For Amazon Prime Day this year, I purchased five knitting related items with the hopes that I could find quality, affordable supplies without driving an hour to a LYS (local yarn shop). I am happy to announce that I have finally had the opportunity to give the new items a try. Overall, I’m pleasantly surprised with what I received, especially given that I spent less than $100 on Prime Day.
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Item #1: Aluminum Interchangeable Circular Needles
The item that I was most skeptical about was the Aluminum Interchangeable Circular Needle set. Even without the Prime Day deal, these needles are very inexpensive compared to the more common brands on the market, so I tempered my excitement, basically expecting that the purchase would be a dud.
Right off the bat, I really liked the rose gold, faux leather case that the set came in. It zips all the way around and has sturdy elastic slots for each needle tip, which securely keep the needles in place. It also comes with a little accessory pack, which included a grip pad for tightening the needles when attaching to the cables. This small addition is going to get a lot of use from me, since I’ve often needed a better grip on other interchangeable sets.
It also came with four cables of varying lengths to support a variety of projects. The cables themselves seem to be a coated wire, rather than plastic, and they have a really nice flexibility.
The join between the metal connector and the cable have more wiggle than any other cable needles that I’ve tried, which I noted as a possible issue. I also had initial concerns about the taper of the join impacting how easily the stitches slide from the cable to the needle.
Just to be on the safe side, I confirmed that the needles were actually the expected size, using my trusty needle gauge. I really appreciate that the size is clearly marked on the needle itself, which is not the case with all brands.
Finally, when I went to knit with these needles, I was honestly shocked at how smooth they were. The stitches glided without issue, even over the join. The needle tips were a perfect point for digging into the fine yarn that I was using. The coated-wire cable never kinked, even as I flipped the needle between my hands while knitting flat.
Overall, I’m thrilled with these inexpensive needles so far. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for any quality issues as I use them more, especially with the coating on the aluminum needles and the loose cable connection. But, I would call these a very budget-friendly addition to my knitting needle options, and I look forward to continuing to use them!
So, are the Aluminum Interchangeable Circular Needles a Find or Flop?
✅ I call this one a FIND!
Item #2: Cashmere/Wool/Angora Blend Yarn
Although I’ve previously been unlucky when buying yarn on Amazon, I specifically wanted to find a natural fiber yarn on Prime Day. I selected the Swan Lake cashmere blend in the Denim colorway, based almost entirely on the fiber content.
The color of the yarn hanks did not disappoint! The denim color is very vibrant and the dye is consistently saturated. Using my yarn winder and umbrella swift, I quickly wound the yarn into cakes for easy use. There were no tangles or knots in the yarn hanks, which bodes well for use in future projects.
I made an initial gauge swatch on size US 2.5 in simple garter stitch. The result is a super airy and light fabric. I also sized down to a US 1 to see how it would feel in a tighter gauge, this time in stockinette stitch. Wow, tiny but so soft!
Ultimately, the ultra-fine yarn is not my normal purchase, and I have no immediate plans for its use. I’m unlikely to make a large project with it unless I choose the airier option, but I’m excited to challenge myself eventually. I’m very pleased with the quality of the yarn, and I would definitely buy more from this maker.
So, is the Cashmere/Wool/Angora Blend Yarn a Find or Flop?
✅ I call this one a FIND, too!
Item #3: Row Counter Chain
Next, I chose an inexpensive Row Counter Chain to try out. As the cheapest and perhaps simplest of the purchases, I figured this one would work out. All in all, it is exactly as advertised. The four chains, appropriate for different needle sizes, have a clip on one side and small charms on the other. I wish the set included some melody clips so that I could easily keep track of the 10s as I count rows in the double-digits.
So, is the Row Counter Chain a Find or Flop?
🫤 Really, I’m on the fence. The chain is as-advertised and does its job, but without the ease of a melody clip, I’ll be fidgeting with the closed clip as I change rows in the double-digits or using other options. But, for the price (less than $5), I still feel like I came out ahead.
Item #4: Wooden Yarn Holder
Why did I wait so long to buy one of these? This yarn holder has quickly become a prize possession and has been going everywhere with me, including bike rides and coffee shops!
I’ve noticed an improvement in my gauge while knitting, simply from the smooth delivery of yarn from this holder. The connection of the post to the stand is magnetic, so it easily clips off and on, as needed. I used it so much in my first two weeks that the magnet did start to squeak when it was turning, but I just rubbed it with my fingertips and the squeaking stopped.
So, is the Wooden Yarn Holder a Find or Flop?
✅ No brainer on this one – a definite FIND!
Item #5: Knit by Alice Hoyle
I immediately loved how the book looks like an important textbook on knitting. Honestly, it looks perfect on my bookshelf, right next to The Knitting Book.
The book pages are not glossy, but the overall book design is lovely, and I enjoyed flipping through the pages right away.
However, I did have higher hopes for the subtitle’s promise of “dynamic patterns and techniques for creative making.” While the book includes a pretty unique set of stitches in a stitch library, I didn’t feel like it gave me any particularly new or dynamic techniques. I’m still looking forward to making a pattern from this book, but that wasn’t my primary reason for selecting it.
So, is Knit by Alice Hoyle a Find or Flop?
🤦🏻♀️This one is a FLOP for what I bought it for, which was more for techniques than patterns. I am still hopeful the patterns will be useful, so I’ll update if I do knit any of the designs. (P.S. I still consider it a FIND for my bookshelf aesthetic! 👍🏻)
With mainly good finds, I’ll call this year’s Amazon Prime Day a successful shopping venture. It’s nice to know that I can sometimes take advantage of Amazon’s fast shipping for knitting supplies.
Have you found any great Amazon buys for your knitting or other crafty hobbies? I’d love to hear about them!
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