Just a heads up from a dedicated Chiaogoo interchangeable needle knitter 😁 I too found that they became loose - until I learnt about using the silicone heart to tighten the join (a rubber glove works just as well) Thank you for taking the time to record this review 😁👍🧶
I wish you had addressed the quality of cables with the interchangeables. I DO knit Magic Loop with Chiaogoo. If the yarn is “sticky” I will use adapters to put a thinner cable on my large or small Chiaogoo interchangeables. I also use a smaller left needle. But I’ve been curious about Hiya Hiya cables (you did address the swivel, but not the cable itself).
I bought a roll of that grippy rubber material that you put under rugs so they don’t slide. We cut it up and handed out a couple chunks to everybody in our knitting group so they’d have it to tighten their needles. I just tuck it in my needle case and it’s always there and cheap, especially when you divide up among a couple dozen people. I still have some left and even cut a piece to go under a small rug recently.
I had the needles of my interchangeable set coming lose and even had one fall off while I was knitting. Making sure everything is tightened down with the key keeps that from happening
Thank you for a comprehensive review! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your views, and I found the way you structured this video helpful and pedagogical. I often get questions about what needles to invest in, and it is such a complex question to answer, since people’s knitting styles and preferences play such an important role. I think you covered that aspect really well, and I will be sending my friends this video next time they ask about what needles to buy. 😊
I was most surprised by your Addi needles, because we get much different ones in the U.S. They have blue cords, with the size printed on the cord (not easy to see, but it does stay). The blue cord is very pretty in my opinion but is terrible for magic loop, but my favorite needles for knitting in the round if I want a really slick "fast" needle. I can't ever figure out the difference between Addi "turbo" or "rocket" or "Skacel" which shows up on the package; it's a mystery. Also in the U.S. Addi is definitely not a bargain, generally as expensive as ChiaoGoo if not more so. Absolutely agree with you that the best needle for magic loop is a fixed ChiaoGoo.
Honestly same, my brass Addi needle felt kind of sticky/tacky and I really wondered if it was just a me problem because literally nobody mentioned it before.
Fab review, loved the fact it was really clear and detailed! I have tried a few brands but the fixed circular chiaogoo are definitively my favourites :) I use their short ones for sock knitting and have not looked back (I used dpns before as magic loop doesn't really work for me atm). For interchangables, I do love chiaogoo as well, but also use my Lykke set a lot, but my 1st set was a KitPro Symphony and every now and then still used them, especially for those rare chunky knits as I have all the large tips! And yes, I was one of the Pony needle people when I started - these have now been donated to charity for other beginners to use.
Fantastic! You gave me courage to eliminate some fixed circulars I'll never use and to update my inventory. I gave away my tiny Chiaogoo interchangeable set for the same reason you mentioned. A poor woman had her set stolen, so she lucked out when I gave her mine! Happy Knitting!
This review is so comprehensive and thorough and I love that you give honest practical opinions. And I looooove that you provided a written version and time stamps which will be so easy to reference next time I go needle shopping! Thank you thank you thank you!! 💕
Fantastic review! I appreciate you taking the time to do this. I started with Hiya Hiya bamboo interchangables and really liked the swivel join. I've since changed over to Chiagoo red lace. Love their tips and the wire cords. I was SOO excited when I heard that Chiagoo was coming out with a swivel cord. All I can say is don't waste your money (or only buy one to try). The join on the new Chiagoo 360 swivel cords is terrible. It snags on everything. It's too bad because I'm a Chiagoo fan girl for pretty much everything else they make.
I so agree with the Knt Pro review so far. I bought my first ones before Knit Pro bought out the small business called Knit Picks (I think it was) They had such good quality and service. I've had Knit Pros cable opo out, cable come undone, cable attachment completely fall off and needles themselves break in two. Maybe you get service if you live in London, but here in Helsinki the attitude is: glue it yourself or get over it and just buy more. You need your receipt and life-time guarantee means about 12 months. I refuse to buy any Knit Pro products due to horrible packaging and lousy 'service'. I'm loving these reviews. Thank you.
One thing that really matters is that Chiaogoo products are lifetime guaranteed! I simply sent them an email because my cable join was faulty, and within a few days they sent me a replacement cable with no fuss at all. You can also go through the yarn store you bought them and they'll arrange the replacement. Are any other needle brands like that? I would like to try laminated birchwood, otherwise I'll most likely continue to use the same needles I already have, which are all Chiaogoo lol
over a year later and I just found it and this is a fantastic video! I keep forgetting Prym make needles, I'm so used to using their crochet hooks that that is what i use quite often 😂😂. for fixed point needles i used the Hiya Hiya, personally prefer the Sharps but will get steels if i cannot find the sharps as like you i find them both just as good as each other. (I like the sharps for hat knitting as i do a lot with Natural Fibre and i find them great for not splitting those) for interchangables, i got myself some KnitPro Zings as i like their DPN's, and I'm glad i got them, however i was gifted some Lykke Driftwood by family, and despite (normally) using metal needles, i legitimately love the Lykke's
Fun one, my Grandma and a lot of her friends have passed on a lot of Aero straight needles to me that they've all sworn by, some of these sets are slightly crooked from years of use by the ladies who passed them on to me, apparently were quite affordable, and the fact i've got multiple pairs now, that are in good condition, says a lot. I would say needle tip wise they're very similar to Hiya Hiya Steels, even after >40 years
Thank you Ellie, this is an extremely helpful overview of the needles you have experience with. Its nice to hear your experienced opinion with all the needles you reviewed.
Great review! I tried the Zings when they first they came out. I found the tips to be inconsistent some were sharp and some were blunt and I didn’t care for the feel of the aluminum so ended up returning them and buying the ChaioGoo interchangeables and I love them. I also like the Knitters Pride Dreams(wood) needles for shawl knitting. I have noticed The older black cords from Knitters Pride are more flexible than the newer colored cables, but their newest cables, The Mindful Collection swivel like Hiya Hiya and are coated metal cable like ChiaoGoo.
Thank you so much for this review. I would like to bring your attention to more recent ChiaoGoo TWIST SWIV360 SILVER Câble, you don't need a full set, but the cables are fantastic, like the red cables, but with the swivel feature. They fit with the adaptors so no need for large cables, and the magic loop perfectly.
Thank you for this great review, it will help legions of future knitters. I’ve been slowly building my collection of ChiaoGoo fixed needles one at a time, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
Thank you for this helpful overview. I have been knitting for 46 years now and I have the same experiences exept for Hya Hya, because I don't own those. Lovely greetings from Germany and happy knitting! Helga
HiyaHiya also makes bamboo needle tips! They're my favorite, as someone who prefers the feel and grip of wooden needles but not how much blunter they tend to be. The HiyaHiya bamboos in small sizes are the sharpest wood/bamboo needles I've found; not as sharp as metal needles, of course, but good enough for lace and cables.
This was a good review, too bad for me that I'm a wood needle girl. I find the wood warmer in my hands and it is more quiet to knit with. The knit pro needles are my favorite ( I do inspect the joint before buying...) I also like DPN in bamboo from Søstrene Grene (super cheap) but I always give them a round with a 600 sandpaper before use. I have also shortened them by 3-5 cm so that that they are not all over the place. The reason I like the bamboo ones is their light weight, meaning they won't fall out of my knitting even though they are shorter than usual. I really don't like the shortest circular needles, because I need to hold the needles in my hands not my fingertips.
I recently picked up knitter's Pride karbonz; metal tip but carbon fiber body; they're lightweight and have grip but so smooth and quick due to the metal tips. Love Love them!
Thanks for a comprehensive, honest review of the needles you have! For me, as a mostly magic loop knitter, the memory of the cord and the join are what takes my knitting from enjoyable to frustrating, and Chiagoo needles are what works for me. I haven’t had a problem with needles unscrewing since I tighten them with the red silicone heart. I had several Addi fixed needles both lace and turbo and I found the cords frustrating and gave them away. I have found the Addi needles are about 20-30% more expensive than Chiagoo in the USA. The hiya hiya I have tried did not have a super smooth join though I did like the swivel feature.
Thanks for your review. I loved your disclaimers. What I’ve found is that how people knit 🧶 connects them with what tools they like. It’s a very personal experience and each person is different. There’s something for everyone 😊
Great review! Completely agree with you on Chiaogoo fixed needles…they’re my favorite by far! I buy them any time I see them on sale because they are expensive! I never made the connection between magic loop and interchangeable needles coming untwisted. Thanks for mentioning that!
Thank you for your helpful reviews! My experience is similar to yours although I don’t have as many types of needles to compare. You provide a LOT of information in a fairly short amount of time! Well done!
Thanks for the review! I had the same breaking issue with my fixed Chiagoo needles. Those were quite old and I had used them only for magicloop. Anyway those are still my absolute favorite and I bought new to replace the broken ones.
Loved your review, even though we don't agree on HiyaHiya. I would give them 1 star. I spoke to an Addi rep at Vogue Knitting Live several years ago about the brass needles. Brass interacts with body oils and it tarnishes and smells. He advised cleaning the tips with ketchup. A throwaway packet you get with takeaway food works. Addi sock rockets are my preferred fixed needles. Knitpicks nickel plated are right behind Addi. The swivel cords correct the problem of interchangeables becoming loose. I have sets of Kykke and Chiaogoo that I love. Here in the US, Addi fixed needles cost 13.95-17.95 depending on size. Pretty expensive here. Your review was so comprehensive. I noticed KnitPicks have come out with interchangeable cords similar to Chiaogoo. I plan to order some to try.
Thank you for this very thorough and comprehensive review! I’ve only knitted for about a year now, what I use is wooden needles (preferably from the brand Lykke, although the Knitpro Basix Birch are basically the same thing for a much cheaper price). I use those little silicone “mini pot holders” from Chiagoo to get a good grip when I fasten the KnitPro tips to their cables. I tried the metal key thing KnitPro sends with their needles, but I guess I’m using it wrong because it wasn’t helpful at all. I used to use KnitPro Symfonie DPNs, but had a rude awakening when one of those snapped in half during knitting. The way they’re made, with lots of thin sheets of wood glued together, means there are a lot of “weak spots” where they could break, compared to KnitPro Basix Birch or Lykke needles, which are made out of one solid piece of wood (as far as I can tell). My first needles were Pony DPNs and I was close to tears out of pure frustration when I tried to use them. Then I found some UA-cam video explaining that there are other materials knitting needles can be made from, and I realised that maybe the problem was the needles and not me.
Thanks for the indepth review! I'm looking to expand my set so I'm glad to come across this video 😊 I do want to add thay with the Knitpicks needles, the size is embossed into the needles so they won't rub off. The join is also smoother then the knitpro needles. I bought a couple of Knitpros thinking that they will fit with the Knitpicks, they do but poorly. Thanks again for the comprehenive review 😊😊
Hi, I only have a set of knitpro symphony needles and I too have had a couple of cables snapping out of the metal part at the end... I didn't know it was a common thing to happen.I still like them very much, though. I haven't tried metal ones yet but I might try it one day. Very interesting review! Thanks!
I love my 30cm Addi fixed for hats cos I prefer not having to always move my loops and they slide beautifully on smaller cords…. but I do prefer wood usually… so I’m a full set Knitpro Syfonie shorties interchangeable gal (collected them all individually as I could afford over a year but I had them all now for a couple of years!) I also adore my special order teeny tiny 20cm! and the normal 25cm fixed symfonies that I have in doubles as 3, 3.5 and 4mm sizes for lil bitty small things - (I don’t want to do magic loop when I can just use these!) I just bought myself a 30cm x 5mm pair tonight as I realised I didn’t have some 🫶 loved your chitter chatter, new sub… tho now I realise I need a DPN case…. Tho I want to store my needles out as decor as well, they’re all so pretty!
Thanks for your excellent review. I’m with you on steel needles over wooden ones. I don’t know if this has happened to other people, but my most used wooden needles have worn away after a bit of use. I have needed to throw away my 3.5mm, 3.75mm and 4mm wooden tips as they’ve become so uneven from wear. One set is less than a year old and the other set is about 18 months old. In contrast I love my Addi fixed cable needles with the gold cords, they’re my favourite. I recently purchased an inexpensive metal interchangeable set from KnitPicks (KnitPro?) called the “Reflections Options” and am enjoying them immensely. Clearly, knitting needles are such a personal thing.
This is perfect timing! I have the Knit and sips and they are fine but I want to get some interchangeable shorties, currently look at the chiaogoo and knit pros but now going to look at the hiya hiyas because I adore my hiyahiya sock 9” needles. Fab reviews thank you, can’t believe I’ve just found you, I am now subscribed
Thanks, this is a great look at different needles. I have a Chiaogoo interchangeable set alone with a lot of random one offs. I love my Chiaogoos, but now I've ordered a Hiya Hiya steel interchangeable single needle to try out. I have a number of Sharps and hate them. I can't wait to try the steel.
Thank you!! Yeah I suspect a lot of people who would LOVE the Steels dismiss HiyaHiya because they've only heard of an tried their Sharps. That was nearly me, but I'm so glad someone convinced me. 😄
I was vary surprised with your issue with the chiaogoo circular needles. Its the only brand I use for lace knitting because they never come undone on me. This was a interesting and helpful review of circular needles and an indispensable resource for my self moving forward.
thanks so much for this -- love honest, informed opinions stated frankly! and i actually had never noticed before that KnitPro and Lykke interchangeable are compatible/related, so extra thanks for that. and like you, i tend to stab myself with super-pointy needles too much, plus they tend to split unspun yarns (which i love) more than blunter needles -- so hooray for slightly-less-sharp!
Thank you for this very comprehensive review! Personally, I own a mix of interchangeable needles from knitpro (and some from Järbo, which are definitely made by Knitpro), although only one in each size. For the smaller sizes i have zing needles, and for the bigger sizes, different wood needles. I bought them as the fit into my budget, and they work well enough, but I have certainly experienced all of the mentioned problems. For some of the needles, the screwing function is a bit damaged now. The 3 mm, the ones I use the most, have started to fade a bit. However, I love that the zing needles are color coded! And the cables is another story, they really are not of good quality. Most of my cables are damaged right where the cable stops and the metal part starts (for screwing on the needle). It snags and is really annoying, especially with tight gauges where the stitches are not much bigger than the cable itself. At least one cable has snapped completely, and some others I've had to put tape on, in order to stop the snagging.
Really interesting, thanks. Personally, I knit everything except socks on Knit Pro Zing fixed 80 cm needles (and I also have the set of DPNs to complete that) and I gave pretty much everything else I had away. I didn't get on well with the interchangeable Knit Pro Symphony set and abandoned it well over 10 yrs ago. Maybe it's how I knit but the dratted things always unscrewed, no matter how tightly I used the key. I do like the Symphony wood. However: I have found that although Knit Pro is probably the most accessible to me, the sellers often do not honour the policy of replacing broken circulars, unfortunately. A couple of my fixed Symphony and Zing circs broke and my supplier told me they would replace the Zing "as an exception", which annoyed me. Recently I've had to get a couple of individual interchangeable Zing tips/cables and so far the connections have held up well. Addi (often sold as Lang here in Switzerland) seem to be the most commonly available in wool shops and before I discovered the Zings I had a lot of the various kinds. I gave them all away to my knitting group, also hoping it would encourage several of the ladies to switch from straight to circs, with some success lol. I liked the idea of the lace ones (pointy) but that gold metal not only smells but discolours very quickly and needs polishing... ugh. Oh yes, and the cables! While I could probably get HiyaHiya and Chiagoo if I really really wanted to, they aren't easily available to me. I have tried HiyaHiya sharps and like you, found them slightly toooo pointy. I did like the cable though. One point I would have been interested in is the different thicknesses of needle (apart from the points, which you did cover) in each type. None of the sets of interchangeable needles cover my favoured needle sizes - which is probably why I'm not bothered about getting a set. I hardly ever use anything above a 5mm but frequently use 2.25 - 4 mm. Personal preference, of course.
I agree with you: Hiya Hiya Steel are my favorite. Especially the older steel, which are even blunter than the newer ones. I just bought Chiaogoo because I do like the cable; but HH are light and lovely. Thanks for a wonderful, comprehensive review. (I also dislike the smell of the Addi Brass lace tips).
such an informative review.,thankyou.I own a large set of the panda needles,and yes the cable is seemingly identical to chiagoo apart from the colour.I got mine from aliexpress the delivery takes ages but for around £4.00 or so I got a ton of needles.
do they have a wierd smell/feel? i want to order but im scared as they are unbranded and i dont want any heavy metal poisoning or anything from holding them. how has your experience been with them? also have you compared them to other stainless steel knitting needles? thanks alot.
@@nsjhdhdhdbhsudgvdydb7751 they feel ok to me and no weird smell?I prefer chiagoo by far the problem with the set is the cables are all one length (65cm)as the video mentions.But at such an affordable price its worth noting if on a tight budget and perhaps they now offer alternative sizes..
@@alisonbarrow5711 they offer more sizes ive seen 80cm and 100cm sets i might buy one day to see how they stack up to my hiya hiya and knit pro stainless sets. thanks
Thank you for your interesting review. I have bought lots of needles over the years, many of the metal vintage ones I bought from charity shops for little cost and it makes sense I. This day and age not to spend too much on new needles, I think most of them are made in China? As knitters we should be very resourceful. As for Knit pro I treated myself to a set in a pretty Paris themed box but the box broke I. A few places needs gluing and last year whilst working on a project one of the interchangeable needles broke which reminds me that I should replace it. Not sure if I could recommend Knit Pro for this very reason.
This was a fun review! I've only used Chiaogoo interchangeable sets and Chiaogoo fixed needles and Lykke interchangeable set for the occasional project (but I hate the Lykke cords so much). After your review, I'm interested in trying the Hiya Hiya Steels!
Hi Gillian, I feel the same about Chiagoo and Lykke...i found that Lantern Moon swivel cords work great with Lykke! I bought mine on Amazon. Best wishes!
@@teresaclark-kasch9088 Thanks so much for the recommendation! I recently purchased Knit Picks Reflections cords on another recommendation. They have the coated steel cord cable that looks similar to Chiaogoo only in green. I'm hoping they fit. They should arrive tomorrow. It's nice to have this other option in addition. Thanks again!
@@teresaclark-kasch9088 They do fit and I’m so happy knitting with my Lykke needles now! I was a little nervous because I required a pin and muscle to screw my 3.5mm tip onto one end of the cord. But the second tip twisted on easily. The joins are absolutely smooth! And the cord I got is fixed, rather than the swivel of lantern moon. But I’m just happy to have a steel cord in there. No weird lumps or bumps for my stitches to travel over. Just a smooth flat cord. So happy!!
As you acknowledged, I think it is a great shame that novice crafters generally choose the cheapest, close to hand equipment options when they start out. Obviously there are a number of reasons for this. As more experienced knitters know, the right equipment and tools make for a far more enjoyable experience, and the greater the likelihood of persisting and finding satisfaction with the process and the product. I am sure your review (and subsequent viewers’ comments) will be very illuminating for newbies and for more practiced knitters!
Very true- I am brand new and was thinking of getting a cheap $30 set to "test the waters" - now I will take the $30 and buy one high quality circular needle so I can actually get a good idea of what I'm getting into
Chiaogoo now has swivel cords though I personally hate them because of the snag... I always use the rubbery thing and the key to tighten them with the normal red cords and they never come lose even during the most twisty magic loop. :P Love hiyahiyas too. I was really surprised by prym ergonomics though, they are really good.
Glad I Am not the only, one who hates the 360 swivel cords. I don't understand why Chiao good did not test them. I love my 3 sets of Chiao goo except the swivel cables.
Love hearing what others think of the needles I currently own, Chiaogoo, (IC and Fixed )Hiya Hiya (IC and Fixed) , Lattern Moon (IC) , Lykke (Fixed) Addi (fixed) , "Panda" set with case (Fixed) Knitters Pride (IC and Fixed) , Knit PIcks (IC and Fixed) Like you I have multiple chaiogoo cases and keep other brands in them . Own a full set of those 32" panda like needles , they came from china in a case , the bend in them reminds me of the Chiaogoo fixed RED , vs the LACE needles that are straight fixed needles . A* bit of snagging at the join with those "Panda" brand, some worse than others. Interchangeables , no matter what brand or how expensive , swivel joins , as nice a feature as it is, just snags my yarn Chiaogoo, Lantern Moon , Knitters Pride (mindful collection) etc. Gave away the short chiaogoo circulars , tried them and the flexi flip type needles
Thank you for this review. I recently ordered chiaogoo interchangeable set because I have been using their circular for years and I love them and I now feel I made a good choice as opposed to purchasing some other brands.
Love love love this video!!!! Super informative and well organized while making sure personal preference is clear when making subjective choices 🥰 I found this video while trying to look for reviews on Lantern Moon knitting needles. If anyone has any info I'd love to hear about your experience with them!
My favorites are the knitter's pride "nova platina" because they are identified and a bit shaper than the knitpro nova. I recently bought the new teal swivel cables to use them with and I haven't touched my chiaogoo since 😊 (But Chiaogoo would still be my go to for heavy projects like blankets. I trust the cables will hold on a LOT of weight) A little tip is I always use needle grabbers when attaching my needles to the cords. They are round, flat rubber pieces and they give you the grip needed so that the needles will stay put 🙂. The heart from chiaogoo works too but needle grabbers work even better 😊
Oh I've got to try those swivel cables! Sounds like something like what HiyaHiya have, no? Unfortunately the "needle grabbers" don't do the trick for me. The keys do the job though, phew 😄
I always use the key and the grabbers (i'm weak 🤣) I used to say if I could mix Chiaogoo cables and knitter's pride needles it would be perfect. The new swivel cables are a reallly good middle ground. They are not as relaxed as the chiaogoo cords but the swivel works well 🙂.
I'm very much on the same page as you with your needle preferences. I prefer metal needles, I had the same not great experience with Addi. My main interchangeables are ChiaoGoo and I've only got a couple of HiyaHiya fixed sock size needles but I always reach for them first. Over the years I find the ChiaoGoo lace to be a pointier needle which is helpful when I've got tricky cables on socks but I've really had no problem doing magic loop with either. Not a fan of the nylon CG cables for circulars, they snag and haven't been great. However I've also broken a few of the red metal cables over the years. You've got me really interested in seeing if I can get a HiyaHiya set as those cables look amazing and the best of both worlds. I have had such awful luck with KnitPro I just don't even consider them when I see them in LYS, if it's not HH or CG I'm not interested. It's a problem because they're getting harder to find here in Australia.
I actually find my birch Knitters Pride needles to be much rougher and less slippery than Lykke. I love my 2.00 - 3.00 mm Lykkes. By some witchcraft they have not broken and if I ever do snap one, Lykke replaces them. I also find them less grippy than my Seeknit sets. Tbh my Seeknits are often grippy to the point of frustration.
I use my Chiaogoo mini interchangeables for all my sock knitting, and I’ve never had them unscrew on me. That super skinny cable is great for magic loop. I always use a rubber grip to tighten the joint when I’m putting together any of my Chaiogoo needles and I rarely have any issues. My biggest annoyance with any inner changeable is if the joint isn’t perfectly smooth so the Hiya-Hiya needles would be a problem for me, that snagging would just be a constant irritant. As for text link circulars, I don’t store them coiled up and I don’t have nearly the problem with kinky cables. I have a type of hanger case where you string the needles through tubes of fabric and they just hang down. I hang it on the door. Please don’t boil your noodles to relax the cables. Just put them in a case where they can hang straight, and in time they will relax on their own. It’s also interesting that Addi needles are less expensive than Chaiogoo in Europe. It’s quite the opposite here in the US.
I have a set of Chiaogoo interchangeable needles that one size comes undone when knitting with them. I would not rate them that high and find them over priced. They're not so easy to return as people say if you have needles that do not stay connected to the cable. So I stick to my Hiya Hiya or my Lykke woods and some of my Zing metals. I appreciate your reviews, it does help since some brands are investments.
A very good review. Well done. I dislike Chiagoo. Wish I liked them, but messed up my thumb and wrist trying to draft felted fiber for spinning. Therefore, my chiropractor gets to work on that often. Chiagoo are 1 gram heavier and stiffer so very irritating for arthritis. Hyper sensitive thumb.
I love the speed and smooth feel of addis. both fixed and click. The cubics are fine and the little bumps keep a good tension and control the stitches that might be too slippery. The only click needle fail experienced was on an older 3.5mm needle. the newer needles have a distinct locking sound. The joint is slightly annoying, the cables are ok. red and gold. The chiagoos have a grating sound I don't like but feel smooth from tip through the join and cable, I like the look and feel of knitpro symphony, like the swivel cord but found the points hurt my fingers, particularly using 9mm on afgan blanket. I daren't try the sharp hiyahiya. I knitted a lace patterned shawl with j'adore cubics, these were ok, but prefer the addis being used on the current shawl. Addi's have a lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer Skacel in Germany. They are on the more expensive side.
