Stitches

Is it best to buy a set of knitting needles or buy them as you need them?

I'm wanting to learn to knit--what's the best purchase for a beginner, a set of interchangeable needles (Boye needlemaster) or just buying the separate needles as I need them?

Public Comments

1. best way is buy a set you never know when you need that needle and the store may be out
2. Always buy the set.
3. While you're deciding if knitting is what you really enjoy, just go with a single pair for the project you want to try first. If you decide you can get into it, then get the set. You'll probably end up buying more later anyway though... I've been knitting 25 years and I prefer to buy as I need them. I've got pretty much every size in every form (dpns, regular, circs and different lengths also metal, bamboo and plastics which I find different yarns go better with different needles), and multiples of sizes that are used frequently. Sometimes I like to have more than one project on the go, or a fellow knitter will ask to borrow a pair. It's good to have extras.
4. Buy a Beginner's Kit and after you finish your first project you will know if you like Knitting or Not. Don't make a big investment until you are sure ;)))
5. If you are just a beginner on a limited budget - only get needles as you need them. But, if you are going to keep knitting, then the cheapest way is to get a set of interchangable needles (like Boye or KnitPicks Options - NAYY). I don't recommend getting a bunch of needles if you are not sure if you are going to enjoy knitting.
6. It will be best if you start out with one or two needle pairs rather than an entire set of interchangeable needles to find out if you like to knit. Then, if you want interchangeables, go with something other than the Boye needles, they do not have a good reputation these days. Go with the ones from KnitPicks or the Denise needles rather than these. These will be more expensive, but are better made and tend to connect and stay connected better.
7. If I had it to do over again I would invest in a set of needles because I knit really loose, and to get the right number of stitches per inch I usually need a smaller needle. Lots of times I have to go two sizes smaller with the needles to get the right gauge. So it's good to have a set of needles so you can get an accurate gauge. My problem with the Boye set is that it's circular, and I like to knit with 14 inch straight needles. So you might want to try out one size of each to start to see which style is more comfortable for you. Your local yarn shop is a good place to learn when you are starting out.
8. I started with a beginner kit and when the book called for different sized needles I was reluctant to buy more when I didn't know whether or not I'd use them again. Some of the projects I didn't want to knit because the patterns were outdated. I would buy the needles as I go until I knew if I wanted to continue with knitting or until I knew what kind of knitting I prefer.
9. NEVER BUY THE SET OF INTERCHANGEABLES! that is the worst thing to do. interchangeables will give you nothing but problems. the cords coming apart you loosing a few inches to a couple of feet. save yourself the trouble and just get the needles as you need them.