Life's a Stitch

UPDATE (August 2006): I am adding this review of the Knit Picks Options set, which I’ve owned and used for the past month:

• Cables are very thin. Can be a good or bad thing.
• I’ve had two cable failures, where they pull out of the metal piece that attaches them to the needles. Knit Picks has been very good about replacing them, but knowing that it has happened to me twice, I wouldn’t use these needles for a complicated lace pattern. You don’t need the frustration of picking up dropped yarn overs.
• They are very sharp. Sharp enough to break the skin. Again, sharpness can be a good and bad thing.
• There is no way to attach cables to each other, like in the other sets. If you want long needles you have to purchase specific lengths.
• The size of the needle is not embossed onto the needles, requiring the use of a needle gauge to be sure you are using the correct size.
• They are as slippery as Addi’s.
• Options may be the nicest to knit with, but the Boye set is still the most reliable.

Original Post: Flying this week, I’ve had knitting needles on my mind. I mistakenly put a project into my carry on that contained addis and a cable needle. Not a problem, thank goodness, unless you’re flying through certain US airports.

I know I own too many needles: a set of straight bamboos given to me by a woman with MS who could no longer knit, plenty of Addi circulars, a Denise interchangeable set, a Boye Needlemaster set and too many miscellaneous needles to count. I’ve been asked which interchangeable set I prefer, so here’s my review:

Boye Needlemaster set:

• contains sizes 2-15
• a little rough in texture but good for slippery yarn
• sharp points
• stiff cables
• have never come apart when I’ve used them – the trick being to check their tightness each time before I start knitting
• haven’t been plagued by the yarn catching at the join as mentioned on other sites
• don’t really  like the join when adding additional cables to make a really long needle – stiff and awkward
• a great value when purchased with a Michael’s coupon
• needle colours occasionally interfere with yarn colours making the yarn difficult to see
• cables screw into needles
• makes that shoop shoop sound when knitting

Denise Interchangeables:

• needles are slightly flexible
• neutral needle colour
• are very quiet, no clicking sound, silent against each other
• sharp points
• comes in sizes 5-15
• very flexible cables that stay relatively flexible when more than one cable is joined together
• has come apart or even broken while knitting
• good warranty service – e-mail them and a new part is sent right away
• the case is similar to a video case and is not all that durable, especially when squished in suit cases when travelling
• although not always an issue anymore – airline security approved or is it just that they don’t show up on the x-ray machine?
• when joining cables to needles they click into place and the join feels a bit delicate. I have accidentally unclicked them pushing yarn along from the cable to the needle – be careful not to twist the needle when moving stitches along.

Which one would I recommend? If you can have only one set of interchangeables, and you can get a Michael’s coupon, I’d probably go for the Boye’s for the larger selection of needle sizes. And there you have it – my review of interchangeable knitting needles. Happy shopping.

P.S. Just found this link to Frugal Knittinghaus where the Boye’s are available for $59.95. Still not as good as Michael’s coupon price, but better than full price.

Update: Arrived in Edmonton and hit a yarn shop within three hours – Wool Revival. I found some Grignasco Top Print in a pretty desert sunset colourway.Here are the spoils, the photo is a bit washed out: