Circular Lace Knitting Needle Review: Hiya Hiya

This is the third and final installment in my list of knitting needle reviews. Today we're looking at the Hiya Hiya interchangeable needle sets.

Chiaogoo review

Addi Review

Selections	Chiaogoo	Addi1	Addi2	Hiya Hiya
Tip Length	5”	3”	5”	4” and 5”
Lifeline	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Cord Lengths	24-40 (3)	16-40 (4)	24-40 (3)	16 – 40 (4)
Cord Material	Nylon Coated Steel	Not given	Not given	Not given
Tip Sizes	2-15	4 to 11	4 to 11	2-8 or 9-15
Tip Material	Stainless Steel	Nickel Plated Brass	Nickel Plated Brass	Steel
Cable Connectors	2	1	1	0
Storage Case	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Extras Included (ie. Stitch markers, gauges, etc.)	Yes	No	No	No
Extas available for purchase	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cost	~ $169.00	~ $169.00	~ $169.00	~ $80/set, $160.00 total

The Hiya Hiya needles were suggested to me in a knitting group I use on Facebook. Since I wanted to make sure I was covering my bases, I decided to review them as well. Again, I purchased a fixed circular set, size 5, from eBay. First and foremost, the Hiya Hiya sets don't offer a lot in the way of extras with their sets. You can choose from a 4" set, either in small sizes (2-8) or in large sizes (9-15) or a 5" set with the same variables. Each set comes with 4 cable sizes of 16", 24", 32" and 40". The sets are approximately $80 each, adding up to a total of $160.00 for a set as complete as the Chiaogoo.

When I first took my Hiya Hiya out of its package, the cable was badly twisted in a loop, meaning that the memory retention was much higher than I cared for. I put it in some warm water and let it set for a while, which released the loop. They still are not as flexible as the Chiaogoo or the Addi. I set about knitting up a cabled shawl in fingering weight yarn, knowing this would test the agility and smoothness of the needles.

The needles are very smooth, and it's almost like there is no join whatsoever. The yarn glides across the cables and slips easily over the needle tips. Sometimes too easily. I've lost a couple of stitches from the needle sliding out. This is something I'm used to from the Boye, but did not encounter with the other two. The tips are very sharp, quite accurate at manipulating the yarn, and I love that aspect of them.

All in all, I have to say that I am not sold on the Hiya Hiya. I don't think I get as much for my money and the memory retention is higher than I like. So what wins? Chiaogoo. In my opinion I just get a lot more for the money I invested, I have a full and complete set available with many extras. I can also get singular cables for the smaller sizes I may need in the future.

I hope this has helped you make some decisions of your own. My opinions are given according to what I am looking for in a circular needle set, and you are free to make decisions based on your own experience and preferences. This experiment wasn't an exact science, but it did give me some guidelines on what to expect from each brand. Happy knitting!

Circular Lace Knitting Needle Review: Addi Lace Turbo

Continuing with my Interchangeable Lace Knitting Needle series, I am reviewing the Addi Lace turbo series.

Today's review:

Addi Sets have a little more when it comes to choices in their interchangeable needles. They offer two different lace sets, one with short 3" tips and one with longer 5" tips. The 3" set includes the same 8 needle tips in sizes 4-11, but they have 5 cable lengths instead of 3 (16", 20", 24", 32", 40"). The 5" set has the cable lengths in 24", 32" & 40".

The long lace also include lifeline holes, an added bonus. The Chiaogoo also have lifeline holes in their interchangeable sets.

Addi on top, Chiaogoo on bottom

So here is a tabular breakdown of the Chiagoo vs. Addi.

Selections	Chiagoo	Addi	Addi2
	5"	3"	5"
Lifeline?	yes	no	yes
Cord Lengths	24-40 (3)	16-40 (5)	24-40 (3)
Cord Material	Nylon coated steel	Not given	Not given
Tip Sizes	2 to 15	4 to 11	4 to 11
Tip Material	Stainless Steel	Nickel Plated Brass	Nickel Plated Brass
Memory	little to none	little to none	little to none
Cable connectors	2	1	1
Storage Case	Yes	Yes	Yes
Extras Included	Yes	no	no
Extras Available for purchase	yes	yes	yes
Cost	~169.00	~169.00	~169.00

Thoughts: 

I really liked the Addi Needles, but they seemed too light in my hands. I know that is a strange thing to say, but it was almost like holding nothing at all. The memory in the cables seems to be very low, but I don't believe they are as flexible as the Chiaogoo.

