Does brand name matter with needles? - Page 2

amy · 02-02-2005, 01:15 PM

Actually, it's "Boye," not "Boyle!" (Boils, eeeew! LOL. )

It really depends on what you're looking for. If you like metal needles, like me, you'll love the Boyes. I love my Boye Needlemaster interchangeable set!

The one complaint that is often made about the Boye set, is that the needles come un-screwed. This is because the "grip' they include with the set, which is supposed to help you hold the needle when tightening it onto the cable, is horrible and doesn't grip the needle at all! The trick is to replace it with a good grip! I use a 4" circle cut out of a pair of yellow dish-washing gloves. Works like a charm! It REALLY grips. You'll never, ever have a problem with them unscrewing if you use this as a grip.

It's a great set, in my opinion. It comes with 13 needle sizes (!), and multiple cable lengths, and it all fits in a great, compact case. It's a great investment! And, I forget who said it now, but someone said they had a problem with one of their cables, and Boye replaced it no problem. So they're a good company, apparently. I recommend them!

Amy

Nuno930 · 02-02-2005, 06:52 PM

Hmmm, now I am looking at getting a set of interchangables. I can knit most things "flat" on circs, right? I am really getting tired of having to buy a new set of needles for every project I attempt

Then I am going to have to RE-buy all the size needles in circs????

http://store.nobleknits.com/basisetbypl.html

Yvonne · 02-02-2005, 07:44 PM

Amy, that was me who had to get a new cable because one broke. I was very happy with the service.
I love my Needle Master too! So many sizes! So smooth! Such pretty colors!
I think the grip thingie is okay as long as you remember to use that little tightening tool along with it.
I had great fun the other night doing a gauge swatch for really thin yarn (2000 ypp) I wanted to use for lace, starting off with the size 2 and working right up to about size 7. It was so easy to just continue the same swatch, changing to a larger needle every few inches. It couldn't be more convenient.

Jouf · 02-02-2005, 08:17 PM

Nuno, I just bought Boyes and Denise!!! Anyway, they have a button you can put on the end of the cable if you so desire and it's basically like knitting with single points except you don't have the long sticks pointing out that have the weight of a sweater on them! I love circulars for that reason. But you don't even have to do that. Just work flat and turn your work.

JOuf

amy · 02-02-2005, 10:39 PM

Oooh, Jouf, you have both sets, eh? Just curious, how do they compare? I've never tried the Denise set.

I have an old Boye set from the 60's, in addition to a modern set. It's great to have two sets, because using two circulars is a pleasant way of doing small diameter circular knitting. If I hadn't already accumulated all my DPN's, I'd probably just use the two circulars all the time, to be thrifty. But I do like my DPN's, so I tend to use them. I could see getting used to two circulars, though, it's a nice way to work, too. Of course you can also do ML knitting, and do literally all of your knitting with a single interchangeable set. But I'm not a big fan of ML, personally. Nice to know for when I'm in a pinch, but not my prefered method.

Yvonne, you and I are true Boye-converts. I love my set too. Yes, they are so smooth. I've only used Addi's once, but I definitely didn't knit faster with them! (They were a 16" circular, which don't have as much needle to grab onto--so it might not have been a fair test, compared with the more substantial Boye's. But it did leave me with renewed appreciation for my Boyes!)

I do use the tightening tool, too, but much prefer the rubber-glove material for a grip. I actually bent my little tool thingy, because I got so much torque with that grip! LOL. Maybe that's why they give you one with less grip, for muscle-gals like me! LOL.

Nuno, I'd search around for reviews of that set. Bamboo can have flaws, like Marnie was saying, and you want to make sure it's got a good join, etc.

Marnie · 02-02-2005, 11:43 PM

My bad on the Boye/Boyle bit eek.
Anyway, I can speak to my opinion of Denise, and I think there are a couple points of note.
1. I've never had my cable come unattached from my needle, but people who twist their needles while working may have trouble. In my search of reviews more folks have had trouble with the Boye needles coming unscrewed than the Denise.
2. Denise needles appear to be airport friendly for both national and international flights, while metal needles are a bit more likely to be rejected when flying overseas.
3. My Denise are great with most natural fibers and many man made but have been terrible with microfiber yarns as well as some of the really acrylicy yarns. Metal might be more forgiving there.
4. The smallest size available in Denise is 5 and that size is nearly unusable because the cords and the needles are the same diameter. If you prefer finer gauges, Boye is probably the better choice.

Jouf · 02-03-2005, 12:27 AM

I agree with Marnie on all points!! I have both sets now. And I like both for different reasons. I think with the Boyes perhaps I wasn't tightening them enough - was afraid to ruin them. And they did come apart on me.

Jouf

Hildegard_von_Knittin · 02-03-2005, 03:49 AM

Marnie, I don't understand why the needle and the cable being the same diameter would make a difference in the size 5s. Can you explain? I was almost certain I'd like the Denise better, because the yarn is easier for me to control on plastic (I prefer bamboo to plastic, but plastic to metal)... but I don't want to buy a set where I can't use one of the needle sets! Thanks!

Jouf · 02-03-2005, 04:49 AM

Hilde - you can use them. I think I complained when I first saw how big the cable was, but I used them on the vest I made for the ribbing, and it was fine.

Actually, I like Denise needles just fine now. I think once I tighten down the Boyes, I'll like them too. Right now I just keep checking them every little bit to see if they're coming loose again - and they were! Didn't realize you have to REALLY tighten them.

Denises just sort of twist and lock in place and don't come undone.

So if you don't need size 4, 3, or 2 - go with the Denises.

Jouf!

Marnie · 02-03-2005, 06:01 AM

I have found the #5s very hard to use. With straight needles, the rigidity of the needles makes the stitches slide easily, but because the Denise cords are very flexible, it's exceedingly hard to move ones stitches around when using the #5s. That's been my experience, and several others have echoed it, but I really love my Denise's and wouldn't trade them in. They are very light, portable, airline safe, and the tips are very pointy and smooth.