I have tried them all, and, at age 64, have decided that my preference for painting are hog bristle brushes (as opposed to sable or nylon brushes) and my preference for knitting are steel needles.

Aside from being fit for heavy-duty use, steel needles invoke the god of steel in my knitting. As such they can be used, when necessary, as weapons.

I've already turned my back on plastic (there is no god or goddess of plastic), tortoise shell and whalebone (disapproved of by the goddess of the sea), and bamboo and other types of wood (actually breakable).