Interchangable Needles Sets, Boye, Denise, Knitpicks? Do you use?
By twilight021
@twilight021 (2059)
United States
April 17, 2007 7:59am CST
I recently got myself a Boye interchangable needles set off of eBay. To be honest the whole reason I picked the Boye set was because of the deal I found on eBay.
It's a good set though, while metal needles aren't my first chioce they are fine to use and I love having all the different combinations of needles at my disposal. Now I rarely lack the needles I need for any project.
My one complaint about this set however is that since you screw the needles into the cords (to reate circular needles) sometimes, depending on your knitting style, they can begin to unscrew while you are knittting. Sometimes this never happenes and other times I am sure to check every other round. It seems the issues is how I am knitting, or holding the needles, rather than how tight I screwed the needles together...the kit does come with a tightener.
I would love to hear more about people's experiences with this kit or any others. I know Denise makes one that is pretty popular and Knitpicks just made one too. Thanks!
1 person likes this
5 responses
@TheRedMenace (5)
• United States
18 Apr 07
Hi! I use the Boye set and really love it - it's made it much easier to have the right needles for my projects. That said, I know what you're talking about. I've found that for me, it DOES matter how tight I've made them - if I don't use the tightener, they tend to unscrew. When I use the tightener it almost never happens. That said, I usually check every couple of rows and make sure it's all holding together.
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I should probably get a bit better about using the tightener then :-)
it is so great to always have the needle size you need, when you need it. I use circulars for most flat projects too. I feel like they are a little easier on my wrists.
@KerriMarie (151)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I have an interchangable bamboo knitting needle set that I got from Webs - www.yarn.com - but I don't think they carry it anymore. It is so amazing - I don't like knitting with metal needles, so the bamboo is amazing! I use it for almost all my projects - it's so great. It has needle sizes 5 to 15 and about four different cables. I was fairly new to knitting when I got it, so I was a little worried about the price - but now I feel it was totally worth it!
I do screw the needles onto the cables, and I find especially when I'm working ribbing they start to come unscrewed a bit - but I notice before they get too unscrewed and sort of work tightening them into the pattern - k2, p2, k2, p2, tighten... not really a big deal.
I'd love to try the KnitPicks set, I've heard really great things about them.
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
18 Apr 07
Ooo...a bamboo set. I would love that!
I agree that the needles sets are totally worth at. at first it seems like a big expense but I haven't bought any new needles since!
@maildumpster (3815)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I never heard of this. My mom is a big knitter and I swear she just buys what is cheapest. Honestly I don't think she has bought any new needles in years.
Wish I could help. I know what you mean though as there have been other things I have worked with that one time they are fine and others they feel like I better check it constantly while I am using them.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
8 May 07
I have a set of Denise. I hate them!!! I have a sweater coat done in Aran knit that I was working on the Denise set. They kept coming apart! I did more swearing at the situation. I finally bought a circular needle to finish the project. I plan to sell the Denise set. It isn't a screw set, it is just a attach and turn and the little knobby things that hold the tips to the cords let go. I even tried using a bit of tape to hold the tips on the cords, it didn't work! It might be my knitting style but I figure to save frustration I'll just pass them on to someone who is a different style knitter.
@cowgirl03051979 (918)
• United States
12 Oct 11
i have heard of these types of needles but i have never used them for myself that is good that you were able to get a good deal on them when i knit i always use plain old two needles i have never heard of the needles comming unscrewed while you are knitting with them but that does make since i would hate to be in the middle of my knitting project and the needles come unscrewed can you screw the needles back together while you are knitting or do you have to unravel your whole knitting project? that would be horrable to have to unravel everything haha
