Please always remember: We all knit with a different style, our hands have different sizes (and there might be other physical differences/limitations), we prefer different yarns & projects, and our general preferences might differ on top of that. As a result, needles I like might be ill-suited for you and vice versa. Needles that are well in your budget might not be in mine. So, when we as a knitting community talk about knitting needles, we should always comment from a place of personal preference and never generalize personal likes as absolutes.
That is fair and true. I appreciate you saying this. I trust your reviews A LOT and will not purchase a set of needles that do not get a glowing review from you. 😍 Thank you for all of your hard work and research. ❤
I love my Seeknit, have you ever considered a review? Even though I know that you are metal needle person for those of us that are not metal I think they’re the best option. Good quality, good ethics.
@@jennifergomez8260 I'm kinda hesitant. I kinda..i dunno...since I don't knit with bamboo at all, I just feel that I couldn't give you a useful feedback. My feedback would probably be "this is horribly slow, sticky and the tips are way too blunt". haha...which wouldn't exactly be helpful :P
@@NimbleNeedles it’s part of what I’m curious about because they created a heat pressure process that makes them the closest to metal. I myself switched from metal to them, but hate any other wood needles. I had many customers at my LYS who did also. But I understand what you’re saying that would be like me doing a review on a non-articulating ICN - all garbage😂
It's certainly no budget friendly option. If I couldn't deduct this as a company expense (and get vat reimbursed on top of that)..i'm not sure if I had bought them!
Thanks Norman! I didn't know about the controversy around this set but recently got an email from my local yarn shop that they are taking preorders for it, and in my local currency after the exchange rate and everything it's $550! I was absolutely shocked! For $550 it better do my knitting for me, weave in all the ends automatically, and magically block the finished objects :,)
I can totally respect the fact that different needles exist at different price points, but $375 for a set is just a little mind boggling! I think the case it comes in is lovely, but not worth $200 more than other sets.
They're selling in New Zealand for $575-600 a set!! I just can't justify spending that - especially as I'm only a beginner knitter but even as an experienced knitter I just couldn't spend that amount!
@@MrsGump: Yikes! I think one also needs to look at the sizes one is and isn't getting in the case. Most of my knitting is fine or very fine, so I want to start at the old British 14 gauge (2 mm) and go up by 1/4 mm increments to about British size 8, as I rarely use anything larger*. The Forte set doesn't have the small sizes I need and it has some large sizes I'm never going to use. * Typically, I work on pairs of single pointed needles, yes, I'm old fashioned. I have a stack of larger needles in my collection, including some I inherited from my mother. Why we bought those larger sizes is a mystery, as Mum never used them and I don't use them!
Crikey!!!! How on earth are people going to afford that. I have knit pro zing needles. I had them for a present. Cost around £35 for the set. I wouldn't have spent that much on myself but for a present it is acceptable. I love my needles! I have straight and circular.
I really love my Knitter’s Pride needles with Lantern Moon swivel cords. It’s the perfect combo for me. I don’t see anything in the forte set that tempts me to change. Even if I could afford it, I’d rather spend the money on yarn.
@@NimbleNeedles Thank you for that extra little piece of information! I had no idea 😁 Have you considered trying Hobbii’s semi-new blue sets of interchangable needles?
Really appreciate you spending the time and money😮 to show these needles. I really enjoy my original Chiaogoo interchangable needles and after seeing your review, I can see I do not need the Forté needles. Great video as always!😊
I checked on the wood they are manufactured from, African black wood, it is a listed wood, endangered. When I posed this question on a retailers page they quickly stated its from reclaimed wood and deleted my question shortly after. So do we believe manufacturers in China are strictly using reclaimed African black wood to mass produce knitting needles?
Well, now I know that these kind of ethical considerations are less of a concern in China. And of course, it would have to be reclaimed wood, otherwise they'd have problems to important them into Europe. That being said, when it comes to China, I'd not trust what it says on the label. There's tons of chinese 100% cashmere yarns that have little to do with actual cashmer...other than being spun in the same factory ^^. You can also see great divergences in the steel quality when you look at different sets (say the Minis and the standard red twist). That'S probably because they are using different manufacturers and/or blanks from different manufacturers. I never was able to contact CG with my emails (nor HiyaHiya). That, in and by itself, says a lot, sadly.