Red Chiaogoo cable, Blue Addi Cable

 I love the "extras" that come with the Chiaogoo. Right now the Addi is on sale on Amazon, so that is a huge bonus, and would justify buying the extras available, but not included. The Addi needles did seem to be much smoother at the joins, and the yarn glided over the cables and needles with ease. The Addi needles also don't seem to be as sharp, either, although their tips appear to be exactly the same. 

Chiaogoo tips on left, Addi on right

My biggest dilemma right now is that I really don't like the weight of the Addi needles. However, I really like the smoothness. I wish that the 16" and 20" cables were available in the 5" sizes. You can purchase them as extras, but they will not make a true 16" circular, as stated on the Addi Website. So I'm guessing with either one, I will need to buy 16" fixed circulars (which I already have in size 5). Still not entirely decided yet. Reviewing the Hiya Hiya set in a couple of days. 

Circular Lace Knitting Needle Review: Chiaogoo

I'm doing a small series on lace knitting needles. As you know, I'm taking a Craftsy course to design lace shawls and of course, a crafter is only as good as the tools she uses! I have a good friend that uses Chiaogoo Red Lace needles, so that was my first needle to try out. I've been using Boye interchangeables for years now, and have never had a problem with them except that they are really not pointy enough for lace and the cables leave a lot to be desired when it comes to flexibility.

My end result will be an interchangeable needle set from one of the manufacturers that I review. I intend to review the Chiaogoo, Hiya Hiya, Addi Lace, and (possibly) the Knit Picks interchangeable. I say possibly on Knit Picks because they do not offer the variety in tips and cable lengths that the other three offer, even though they are less expensive.

So here is the breakdown:

Chiaogoo Red Lace Fixed Circulars, Size 5 US, 16" Cable

Chiagoo Twist Red Lace Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set


Complete Set includes:

• Sizes 2-15 in 5" tips
• Cables in 24", 32", and 40"
• 2 cable connectors
• 4 end stops
• 2 cord keys
• 1 needle gauge
• 24 stitch markers
• Cloth carry case

Stainless Steel tips, nylon coated steel cables

Thoughts: 

I purchased a pair of size 5, 16" fixed circular needles to try these out and see what I think. The needles themselves are very lightweight, almost like holding nothing at all so they are very easy on my hands and make for quicker work. The tips are great, allowing me to easily pick up my lace weight yarns and make yarn overs, knit two together, ssk, and sl1,k1,psso with ease. With my most recent Estonian knit shawl I had to employ all of these techniques, including nupps. Nupps are not easy. Especially on the purl side pick up. However, the Chiaogoos made things much easier and I am pleased with that. 

The cables were very flexible. Chiaogoo had a recall on some cables that went out with their interchangeable sets in 2013. They make it easy enough to send them back and get a replacement, though, if you end up with a set of the recalled cables. I had absolutely no problems with these cables retaining memory. 

The join was a bit sticky. By that I mean that my yarn seemed to catch on it occasionally. Since these are fixed needles I'm a little worried that the interchangeable won't be much better, since the join is the main downfall of interchangeable needles. However, I've heard a lot of good reviews on them and so am inclined to think that maybe they are better. The yarn traveled very smoothly most of the time and had no problems on the tips and cable. 

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Chiaogoo Twist Red Lace Interchangeable needles. I think you get quite a bit in the set for the money. It's always good to have needles in every size because I never know what the next project may be. I would like it if there was a cable in a 16" size, though.The larger 24" is not hat friendly in my opinion. 

So there is the rundown on the Chiaogoos. Next week I'll present the Addi Lace needles and do a compare/contrast on them. 

Knit Tester Wanted!

I have just put the finishing touches on my first ever knitting pattern! It is a pair of fingerless gloves with cables and bobbles in the cuff and lace leaves on the back. They are knit in Knit Picks Palette Yarn (100% Peruvian Highland Wool) Lichen fingering weight yarn. I am looking for pattern testers!

 My ideal pattern tester will have experience in knitting gloves (in the round on DPNs). Testers should also have experience in lace, bobbles, and cables, be able to make (helpful, nice) comments using Google Docs (Drive), knit both gloves (as left and right are knit differently), and upload finished pictures of items. I would like to have them tested within a week so that I can make adjustments and changes if necessary before publishing. These are knit for fairly small hands, (I wear a size 5 ring on my ring finger!) so either fit them on a child or make adjustments using a larger needle to fit your hand if bigger.

 The pattern will be in PDF format with sharing on Google Docs allowed. It is also written out and charted. You will be given one free pattern, not be resold or shared in any manner, and send me examples or links of similar items you have created. (Ravelry accounts are completely acceptable!) I would also request permission to use your images on the published pattern to give examples of the finished product.

If you are interested in testing this pattern, please contact me via email freckledotsquilts at gmail.com. Thanks!