Square
Someone is absolutely bound to ask about the needles. So yes, they’re square! They’re made by Kollage.
I like them! But there is one thing to look out for.
They used to come in a bronze color, and I had problems with the bronze coating wearing off on the tips of the needles over time. I’ve actually got a bunch of sets I don’t use any more because the spots where the coating wore off catch on my yarn as I knit, and that will send a person into a screaming rage in short order.
But they’ve switched to silver needles, and those don’t seem to have that problem. So as long as you get the silver ones, not the bronze ones, I think you’ll love them (it looks like the newer silver ones might even have inch marks on the needles so you’ve got a built in ruler!).
They give me an ever so slightly tighter gauge than round needles of the same size, so I like having them as an option to fine tune the fabric I’m creating (the shape or material of your needles can change the fabric you make, so having more than one kind of the same size needles on hand can be surprisingly helpful). I used them here because I want my mitts (which will see harder wear) to have a slightly tighter fabric than my hat (which will work better if it’s a bit more drapey).
Re a finer knit/needle size i now check all my needles with a really good gauge (not all are even some name brand) that has us and uk sizes because i was getting a slightly different gauge on 1 set, -they looked identical but one was a 1/2 or 1/4 (i forget which) size different. it can also be great when you can’t get guage and it is absolutely important for it to be exact! you probably knew this but it was just such an eye opener for me!