At one point when someone asked about the wood , they were told ................... the black wood used is slivers of wood left over from making other things (someone if I remember correctly , used example of pianos) Seems if the smaller needles are breaking, and they have replaced majority of them with a different material , perhaps not the best quality or source was used in the original set
What a thorough and intelligent analysis. I agree with your assessment of this fine, yet very expensive knitting needles. Thank you for taking the time to share such a clear and detailed analysis. it is greatly appreciated!!
I bought one of the original Forte sets sight unseen. I am so disappointed in it and I was thrilled to see you review this set though you did have the 2.0 set. The snagging while you are knitting killed all of my joy knitting. I don’t use them at all. I bought them convinced that their reputation meant they would be the highest quality. Lesson learned! I wish I had purchased $300.00 worth of yarn and just stuck with my fixed red lace Chiaogoo needles instead.
well. I really fell in love with the signature needle arts dpns where one set costs (or rather cost) 65 USD. So they were pricey but I really love them!
@@NimbleNeedles - Norman, did you know they once made 2.00 mm size DPNs? It was the only size that was surgical steel (they manufactured surgical equipment) and not color coded. I lost one needle and am so afraid to lose any of the remaining 4 so I NEVER leave the house with them.
Thank you Norman! As a relatively new knitter I'm always excited to learn more about new products, as well as the already established kits. I really, really appreciate your honest reviews. I learn so much from them, and it's easy when you're new at something to be willing to sink a lot of money into it with the hope that it will make you better and I appreciate you cutting through the marketing hype and give us the honest answers. I always look forward to your content.
I agree with you and want to add a thanks also to Norman for investing money and doing in-depth, thorough reviews and comparisons…also with compassion and kindness for people having different needs, wants and likes in their knitting tools. Thanks, Norman, for being honest, giving your biases, and working very hard to provide the knitting community with valuable information in a kind and respectful way.
Knitting is like any other skill yes the tools help and there are better and worse but from experience I've learnt that expensive does not always mean better. As for buying sets of needles..... there's no point in that for me I'd end up with sizes that would never be used.
I just found 9 sizes of Chiagoo fixed circular knitting needles still packaged in the thrift store and got them all for 9 us dollars. I was so ecstatic. I am always on the search for knitting supplies at thrift stores. I would never pay over 200 for knitting needles. At least right now. One time I found a knitting needle case full of these really nice wooden Straight needles and some dpns. I got them all for 15 dollars at the thrift store.
I'm very happy that the algorithm suggested this review to me. I was planning to buy this set, although I already have a full set of chiaogoo needles, including minis and shorties. You convinced me that I would rather spend that money on yarns instead of buying another set just because it's LOOKS so nice.
I have had the Twist red lace set 11 years and love it. I bought the shorter tips and cables in smaller needle sizes to get 16” needles. All fit in the fabric case well. It was expensive when I bought it, a treat, that is well used.
Thanks so much for this! I love my regular Chiaogoo Twist (metal) interchangeable set, which I bought on sale many years ago for $100. Getting it was a big deal on my then-student budget, but it was easily the best investment I’ve ever made in my knitting. What a shame that the same company is now selling something for almost 4 times the price, but which lacks sufficient care and attention to detail.
I think you are not making a big mistake there. I mean, with time, I think you'll be able to buy single tips or single cables. Maybe try them out. There were many who said they kinda liked the original forté set (when the needles didn't break that is).
Thank you so much for taking one for the team. ❤. That is a whole lot of cash for prestige purposes only. I only use wooden needles to slow myself down and knit cotton or silk. So, lace knitting or cotton. I don’t knit cotton very often so I wouldn’t be interested in a whole set of needles like that. I am grateful so see how you judge the needles. That is most helpful. 😊
Another great video as always! Thank you for your unbiased opinion on this set and for going through all the testing, even on two different yarn weights. This set was a bit out of my price range but as a fan of ChiaoGoo, I was interested in hearing about how they functioned and whether they were worth the lofty price tag. Thank you again, Norman!
This is a great review, Norman. I especially appreciate your thoroughness and attention to detail. I believe I’ll stick with my regular Chiaogoo And lantern moons sets. Thanks, you are a star!
Thank you for taking the time to review these. You are fair and unbiased. The points you raised are useful to decide when deciding on which needles to use in a project and whether to invest in yet another style or pair. Well done those local yarn shops who stock a good variety and allow their patrons to test knit with them.
After I'd been knitting for awhile and decided to invest in a set of interchangeable needles. I purchased the Knitter's Pride Kindness set and have been really pleased with them. I thought they were a really good value and the cables are similar to Chao Goo's. Even with their reputation I just think $375.00 is just out of the reach of a lot of us hobby knitters.
❤ Excellent and thorough review of the 2.0 I bought the original Forte set and I am very happy with it. They do seem to work well for me personally. I did have one 4 mm needle break and they replaced it immediately. I sent them a picture via email. The replacement needle came in the mail right away but it was not packaged as safely as it should have been and that surprised me. I find the tips an excellent taper and to me they are sleek and fast and my yarn is not catching with my Forte (but it does a lot on their bamboo set). I have arthritis in my hands and the first day I started using them I used them for hours with no hand or wrist pain. All the best, Joyce
After watch your review. Norman, the only way I could justify buying an expensive set of ChiaoGoo needles is if they were all carbon, no wood, with lace tips and includes all sizes say up to 8mm and both red and silver cables ! Maybe someday in the near future the company will work out all the kinks and make us truly happy to spend nearly 400$...Thanks for the honest and thorough review of this product...Love your sweater❣
yeah, I think that would have been a bit more consistant. 12 cables, all carbon stalks, all lace tips, and ditching the uncessary accessories. for...say...250 USD. Then it would be a consideration...
Goodness! That price point is way beyond reasonable. The set is lovely, but I also quilt and embroider, so my discretionary funds are not dedicated to one craft. Thank you for your reliable reviews. They are really helpful! Happy knitting, Norman.
I'm so glad you did this review, Norman. I was looking at this set and given most of my knitting is lace or sock weight yarn, this sounds like a nightmare. Back to testing my single interchangeables until I find the "perfect" brand.
for lace weight I personally currently prefer HIyaHiya the most currently. They are NOT perfect but the lace tip make up for a lot of the minor flaws, imo.
Great camerawork and editing. Thank you. and thank you for manicuring your nails! This has frustrated me with other channels and I will chose your's before any other because of your professionalism.
“No, we’re not coming best friends here”… that made me laugh. I appreciate your detailed review. Although the set is beautiful, it’s not something I would purchase. I prefer a needle set in a small case. I have one of Chiagoo’s red lace sets and I love the fabric case, it holds everything it needs to. I have a notions pouch that I put in my project bag with all the stitch markers, tapestry needles and such.
yeah, as I said at the end of the video, the standard CG fabric pouches are fine. I mean, there are certainly ways to improve them but they really do the job.
The square tips hurt my fingertips. That's what I've noticed. Mine are a different brand, but with similar squarish tips. I really don't like them, compared to the more traditional, rounded tips. I'm a tight knitter too, and enjoy complicated patterns. Another problem I have with the interchangeable cables, is that no matter how well I think I have tightened the connecting screw, mine always becomes loose at some point and that's when the yarn REALLY gets caught. And it's such a pain to try to tighten the screw while the stitches are covering it. But I can't get them out of the way before I can tighten the screw first! 😵💫
I have been knitting/crocheting for over 40 years and to me, we are being taken advantage of. Granted I have a set of interchangeable needles and hooks and I love them, no more using stitch holders when making a garment, no more carrying around needles that are almost a foot long, There are some very nice advances but I think KnitPro (knitters pride in the US) symfonie are very nice and they cost around £50 for the set, also come in other materials! Other people have other preferences and that is the joy of diversity. To charge over 6 times the price for a set that had to be recalled in the first version, then $75 added to the price for THEIR MISTAKES is being taken advantage of in my book
I found this entire video so interesting ... and I was seriously debating about the purchase. After watching, I am pleased with my current ChiaGoo interchangeable set which I have accumulated one at a time. I won't move forward with this special purchase after all . THANK YOU! I very much appreciate your balanced and thoughtful review!
