NEW! Interchangeable Needle Sets- Poll and comments!

[Jan in CA]

Which interchangeable needles do you like best? Please comment on why you like them and if you have concerns. If you have more than one type maybe you could comment on that.

A few links..there are others though.
Knitpicks Options (http://knitpicks.com/needles/knitting_needles.aspx)
Denise Interchangeables (http://www.knitdenise.com/)
Boye Needlemaster (http://www.nakedsheep.com/boyneedknitn.html)

[Jan in CA]

I have the Denise Set right now. I like them, but find that some yarns tend to stick to them. I bought a few Knitpicks needles to test and I love them so I'll be ordering the set soon.

[amy]

Well, I own all of the above, so I'll chime in on all of them!

First of all, for those who don't know what an interchangeable-type set is, it's a set of needles in a wide range of sizes, with which one can do nearly all of one's knitting. The short "needle tips" attach to a cable (various lengths are included) to make a circular needle. Any type of knitting, including regular "flat" knitting (like a scarf), or circular knitting, can be done on these needles. The kits offer convenience and affordability over buying dozens of individual circular needles (the kind with permanently attached cables), and far more flexibility than using ordinary straight needles.

Knitpicks Options set

Pros
:arrow: The slick needle surface is very smooth and luxurious. :inlove: This is, for many, enough reason to buy this particular set. And I knit with this set when I can, for this reason.
:arrow: The cables are quite flexible.
:arrow: Affordably priced.
:arrow: The manufacturer allows for the set to be purchased in pieces, so you can try it out by purchasing a single size of needles and cable. Very nice option for the low-commitment new knitter, no other set offers this.

Cons
:arrow: The set does not contain a reasonably short cable length. The shortest length is a 24" (measured from needle tip to needle tip), which is fine for some things, but compared to the 17" length of the Denise kit, this is a major limitation of the set. (See update below, some people are modifying their cables!)
:arrow: Poorly organized kit. Needles are not labeled with their size, nor are the sleeves. It's very easy to loose track of parts of this kit.

This is my preferred kit when I'm knitting something flat, or large enough to fit on 24" needles.


Denise Interchangeable set
Available in our knittinghelp Store (http://www.knittinghelp.com/dynamic/php/store/index.php?cPath=4).

Pros
:arrow: 17" length! :cheering: Very practical for hats, baby clothes, and other circular items of such diameter. No other set has this short a length. I use this kit more than any other kit for this reason, and for the following reason.
:arrow: Well-organized kit, makes it very easy to keep track of items and see if something in the kit is missing. This is a big deal for me, because I will grab my kit on the way out the door, and I like knowing if it has what I need in it.
:arrow: Flexible cables. Even the 17" length is easy to maneuver, and literally easier on the wrists than most other sets are at their 20" lengths.
:arrow: The most affordable set on the market.
:arrow: Needle tips are warmer to the touch, and quiter sounding than metal tips.
:arrow: Click-on needle tips are easier to attach and won't come unscrewed during knitting.
:arrow: These easily pass through airport security, in my experience.

Cons
:arrow: Resin/plastic materials are durable but less "luxurious" than other materials like bamboo, and even metal.
:arrow: Resin needle tips are smoother than bamboo, but not as smooth as metal.

This kit is not luxurious, but rates #1 for practicality. When I need a 17" needle length, which seems like half the time, I use this kit. Also, if I'm going to start a project while out of the house, I grab this kit because I can tell if it contains the needle sizes I need.


Boye Needlemaster
Better organization than the Options set. I love the streamline case and the color-coded needles are pretty and easy to keep track of. Slick, metal needles (not as slick as Options, but second best). My only complaint about this set is the stiff cables. I won't use the 20" length, only the 24" or longer. Stiff means that the knitting flows along the cable smoothly, but it's harder on the wrist at that short length. The other main complaint about this set is that the needle tips come unscrewed, but that is easily remedied: discard their white rubber grip, and use a circle cut from a yellow dishwashing glove instead.

Webs Bamboo Set
Beatiful set with lovely bamboo needles. As with the Boye set, the stiff cable is my main complaint. I find the short 20" too stiff, but use the longer lengths.

Update--My own dream kit:
One day I'm going to do actually do this...
Shorten one of the Options cables to an 18" length, using heavy duty glue. I've heard some have done this. (Pull the cable out of the metal end, cut it, and glue it back in with 2-ton epoxy!)

I'll then take the needles and cables from the Knitpick's Options kit, and stuff them into my Boye Needlemaster case. This dream kit has it all: flexible cables, a short cable length, slick needles, and excellent organization in a streamline case. I can't imagine a more perfect kit, unless the Options needles were colored like the Boye set, so pretty.

