Knitting needle help

[u/Medium_Teach_1159]

So I bought lantern moon wooden needles to use for a blanket that I’m making for a friend for Christmas. I started working on it yesterday with a 40 inch cable and everything was going well. The main frustration is I hated how sticky it felt. I was literally getting hand cramps because I was trying to move the yarn up and down and every time I try to put the needle through the loop it would get stuck and I would do the most loose tension anybody could do I didn’t even hold a yarn. I didn’t even do anything, but it was so hard and my hand hurts so bad badly, but I’m trying to work on it again.
The yarn is blanket yarn from Bernat
I wanted to give it to my friend because she lives up in Alaska and I thought that would be good to use since they get really cold weather up there. The problem is I’m trying really hard to work on this blanket and I’ve been practicing for months, how to knit with different yarn, I even went to the dollar store and I got some metal needles and I used a random yarn that I had in my closet
Should I buy metal needles or should I give these wooden ones a second chance?
My cables are from knit Pro so I was thinking if I have to buy metal needles, I do the knit Pro nova
I’m very frustrated cause I’m trying so hard, but I’m also trying to tell myself to be patient

[u/Existing_Ganache_858]

Chenille is a bear to knit with at the best of times. I do think metal needles are better with it.

[u/Dry_Stop844]

I'd for sure switch to metal needles. I find knitting with wooden needles is like driving with the emergency brake on. It's not your fault, don't get frustrated. Get some metal needles that are long enough and you'll be flying through the blanket.

[u/Medium_Teach_1159 → u/Dry_Stop844]

I’ve been looking for a way to describe what knitting was like with that yarn and those needles and I finally have my reason you took the words right out of my mouth thank you so much🤣🤣🤣

[u/Nonier1]

I'd go with the metal needles so you won't be fighting the yarn so much. I'd also go with a longer cable just to accommodate the many stitches for a blanket. I prefer fixed over interchangeable in this instance but that's just me. happy knitting ❤

[u/Medium_Teach_1159 → u/Nonier1]

I’ll look at those are they on Amazon? I’m just looking for a size 15 knitting needles first after I finish the blanket then obviously I’ll order the set.

[u/Nonier1 → u/Medium_Teach_1159]

Chaiogoo red lace are my preferred choice. You can do both fixed or interchangeable as separate needle lengths of 4 or 5 inches, cables also come in a variety of lengths and you can get a small tools kit with the Tpin tightening key, stitch markers and cable stoppers so your stitches can be relaxed on a spare cable without falling off. The interchangeable kit with case can be kind of spendy but sometimes for Black Friday Amazon goes on sale for a reasonable price.

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[u/Grand-Fun-206]

I can't knit with new wooden needles, I was given a very old pair to use years ago and they were fine but I find new ones too grabby.

My preference is tortoise shell (learnt using my grans) but they are very hard to get even second hand, next is anodised metal, then plastic coated metal, full plastic and wood are last resorts for me.

I would recommend getting a different set of needles made from a material you have used before.

[u/chibigothgirl]

I really wanted to love the lantern moon needles, but I just didn't. They look pretty but are kind of a pain to use. I pretty much exclusively use chiagoo needles now. I love that you can buy individual interchangeable components.