Well done Norman. As usual, you explain clearly what and why you feel about each part; from the beautiful packaging to the 'catch' and balance that with your point of view regarding price vs quality. Thank you.
Really enjoyed the frank review. I'm coming back to knitting after a 'few' decades of being way too busy to find time to knit, and all the needles I have are straight. So, this review was really interesting to me. Thank you.
Some perspective here: For $375 USD, I could make THREE Round Trips between home (Nashville) and New York City for $248USD (total). I’d take my Knitters Pride interchangeables with me and be perfectly happy…and I’d have $127 left over to buy some yarn. 😊
@@ursaliafibresstudio7228 I'm only just starting out knitting (I'm a crocheter but am determined to knit too!) & love the knitpro ones. It's great to know that the lantern moon cables fit with the knitpro needles - that's the kinda thing that I can only learn from others/experience. So thank you ❤️ 😃
I love my other CG needle sets, but like you mentioned... I'm not seeing a reason for the higher price with the Forte set. Thank you so much for your review! I'll stick with what I have. ❤ xo
Different hand sizes, knitting styles and tensions will always result in different subjective experiences when using knitting needles. I did own a pair of Lantern Moon needles, but I found the lettering on the wood disappeared quite quickly, so I had to use a needle gauge to ensure I had the right tips. The tips did wear down while I used them, and the wood at the tip dented - the tips themselves didn't break, splinter or crack, but the shaft itself didn't hold its shape as I would have linked. I also found that my yarn was consistently catching on the joins, and on the swivel to metal transition on the cables. I ended up replacing them with a ChiaoGoo bamboo set, which I've been pleased with since. Whatever needles you end up using, happy knitting!
As someone who owns the regular Chiaogoo interchangeable set and all of the equivalents of the notions included in this set…I wish I could just buy the case! I’d love to use it for travel. Thanks for the great and in depth review, Norman!
Thank you Norman for such an excellent review. One thing we need to remember is that you are really getting two sets of ChiaoGoo interchangeable needles sets in one set--all in a beautiful leather case. If you purchase the two sets individually (sizes 2-8, and then sizes 9-15), you will be spending close to $300 or more. I love my ChiaoGoo needles but have had the problem with my interchangeables coming unscrewed when in use. I can usually feel when this happens and stop to tighten them, but it's a pain. I have since ordered a few fixed sets that I use frequently. Lovely needles but too pricey!
no. I have many CG sets and their big sets around 180 USD max these days. And they have the same amount of needles. The only difference is that these have 3.00mm needles and +3 cords.
Thanks for your review as I've seen tons of ads for these. I didn't know of the issues with the original version. Thought it was ironic given forte means 'strength'.
haha...yeah. I personally would have picked a different name for the second installment. Then again, I can only guess that they had a lot of old stock they wanted to reuse >.
I was fascinated by the 'security' pins, then I realized they are just what North Americans call 'safety' pins. lol I appreciate your thorough discussion, Norman, as always you are full of accurate information and interesting opinions. The part I question is that the set is half carbon and half wood. Most knitters express a preference for a certain needle medium and don't like to knit with any thing else. So I'm not sure too many people will be satisfied with this mixed bag. Otherwise, I can see your criticisms of the leather pouch; just looking at it, I see a lot of wasted space on one side to make room for the accessories on the other side. I am a 'knitter of moderate means' - it took me 2 years to have enough money to buy my full set of stainless steel Chiagoos (12 sizes), but I absolutely love them. I enjoy the smoothness and accuracy of the steel tips and the non-kinkiness of the cables, so I don't see any justification for paying so much more for this mixed bag set of Fortes; and certainly I could NEVER afford them. Oh AND I did buy a set of 3 mm tips and a 50 inch cable to do TAAT socks. (Yes, I like all that extra cable, and it's great for magic loop hats, or wide blankets as well.)
I was thinking of buying them for my soon coming birthday. In my country the cost is 420$ for this set the price is outrageous and as I can see now, not worth buying. However we should remember that there are no perfect needles on the market. They all have pros and cons. It depends on personal preferences. Still, you provided us with a thorough review -thank you for that effort, it's very useful and informative.
