New Knit Picks Tools

We're always working on something new around here, and lately one of the projects has been a group of new Knit Picks tools. For the first time, we're focusing on tools - making improvements to the old faithfuls plus developing a couple of brand new things. One of the main improvements you will notice is that the prices will be much lower - yay! You know it already - that we work directly with the factory, cutting out the middle man, thus keeping prices low. But one thing you may not know is how much fun that is. It means visits to the factory, which I got to do last week.

Here I am in Taichung, Taiwan at the factory showroom to approve samples:

Sheldon went with me. Here he is inspecting a set of double ended crochet hooks designed for knitters - for fixing mistakes and doing crochet edges. They look perfect!

The date's not firm yet, but you'll see these tools in the catalog and on the web site in early spring 2009. If you want to be the very first to know when they're here, sign up for our e-mail.

The business part of the trip went so well that I had a little time left over to be a tourist. Meg and Vicky were my gracious guides for a walking tour of a very old part of town. We had a progressive lunch of street food along the way - yummy! My favorite was the almond powder on shaved ice, or maybe it was the steamed bun with pork and onions inside, or maybe the noodle soup, or maybe.......

We met lots of friendly lions:

And, Sheldon was excited to get reacquainted with a long-lost cousin:

Tags: newproduct, office_gossip

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Comment by Chosen on November 23, 2008 at 12:02pm: As a new knitter, I was saddened to read your post and realize that my recently discovered favorite knitting cables and needles come from Taiwan. I am rethinking what I'll do next. Otherwise, I really enjoy your web site and appreciate what you do. You tutorials have been a blessing.

Comment by Mary Ann Croisant on November 19, 2008 at 1:08pm: Exciting developments! Like Nancy Chaffin, I would much prefer to purchase items made in this country, even if it costs a bit more. Thank you for all that you do for us knitters...and please look for suppliers in this country.

Comment by Becky on November 17, 2008 at 5:19pm: I have been looking for a small crochet hook to put into a knit-kit (needle, tape, scissors...).

Comment by Nancy Chaffin on November 15, 2008 at 9:26am: It is wonderful to have low prices, but at what cost to our own country? I am sad to see the pictures of a factory in Taiwan. Personally I would much prefer spending a little more in order to buy supplies that are made in this country. It makes me sad to see so many good workers and factories in this country go out of business in the quest for cheap labor and products from over seas. We get what we pay for and I for one try very hard not to buy item made in other countries. I say "Buy American!" when ever possible. I quess that is why I won't be buying the made in China supplies even from Knitpicks .

Comment by Gretchen Spinnrad on November 15, 2008 at 8:50am: A new tool that I would like are crochet hooks that fit on my Options interchangable cables. There are times when picking up stitches is just a lot easier with a crochet hook, but I don't want to have to transfer each stich to my circs. I could use such hooks in a number of different sizes for, maybe, fine, medium and heavy weight yarns.

I sure like you double ended crochet hook idea. What a help that will be for correcting garter stitch errors!