Really appreciate your comprehensive review. As a person who works mostly on pony needles and love them they work great for me Im satisfied and Ive done magic loop as well. 😅 because only ones at my local yarn store and I don’t tend to buy stuff online so. But I wouldn’t recommend pony bamboo straight needles my first set why is the tip like someone nibbled it 😭😭and theyre curved ive nit even used them much.
It was interesting to hear your price ranges. It seems like you can get Addi needles much cheaper over there than here in the USA. Addi needles are some of the most expensive. The only ones I know that are more are signature needles. And knitter’s pride are typically the least expensive.
i enjoyed the knitpro zing set but i got sick of fussing with keys and the cables getting stuck and hard to unscrew so once i had convinced myself i did like knitting, i switched to a set of denise interchangeables ! i had their crochet set already so i was dying to have some knitting needles with their cables that lock really easily ! the hard plastic is also a little warmer so its nicer on my hands :] we definitely have very different needle preferences but its nice to know some recommended brands in case i need something different
I have the Addi interchangeable needles…I really like the feel and blunt tips, but I am no longer enjoying the “push and twist” cables. The cables have memory and the cords have popped loose while knitting. I have been using my ChiaoGoo interchangeables because that’s what I have and they work just fine.
I 100% agree with you on the Hiya Hiya's. . I have about five sets of interchangeable's including chaiogoo and I would give them all away if I had to choose, but not my Hiya Hiya's. They're as smooth as glass and just feel like the perfect weight in your hand. I have turned a lot of people in my knitting group away from Chaiogoo and onto Haya Hiya. The one thing that drove me crazy about Chaiogoo is they feel a little flimsy compared to Hiya but also the scraping sound of the needles is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Hiya Hiya is just quiet and smooth like a well oiled machine. Best needles of all! Whether they be sharps( my fave) or steel they are 5 star!
For KnitPro I would recommend their Mindfulness collections. They have swivel cords and are made of nice metal. Size numbers don’t come off. Upgraded from symphony and they are quite nice. Thank you for your review:)
I am sorry you didn't like it :( . I have just the interchangeable and I like that one. Tbh I didn't want to get different brand since I have already a lot of their cables. But the few fixed needles I have, I have the red lace tbh 😅
I agree with you, basically 95%, especially about how much I love my Hiya Hiya steels (not sharps!) interchangeables. If I'm using metal needles, they're my first choice. I don't like sharp tips, I'm prone to stabbing myself and once put a sock project using chiaogoos on my lap (while recording a podcast naturally) and stabbed one into my leg. Not my best moment. I love knit picks carbonz, they're probably my most used needles, and I -love- my rosewood ones. They're not birch, they're actually rosewood and they are so silky smooth and sharp without being pointy. Prym do plastic fixed needles with ergonomic tips and I actually quite like them, though I don't usually knit with plastic. Plastic and bamboo both feel wrong in my hands :-/ And, now that you mention it, so do my Addi's which is probably why I never use them anymore.
Tak for en interessant anmeldelse af strikkepinde ❤️. Jeg undrer mig over at du slet ikke bruger ChiaGoo lace med deres tynde kabler. Disse kabler kan med en connector bruges som kabel til pindene til de større størrelser og er uovertrufne til magic loop. Det er min erfaring. Glæder mig til om du evt kommer til at anmelde det nye luksussæt fra ChiaGoo. Her DK koster det ca 3400kr. Så det er jo lidt af en opsparing for en pensionist. Men de nye sølvwirer kan jo købes løst. Dem skal jeg prøve.
Interesting that the fixed Chiaogoo 9" tips are longer than the Addi 20 cm ones - I have the Chiaogoo 9" interchangeables and those tips are actually a touch shorter than the Addi ones despite making an overall longer total needle. I *just* bought the red set of Chiaogoo 9" interchangeables though, so I won't even try the fixed ones for now - I really don't want to find out that I've spent all that money only to like the fixed ones more 😅
Knit pocks needles also have the needle sizes lasered in, but the #s are tiny. Also the Knit Picks have no issue w cables separation from screw portion. I hear a ton of people loving Hija Hija, I purchased the fixed sock set. I find thr cable impossible. It retains the curl from being stored, even after submerging in warm/hot water, after being placed under heavy objects while laying straight, etc. They pinch the yarn in between curls, the just make it impossible to knit comfortably. The needles ar a bit like knitting w rounded razors.
Thanks for a fun and informative video! Fun fact I listened to this while knitting magic loop on one of your much hated golden addi lace needles. And no, I don't like them either :D maybe your video will finally push me to stock up more on the needles that I actually enjoy (hello Chiaogoo!) and stop using stuff I don't like.
I enjoyed your review but I must say that for me Hiya hiya’s cables drop a point for me. I only bought 2 tip sets and 2 cables but I find that they can snag a little and have too much cable memory. I don’t have the untwisting issue with Chiaogoo with my knitting style and the cables are smooth and memory free which I love so they are my favourites. I have the knit pro zing and the cable snag and memory also bother me a little with those too but the needles are fine for the price. I haven’t tried Addi.
I only have one prym knitting needle so far but it’s plastic. However their crochet hook sets are lovely and affordable. They’re plastic so not super durable but they’re lightweight and the grip is ergonomic.
Thank you for the review. I like KnitPro and Chiaogoo but now the ne KnitPro 360 cord is perfect and in combination with Mindfull needles is great. On other hand the new Chiaogoo 360 Cord is a nightmare for me even I love Chiaogoo, this new cord is for me personally bad made.
For socks and mittens I'd definitely use 80 cm / 32" circumference needles for magic loop. Not too short and not too long, in my opinion 😄 And thank you!
drops pro has the size printed on them, but the cables cannot be connected, or at least in the metal set they do not include the connectors, the price is 35 euros, so for all thee starters, maybe this can help, I love knitting with them
I also dislike Addis because of how twisted the cable becomes after doing magic loop. It's a shame because the needles are pretty nice. Also, one reason I do reach for Pony at least once for every project is when I'm picking up stitches for a neckline, or picking up stitches after frogging because the cable is so thick, the stitches stay in place with the tension I want; or, when I'm doing an italian cast on, because I like the grip of Pony's thick cable and needles; or when I'm tinking back to fix stitches a couple rows back - one time, I had to rip back a whole cable twist over 20 rows back and reknit it because I dropped a stitch somewhere, I found that my 3mm Pony needles were perfect to knit with the limited length of yarn and gripped everything securely.
Just FYI for anyone considering the prym ergonomic needles - the ones coated white - some people have an allergic reaction to it and I wish they had stated on the packaging exactly what it is!
Just a heads up from a dedicated Chiaogoo interchangeable needle knitter 😁 I too found that they became loose - until I learnt about using the silicone heart to tighten the join (a rubber glove works just as well) Thank you for taking the time to record this review 😁👍🧶
I even use a thick rubber band successfully! Never come loose if tightened with the heart or a rubber band! :)
I wish you had addressed the quality of cables with the interchangeables. I DO knit Magic Loop with Chiaogoo. If the yarn is “sticky” I will use adapters to put a thinner cable on my large or small Chiaogoo interchangeables. I also use a smaller left needle. But I’ve been curious about Hiya Hiya cables (you did address the swivel, but not the cable itself).
I bought a roll of that grippy rubber material that you put under rugs so they don’t slide. We cut it up and handed out a couple chunks to everybody in our knitting group so they’d have it to tighten their needles. I just tuck it in my needle case and it’s always there and cheap, especially when you divide up among a couple dozen people. I still have some left and even cut a piece to go under a small rug recently.
I had the needles of my interchangeable set coming lose and even had one fall off while I was knitting. Making sure everything is tightened down with the key keeps that from happening
Thank you for a comprehensive review! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your views, and I found the way you structured this video helpful and pedagogical. I often get questions about what needles to invest in, and it is such a complex question to answer, since people’s knitting styles and preferences play such an important role. I think you covered that aspect really well, and I will be sending my friends this video next time they ask about what needles to buy. 😊
Thank you!! That's so nice to hear.😊😊
I was most surprised by your Addi needles, because we get much different ones in the U.S. They have blue cords, with the size printed on the cord (not easy to see, but it does stay). The blue cord is very pretty in my opinion but is terrible for magic loop, but my favorite needles for knitting in the round if I want a really slick "fast" needle. I can't ever figure out the difference between Addi "turbo" or "rocket" or "Skacel" which shows up on the package; it's a mystery. Also in the U.S. Addi is definitely not a bargain, generally as expensive as ChiaoGoo if not more so. Absolutely agree with you that the best needle for magic loop is a fixed ChiaoGoo.