Thank you so much for your review. I appreciate you being so nitpicky about it, because you should! these are very expensive needles. It don't think that they are worth the price even if they are nice needles.
Thanks for the detailed review! I love my ChiaoGoo stainless steel set, so I was interested to see what these looked like. While I LOVE the leather case and all the pockets and accessories, I do not love the slight gaps and defects you pointed out. The reason I splurged on my ChiaoGoo spin set was because I absolutely hate when my yarn snags on the needles. The spin set has SUCH a smooth join, and I am ROUGH on my needles. (I'm a tight knitter, and I've learned to embrace it, no changing me now! LOL) I've had my current set for a few years now, and the join is STILL so smooth. (Let's just say that my Knit Picks set did not last very long; the screw part became misaligned with a noticeable overbite that snagged every stitch. Drove me crazy!) So, while I love that case, I'm going to stick with my spin set. Maybe I'll just indulge in some more cables. I need more for all my WIPs! LOL Thanks again!
I would not spend that much for these needles when other brands offer basically the same thing at half the price...I guess its a prestige thing. Thank you Norman for another excellent analysis.
$375!!?? I just gave away my entire interchangeable Chiaogoo set because I don’t like the needles. I’m an Addi and Knitters Pride Zing type of knitter. To each their own, but nothing in that set is calling my name. Thank you for your review.
First, THANK YOU for such an in depth review!!! The price is ridiculous but I also think that Furls prices are just as ridiculous for their hooks. Buying a complete set of hooks depending on which ones you buy can easily run you the same amount of money if not more and that's JUST hooks. I would never buy a Furls because that tapered, long neck would make me crazy. I love in-line hooks. At least with this set you have a case and accessories as well. When this set first came out, I was intrigued. I might've actually splurged on them as I love ChiaoGoo and want all their stuff but they sold out (didn't know they actually stopped production) before I could seriously consider buying. After a few reviews, I decided that if anything, I'd only buy the swivel cords (since they can be used with all their needles) as the normal interchangeable sets were fine. You can never have enough cords in various sizes and I didn't NEED fancy wood or carbon. With this set, I do love that you can read the sizing on the needles way better, something I hope becomes standard with their other needles. I already wear glasses because I can't read tiny words and the struggle is real for the normal needles as the etching is very faint. I agree on the different size cable connections. It is odd that they ends aren't the same for the small and the large when you're paying that much for the set or either of their regular interchangeable sets. Of course the minis need smaller connections. I'm very happy that you compared other needle brands as well. You now have me rethinking buying their swivel cords because the Lantern Moon cords definitely function better. Even though these are your personal impressions, they are still extremely insightful and probably speak to what we're all thinking on some level. If you're going to pay that much, the company HAS to do better. Unless I find a set in a yard sale or thrift store, I'll be sticking with their normal sets.
yes, I agree...the sizing on their normal tips needs to be enhanced. I never really understood that. THeir target audience is mostly older woman. These need to be big bold black fonts and not some whimsical grey thin line you see if you hold it against the light at a certain angle :P
Hello. I wanted to thank you for previous video where you were creating a latch tool for creating cord. I just made 5 of them with spare needles from my knitting machine and polymer clay, they are perfect. I am going to give away to all my knitting friends
Thanks for the review. I ordered and got mine yesterday. Wish your review was out a week earlier. I will check to see what I think about them later. I really like Lantern moon needles for slippery yarns.
I don't quite understand it either. I mean, this set clearly targets experienced knitters. None of them need a plain metal scissor or a needle gauge anymore. We already have 20 of them and 19 of them are prettier (and the 1 ugly is the one we actually use!)
I do love your review videos. So detailed and fair. Thank you for that. I don’t have this new set, but I do have 1.0 and they totally sucked. They did send me a bunch of new cords, a new size 4 to replace the broken one- which came broken- and a new tape measure- after I sent them a scathing email- but these needles were NOT worth the price. Mine were also scratched and scored. The joins - so catchy. Quite frankly, CG knew these needles sucked, they should allow us to send back the 1.0 for replacement with the 2.0, but based on your review, this set doesn’t sound any better. The case is the best part of it. The rest was junk. I say this as a lover of regular Chiaogoo. I seldom write to companies to complain, but these needles (again, the first version) were such a disappointment after so much hype. I love your ending to this. You captured my feelings exactly-. I really don’t understand what I paid for here.
