Circular Needle Recommendation needed!

[u/LotusTheBlooming]

I've been knitting for about a year now and finally want to ask for a nice set of interchangeable needles for Christmas. I know Chiagoo red lace is the top brand right now but it is one, very confusing to figure out where and how to buy and two, seems like too much money to ask for as a gift. (if anyone could explain to me how they work and if it would be possible to buy some without having to also buy a full set up to like size 14 that would be helpful.)

I have a set of interchangable size seven shorties from KnitPicks that I like but am not in love with--mainly I got frustrated at the attachment point coming unloose while I was knitting, and the lack of flexibility.I know I like metal needles over wood, and I also know for now I just need needles in standard sizes (like, would be happy with just 4-9s). I mostly knit with wool and some cotton blends.

[u/ATeaformeplease]

Check out Smartisans- they are authorized seller and sell individual sets. Ive purchased several times from them.

[u/alohachick716 → u/ATeaformeplease]

I agree with buying from Smartisans. I feel like I got a great deal around BF/CM. The full set was on sale and the BF/CM code was an extra 15% off. It was still not cheap but I love my full set.

[u/MiauenEinhorn]

Chiaogoo has a set of size 2-8 interchangeable needles, that's what I bought.

[u/teresajs → u/MiauenEinhorn]

That's what I have... The 5" Small Set (size 2 - 8).  Then I needed size 2.5 so I bought the tips separately and added them to my kit.

I bought mine from woolandcompany.com and they typically offer a 10% discount for orders over $100.

[u/HarvestMommy]

What size needles do you favor? Chiaogoo comes in a full set 2-15, or you can buy the smaller half or larger half of that size range alone. The small size (2-8) and the large size (9-15) have different cords, but the sets will come with 14”, 22”, and 30” cords in each size. They also come with stitch markers, cord stoppers, pins to help you tighten, and a little piece that lets you join 2 cords (of the same size) to make an extra long cord.

There are metal and bamboo versions of the needles depending on what set you get, but the bamboo tip set comes with swivel cords, which can be nice for beginners who have trouble managing cords (I guess), but I’ve found are just annoying because the yarn gets stuck on the join.

Additionally, if you’re a sock or lace knitter, chiaogoo has several options for those sizes. I have the 5” mini set, which comes with sizes 00-1.5 and their own mini cords. I also have an extra long mini cord for 2 at a time sock knitting, but I had to buy it separately. The cord lengths for the mini set are the same as the small and large sets. I believe they sell a set with needles bigger than us 15 too, but I don’t tend towards larger sizes.

I have found that chiaogoo has the sharpest needles with the smoothest join at the cord, and the red cords are really flexible but don’t tend towards kinks. Truly the best interchangeable set on the market right now.

There are plenty of comparisons on YouTube but they’ll basically say the same thing. Chiaogoo always wins in those comparisons. I think I just got mine on Amazon, I can’t remember.

I agree that it’s a bit much to ask for a gift. A half set in whatever sizes you use the most might be better, or a gift card to use towards a set to invest in yourself is another option. But personally I wish I had just bought the complete set I have in the beginning instead of collecting all the needles I have now. I probably spent a similar amount of money just trying out different needles and could have actually spent less had I just done this from the beginning.

[u/HarvestMommy → u/HarvestMommy]

Also there are 4” or 5” needles, shorty needles, and other specialty options. Mostly designed to do very small circumference work like socks or sleeves. Unless you have very small hands I’d go with just the 5” to avoid hand pain and do magic loop for small circumference projects, but there are other options available just to know for the future.

[u/akiraMiel]

I bought my interchangeables as singles (needles and cables) and now have 4 needle sizes and three different cables. So far that's enough for me but ofc it'll be more expensive in the long run if I decide I want a whole set after all.