The Square Needle

A review of the Four square Needles from KnitPicks

This funny thing happens when you start knitting, especially if you’re a dreamer like me.  (Aroha Knits has a fun Fiber Muse quiz that you can take here to find out what type of knitter you are.

As you work on one project, you get an idea, or ignite a spark for another.  So you start working on that project too.  Now you’ve got two projects “on your needles”.  Then a third idea strikes, and pretty soon this pattern repeats itself until you have about 4-5 projects going at one time.

At least, you can if you’re like me.  Because of this tendency, you end up having a lot of needles that are “occupied”.  Rather than put the stitches for one project on hold and make switching back and forth a bigger deal, I went to my go to website for some more needles.

Cringe I know, *I should go out to my local yarn store* but inspiration struck after hours and I’m someone who is dealing with an instant gratification issue.

KnitPicks had been talking about a fun and funky new needle that they called their Foursquare line – appropriately named, rather than have the traditional cylindrical shape, these knitting needles were square.  I was intrigued, and had been wondering what these were like – so it was the perfect storm, I mean, reason to buy some new needles.

I grabbed a short fixed circular set, and a double pointed needle set and patiently waited for them to arrive.  When they were shipped to Das Haus, (what we have affectionately named our new abode here in the park – German for, “the house”), I was working on some new hat designs and fervently put these new ‘edgy’ needles to work.

What did I think of the new Foursquare needles?

I like them! They’re a nice addition to the array of knitting needles that I have, enabling an avid knitter like myself to switch things up a bit.  When you’re working on a bigger project, that might make you a bit tense, sometimes you get those sore spots on your fingertips or in between your knuckles.  Switching to a needle of a different shape can help to ease the pressure on those spots a bit.

Cables: They’re especially good for working cables, or difficult stitches, as the needle gives you a flat surface to grip.  Having a flat surface, even if it is a small one, can give you a leg up and make a difficult skill a little bit easier.  These needles were great to work with on my Cables A Go Go and Twisted Hat patterns.