I stick by my Addi’s. I’ve never had any problems.
So sorry this is happening to you. I have the Denise set and LOVE it. I love the flexibility of the cable. The size of it doesn’t bother me. Hopefully you’ll get this all straigtened out.
I have the Denise set and I’ve never had a problem with the cables separating from the needle. Today I did have a problem that the cable and the little black piece at the end of it started to come apart, but I pushed them together and didn’t have another problem. If it were to happen again, I would send it back though. After I pushed them back together, I pulled on both ends fairly hard and it didn’t come apart, so I’m not too terribly worried.
I haven’t had any cables come undone except one…the 40" cable.
I’m callin’ them tomorrow.
You know, maybe they have a bad batch of glue or somethin’.
I’m going to ask.
Crystal Palace had some ‘coming apart’ issues about 2 years ago…and since then, they have remedied the quality control issues.
It was the glue. But their circs were very dependable for years and years, then they had a problem…and since the issue was fixed…they can be counted on again! 
I am sorry that you have had such a frustrating experience with your OPTIONS. 
I love my Denise set. I have used it exclusively since I got it in the fall. I have never had a problem with the tips coming undone. Keep a paperclip handy (with one end unbent, I keep mine in the case with the needles and even the instructions tell you to do this) to give the needle that 1/4 turn it needs in order to lock the tip in and you won’t have any problems. And yes, the case is fantastic and sooo organized! I have not tried ML yet with my Denise set, but will be doing so in the near future.
Sorry your Options did not work out for you. Best of luck with your new Denise interchangables.
That’s how I feel too! I don’t want a set of needles I can only use for smaller items, especially since I can’t use them for socks (I need sz 1-3 needles for socks, I don’t like bulkier socks). What exactly am I supposed to knit with them?
I hate my options. I love my boyes. Go figure. I’m still waiting for the replacement for 3 of the 4 cables and an end cap that came with my options set. The cables have had issues since KnitPicks started selling the things. There has been more than enough time for them to get their quality issues solved. I think they just don’t care. No one should have to carry glue in their knitting bag because they can’t trust their needles. I also prefer the boye case. Lots smaller and much more organized.
I have two regular circs from KnitPitcks (size 1-2) and I adore them, but I’m hesitating to get the Options because of all the issues with the cables. :shrug: It’s frustrating - it’s definitely a problem they’ve been having for a long time and it’s not getting better. I don’t want to spend the money if I’m unsure of the quality. :pout:
I suppose if you’re looking for Addi’s-like needles in an interchangeable set, it’s an awesome deal regardless of these problems. But if you’re happy with bamboo or resin needles, it’s not as attractive.
oh boy. I just bought some of the Options interchangeables. I haven’t even got them yet, and now i’m nervous. I’m on a pretty tight budget, and these were the most affordable option i have right now, i hope they don’t turn out to be terrible. The only other circular needle i have is a boye fixed set, and i can’t seem to get it to stop coiling up on itself. (can you tell i’m a newbie to knitting?)
That’s not because you are new, it’s just the way they are. You are supposed to be able to soften them up in boiling water, but even that doesn’t always solve the problem (not to mention you don’t always feel like boiling a pot of water every time you want to switch needle sizes or start a new project!) When my mom taught me to knit, she handed me down her set of fixed Boyes. You would think being ~30 years old would soften those cables up a little! Nope, they are probably more stiff than they originally were! I use them for very big, heavy projects that keep the needles behaved.
We’re all having such different experiences, it’s kind of funny to read. I’ve never had a problem with my Denise set, except when I don’t attach a needle to the cord right. If they came apart and I lost stitches, I’d be frantic.
Good luck with whatever you wind up with next.
I’m sorry you have had so many issues with them! I’ve had my options for over a year and have never experienced any problems.
For you and everyone who is considering ordering them… keep this in mind. People who have problems are the most vocal so of course you hear about issues with them. Those of us who haven’t had problems aren’t going to make a lot of posts about how our needles are perfect with no problems. I would bet there have been thousands of knitters who bought Options and that there are really only a small group who have issues. Knitpicks has fabulous customer service and will replace any cord/needles no questions asked.
This is not to make light of anyone who is having problems and I completely understand that some of you may not want to deal with it anymore. 
As I posted earlier, I have a 40" cable come undone a bit. Not quite all the way…but enough to snag the yarn.
I called KP this morning, and even though I bought these cables in June 2006…they are sending me a new cable! I didn’t have my receipt ready, but she found me in the system…then I found my receipt for her…and she was surprised I had ordered them so long ago. She didn’t hesitate to replace my 40" cable. I told her that I don’t use the 40" often.
She said they are working on the quality control issues.
I also mentioned that one of our forum members had the Post Office break her Harmony’s in the mail. The customer service rep said they guarantee that, too. They also guarantee “lost in the mail” issues as well.
They don’t want to lose their customers, and want to keep us happy, she said.
IMHO…Options and Harmony’s are so great to knit with, such a great concept, and affordably priced…I don’t want to give up on them. Maybe they are experiencing the growing pains that every new product goes through. (Like, Windows XP and now, Vista!)
I’m glad that I haven’t wasted my money on the Options. If you have to glue the cables to the needles, then they wouldn’t be interchangeable anymore - would they? I’ll stick with my Addi’s, Inox Express, or Susan Bates Silverado.
You don’t have to glue the needles to the cables, that wouldn’t fix the problem. Where they are coming apart for most of us who have had problems, is 100% on the cable side of things. If you look on the Options homepage, you can see at the end of the purple cable, there is a little silver piece that screws into the tips. It is this little sliver piece that is coming off the purple cable. It is supposed to be fixed! It is not the part that screws. We are having to glue the cables back into the part that screws into the tips…and the glue is holding for some and not for others (me, for example).
I have to say that if they fixed this problem, I would PAY to replace all my original cables, I otherwise like the set that much. But as they are now, I can only trust them for certain kinds of projects (light, flat, no yos or complicated inc/dec).
I haven’t had my Options long, only about a month or so, but I haven’t had any problems yet. I love them. So shiny and smooth and fast!
I agree with Jan, most people who don’t have any problems aren’t going to post. So, even though some people have had problems, there are most likely many more who haven’t.
I’m sorry you are having problems with yours. It would be very frustrating for that to keep happening.
I have the Harmony set and so far so good.
I haven’t tried options, only cause the denise set came with more sizes. I have not had a problem with Denise, and as long as I don’t, I will not bother with Options. I refuse to buy Boye simply cause every needle I own of theirs, the paint or coating starts wearing off where the needles rub together, and to me, it gets to the point where it feels like nails on a chalk board.