Knit Picks Options Interchangeable Caspian Circular Knitting Needle Set

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That being said, you can sort of massage the kinks out in all cases. Putting the cables into hot water also helps to straighten them out/ get rid of the memory effect. What I have no way of really testing is how durable the “fixed” kink is in the long run. I would assume it does indeed damage the plastic a lot more structurally, which cannot be fixed, while the metal wire is less prone to break at that point. Then again, if that theory held true, probably the coating would break, which would be equally as bad, I guess. Those, however, are just guesses. In all my years of knitting, a cable never snapped.

I do have to say, that Knitter’s Pride does have the strongest connection, though. I am always having “problems” unscrewing them – that never happens to me with ChiaoGoo. But that’s actually quite noteworthy, because the easier they unscrew, the easier it can happen accidentally. HiyaHiya usually is pretty damn tight as well, though weirdly enough, some needles have a problem with their screws. Not only does this give you endless possibilities and working comfort, but also lets you reduce the clutter and unnecessary expenditure of buying multiple fixed circulars. The best part is, you can also use the needle tips for other projects and save your stitches in your WIP projects. Take the tips off and attach end caps to the cable and that’s all. What does happen, however, is that the cable snaps out of the hull. This never happened to me, but I found reports online for all major brands. The Boxing & Content ChiaoGoo is probably the best set to invest for knitters who like to knit with very small needle sizes and durable cables (though I personally do prefer the fixed carbon needles by Knitter’s pride, but that’s a different story as these tiny sizes are not available as an interchangeable set; the big ones are).

Let’s talk about the sets as a whole. In all fairness, I have to mention that my Knitter’s Pride set is some 10 years old now, and I only bought replacement needles in the meantime. But other than the fancy wooden box, the content is, as far as I can see, still the same: Knitter’s Pride The contents of my Knitter’s Pride Nova Platina deluxe set with a standard set in a plastic pouch below My dad always told me “buy cheap stuff, and you’ll buy twice”. While there are certainly exceptions, I found that adage to be remarkably close to the truth. The last thing you want is a broken needle/cable on a live project.

Listen, I totally understand why you would need a different cable below 3mm. But CG makes the cut at 5.5 mm. A lot of knitters never touch those 2.00 mm or even 1.50 mm needles anyway, so I wouldn’t call getting a different set of cables and accessories for those a disadvantage. But 4.00 mm is quite the common size for a lot of projects – and so is 6.00 mm for blankets and sweaters. That being said, ChiaoGoo clearly offers the broadest range of knitting needles. HiyaHiya is pretty similar, and one could say their needle extenders make it even more versatile (though CG offers them as well), but their small system only goes down to 2mm, while CG goes down to US OOO / 1.5mm. You can buy smaller and bigger needles for Knitter’s Pride and addi as well. But it does have to be mentioned that none of them go down to 2.75 mm / US 2 needles or lower. Interchangeable knitting needles can only be engineered down to a size US 4 (3.5mm), so you’ll need to go with fixed circulars for those teeny tiny projects. Interchangeable Knitting Needles are just like circular needles but without the commitment of a fixed cable length. Featuring removable needle parts, interchangeable needles let you easily switch up the needle size and cable length depending on your project needs.Typically 9 needles from US 4 (3.5mm) to US 16 (8.00mm), 4 cables, 8 cable stoppers, 4 cable keys, usually a very simple plastic sleeve, though deluxe editions are available (note: mine has only 8). ChiaoGoo The contents of my large ChiaoGoo 5″ lace set We also offer short tip needles so you can create those smaller projects like hats and sleeves with ease. HiyaHiya interchangeable knitting needles do have screws at the other end as well, but you get a rubber patch as well. In addition, you get quite a lot of extenders . I really love the concept of their needle extenders. You can easily turn a 5″ needle into a 6″ needle, etc. So, how cool is that? (these adapters are only part of the large sets and not the small sets, but can be bought separately). Their regular cable adaptors don’t have a hole for the pins, though – unlike the ChiaoGoo adapters. Cable stoppers: ChiaoGoo, Knitter’s Pride, addi All four needles are very light. The 5mm needles were all in the same range. ChiaoGoo & HiyaHiya weighs ~8 grams, while Knitters Pride is 9, and addi 10 are grams. Considering that your yarn/project will be considerably heavier, you will not really notice these needles – even for the bigger sizes. Perfect for when you’re working on knitting projects in the round, Interchangeable needles let you choose your favourite material to work with or one that suits most of your projects. All you need is one pair of needle tips in each size and one cable of your preferred length - you can justchange the needles and cable to make endless combinations as per your project’s needs.

