I pre-ordered the new Addi Lace Click set back in April of this year from The Loopy Ewe (one of my all-time favorite stores!) only to find out that they had been delayed in production. This really annoyed me because I desperately needed an interchangeable needle set that 1. had sharp tips (very important!), 2. had a good join, 3. was smooth to knit with (I like my stitches to literally fly off the needle!) and 4. had good connections (ie no cords falling off the needle as I was knitting with it!). It’s funny but nothing out there has really matched this description for me!
I have had three different interchangeable sets in my knit-lifetime: Denise, KnitPicks Harmony and HiyaHiya. The Denise set I have long since outgrown – knitting with plastic just does not do it for me anymore and being a fan of magic loop, the thick cords were just not cutting it. So I bought the KnitPicks. They would have been wonderful were it not for the fact that 80% of my needles (I kid you not) have broken by coming unglued from their bases. And this while knitting with them! Complete mess and such a pain to deal with! Yes, KnitPicks has excellent customer service and they do replace the needles for you but really if they just sold needles that didn’t break in the first place, wouldn’t that be more productive? Not to mention less frustrating for me, the consumer? So my search for the perfect interchangeable set was still far from over… so I bought the HiyaHiya interchangeables. And they are wonderful (I still use them!) but for one thing: the tips are sadly very dull. This makes it a little hard to work lace (which I do very often) and in general I just like an extra pointy tip! Enter the Addi Lace Clicks! OMG this is *just* what I have been waiting for and now that I actually have my grubby hands on them, I couldn’t be happier!
They knit so smoothly (I LOVE the fact that the brass finish – which always smells bad to me – is now a nickel plated one!) and the tips are just as pointy and deadly as I wanted! Don’t believe me? Check it out:
That’s the Addi Lace sitting right next to my all-time favorite point, the Stiletto from Signature Needle Arts. Notice that the point is the exact same… no different at all from the sharp Signature needle!
As for the join, it’s very nicely made. I wouldn’t say it’s the most perfect join ever (is there such a thing with interchangeable needles?) but it doesn’t snag too much and the stitches go over it nicely for the most part. If, however, you are a tight knitter, I’m not sure how well the join would work for you – it might be a little difficult going over it!
And these babies have NO WAY of coming out of their join. I’ve tugged on them endlessly and have been knitting with them a ton over the last couple of weeks (Christmas gifts are kicking my ass yet again!) and they’ve held up wonderfully to my abuse. I am so so happy with these needles and so so glad I pre-ordered them when I did… even if I had to wait half a year for them to arrive. 😉 Totally recommend them for anyone looking to buy a great interchangeable set!
I find the Addi Lace too sharp, I keep stabbing myself with them! 😀 I’m not a big lace knitter, though, so they don’t make much sense for me anyway. I’m really curious about the Hiya-Hiya interchangeable set though – I had no idea it even exsited! I once bought some Hiya-Hiyas by accident (it was the only brand the LYS had in the size I needed) and they quickly became my favourite favourite favourite needles. Could you say more about them? Thank you 🙂
Definitely, if you don’t need a sharp point, these are not for you! Stabbing yourself is never good! 😉
The HiyaHiya interchangeable is a very good set. They have very small needles, which may take a while to get used to, but you can also buy them in a slightly larger size as well (which I did do for my most used sizes). The point is dull but the finish is wonderful – stitches really do slide on it very quickly! The join is very nice and does not snag, but the early version (which is the one I have) unscrews sometimes so I’m constantly tightening them up as I knit. I’ve heard they fixed it in the newer versions, so if you buy one now you shouldn’t have a problem with them whatsoever!
I too LOVE my hiya hiyas I use them all the time for socks. I have a few steel one and a few bamboo ones. I had no idea they hAd an interchangeable set I also love my one addi lace too:)
Thanks for the review on these, as a big fan of lace knitting, I’d love to have a set myself!
Oh I didn’t know that Addi had a new set! I just got two Hiya Hiya sets in the small size (loose knitter) and I love them. I think the Hiyas have an almost perfect join and I like the small length of the tips, good for knitting in the round. You’re right, they’re not extra pointy, but I think they’re good for most things. I have been thinking about some Addi Lace needles, so I’ll be looking for the click set 🙂 The tips look great!
Omg! So glad to read this post. I had never purchased a set because I have never heard great things and I didnt buy the regular addi set because it didn’t come with 16 cords. I asked Santa (Alan) for them for Christmas….here’s hoping they are in my stocking 😉
Those look awesome! I love pointy tips too. I have the KP nickel set and while I have always liked their tips, the joins do drive me crazy. And you have Signatures….no fair! (stomps foot) I’ve wanted a set for ever so long. The cost is just prohibitive. Maybe one of these days…..
Oh…so what’s the blue blob? Looks beautiful!
Yeah, Signatures are expensive, but totally worth it, IMO! Though now that Addi Lace Clicks are out, you can just get those and have a wonderful set too. 🙂
The blue blob is a Christmas gift so I can’t talk about it yet! I will post about it soon, though, I promise. 😀
I love Addi needles all around but have yet to get an interchangeable set. I’m not really sure why! I’m glad you’re enjoying them. I’m a bit of a tight knitter but I’m working on that! 🙂
I agree 100% with your reviews. I was using my KP Options on the Fohla Luz (finished last night!) and the cable came right out of the end of the metal join as I was knitting. Wish the HiyaHiya’s would change their point, otherwise they’re lovely to work with. What is the beautiful pile of blue that you’re working on…can you tell us…or is it a surprise? You’ve inspired me to go find some Lace Clicks…off to email Sheri!
Ack! That sucks that the join came out as you were working on it! That’s exactly what I mean and I just can’t trust those needles anymore, sadly enough. I’m excited to see your finished Folha Luz, though! When will you have a picture of it up? 🙂
The pile of blue is a Christmas gift, so I will talk about it after the recipient gets it! 😉
Have to agree with your re: the KP cable to needle join…I’ve had so many fall apart I’m switching to other needles as well.
Perfect needle…Signature interchangeables…..a girl can dream, right? Fast, pointy, sturdy.
Ooo, I’m totally jealous! : ) I’ve been eyeing the Lace Clicks for a while now, and your review of them is really helpful. I’m especially glad to hear that the finish is nickel! I love Addi lace needles for the sharp tips, but I hate how they make my hands smell like a jar of old pennies. haha.
I really enjoyed reading your review on the needles. I purchased the regular addi clicks set and returned them because of the join. I really liked them but could not get pass the join. I guess I am a tight knitter. I love addi clicks but guess I will not be able to get the set!
Oh great review! I hate the awful smell on the one addi lace circ I have, so I’m thrilled that the clicks are nickel plated. I love my Hiyas Circs, but they are difficult to knit lace with.
Ok, now I have something else to add to my birthday wish list! I have the knit picks metal interchangeables, and I like them but I’ve had some falling apart issues.
Ooh. I didn’t realize Addi brought out a lace Click set. I’m also a fan of so-sharp-they-can-stab-you needles. I’ll have to check those out. (I also use Options and while I haven’t had as many issues with them, there have been enough for me to keep looking for a better set. I also started out on Denise needles and outgrew them in under a year.)
Thanks for the great review! I’ve been waffling between getting the Addi Lace Clicks (have the regular Addi clicks, but I really want sharper tips) or a few of the new Signature circuclars. When I compare a regular Addi Lace circ that I have with my stiletto circular, the Addi Lace tip is much shorter than the Signature–it looks like Addi has lengthened the tip on the lace clicks.