Note about broken parts
All of the above manufacturers are good about replacing broken or poorly made parts. Broken cables, parts that don't screw in properly...these things are quite common in all sets, so don't judge the manufacturer on that...just contact them for replacement parts. They're all good at replacing parts.

[Nikki]

I voted for KP's Options. I bought and tried to use the Denise and hate the plastic things, sorry I bought them.

[KathyinCali]

I have the Options. I also have the Plymouth Bamboo Sister Interchangables. What I like about the Plymouth are; they are very compact-I bought them to travel with. They also have an 18" cable! While they are obviously not the same cables as Options or Addis, they still aren't bad to work with and softened right up when I put them in warm water. I rate them an 8.

Happy knitting! :hug:

[Carla1019]

I didn't vote because:

I have the Denise, even tho they are good, I have already broken one, beause of the plastic.

My Mom found me a VERY old set of Boye, I love those. I need to buy me the new Boye set or the Option set. some of the Boye stuff is missing.

[newamy]

I have the Options and really like them. I never tried any other set so cannot compare.

The draw backs I find to the Options are the same that Amy said. No short cable and difficult to organize the set. I know some people like all the little pockets and so forth but I had to put a lable on each one with the needle size. And I didn't really need/want all the varying pocket sizes.

On the plus side I think the price is right for the product. I did have one cable go bad and Knitpicks replaced it right away. In fact they sent two! The case fits nicely on my bookshelf with my knitting books. And when I knit with other needles I can really feel the difference. The Options are smooth and light weight and I think they make knitting faster and easier.

[rorygilmore]

I have the Options set and I love them. But I do wish the sizes were on the needles.

[amy]

...Plymouth Bamboo Sister Interchangables... have an 18" cable!

No kidding! I didn't know that about the Plymouth set! I might have to check them out and see how flexible that cable is...if it's easy on the wrists it could be a contender for my top three.

It's funny how quickly this thread is growing. We're all so passionate about our needles! :teehee:

[marykz]

I like my Denise- lightweight, flexible, no kinking cable issues. I like the organized case. I may buy options another day, but for now, I'm happy! I've had no issues with my set- and I even got them "pre-owned" (Thanks Silver!).

They aren't my only circular needles, I own some random regular types too- some metal, some plastic, one Addi Turbo..... so I don't have a need for more than one interchangeable set at the moment.

[Eloewien]

I also love how pointy my options are. I love my few sets of short or tiny addis, but they're not pointy enough. It makes it so much easier to do lacework on the pointy tips!

[Secksiebrat]

I currently own the knitpicks options and the denises. I also owned the boye's and disliked them.

Knitpicks: I've done 2 projects with them and LOVE the flexible cables. I love the smooth metal needles and I really "fly" when I knit. I WISH there were smaller cables and a few smaller sizes, for knitting socks on 2 circulars for example. I wish the needles were labeled in a way b/c I have a hard time telling the sizes apart.

Denises: I have the colored set that was done by Amy. It's very easy to tell them a part and the joins are easy and I haven't had any problems with them coming apart when I knit. The cables are a bit thicker than the knitpicks options but they are nice as well.

Boyes: I DID like the fact they were each a different color so it was very easy to tell what sizes I had. I HATED the cables. They were SO thick and not flexible. They actually caused my wrists to hurt when knitting in the round ( I did about 5 booga bags with them).

So there's my beef. I Hope this helps others when they are shopping for interchangables ;)

~danielle~

[losnana]

I love my Options, but agree with Amy about the way the kit is organized. I'd also love a 16" cable, and a 40" one. I found that the pockets that are divided into 2 or 3 sections aren't really large enough to open well. But I love the needle tips and the VERY flexible cables. I've never had any problem with the cables coming unscrewed.

[Paws4Knitting]

Are Options still great to have even though so many knitters are having to tighten them and worry about the joins coming lose? :shrug:

Would you still buy them? :shrug:

[Carol_OH]

I love Denises; haven't tried the Options, but I didn't like Boyes because the needle itself wasn't long enough for me

[jdee]

I have a set of options, and I LOVE them! I love the flexable cable. The metal needles are so smooth to knit with, and I love the pointy tip. I used to wish there were a shorter cable with the set, but since I've learned the Magic Loop method of knitting in the round (thanks to Amy's videos), that's no longer a big concern for me. Like the rest of you, I wish the set were more organized. I ended up writing my needle sizes on the zipper pouches with sharpie. :teehee: I know I'm not the only one who's done this, because reading someone else's post gave me the idea.

I also have a set of Denises, but I haven't had them very long. I ordered them from ebay, and just got them last week. I've only made one small project (a water bottle cozy), so I can't do a really comparison between them and my options. I can say, however, that I loved knitting with them. The cable is thicker, but very flexable. In fact, because it's thicker, I feel like it's sturdier, and less likely to break. I know that's just my imagination, because I've never broken one of my options. It's just one of those silly ideas I sometimes get in my head. :rofl: The set is very well organized, and I like that about it.

