This is Deborah Megan

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Hi, my name is Deborah Megan and I live in northern Oklahoma. I'm originally from Texas, though I've also called New York and Colorado home. I got married on 06-07-08, on a beautiful beach in Kauai, Hawaii, to a very sweet man! I am a Registered Dietitian, though I currently work with K-3rd graders who may need extra help with their reading skills. My husband's job keeps us in a small town and my options to practice dietetics are minimal. I love doing what I do now and I wonder why I went into nutrition! We have two four-legged children, Emmitt and Ellie. I'm a crafter by nature! My mom is an experienced and masterful cross stitcher. She dabbles in paper crafts and is the reason I started all of my crafts. I started beading when I was in elementary school, and still have some beads that I used then. At about the same age, I had a tub full of rubber stamps to play with. Do you think she was trying to keep me busy? In middle school, we did a scrapbook together, back when the craft was just starting. I started knitting when I was a freshman in college, and found that I love the rhythm of completing each stitch. Aside from crafting, I love to travel, cook, spend time with my church family, read, and watch football----GO Dallas Cowboys and Texas Aggies!! I look forward to reporting on this useful site. Thank you for having me!

Skacel: Addi Turbo (The Original)

This is one of, if not the highest quality needle on the market. The Addi Turbo needles feature nickel plated brass tips and a flexible, snag-resistant cord. They are made by Skacel in Germany, and you can find them at your local yarn store (LYS) or specialty craft shops. I have not seen them at large chain retailers. They retail for $12.99 to $19.99 depending on shop, size, and/or length.

I'm the type of knitter who frequently uses circular needles, even when I'm not knitting in the round. It's even rarer for me to use a straight needle longer than 10" because I find it cumbersome and uncomfortable. Therefore, quality circular needles are my needle of choice. The ease of passing each stitch between needles is uber smooth with these needles. This makes for quick knitting, thus the name--Turbo. This sweater was made using the Addi Turbo needles and a Debbie Bliss pattern.

I've heard complaints about these being too slippery with poly-blend yarns or yarns that tend to be slick to the touch (i.e. eyelash, fun fur, etc.). The complaint is that the yarn easily falls off the needle due to the slickness of the yarn and the smoothness of the needle. Other metal needles tend to have more friction, and may be easier to use for some knitters. I've found that dropped stitches can occur regardless of needle type. The slick and smooth characteristics of this needle is what makes them heads above the rest.

The cord holds the curls slightly, if stored in the original packaging. If stored outside of the package, the curl will slowly dissipate and it will lay flat. The cord holds far less curl than other brands because it is not made of a hard plastic material (i.e. Susan Bates). The cord is very soft and provides for a smooth transfer. The connection between the metal and cord is well-designed so that the stitches do not get caught or damaged.

All this to say that the Addi Turbo needles are very smooth and provide for an enjoyable knitting experience. I have yet to find a better knitting needle, or one that I would rather work with.

Pros:

• high quality
• smooth
• increases rate of knitting
• good connection site between needles and cord
• versatile with all yarns
• available in multiple lengths and sizes
• available as straight needles
• available as Addi Click, the interchangeable cord lengths and needle sizes

Cons:

• not available at large craft retailers
• compared to other needles prices, they are more expensive (although still affordable)

What do you think? Do you prefer straight or circular knitting needles? Have you tried the Addi Turbos? Do you like the Addi Turbos?