Thursday, October 15, 2015

Denise 2 Go giveaway

Remember!

In October, I am having an UNsale.  The UN (and many others) have asked us to step up to help the millions of refugees fleeing war right now.  If you buy any of my patterns or my eBook in October, I will donate 20% of the proceeds to the Canadian Red Cross Refugee Crisis Appeal.  The Canadian government is matching these donations...so it will double our efforts to help.  Thank you for helping me to help others!

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Now, on to our exciting giveaway...

A while back, I was contacted by a kind person at Yarncanada.ca.  I was asked if I wanted to do a review of these new Denise 2 Go Knitting and Crochet sets.  I said yes. :)

Why?  I travelled all over the U.S., in Canada, and abroad with my handy dandy Original Denise Needle kit.  It has served me really well!  What do I think about it?  On a brief pro/con list...

There are many pros...and this new travel set is even better.
1) It's small . It fits neatly in a suitcase.  This new set is even smaller in size than the original, because it divides up the sizes.  The giveaway here is for the bigger needles, US sizes 10.5 through 15.  (Perfect for knitting several of my designs, including ones like Knitting for Mother Earth Cowl or Slippy the Cowl, on the go.)

2) It is flexible and you can knit on several projects at once, whatever comes up when you happen by a yarn store... with these needles.  The new soft packaging also includes a crochet hook, which is very handy for any last minute cast-on or finishing needs.

3) The colors are bright and cheerful.  You can see the needles as you knit.  This is no small thing.  Very good.

What's not perfect about these needles?
1) The plastic is a bit sticky with some yarns.  This is great for a beginner, it helps the stitches stay put.  It can be a bit slow for some fibers when an accomplished knitter is zooming along.  (I always ignored this issue, because honestly, if you have the right needle on a trip, who cares if it is a little slow.  Slow is better than nothing!)

2) If your knitting style involves some wrist movement, as mine does, it seems to eventually put some wear into the cord attachment.  In my case, one of the cords seems to like to detach sometimes now--after many years of use.  (I also do this to other kinds of circulars, so it is not unique to the Denise needles)  Solutions?  Buy a new cord. :)  Other solutions?  Change your technique...that's for me to work on in the future...

3) Last comment...sometimes, you might have two projects that need the same cord or same needle at once.  Again, you can buy extras and replacements.  This is maybe just the problem for people like me, who do several projects at once.  I've got a lot of needles though, and I'd suggest buying more if this is your issue, too. :)  I can never have too many #6(4mm) circulars, for some reason, and I need about 4 sets of #3(3.25mm) double points, but whatever, everybody is different.  This is why there are so many gorgeous needle sets!

I've decided to do a giveaway of these needles--to pass the joy along.  If you'd like a chance to win these, please leave a comment on this post
by noon CT, October 21st,
that allows me to contact you via email, Ravelry, or your blog (whatever works for you, but it has to work for me too!).

In the ideal world, please also consider buying a pattern to support the UNsale, telling your knitting friends about the UNsale, or making a donation this month to support refugees.  Winter is coming, and there are so many people who have lost everything...right down to their winter clothes and their knitting needles.

Thank you.

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15 Comments:

Blogger Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I have never tried Denise needles. This set would be a perfect way to try them.

October 15, 2015 at 3:20 PM  
Blogger Kitten With a Whiplash said...

Hi, and thanks for the giveaway. I've used Denise needles for many years, and the cord coming off the left needle (don't remember that it ever happened with the right) almost made me give them up, until I was able to 99% solve it with one change of habit, and one trick.

The change of habit is to not let the work bunch up near the connection. As a picker, I have a habit of keeping the stitches tightly together, right up to the end of the needle, so I can work longer before having to move more up. This tends to form a rigid mass of fabric that inhibits the cord being able to flex and move within the loops of yarn, so instead it untwists the connection. If I avoid this bunching it seems to help, and, if possible, I might also try a longer cord so the stitches have more room.

The trick is this: The needles have holes at the base, which can come in handy for threading a lifeline or transferring stitches to waste yarn if you need the cable for another project. The can also to help prevent this problem, or to make it less bothersome when it happens. I thread a half inch or so of very very lightweight yarn through the holes so it goes right across the connection area - usually it's just one or two plies from a four ply yarn. That adds a little bulk inside the connection and seems to help prevent the twisting that disconnects the needle. If the problem persists, I use a longer piece trailing several inches like a mini-lifeline, so when the needle does come off, I've got the stitches captured while I reconnect.

I hope these suggestions work for others. I also have a set of metal needles with screw-on connections, and I find the bunching issues is the same, but unfortunately the yarn-through-the-hole solution doesn't work for them ... no holes! With those I just have to remember to check the connections every couple/few rows. I prefer Denise, unless I really need a metal needle for the yarn I'm working with.

Best of luck with your fundraising! KittenWhiplash on Rav

October 15, 2015 at 3:33 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

The needles look interesting. I always have several projects on the go.

They would travel well with me on my holiday in March. :)

Thanks

TrishaC on Ravelry

October 15, 2015 at 10:43 PM  
Blogger susieg said...

I've always kinda wondered about the Denise needles but have never tried them. Your review is very through and honest. Thanks for that. And I love the idea of your UNsale, such a great cause

October 15, 2015 at 10:43 PM  
Blogger ayarnlover said...

I received my set of Denise interchangeable needles as a birthday gift from my mom. They have served me very well for many years! Would be neat to try out the travel set.

October 15, 2015 at 11:03 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This sounds like a perfect set for my dear friend who must start traveling to "the city" for chemo treatments. She's pretty good and says she'll teach me a couple of stitches if I keep her company during treatment.

October 15, 2015 at 11:27 PM  
Blogger Carla S said...

I've never heard of these needles. I want to try these needles.

October 16, 2015 at 7:30 AM  
Blogger sparky136 said...

Would love to try these needles
sparky136 on Ravelry

October 16, 2015 at 9:10 AM  
Blogger Creativity! said...

I'm an Addi lover but would love to try something new! You're review has intrigued me!

October 17, 2015 at 4:57 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I have never tried Denise needles before, but i do keep a current WIP in my vehicle for any time i get to work on it. These would be great to use just for that purpose.

October 17, 2015 at 5:55 PM  
Blogger asteride said...

I would love to win! Denise needles must be great bit I never had the chance to try them! Thanks for having a giveaway on your blog! asteroid on Ravelry

October 18, 2015 at 8:03 AM  
Blogger Carmen N said...

I spread the word via twitter! (asimplehomestd on Ravelry)

October 18, 2015 at 8:11 PM  
Blogger Calypso said...

I love big plastic knitting needles!
patmom on Ravelry

October 19, 2015 at 12:48 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I am a super beginner with knitting. In fact, I have become frustrated with the one pair of circular needles that I have, so I would LOVE these 'sticky' ones! I've heard a lot of great things about Denise needles. Thanks for the chance to win them!
I'm thecatbehemoth on Ravelry.

October 19, 2015 at 7:48 PM  
Blogger Joanne said...

The giveaway entry time is over! Thank you for participating in a part of the UNsale. I will be in touch soon with a winner. Thanks!

October 21, 2015 at 12:01 PM  

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