But I have to say that I didn't vote, because I honestly can't pick a favorite. I like them both equally.

Jennifer

[dakatzmeow]

i have the kp options set and i have solved 2 of the most common problems.

1. cables not short enough.
buy the longer ones (very cheap) and knit with magic loop. or use 2 circs to knit in the round. (it really is very easy, and i have not had ladders yet where i switch from needle to needle, or loop to loop.

2. needles get mixed up b/c the sizes are not stamped on the needles tips.
buy the 'view sizer' and you can measure your needle tips easily. it's very cheap, and it actually is very specific and measures the difference between a size 1 needle that is 2.25 vs. a size 1 needle that is 2.5 mm OR size 2 needle that is 2.75 mm and a size 2 that is 3.00 mm. they also have a slot to measure the diff between sizes 10, 10-1/2 and 10-3/4. for 1.99, i don't think it can be beat. to top that off, the area where you count stitches in the 4 inch ruler area has a magnifier to help count the stitches.

i love love love my kp options! :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

[humblestumble]

Well, I use Boye Needlemasters, but I use them less and less. The threading of the inside of the needles gets worn out so easily and I find that while knitting, (this isn't ALWAYS the case) the needles untwist and sometimes my work slides off the cable without my knowledge. So I have to keep twisting the cables to get them to be stable.

However, I can take the individual needles to hobby lobby for an exact exchange with no questions asked.

One of these days I might get another interchangeable set, but I am liking separates for now.

[GinnyG]

I'm so glad you posted this poll. I waded through the 59 ages of the other post and think I was even more confused. This makes it a bit clearer (ya think!!) that the Options may be worth holding out for.

[sig]

i have the denises set and love it! Wish the options set was shipped intenationally. You all talk so much about your great needles!!! yes, i´m jealous. :gah: By the way, i had to order the denises set online because i can´t find them in spain!! :!!!:

[Ingrid]

I never felt the need for interchangeables (and still probably don't really need them), but I bought the Options after hearing how much like the Addis they are. I've very pleased with them, but I agree about the storage and lack of labeling.

The pointier tips have already come in handy.

[mimi]

I bought the Options after all the reviews on this forum. I also have addis. My Options keep coming unscrewed. My addi points seem too blunt after working with the Options. So I like both, and am so happy to be part of such a friendly forum with so many helpful readers like all of you.

[dustinac]

I have the options, Denise's, and Boye's...

I voted for the options because since Christmas my Denise's haven't seen the light of day and my Boye's haven't seen the light of day in over a year :teehee:

I don't have a problem with the options case at all.. I'm very organized person to the point it drives those around me crazy..so I'm surprised to read that so many have problems with that.. :teehee: I have the single pockets for my dpns and I just made little card to put inside telling me what size.. they go up to size 3s... then I have my cords in the two pockets.. I have another card in one pocket letting me know the size.. then you get to my tips where I cut the little sizes off the cardboard they came in and dropped that in each set.. so I know which slot they go back in to.. I find it very organized and very easy for me to get to what I need..I also can keep pen, my yarn cutter, stitch markers, tapestry needle, crochet hook, finger nail file, cable needle all in my case..

I find the options slick and smooth.. the join is like your not using an interchangeable set but a solid knitting needle... I find the tips allow me to knit with no problems.. the yarn seems to just glide over them...I love their cables not stiff at all...

I love that I can buy extra pieces I almost have another full set of these (once a certain order arrives)...

I was not one who used the shorter cable in the denises much cause I don't knit a lot of hats but I can see where this would be a problem...

The Denise's I liked them they were awesome compared to the boyes but after using the options I realized the yarn didn't flow as well for me.. I did have problems with the joins.. I did like how they just clicked for me no having to deal with a key...I didn't care for the case though cause all I could carry in it was the needle tips and circs..

The boye's I thought the joins were awful and the cables to stiff.. I also had problems with them twisting off no matter how tight I got them..

[DoulaLyndsey]

I voted for the Options.

I've owned the Denise needles, the Boye needles and the Options needles. The only two I still own are the Denise and the Options. The Denise are nice and were my favorite until I got the Options. I find that as a tight knitter the yarn doesn't slide across the resin as easy as I'd like. Plus, my yarn always seemed to get caught on that little indent at the end of the needle. However, this set is helpful because it has the 17" cord, which I use a lot.

The Options are my favorite, I got them at Christmas time and have pretty much used them exclusively since. They are slick and easy to knit with. The cables are wonderfully flexible and I can easily do magic loop with them. I like the organization of the case, I simply used a Sharpie and wrote the needle sizes on the outside of the pockets and it keeps everything very organized.

