needle help
not to get too political, but wow, i am hoping that all this means a lot of positive change for our country. rumsfeld stepping down is certainly a big start. and the senate race is just 1 state away from being decided. no matter what your affiliation is, we are all responsible for shaping our country by getting out and voting.
now, a decision that is weighing heavy on my mind. i am the queen of not buying needles. i hate spending the money. besides my trusty size 1 addis and my denise set (oh and my bamboo dpns), i don't have much. i am running into situations more and more where i don't have the right needles, or now that i knit on 2 circs, i don't have a second set. so, i could solve some of it by buying another set of denise needles, but then these came out...
the knit picks options set is very intriguing. of course they don't have a short cord length for knittng hats etc so that was disappointing and one of the biggest reasons i am thinking of passing. but you can get size 0-3 needles for very cheap through knit picks. so do i buy a set of these, and sell my denise set? or buy another denise set? oh the decisions. i might have to sit down and do a list of what i really need and see what suits me best and which is most cost effective (ok, yes, i can spend a bazillion dollars on a stash but cringe at spending money on needles!).
what do you think? how would i make do without the shorter cords? hmmmm.
now, a decision that is weighing heavy on my mind. i am the queen of not buying needles. i hate spending the money. besides my trusty size 1 addis and my denise set (oh and my bamboo dpns), i don't have much. i am running into situations more and more where i don't have the right needles, or now that i knit on 2 circs, i don't have a second set. so, i could solve some of it by buying another set of denise needles, but then these came out...
the knit picks options set is very intriguing. of course they don't have a short cord length for knittng hats etc so that was disappointing and one of the biggest reasons i am thinking of passing. but you can get size 0-3 needles for very cheap through knit picks. so do i buy a set of these, and sell my denise set? or buy another denise set? oh the decisions. i might have to sit down and do a list of what i really need and see what suits me best and which is most cost effective (ok, yes, i can spend a bazillion dollars on a stash but cringe at spending money on needles!).
what do you think? how would i make do without the shorter cords? hmmmm.
16 Comments:
The lack of a super short cord was a common complaint. I switched to using 2 circs a lot...so I just applied the same thing to my hat knitting. I just bought extra tips in the appropriate sizes (basically 4-10 for me) and I knit hats and other small circumference stuff on 2 circs. And since the tips are quite affordable, I'm getting a lot of bang for my buck. I have to say I love my Options set a lot. There are a few small things I'd like them to improve upon, but overall it was a total worthwhile investment. (I didn't like their DPNs though - way too heavy. The regular circular needles are great too though.) Just some food for thought. If you're ever downtown at lunch time, I'd be happy to meet up with you and let you go through/try my Options set to see if you like the. I work right next to Westlake center. :)
I am thinking that especially since you tend to avoid buying needles it would be best to figure out exactly what you need and don't let cost be the deciding factor. I don't know what needles you should choose, however...If the solution you choose ends up being a costly one, let that be a secondary factor, one you decide how to handle once your major decision has been made.
ha! i feel guilty when i buy stash yarns, but when it comes to needles...
i can't speak about the options set since i haven't checked it out (i have a boye set and denises though) and i don't need another. but don't get rid of your denises. they're the best for traveling.
and you can get extra points and cords if you need them too.
OMG, you MUST get the options set! It was an anniversary present from my husband and they are AWESOME needles. Fast like addi's, interchangeable like denise needles (but I have heard that the join is smoother than denises - just what I've heard since I don't have denises) and tips as sharp as lantern moons.
It truly is a great set and an awesome value.
I say go for it (but then again, I am a needle hog)
Have to tell you that I was never a fan of interchangeable sets. These Options from KnitPicks are just the best needles. I never thought I would use anything but Addi's but I am a convert. They are light, cords stay attatched, sharp tip(not too sharp), just overall awesome. The price is right and the "options" are endless. I say go for it!
I would gush on & on about buying the KnitPicks needles, but Suzanne's post sums up EXACTLY how I feel about them!
I've heard nothing but amazing things about the options needles. I would go for it and then maybe just use 2 circs for hat knitting like one of your other commenters suggested. I don't actually knit hats that often so I wouldn't know how vital having those shorter cords would be...but knowing knit picks and if they're getting a lot of complaints, I wouldn't be surprised if they come out with shorter cords soon.
I am a magic loop convert so I always try to get the longest cable I can. I've magic looped several hats.
I long to be able to buy from Knit Picks but they don't do international shipping, grumble mumble...
I like the KnitPicks circulars very much. They are super pointy which is great for yarns that tend to split. I've had good luck knitting finer gauge hats witn two circs when I don't have one circular with a short cable. Just a thought.
I say go for it with the KnitPicks Options. I'm kind of a collector of needles though...so I have lots and lots of sets. I also heard a rumor that they are coming out with a set of pink Denise needles, and the money goes to breast cancer research! How cool is that?! I totally need some pink needles, don't you?
I also agree with the magic loop method. That's all I do nowadays for any kind of knitting in the round.
The Options needles are awesome, but I really would like 16 inch cords... maybe we can beg and plead and they'll consider it?
I have never tried the Denise Interchangeable Needles, but I do own the Knit Pick Options and they are awesome! The cords are very flexible, the join is very smooth and tight, you can mix and match cord lengths with needles, and you can add additional needles if you have more than one project that needs one particular size. I just went to Europe and had no problem leaving with my knitting needles, but coming home I lost 3 sets of tips. It was heartbreaking, but knowing I could buy only those to replace them helped a little (inexpensively too). Buy a set of tips (the size you use the most) and a set of cords. For around $10 you will know if you like them and if they are worth it to you.
BTW-I love my stitch markers!! Looking forward to more!
If you choose to use the two circular needles method for had knitting, you don't need to buy a second set of the same size tips that you're using, you only need the right size needle on one end, the working end, of each circular, the other end can be one size off.
Hi Amy - No one is standing up for poor Denise needles! But I would guess that the gauge would be slightly different on the Denise vs. Options needles, so using tips from both sets simultaneously to knit on 2 circs might lead to weirdness. The comment from RJ is interesting - but I wonder if you'd have to be constantly switching the tips around? I haven't knit with 2 circs enough to know if it would work.
I LOVE my KnitPicks Options. I own the Boye Needlemasters, and my daughter owns the Denise needles, and I will never knit on anything but my new Options - I think, they are superb. The joins are smoother, and the don't unscrew, like my Boyes' would, no matter how hard I would try and tighten them.
Love them.
I caved and got myself an Options set. I even have a complete set of Addis but their tips weren't sharp enough for lace and the nickel plating was starting to wear off. The Options though, so smooth and just a pleasure to work with. But, I think if you hesitant borrow someone's or try them out before committing!
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