I am sure that this has been here before, but since I am relatively new to KH, I was just looking for some opinions. I have the Pink Denise Interchangable Set. I am a completely addicted to Interchangables now and would actually love to stop using straights all together.
My birthday is coming up and I really love the look of the Harmony Wood set from Knitpicks. I was wondering who has used which interchangables systems and what their preferences are. I am no longer happy with my Boyle system…the needles are discoloring and the cables are very hard to straighten out.
Hi Ashley,
I have both the Denise & Options Interchangables, love them both. I have several of the Harmony needle ends that can attach to the Option cables but the seams on mine don’t seem to join real smooth but I use them anyway. If buying more I would go for the Options myself but I do love the color of the Harmony’s.
I have been using the Denise needles for more than 30 years. Just bought my second set about 3 years ago. Wouldn’t use anything else unless smaller needles were required. Didn’t know they made them in pink. My first set was light blue and new set is dark blue. Called them last week to replace 2 cords and received them (free) in the mail within 3 business days. Can’t beat that for service! I beling to a couple of knitting groups in the Kansas City area and recommend them to all the “new” knitters. They are well worth the $50 investment…my first set cost $25 in the '70s and I just replaced them! I have been knitting for 62 years!
I have used (owned) the Boye, Denise, Options and Harmony sets. I disliked the Boye because of the stiff cables. I really loved the Denise until I got thew Options and fell in love. I gave the Denise set to my Mother as I knew the resin would be better for her arthritic hands than the metal needles she used.
I got the Harmony set and love them equally as much as the Options metal set. What I really like is being able to have a wood and metal set combined in one. Yes, I have had a Harmony (size 6) needle come unglued, but 1 quick call to Knit Picks and they are sending a new set.
So my advise is to purchase the Options set and then order Harmony tips to go with the set.
I have both the harmony and option sets. I like the options the best but the wood sure is pretty! I dno’t really like working with wood but I didn’t know that when I bought the harmonies. I still use them.
Jen
Yes, Harmony birch is really nice, and the options set covers most of my needs. However, different needles are really needed for different projects; e.g., I am knitting a sweater with two strands (one Lion Wool, one Lion WoolEase) and for this, needles with blunt points and lots of “grab” are essential. Except for this kind of thing, the bamboo cable needles which I have would be useless, to say nothing of the annoyance of straightening the nylon coil cables! Also, I find that knitting with craft cotton seems to require metal needles… I have been knitting 58 years off and on. I have recently discovered that worn, overly grabby wood needles can be (somewhat) restored by a coating of well-thinned clear nail polish.
I have both the Options and Harmony tips and love them both. I am leaning more towards the Harmonys right now though. I love that there is no glare on them when I knit at night under the light. I pretty much don’t use anything else anymore. I started out with the Boye set and never touch them now.
I have the Harmonies, Denise’s and the metal Options-and seriously, I love them all If I were having to choose a new set I would go with the Harmonies-I LOOOOVE my harmonies and haven’t used any other needles since I got them a month or so ago!
They are pretty and so comfortable to use-the tips are slightly less sharp than the metal options, which I appreciate since I tend to push the tips to remove stitches. The harmonies are much more comfortable to do that with than either the options or the Denise’s.
Ok I’m a newby and I’ve read through alot of posts but I’m not sure which interchangable set to get. I like knitting with the Addi Turbo circular needles but recognize they are a bit blunt. So, I figure I would like the Options set as they are also metal but sharper. However, I’m wondering how the Options set compares to the Harmony wood set.
Which is more comfortable to knit with, the wood or the metal? I’d like to invest in a set but I’m not sure which one.
I also have read the various posts about people having problems with either the cable or the tips coming off during knitting. Is this a concern for people who use the interchangeable sets?
Thanks for your input and sorry if you’ve gone through this information before with other newbies.
I have the Options metal set and the Harmony tips. As they both use the same cords you do not have to purchase both sets. Order one set and then just get the tips in your favorite sizes (or all of them) in th eother set. It is really nice to have both metal and wood tips in your interchangeable set.
I started buying the Boye set a couple of pieces at a time. I am a newbie and don’t know the difference yet. I do have a couple of circulars from Knitpicks, but not interchangeable ones and I haven’t used them yet. I want a big interchangeable set. It’s so hard to decide on one!
All I can comment on is the Harmonys. I too agonized over which to get and finally decided on the Harmonys mainly because I have an odd mixture of fixed metal and plastic circulars. I love the lightness of the wood tips and the sharpness of the tips. I will probably add some options later, but am now waiting for the options dpn set to arrive.
I have not yet had a tip come undone from the cable, but have only had mine for a month, but am currently using them.
I also like the more flexible cable. Some of my older circulars are so stiff, even after I straighten them with hot water. I found it tiring fighting against stiffness even when the weight of the knitting pulled down into my lap.
I have the Denise set…and it is really great…I know some have trouble with the needles twisting and dropping sts, but I have yet to experience it…
I liked the fact that the Denise set had more sizes then the Harmony set…and although I do not fly (at all) it is good to know that I could travel worry free with Denise!
I have both the Denise set and a set of Harmony needles and I haven’t even picked up the Denise needles since I got the Harmony set.
The biggest difference for me is in the cables. The Denise set is much fatter and less flexible. I have done Magic Loop with my Denise set but not easily. I had to be careful as the stitches were always catching on the connectors.
No issue like that with the Harmony set. Much easier to knit with, IMO.
I love the feel of wood in my hands and the KP cables are very flexible. They have very little memory so they stay nice and “limber.” No kinks or coiling. Their points are nice and sharp so they pick up the yarn well. I was concerned with them being wood that they would split on the ends. I’m fairly hard on needles and was pleased to find that they hold up very well.
If I were having to choose a new set I would go with the Harmonies-I LOOOOVE my harmonies and haven’t used any other needles since I got them a month or so ago!