I’m so glad you talked about the smell with the gold/brass Addi’s. I didn’t know if I was the only one. I hate that specific needle!
Honestly same, my brass Addi needle felt kind of sticky/tacky and I really wondered if it was just a me problem because literally nobody mentioned it before.
Fab review, loved the fact it was really clear and detailed!
I have tried a few brands but the fixed circular chiaogoo are definitively my favourites :) I use their short ones for sock knitting and have not looked back (I used dpns before as magic loop doesn't really work for me atm).
For interchangables, I do love chiaogoo as well, but also use my Lykke set a lot, but my 1st set was a KitPro Symphony and every now and then still used them, especially for those rare chunky knits as I have all the large tips!
And yes, I was one of the Pony needle people when I started - these have now been donated to charity for other beginners to use.
Fantastic! You gave me courage to eliminate some fixed circulars I'll never use and to update my inventory. I gave away my tiny Chiaogoo interchangeable set for the same reason you mentioned. A poor woman had her set stolen, so she lucked out when I gave her mine! Happy Knitting!
This review is so comprehensive and thorough and I love that you give honest practical opinions. And I looooove that you provided a written version and time stamps which will be so easy to reference next time I go needle shopping!
Thank you thank you thank you!! 💕
Fantastic review! I appreciate you taking the time to do this.
I started with Hiya Hiya bamboo interchangables and really liked the swivel join. I've since changed over to Chiagoo red lace. Love their tips and the wire cords.
I was SOO excited when I heard that Chiagoo was coming out with a swivel cord. All I can say is don't waste your money (or only buy one to try). The join on the new Chiagoo 360 swivel cords is terrible. It snags on everything. It's too bad because I'm a Chiagoo fan girl for pretty much everything else they make.
I so agree with the Knt Pro review so far. I bought my first ones before Knit Pro bought out the small business called Knit Picks (I think it was) They had such good quality and service. I've had Knit Pros cable opo out, cable come undone, cable attachment completely fall off and needles themselves break in two. Maybe you get service if you live in London, but here in Helsinki the attitude is: glue it yourself or get over it and just buy more. You need your receipt and life-time guarantee means about 12 months. I refuse to buy any Knit Pro products due to horrible packaging and lousy 'service'. I'm loving these reviews. Thank you.
One thing that really matters is that Chiaogoo products are lifetime guaranteed!
I simply sent them an email because my cable join was faulty, and within a few days they sent me a replacement cable with no fuss at all. You can also go through the yarn store you bought them and they'll arrange the replacement.
Are any other needle brands like that?
I would like to try laminated birchwood, otherwise I'll most likely continue to use the same needles I already have, which are all Chiaogoo lol
over a year later and I just found it and this is a fantastic video! I keep forgetting Prym make needles, I'm so used to using their crochet hooks that that is what i use quite often 😂😂.
for fixed point needles i used the Hiya Hiya, personally prefer the Sharps but will get steels if i cannot find the sharps as like you i find them both just as good as each other. (I like the sharps for hat knitting as i do a lot with Natural Fibre and i find them great for not splitting those)
for interchangables, i got myself some KnitPro Zings as i like their DPN's, and I'm glad i got them, however i was gifted some Lykke Driftwood by family, and despite (normally) using metal needles, i legitimately love the Lykke's
Fun one, my Grandma and a lot of her friends have passed on a lot of Aero straight needles to me that they've all sworn by, some of these sets are slightly crooked from years of use by the ladies who passed them on to me, apparently were quite affordable, and the fact i've got multiple pairs now, that are in good condition, says a lot. I would say needle tip wise they're very similar to Hiya Hiya Steels, even after >40 years
Thank you Ellie, this is an extremely helpful overview of the needles you have experience with. Its nice to hear your experienced opinion with all the needles you reviewed.
Great review! I tried the Zings when they first they came out. I found the tips to be inconsistent some were sharp and some were blunt and I didn’t care for the feel of the aluminum so ended up returning them and buying the ChaioGoo interchangeables and I love them. I also like the Knitters Pride Dreams(wood) needles for shawl knitting. I have noticed The older black cords from Knitters Pride are more flexible than the newer colored cables, but their newest cables, The Mindful Collection swivel like Hiya Hiya and are coated metal cable like ChiaoGoo.
Thank you so much for this review. I would like to bring your attention to more recent ChiaoGoo TWIST SWIV360 SILVER Câble, you don't need a full set, but the cables are fantastic, like the red cables, but with the swivel feature. They fit with the adaptors so no need for large cables, and the magic loop perfectly.
thanks for the video, you should try the knitpro mindful stainless steel needle and steel swivel chord interchangable set.
Thank you for this great review, it will help legions of future knitters. I’ve been slowly building my collection of ChiaoGoo fixed needles one at a time, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
Most comprehensive needle review ever! Well done, Ellie.
Wow, thank you!
Tusen takk. Det var virkelig interessant å høre hva du tenker om de forskjellige. Jeg er helt enig med deg, men har ikke prøvd alle. Takk igjen
Thank you for this helpful overview. I have been knitting for 46 years now and I have the same experiences exept for Hya Hya, because I don't own those.
Lovely greetings from Germany and happy knitting!
Helga
HiyaHiya also makes bamboo needle tips! They're my favorite, as someone who prefers the feel and grip of wooden needles but not how much blunter they tend to be. The HiyaHiya bamboos in small sizes are the sharpest wood/bamboo needles I've found; not as sharp as metal needles, of course, but good enough for lace and cables.
Elli, this was great and I will listen again! I agree, Chiagoo Fixed for so many different kinds of knitting! 🐑♥️🐑♥️🐑
This was a good review, too bad for me that I'm a wood needle girl. I find the wood warmer in my hands and it is more quiet to knit with. The knit pro needles are my favorite ( I do inspect the joint before buying...) I also like DPN in bamboo from Søstrene Grene (super cheap) but I always give them a round with a 600 sandpaper before use. I have also shortened them by 3-5 cm so that that they are not all over the place. The reason I like the bamboo ones is their light weight, meaning they won't fall out of my knitting even though they are shorter than usual. I really don't like the shortest circular needles, because I need to hold the needles in my hands not my fingertips.
I recently picked up knitter's Pride karbonz; metal tip but carbon fiber body; they're lightweight and have grip but so smooth and quick due to the metal tips. Love Love them!
Thanks for a comprehensive, honest review of the needles you have! For me, as a mostly magic loop knitter, the memory of the cord and the join are what takes my knitting from enjoyable to frustrating, and Chiagoo needles are what works for me. I haven’t had a problem with needles unscrewing since I tighten them with the red silicone heart. I had several Addi fixed needles both lace and turbo and I found the cords frustrating and gave them away. I have found the Addi needles are about 20-30% more expensive than Chiagoo in the USA. The hiya hiya I have tried did not have a super smooth join though I did like the swivel feature.
Thanks for your review. I loved your disclaimers. What I’ve found is that how people knit 🧶 connects them with what tools they like. It’s a very personal experience and each person is different. There’s something for everyone 😊
Great review! Completely agree with you on Chiaogoo fixed needles…they’re my favorite by far! I buy them any time I see them on sale because they are expensive! I never made the connection between magic loop and interchangeable needles coming untwisted. Thanks for mentioning that!
Thanks. Your review is very comprehensive. Mostly I agree. I love my Chiaogoo.
I love, love love my chiagoos. Your video was so informative!
Thank you for your helpful reviews! My experience is similar to yours although I don’t have as many types of needles to compare. You provide a LOT of information in a fairly short amount of time! Well done!
Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful! 😊
Thanks for taking time to make this video, very informative 👍🧶
Thanks for the review! I had the same breaking issue with my fixed Chiagoo needles. Those were quite old and I had used them only for magicloop. Anyway those are still my absolute favorite and I bought new to replace the broken ones.
