes, but some people don’t seem to mind which needles they use, do they?  I really do.  In this new and I am sure you will agree, absolutely riveting blog series, I will review knitting needles.  And no, this is not just a thinly veiled excuse to buy more needles.  It’s not.  I honestly wouldn’t bother with the thin veil.  I’d just buy them.  I’m like that. Un-veiled. Anyway, first to be reviewed are a new brand to me, Knitpro Karbonz. I am familiar with Knitpro, of course, but I had not tried their fairly new carbon needles.  Now, I am going to ask you to do as I did and please overlook the terrible punnage of the word carbon, tortured to the form:  Karbonz.  I know.  Just try. I have knitted with the DPNs, in size 3mm, 15cm length.  With these I have now knitted two pairs of mitts, involving knitting in the round, adding beads, bobbles, cables etc. They are carbon with nickel plated brass tips.  The carbon is warm to the touch, and soft in the way that wooden needles can be, but yet it also feels stronger.  The tips are long, tapered and sharp (but I was using 3mm needles, bear in mind) and the tip joint is really very smooth.  It’s there, but I have had no yarn-snagging. They cost £7.50 plus P&P.  I think this is very good value for money indeed.  I really loved using them and will certainly get other DPNs in my favourite sizes and also try the single points and the circs.  They also do the Karbonz as interchangeables.  I never use interchangeables, but I do often use fixed cable circs instead of single points.  Or for Moebiuses.  I will get one for this purpose and that will be an acid test – will the needle/cable joint be smooth?  On the carbon to metal point with the DPNs is is. Best things:

• good value, at £7.50 for a set of 5 DPNs
• attractive – this matters to me
• warm and with a soft ‘handle’
• sharp tips
• smooth transition
• slight ‘grip’ on the yarn, not so much as wood but way more than steel – I liked this
• very light weight
• strong – less likely to snap if you sit on one.

Not so good:

• obvs, they are dark grey, except the tips, so this might be an issue if knitting with dark grey or black yarn
• the needle size, printed on the side of each needle, is already worn away in several places.  In a few more mitts, it will be gone.  Not a big deal, and I am a harsh ‘clashy’ knitter, but it’s nice to be able to identify needles without a sizer to hand.

Overall, I really rate these needles.  I love DPNs, break wooden ones for a past-time, and these are perfect:  economical, stylish and a pleasure to use.  I’d give them 9 out of 10. I got mine here.