If somebody took away all my ChiaoGoos and handed me a gift certificate for the replacement of my choice, cost no object, I’d buy the same sets all over again, with the possible exception of the bamboo Spin set. I can’t remember when I last used the nylon cables (other than as stitch holders on a hibernating project), and I rarely use the bamboo needles, but then again sometimes you want a less slippery needle, so even those are useful. I also won’t be comparing any of the cheaper brands (etc.) because I had such bad experiences with these needles in the past. Any maker will be able to assure you that their tools are one of the most important aspects of their trade and quality shows.

The larger sets usually have 13 pairs of needles from US size 2 to 15, 4 cables, 2 cable connectors, 2 small and 2 big tip adaptors, and between 2 needle stoppers. Much like ChiaoGoo, the HiyaHiya sets usually come in a sewn fabric bag with 2 compartments. I am sure you have considered buying an interchangeable knitting needle set. Maybe you already own one. It’s certainly one of the most important knitting tools and the advantages are many: Instead of buying a new pair of needles for every new project, you can use the very same set every time and adjust the needle size and cord length according to your preferences and the requirements of the pattern. One needle set may give you up to 500 different combinations. Both HiyaHiya and ChiaoGoo are pure stainless steel. That means, the surface is not totally smooth and has these…well striations I guess. Depending on the yarn you use, you will notice quite a bit of friction, and whenever the needles touch, they don’t slide across each other effortlessly.

We carry different sets and interchangeable needle accessories from brands like Drops, Knitpro,Pony, and Addi for ultimate precision and ease of use. Each of these brands boasts its own patented interchangeable systems that give the cables and the needles a strong, seamless join. Knitter’s Pride is a great budget option that is still almost up to all the other brands in terms of quality and durability. I do believe that the Nova Platina is the fasted knitting needle around, though the round-tipped addi sets are a very close second. And then, of course, there are the cable stoppers. You can use them to put a work in progress on hold, while you use the needles for a different project. The Knitter’s Pride stoppers are pure plastic and a bit flimsy (but do the job), HiyaHiya offers somewhat cute-ish panda stoppers (were not part of my small set, sorry), while the ChiaoGoo stoppers are very solid and the best of the lot. Addi, being the longest off the lot, could be a nice option for men with bigger hands. A close look at the material & quality of the interchangeable needle tips When you turn to lace, or you are an English knitter/thrower, then things can look quite different. Here, you might actually enjoy the bonus friction, as it prevents your needles from sliding out of those stitches. Knitting noisesAddi only provides a largish cable extender instead you can use it as a makeshift stopper as well. So, actually, that is kind of smart, though the extender is a bit too long to use for actual cable extending in my opinion. ( Note: Cable extenders for Knitter’s Pride and ChiaoGoo can be bought separately but are usually not part of the small sets.) Addi offers quality made in Germany, but you clearly pay for it. I do have to say, that the needles are quite a bit cheaper here in Germany (so it probably has to do with import tariffs). ChiaoGoo and HiyaHiya are basically the same prices, while Knitter’s Pride clearly is the most affordable option of them all. Bottom Line: Which interchangeable needle set is the best? Interchangeable needles work by screwing the end of the flexible cable into the needle tips, tightening with the cable key to ensure the cables don't come undone during knitting. Smooth joins enable stitches to slide easily from tip to cable. HiyaHiya is the shortest of the lot (but they do offer needle extenders ), Knitter’s Pride is in the middle, and addi has the longest needles. The difference is only a couple of millimeters, but those can make quite a big difference depending on the size of your hand. From left to right: Knitter’s Pride, HiyaHiya, Addi, Chiaogoo Both offer needle adaptors to make those small cables work for the bigger sizes. But a) this means buying these adaptors b) it doesn’t work the other way round (from big to small) and c) this means another join (read: weak link) in your needles. Price