Q for DU knitters

[MountainLaurel]

Has anyone used the interchangeable needle sets, either the one from Denise or NeedleMastger? What did you think? Any problems I should be aware of?

I'm really tired of having to purchase circulars in different sizes AND different lengths for projects (e.g., long circs for a baby blanket but small ones for hats), and came across these products in a catalog.

[Lorax]

1. I have the Denise set

and I love it. The only problem I've had is that sometimes the stitches snag at the end of the needle where it connects with the cable. I emailed customer service and they said that they did have a manufacturing problem for a while that was causing that snag. They suggested that I file the end where it connects with a nail file and that it should solve the problem. They said that if it didn't solve the problem, they would send me a new set.

I never did file the end as I just ended up using that particular size so much that it must have worn down on its own. If the problem comes up again I'll try their solution and email them if it doesn't work.

Their customer service is excellent. DH bought me the set for my birthday and I made sure he ordered through the company website because I wanted their customer service support. I'm glad I did. (Ebay isn't that much cheaper anyway).

They are very light and feel nice in my hand. I feel like I knit faster with them because of it. Because they are all plastic (or some kind of plastic like material), you can take them on an airplane. That was important to me as I don't think I could survive air travel without knitting.

Honestly, I can't say enough about them. They won't address ALL of your knitting needs, but they will work for most of them. I still make socks on bamboo DPNs, and some of your larger, chunkier projects are going to require separate needles. I believe the Denise set only goes up to a size 10. Personally, I don't make things like that. I'm still need to supplement my smaller DPN collection but that's because I like to make small things.

I've not used them as straight needles (because I use circular every chance I get) but supposedly you can use them that way. Just attach a cable and an end nut thingy to the end of each needle and you have straight. Although that seems weird to me, you'll have floppy straights. I hate straights anyway, so I don't know about that.

[MountainLaurel]

2. Thank you Lorax

Great name, by the way!

[Warpy]

4. Why bother making 2 straight needles out of 'em?

Just use the circular needle and knit back and forth.

This is great when you need to fly and are crammed into a coach seat on a full flight. With the cable holding the stitches between the needle, you'll keep your working area small enough not to annoy that fat guy spilling over the next seat.

[Warpy]

3. I have the Boye set

and it has the advantage of being able to extend the cable length with spacers, a real advantage I discovered when I was knitting a lace shawl from the neckline down. They don't make single circular needles long enough to hold all the stitches.

The only problem I've found is that they need to be retightened every so often, tending to unscrew themselves as you knit merrily along.