Loved your review, even though we don't agree on HiyaHiya. I would give them 1 star. I spoke to an Addi rep at Vogue Knitting Live several years ago about the brass needles. Brass interacts with body oils and it tarnishes and smells. He advised cleaning the tips with ketchup. A throwaway packet you get with takeaway food works. Addi sock rockets are my preferred fixed needles. Knitpicks nickel plated are right behind Addi. The swivel cords correct the problem of interchangeables becoming loose. I have sets of Kykke and Chiaogoo that I love. Here in the US, Addi fixed needles cost 13.95-17.95 depending on size. Pretty expensive here. Your review was so comprehensive. I noticed KnitPicks have come out with interchangeable cords similar to Chiaogoo. I plan to order some to try.
Thank you for this very thorough and comprehensive review!
I’ve only knitted for about a year now, what I use is wooden needles (preferably from the brand Lykke, although the Knitpro Basix Birch are basically the same thing for a much cheaper price). I use those little silicone “mini pot holders” from Chiagoo to get a good grip when I fasten the KnitPro tips to their cables. I tried the metal key thing KnitPro sends with their needles, but I guess I’m using it wrong because it wasn’t helpful at all.
I used to use KnitPro Symfonie DPNs, but had a rude awakening when one of those snapped in half during knitting. The way they’re made, with lots of thin sheets of wood glued together, means there are a lot of “weak spots” where they could break, compared to KnitPro Basix Birch or Lykke needles, which are made out of one solid piece of wood (as far as I can tell).
My first needles were Pony DPNs and I was close to tears out of pure frustration when I tried to use them. Then I found some UA-cam video explaining that there are other materials knitting needles can be made from, and I realised that maybe the problem was the needles and not me.
Thanks for the indepth review! I'm looking to expand my set so I'm glad to come across this video 😊 I do want to add thay with the Knitpicks needles, the size is embossed into the needles so they won't rub off. The join is also smoother then the knitpro needles. I bought a couple of Knitpros thinking that they will fit with the Knitpicks, they do but poorly.
Thanks again for the comprehenive review 😊😊
Hi, I only have a set of knitpro symphony needles and I too have had a couple of cables snapping out of the metal part at the end... I didn't know it was a common thing to happen.I still like them very much, though. I haven't tried metal ones yet but I might try it one day. Very interesting review! Thanks!
I love my 30cm Addi fixed for hats cos I prefer not having to always move my loops and they slide beautifully on smaller cords…. but I do prefer wood usually… so I’m a full set Knitpro Syfonie shorties interchangeable gal (collected them all individually as I could afford over a year but I had them all now for a couple of years!) I also adore my special order teeny tiny 20cm! and the normal 25cm fixed symfonies that I have in doubles as 3, 3.5 and 4mm sizes for lil bitty small things - (I don’t want to do magic loop when I can just use these!) I just bought myself a 30cm x 5mm pair tonight as I realised I didn’t have some 🫶 loved your chitter chatter, new sub… tho now I realise I need a DPN case…. Tho I want to store my needles out as decor as well, they’re all so pretty!
ChiaoGoo also do rotating cables and more flexible ones too now.
Very comprehensive review. I’m in the Chaigoo camp.
Contact Chaigoo about your broken needle they will replace it.
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks Eli for your review. Chiaogoo are my favourites. 😊
Thank you, Eli!
Thanks for your excellent review. I’m with you on steel needles over wooden ones. I don’t know if this has happened to other people, but my most used wooden needles have worn away after a bit of use. I have needed to throw away my 3.5mm, 3.75mm and 4mm wooden tips as they’ve become so uneven from wear. One set is less than a year old and the other set is about 18 months old. In contrast I love my Addi fixed cable needles with the gold cords, they’re my favourite. I recently purchased an inexpensive metal interchangeable set from KnitPicks (KnitPro?) called the “Reflections Options” and am enjoying them immensely. Clearly, knitting needles are such a personal thing.
Thanks so much for your reviews. I’m a Chiaogoo and Hiya Hiya Sharps girl.
This is perfect timing! I have the Knit and sips and they are fine but I want to get some interchangeable shorties, currently look at the chiaogoo and knit pros but now going to look at the hiya hiyas because I adore my hiyahiya sock 9” needles. Fab reviews thank you, can’t believe I’ve just found you, I am now subscribed
Thanks, this is a great look at different needles. I have a Chiaogoo interchangeable set alone with a lot of random one offs. I love my Chiaogoos, but now I've ordered a Hiya Hiya steel interchangeable single needle to try out. I have a number of Sharps and hate them. I can't wait to try the steel.
Thank you!! Yeah I suspect a lot of people who would LOVE the Steels dismiss HiyaHiya because they've only heard of an tried their Sharps. That was nearly me, but I'm so glad someone convinced me. 😄
Thank you Eli, very helpful along with your spreadsheet!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you!
I was vary surprised with your issue with the chiaogoo circular needles. Its the only brand I use for lace knitting because they never come undone on me. This was a interesting and helpful review of circular needles and an indispensable resource for my self moving forward.
thanks so much for this -- love honest, informed opinions stated frankly! and i actually had never noticed before that KnitPro and Lykke interchangeable are compatible/related, so extra thanks for that. and like you, i tend to stab myself with super-pointy needles too much, plus they tend to split unspun yarns (which i love) more than blunter needles -- so hooray for slightly-less-sharp!
Thank you for this very comprehensive review!
Personally, I own a mix of interchangeable needles from knitpro (and some from Järbo, which are definitely made by Knitpro), although only one in each size. For the smaller sizes i have zing needles, and for the bigger sizes, different wood needles. I bought them as the fit into my budget, and they work well enough, but I have certainly experienced all of the mentioned problems. For some of the needles, the screwing function is a bit damaged now. The 3 mm, the ones I use the most, have started to fade a bit. However, I love that the zing needles are color coded!
And the cables is another story, they really are not of good quality. Most of my cables are damaged right where the cable stops and the metal part starts (for screwing on the needle). It snags and is really annoying, especially with tight gauges where the stitches are not much bigger than the cable itself. At least one cable has snapped completely, and some others I've had to put tape on, in order to stop the snagging.
Thank you dear Eli. Xxx
Really interesting, thanks.
Personally, I knit everything except socks on Knit Pro Zing fixed 80 cm needles (and I also have the set of DPNs to complete that) and I gave pretty much everything else I had away.
I didn't get on well with the interchangeable Knit Pro Symphony set and abandoned it well over 10 yrs ago. Maybe it's how I knit but the dratted things always unscrewed, no matter how tightly I used the key. I do like the Symphony wood. However: I have found that although Knit Pro is probably the most accessible to me, the sellers often do not honour the policy of replacing broken circulars, unfortunately. A couple of my fixed Symphony and Zing circs broke and my supplier told me they would replace the Zing "as an exception", which annoyed me. Recently I've had to get a couple of individual interchangeable Zing tips/cables and so far the connections have held up well.
Addi (often sold as Lang here in Switzerland) seem to be the most commonly available in wool shops and before I discovered the Zings I had a lot of the various kinds. I gave them all away to my knitting group, also hoping it would encourage several of the ladies to switch from straight to circs, with some success lol. I liked the idea of the lace ones (pointy) but that gold metal not only smells but discolours very quickly and needs polishing... ugh. Oh yes, and the cables!
While I could probably get HiyaHiya and Chiagoo if I really really wanted to, they aren't easily available to me. I have tried HiyaHiya sharps and like you, found them slightly toooo pointy. I did like the cable though.
One point I would have been interested in is the different thicknesses of needle (apart from the points, which you did cover) in each type. None of the sets of interchangeable needles cover my favoured needle sizes - which is probably why I'm not bothered about getting a set. I hardly ever use anything above a 5mm but frequently use 2.25 - 4 mm. Personal preference, of course.
I agree with you: Hiya Hiya Steel are my favorite. Especially the older steel, which are even blunter than the newer ones. I just bought Chiaogoo because I do like the cable; but HH are light and lovely. Thanks for a wonderful, comprehensive review. (I also dislike the smell of the Addi Brass lace tips).
such an informative review.,thankyou.I own a large set of the panda needles,and yes the cable is seemingly identical to chiagoo apart from the colour.I got mine from aliexpress the delivery takes ages but for around £4.00 or so I got a ton of needles.
Oh! It makes a lot of sense Panda would be on Aliexpress these days! Thanks for the tip!
do they have a wierd smell/feel? i want to order but im scared as they are unbranded and i dont want any heavy metal poisoning or anything from holding them. how has your experience been with them? also have you compared them to other stainless steel knitting needles? thanks alot.
@@nsjhdhdhdbhsudgvdydb7751 they feel ok to me and no weird smell?I prefer chiagoo by far the problem with the set is the cables are all one length (65cm)as the video mentions.But at such an affordable price its worth noting if on a tight budget and perhaps they now offer alternative sizes..
@@alisonbarrow5711 they offer more sizes ive seen 80cm and 100cm sets i might buy one day to see how they stack up to my hiya hiya and knit pro stainless sets. thanks
Thank you for your interesting review. I have bought lots of needles over the years, many of the metal vintage ones I bought from charity shops for little cost and it makes sense I. This day and age not to spend too much on new needles, I think most of them are made in China? As knitters we should be very resourceful. As for Knit pro I treated myself to a set in a pretty Paris themed box but the box broke I. A few places needs gluing and last year whilst working on a project one of the interchangeable needles broke which reminds me that I should replace it. Not sure if I could recommend Knit Pro for this very reason.
Thank you for your comprehensive review.
This was a fun review! I've only used Chiaogoo interchangeable sets and Chiaogoo fixed needles and Lykke interchangeable set for the occasional project (but I hate the Lykke cords so much). After your review, I'm interested in trying the Hiya Hiya Steels!
Hi Gillian, I feel the same about Chiagoo and Lykke...i found that Lantern Moon swivel cords work great with Lykke! I bought mine on Amazon. Best wishes!
@@teresaclark-kasch9088 Thanks so much for the recommendation! I recently purchased Knit Picks Reflections cords on another recommendation. They have the coated steel cord cable that looks similar to Chiaogoo only in green. I'm hoping they fit. They should arrive tomorrow. It's nice to have this other option in addition. Thanks again!
@@gillianfreeman53 oh terrific! I hope they work out, let us know!!! 🤞🙂
@@teresaclark-kasch9088 They do fit and I’m so happy knitting with my Lykke needles now! I was a little nervous because I required a pin and muscle to screw my 3.5mm tip onto one end of the cord. But the second tip twisted on easily. The joins are absolutely smooth! And the cord I got is fixed, rather than the swivel of lantern moon. But I’m just happy to have a steel cord in there. No weird lumps or bumps for my stitches to travel over. Just a smooth flat cord. So happy!!
As you acknowledged, I think it is a great shame that novice crafters generally choose the cheapest, close to hand equipment options when they start out. Obviously there are a number of reasons for this. As more experienced knitters know, the right equipment and tools make for a far more enjoyable experience, and the greater the likelihood of persisting and finding satisfaction with the process and the product. I am sure your review (and subsequent viewers’ comments) will be very illuminating for newbies and for more practiced knitters!
Very true- I am brand new and was thinking of getting a cheap $30 set to "test the waters" - now I will take the $30 and buy one high quality circular needle so I can actually get a good idea of what I'm getting into
My father was a machinist. One lesson he taught me was start with what you can afford in the beginning, then upgrade when you can.
Chiaogoo now has swivel cords though I personally hate them because of the snag... I always use the rubbery thing and the key to tighten them with the normal red cords and they never come lose even during the most twisty magic loop. :P Love hiyahiyas too. I was really surprised by prym ergonomics though, they are really good.
Glad I Am not the only, one who hates the 360 swivel cords. I don't understand why Chiao good did not test them. I love my 3 sets of Chiao goo except the swivel cables.
Excellent pedagogical and helpful video 🧶
Glad you think so! Thank you!
Super-interessant for en pinne-amatør!!! Takk for alt arbeidet du har lagt i dette🧶👍😀
Love hearing what others think of the needles I currently own, Chiaogoo, (IC and Fixed )Hiya Hiya (IC and Fixed) , Lattern Moon (IC) , Lykke (Fixed) Addi (fixed) , "Panda" set with case (Fixed) Knitters Pride (IC and Fixed) , Knit PIcks (IC and Fixed)
Like you I have multiple chaiogoo cases and keep other brands in them .
Own a full set of those 32" panda like needles , they came from china in a case , the bend in them reminds me of the Chiaogoo fixed RED , vs the LACE needles that are straight fixed needles . A* bit of snagging at the join with those "Panda" brand, some worse than others.
Interchangeables , no matter what brand or how expensive , swivel joins , as nice a feature as it is, just snags my yarn Chiaogoo, Lantern Moon , Knitters Pride (mindful collection) etc.
Gave away the short chiaogoo circulars , tried them and the flexi flip type needles
Thank you for this review. I recently ordered chiaogoo interchangeable set because I have been using their circular for years and I love them and I now feel I made a good choice as opposed to purchasing some other brands.
Love love love this video!!!! Super informative and well organized while making sure personal preference is clear when making subjective choices 🥰
I found this video while trying to look for reviews on Lantern Moon knitting needles. If anyone has any info I'd love to hear about your experience with them!
Amazingly thorough!
My favorites are the knitter's pride "nova platina" because they are identified and a bit shaper than the knitpro nova. I recently bought the new teal swivel cables to use them with and I haven't touched my chiaogoo since 😊 (But Chiaogoo would still be my go to for heavy projects like blankets. I trust the cables will hold on a LOT of weight)
A little tip is I always use needle grabbers when attaching my needles to the cords. They are round, flat rubber pieces and they give you the grip needed so that the needles will stay put 🙂. The heart from chiaogoo works too but needle grabbers work even better 😊
Oh I've got to try those swivel cables! Sounds like something like what HiyaHiya have, no?
Unfortunately the "needle grabbers" don't do the trick for me. The keys do the job though, phew 😄
I always use the key and the grabbers (i'm weak 🤣) I used to say if I could mix Chiaogoo cables and knitter's pride needles it would be perfect. The new swivel cables are a reallly good middle ground. They are not as relaxed as the chiaogoo cords but the swivel works well 🙂.
I'm very much on the same page as you with your needle preferences. I prefer metal needles, I had the same not great experience with Addi. My main interchangeables are ChiaoGoo and I've only got a couple of HiyaHiya fixed sock size needles but I always reach for them first. Over the years I find the ChiaoGoo lace to be a pointier needle which is helpful when I've got tricky cables on socks but I've really had no problem doing magic loop with either. Not a fan of the nylon CG cables for circulars, they snag and haven't been great. However I've also broken a few of the red metal cables over the years. You've got me really interested in seeing if I can get a HiyaHiya set as those cables look amazing and the best of both worlds.
I have had such awful luck with KnitPro I just don't even consider them when I see them in LYS, if it's not HH or CG I'm not interested. It's a problem because they're getting harder to find here in Australia.
I actually find my birch Knitters Pride needles to be much rougher and less slippery than Lykke. I love my 2.00 - 3.00 mm Lykkes. By some witchcraft they have not broken and if I ever do snap one, Lykke replaces them. I also find them less grippy than my Seeknit sets. Tbh my Seeknits are often grippy to the point of frustration.
Very helpful.
I use my Chiaogoo mini interchangeables for all my sock knitting, and I’ve never had them unscrew on me. That super skinny cable is great for magic loop. I always use a rubber grip to tighten the joint when I’m putting together any of my Chaiogoo needles and I rarely have any issues. My biggest annoyance with any inner changeable is if the joint isn’t perfectly smooth so the Hiya-Hiya needles would be a problem for me, that snagging would just be a constant irritant. As for text link circulars, I don’t store them coiled up and I don’t have nearly the problem with kinky cables. I have a type of hanger case where you string the needles through tubes of fabric and they just hang down. I hang it on the door. Please don’t boil your noodles to relax the cables. Just put them in a case where they can hang straight, and in time they will relax on their own.
It’s also interesting that Addi needles are less expensive than Chaiogoo in Europe. It’s quite the opposite here in the US.
I have a set of Chiaogoo interchangeable needles that one size comes undone when knitting with them. I would not rate them that high and find them over priced. They're not so easy to return as people say if you have needles that do not stay connected to the cable. So I stick to my Hiya Hiya or my Lykke woods and some of my Zing metals. I appreciate your reviews, it does help since some brands are investments.
The short circulars work well as cable needles.
A very good review. Well done. I dislike Chiagoo. Wish I liked them, but messed up my thumb and wrist trying to draft felted fiber for spinning. Therefore, my chiropractor gets to work on that often. Chiagoo are 1 gram heavier and stiffer so very irritating for arthritis. Hyper sensitive thumb.
I love the speed and smooth feel of addis. both fixed and click. The cubics are fine and the little bumps keep a good tension and control the stitches that might be too slippery. The only click needle fail experienced was on an older 3.5mm needle. the newer needles have a distinct locking sound. The joint is slightly annoying, the cables are ok. red and gold. The chiagoos have a grating sound I don't like but feel smooth from tip through the join and cable, I like the look and feel of knitpro symphony, like the swivel cord but found the points hurt my fingers, particularly using 9mm on afgan blanket. I daren't try the sharp hiyahiya. I knitted a lace patterned shawl with j'adore cubics, these were ok, but prefer the addis being used on the current shawl. Addi's have a lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer Skacel in Germany. They are on the more expensive side.
Really appreciate your comprehensive review. As a person who works mostly on pony needles and love them they work great for me Im satisfied and Ive done magic loop as well. 😅 because only ones at my local yarn store and I don’t tend to buy stuff online so. But I wouldn’t recommend pony bamboo straight needles my first set why is the tip like someone nibbled it 😭😭and theyre curved ive nit even used them much.
Thanks for the review.
Great review. Very helpful. How do you choose at the beginning of a project what needles to use?
It was interesting to hear your price ranges. It seems like you can get Addi needles much cheaper over there than here in the USA. Addi needles are some of the most expensive. The only ones I know that are more are signature needles. And knitter’s pride are typically the least expensive.
Very helpful review.
i enjoyed the knitpro zing set but i got sick of fussing with keys and the cables getting stuck and hard to unscrew so once i had convinced myself i did like knitting, i switched to a set of denise interchangeables ! i had their crochet set already so i was dying to have some knitting needles with their cables that lock really easily ! the hard plastic is also a little warmer so its nicer on my hands :] we definitely have very different needle preferences but its nice to know some recommended brands in case i need something different
I have the Addi interchangeable needles…I really like the feel and blunt tips, but I am no longer enjoying the “push and twist” cables. The cables have memory and the cords have popped loose while knitting. I have been using my ChiaoGoo interchangeables because that’s what I have and they work just fine.
I 100% agree with you on the Hiya Hiya's. . I have about five sets of interchangeable's including chaiogoo and I would give them all away if I had to choose, but not my Hiya Hiya's. They're as smooth as glass and just feel like the perfect weight in your hand.
I have turned a lot of people in my knitting group away from Chaiogoo and onto Haya Hiya. The one thing that drove me crazy about Chaiogoo is they feel a little flimsy compared to Hiya but also the scraping sound of the needles is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Hiya Hiya is just quiet and smooth like a well oiled machine. Best needles of all! Whether they be sharps( my fave) or steel they are 5 star!
Chiaogoo has a spin cable that you would probably like.
For KnitPro I would recommend their Mindfulness collections. They have swivel cords and are made of nice metal. Size numbers don’t come off. Upgraded from symphony and they are quite nice. Thank you for your review:)
Cool! I only just heard about KnitPro's swivel cords and I'm definitely intrigued to try them out 😁
I have the fixed circular set from the mindful collection (knitter's pride) and am very disappointed with them. They snag terribly.
I am sorry you didn't like it :( . I have just the interchangeable and I like that one. Tbh I didn't want to get different brand since I have already a lot of their cables. But the few fixed needles I have, I have the red lace tbh 😅
I agree with you, basically 95%, especially about how much I love my Hiya Hiya steels (not sharps!) interchangeables. If I'm using metal needles, they're my first choice. I don't like sharp tips, I'm prone to stabbing myself and once put a sock project using chiaogoos on my lap (while recording a podcast naturally) and stabbed one into my leg. Not my best moment.
I love knit picks carbonz, they're probably my most used needles, and I -love- my rosewood ones. They're not birch, they're actually rosewood and they are so silky smooth and sharp without being pointy.
Prym do plastic fixed needles with ergonomic tips and I actually quite like them, though I don't usually knit with plastic. Plastic and bamboo both feel wrong in my hands :-/ And, now that you mention it, so do my Addi's which is probably why I never use them anymore.
Tak for en interessant anmeldelse af strikkepinde ❤️.
Jeg undrer mig over at du slet ikke bruger ChiaGoo lace med deres tynde kabler. Disse kabler kan med en connector bruges som kabel til pindene til de større størrelser og er uovertrufne til magic loop. Det er min erfaring.
Glæder mig til om du evt kommer til at anmelde det nye luksussæt fra ChiaGoo. Her DK koster det ca 3400kr. Så det er jo lidt af en opsparing for en pensionist. Men de nye sølvwirer kan jo købes løst. Dem skal jeg prøve.
for chaiogoo - use a silicone grip and it will never come undone
Interesting that the fixed Chiaogoo 9" tips are longer than the Addi 20 cm ones - I have the Chiaogoo 9" interchangeables and those tips are actually a touch shorter than the Addi ones despite making an overall longer total needle. I *just* bought the red set of Chiaogoo 9" interchangeables though, so I won't even try the fixed ones for now - I really don't want to find out that I've spent all that money only to like the fixed ones more 😅
Knit pocks needles also have the needle sizes lasered in, but the #s are tiny. Also the Knit Picks have no issue w cables separation from screw portion.
I hear a ton of people loving Hija Hija, I purchased the fixed sock set. I find thr cable impossible. It retains the curl from being stored, even after submerging in warm/hot water, after being placed under heavy objects while laying straight, etc. They pinch the yarn in between curls, the just make it impossible to knit comfortably. The needles ar a bit like knitting w rounded razors.
Thanks for a fun and informative video!
Fun fact I listened to this while knitting magic loop on one of your much hated golden addi lace needles. And no, I don't like them either :D maybe your video will finally push me to stock up more on the needles that I actually enjoy (hello Chiaogoo!) and stop using stuff I don't like.
I enjoyed your review but I must say that for me Hiya hiya’s cables drop a point for me. I only bought 2 tip sets and 2 cables but I find that they can snag a little and have too much cable memory. I don’t have the untwisting issue with Chiaogoo with my knitting style and the cables are smooth and memory free which I love so they are my favourites. I have the knit pro zing and the cable snag and memory also bother me a little with those too but the needles are fine for the price. I haven’t tried Addi.
I sold my Knitpro Zing needles. I liked them but the cable started to annoy me. I am looking for a new set so this review came handy. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thank you!
I only have one prym knitting needle so far but it’s plastic. However their crochet hook sets are lovely and affordable. They’re plastic so not super durable but they’re lightweight and the grip is ergonomic.
I'm obsessed with Prym's ergonomic hooks!! I thought crocheting was out of the question for me until I discovered them.
Thank you for the review. I like KnitPro and Chiaogoo but now the ne KnitPro 360 cord is perfect and in combination with Mindfull needles is great. On other hand the new Chiaogoo 360 Cord is a nightmare for me even I love Chiaogoo, this new cord is for me personally bad made.
Knit Pro 360 sounds good...!
omg I remember Pony those needle nearly put me off knitting for life, I Now only use Chaiogoo interchangeables for me they are perfect,
Just out of interest what would you say are the best/most usable cord lengths for doing magic loop on fixed circulars? Great review, thorough. Thanks
For socks and mittens I'd definitely use 80 cm / 32" circumference needles for magic loop. Not too short and not too long, in my opinion 😄 And thank you!
drops pro has the size printed on them, but the cables cannot be connected, or at least in the metal set they do not include the connectors, the price is 35 euros, so for all thee starters, maybe this can help, I love knitting with them
I also dislike Addis because of how twisted the cable becomes after doing magic loop. It's a shame because the needles are pretty nice.
Also, one reason I do reach for Pony at least once for every project is when I'm picking up stitches for a neckline, or picking up stitches after frogging because the cable is so thick, the stitches stay in place with the tension I want; or, when I'm doing an italian cast on, because I like the grip of Pony's thick cable and needles; or when I'm tinking back to fix stitches a couple rows back - one time, I had to rip back a whole cable twist over 20 rows back and reknit it because I dropped a stitch somewhere, I found that my 3mm Pony needles were perfect to knit with the limited length of yarn and gripped everything securely.
Tusen takk! Dette var veldig nyttig. Jeg har problemer med at kablene til Chiaogoosettene brekker like ved metallet. Har ikke det skjedd med deg?
Just FYI for anyone considering the prym ergonomic needles - the ones coated white - some people have an allergic reaction to it and I wish they had stated on the packaging exactly what it is!
I agree, the knitpro fixed have awful bumpy joints. I also broke one mid needle down the colour change joint recently also. Won’t be buying any more.
For me , Takumi interchangeable knitting needles re the best
My gold addis have started to stain my fingers, so weird. Black/blue inky stains. Anyone experienced this?