What were those needles made from, anyway?

I love new things, don't get me wrong, but there is a certain magic about using an almost antique crafting tool. All the repetitive moves it's made when held by other fingers make it long to dance again, and when I use it it seems happy and content to be out of the storage box and back into the fiber.

Nothing wrong with new yarn, or a spanking new pair of Addi Turbos for sock knitting, but I still have a huge weak spot for a bundle of knitting needles and crochet hooks and stitch markers etc etc etc picked up for a song at an auction or rummage sale.

I got this double pointed needle container at an online auction, and even re-purposed it to hold all my #1 DPNS. It wasn't until just the other day that I really LOOKED at it, and read its claims. Go ahead, and click on the bottom image there.


Yep. NON INFLAMMABLE. That's comforting, that is. Now, no matter HOW fast I get those puppies moving, I know they won't burst into flame! I suspect the needles it contained might have been from bakelite or some other new and thus suspicious substance... and I wonder how many knitting needle related fires had to happen before they came up with this warning? :-}