I didn't like the Boye needles at all. Yes, the colors were pretty and the needle sizes went all the way down to size 2, but the cables were way too stiff. I couldn't do magic loop with them and the shortest cable was 20". I ended up selling them.

[Wahlee]

I've never used the Boye or the Denise set, so my experience isn't too wide-- but I love my Options. I used Addi Turbos almost exclusively before, and because I was so used to the slick metal finish, I never even considered the Boye or Denise set (the Boye is metal, but it's not as slick as the Options). When using the key, I've had no problems with anything coming undone-- and the key is easy enough to use.

I also like the organization of the Options set because it does give you so many options-- like the set, it's adaptable for different situations. Since I plan on expanding my starter set with the bigger sizes, more cables, and more tips in my most-used sizes, it gives me the option to organize them any way I want (I'm planning on doubling up on the triple and double pockets-- there's plenty of room for two sets of tips, especially if they're the same size or close to it). Then I use small rectangular sticker-labels to let me know what's in each pocket.

The fact that there's no size stamped on the needle doesn't bother me, but I guess it's because I've always had to use a needle sizer anyway-- the Addis supposedly have their size stamped on the cable, but *I* can't read them :P. Now that I've got the pockets labeled, it's actually easier for me to find the needle I need!

I'm keeping my Addi Turbos because they're almost all 16" ones, which, of course, don't come with the Options. But I'll probably only be using them if I have to-- I love the pointy tips on the Options!

[brownishcoat]

You CAN test-drive the Boye interchangeables. Hobby Lobby sells individual tips, cables and buttons ($2.99 each piece), and if you don't have one near you, they can be ordered online at www.craftsetc.com.

The Options short cable issue doesn't affect me, because I enjoy using the Magic Loop technique*. I also don't have organization issues, because I left my needles on the cardstock sheet they came attached to. Eventually, I plan to copy the card, cut/fold it in half, reinforce it (I have some decoupage medium), re-thread it and place both halves facing out in one of the large plastic pockets. I'll probably post a photo if I ever get this done. ;)

*My first Options order was a pair of tips in size 5 and 10.5, a 40" cable set, and size 0, 1 and 3 classic 32" circs - essentially making doubles of all my Boye sizes, while adding the 0 and 1 that's not included. I made a point of getting a cable size that was not available in the complete set. Unfortunately, they enchanted me immediately and I had to have the entire set. Now I only need the larger tips, classic 32" circ in size 2 and probably the 47" and 60" cable sets.

I highly recommend getting a rubber grip for your Options set; many KHers have had problems with tips coming loose. Amy recommended cutting the palm from a rubber glove, and it works great!

The only advantages that Boye has over Options is the greater size range and that each needle tip size is a different color. Otherwise, they have NOTHING on the Options. :D

[madametj]

I like the Denise set, but they do come undone quite often as I knit, which well, doesnt make me very happy :doh:. I luv the organization of the Denises. The only tiny problem is that i get never quite tell where the cable should go :?? .

I'll probably get the Options set in a year or so, and hopefully they'll have a 17" size by then.

[madametj]

i have the denises set and love it! Wish the options set was shipped intenationally. You all talk so much about your great needles!!! yes, i´m jealous. :gah: By the way, i had to order the denises set online because i can´t find them in spain!! :!!!:

hey, where there's a will, there's a way. Maybe if you know someone in the US, you could have it shipped to them, and have them ship it to you. Sure, u'll have some $hipping to $pend on, but u'll have your loverly needles :flirt:

[luv2knit]

I have the Rainbow Set of Denise Needles. I don't like metal type needles, so these work well for me. However I haven't ever tried the other sets, so I basically haven't even compared them! My other favorites are bamboos, but none of mine are interchangeable.

I only have two "complaints" regarding the Denise Needles, but I contacted the company and they were very helpful. First I do have several joints that seem to be very loose...I sent one cord in, but even then the replacement was still a bit loose. I actually ordered several pink cords and they are very tight! I asked about it and they said they were trying an improved connection and they were in the pink ones. I am considering asking if they will exchange all the ones I have trouble with with the pink cords. Second one set of my needles seems to shred a bit, like the layers are coming off...they told me to use a very fine sandpaper and it should help the problem. I am in the process of doing that, it's only helped a little.

Despite those issues, I use them all the time. I really like the cables with my Denise Needles, they are flexible, and I can adjust the length. The case keeps everything together and I can grab it and go! I did purchase extra cords, buttons and extenders, because I found I was using them a lot! Obviously don't work on one project at time!

[Quiltlady]

I have the Denise set and I love them. They are just perfect in my eyes. Work like a dream and are smooth to the touch. I'm more than happy with them. :muah: