Because Elspeth asked (not me, if you were confused, even though we are the same age, both work in the library field, are from the East Coast and I even think we look alike, this is a different Elspeth!), here is information about the Boye Needlemaster vs. Denise systems. There is also a bamboo set which my friend Shannon has, but it sounds like it is similar to the Needlemaster and Denise in drawbacks.

Here are a couple of relevant links:

http://knittersreview.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29985

http://www.knittersreview.com/article_tool.asp?article=/review/product/030424_a.asp

http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer03/FEATdenise.html

Here’s my 0.02: it depends on your preference and what you usually knit with. I bought the Denise set first and used it happily. Then I started losing pieces. Then pieces started breaking (I have heard that some runs have a problem and you just have to send it in, with $1 for shipping, and they’ll replace the broken piece), and frankly I didn’t have enough needles for my many UFOs. So I didn’t love my Denise set enough to buy a second, and figured I would try the Needlemaster.

The first thing I noticed with the Needlemaster is that it starts at size 2 needles. The Denise set starts with size 5. (And my size 5s just snapped in half, rendering it useless.) I have tons of DK or lighter weight yarn, so I need size 5s and less. Not to mention that the colors are so pretty when you knit with them and or are able to match them to your yarn!

The problems with the Needlemaster is that sometimes yarn gets caught at the join, and they can come unscrewed. I just re-read one of the Knitter’s Review articles, and didn’t realize that they have these pins to keep them together. I can now use them! I have had them come unscrewed once or twice, but it’s not really a big deal.

The main preference issue is whether you knit tight or loose or need to knit tight or loose. When you have plastic needles, the yarn tends to get sticky on the needle which is good when you are knitting loose and don’t want it to fall off. However, when you knit tight and/or have lots of stitches on the needle, you might want it to move a bit more smoothly, which is where the aluminum needles are helpful.

Both types of sets have some similar great properties: having a range of needle sizes which is great when you need lots of different sizes on hand, being able to switch needle sizes easily, and being able to use the cable as a stitch holder without removing your knitting. I have used both sets in this way and they both work.

Aside from the 50% off coupon from Michael’s, the Needlemaster is the only set I think I could use two of, because I use smaller needles that are only available with the Needlemaster. If you use middle or larger sizes (both go up to 15), then I would suggest trying them both out if you can, and deciding which you prefer. Hope this helps!

September 24th, 2005
Categories: . Author: Elspeth

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