Whilst looking for something entirely different yesterday, I came across the vase containing all my straight knitting needles. I had to look at my finished projects page to work out when I’d last used them. I think it could possibly be 2006, which means they’ve been sitting in that corner of the spare bedroom (aka dumping ground for everything that might be useful one day) for nigh on three years.
The thing is, I use circular needles or dpns for everything these days. I’m either knitting in the round, or knitting large flat items that work best on a circular where the stitches don’t get bunched up.
So I have this jar of various needles, mostly unexciting bamboo and metal, but there are some prettiful Brittany Birch ones in there, three pairs of colourful Pony Pearl needles bought because they were, well, colourful, and the gigantic 15mm plastic ones I bought back when Rowan’s Big Wool first came out and I made a fetching lilac and lime green striped scarf. The one main advantage of straight needles over other kinds is that they look so nice in a jar together. Circs are great, but you can’t use them as art. 
I doubt I’ll do anything but put them in a corner again for another three years. But don’t let me forget where they are. Just in case… 
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I don’t really use straights either but that’s ok because all the straights are my mum’s. I’ll inherit them eventually and display them in a nice jar. Plus she has 3 nice wooden boxes for storing them.
I’ve actually got back to knitting with straights recently, but only very short ones and for very small projects, like scarves. Circs are just so much easier to tote around, and easier on the wrists when the knitting is heavy.
Love the Pony Pearl needles–their DPNs are the only ones I really, really love.
Even if your straights don’t get used again, at least they make a pretty photo. =)
i’ve realized that too lately – the circs are just easier to use, even on projects without lots of stitches. they don’t bump people i’m sitting next to either. most of the first needles i bought were straights (and a few DPNs), but now they’re either circs or DPNs. funny how habits change without us noticing sometimes.
i have a big vase with all my straights in it too. I use it as a knitter’s corner decoration in my lounge room now. That’s about all straight needles are good for in my book….
I never had that many straights to begin with. I think 1 of the 1st projects that I took on was an afghan for my sofa & necessity called for a BIG circ. I actually picked up a few pretty ones for the sake of having them, but have never used them – LOL. But they sure look pretty!
Poor straight needles! Mine are a little abandoned just now too. I still use them for things like sweaters that are being made in pieces, but my DPNs haven’t been used since I learned magic loop