I'm SO GLAD you're talking about these. These and their Red Lace set is always so highly recommended. I see these sets often on second hand sites but the price is still exorbitant although less than the original.
I bought these needles as well. I think you gave a person review 100 percent accurate. I feel the same way about them as you do. For 356 dollars the quality should have been a whole lot better. Thank you for your input and opinion on these, great job.
Thank you SO much for this review!! I am actually a new knitter, but took the leap since it’s a limited run and everyone around me swore by them. But I dislike the sterile plain severe case and the insipid tools. I didn’t realize just how pricey it is for a set; way above even other xlnt comparables. I will return or sell.
Ouch on the price! As always your reviews and information are detailed, very informative and there is always something new that I learn about needles/knitting in general. Thank you so much for taking the time to do the reviews.
The measuring tape! Wow I always assumed that the reason it is best to use a ruler is because the measuring tape might distort with time. Very surprised that a brand new Chiaogoo measuring tape was not exact. Thanks for pointing this out!
I went to the store certain that I was going to buy the chiagoo Forte. When I looked at the set I really didn’t like the cable connections and the tips. So I came home and as I was researching I found your video and I’m so glad you confirmed my reluctance. thank you for such a detailed and informative review 🙏🏼💙
I have the twist complete interchangeable set that I bought 5 years ago & never regretted it. I have also bought additional fixed circular so that I can have several projects going at once. I agree that this new product seems less than ideal than the original product based on reviews. I have added some bits & parts for the interchangeable set. I love lace knitting & everything else & stainless steel is the only way for me.
Thank you for the honest and unsponsored review. My heart goes out to you, and I am astounded that Chiagoo has presented such average tools at this price. I would like to add that I personally don't mind blowing my budget on high quality items as long-term investments, but this is basically an outrage. I hope you can get your money back if you don't want to keep the set.
I was very interested in finding out if they resolved some of the issues with this new edition. Thank you for saving me money. I love my interchangeable .
Thanks for a great review. I think they are too expensive and here in Canada they are even more because of our poor exchange rate. I like my Knitter's Pride interchangeable set as well as a great variety of fixed circulars by Addi. I do have a few swivel cables by Chiaogoo with different tips and love the "no torque" side effects on wrists of the swivel cable for large jumpers or bigger projects.
Thank you. I had just purchased my bamboo interchangeable Chiaogoo needles and was sad to see these. After watching the video, my FOMO is evaporated. Thank you for the review.
So I purchased this set when it was first released because it was so beautiful. I clearly did not need it because I already owned the Chiaogoo complete sets in bamboo and stainless as well as the Seeknit sets. Not trying to excuse Chiaogoo for the manufacturing issues, but at least I can replace them if anything happens to them. I got to try to Forte cords before the set was released so I knew what to expect - I had a cord break on my and that was promptly replaced. Perhaps the set was a waste of money, but I like them.
i mean, to be quite fair, so many knitters buy a lot of yarn they do not need as well. So if you like them and you can afford it, I don't see no wrong there!
Once again, gorgeous cinematography, thank you for the close up video. I love the packaging of this set, I'm a sucker for a nice package. However, I will not purchase this set because I am not a fan of wood needles with a metal tip. No matter how hard they work to get them smooth, a slight change in the humidity will always create and incredibly frustrating step and snag my knitting. If they were solid wood all the way through I might consider it. I wish I could get a set like this but with the signature needle arts style needles (but without the colors, my dream set). And, why do they always include the most crappy needle gauge? I hate that thing.
I tried my 1.0 set a few times and had similar problems Norman highlighted in this 2.0 review. I too used my red cables from my other CG set and had a better experience. I should give them a try a few more times.
I tried my 1.0 set a few times and had similar problems Norman highlighted in this 2.0 review. I too used my red cables from my other CG set and had a better experience. I should give them a try a few more times.
I just unpacked the Forte 2 set, and I must say that the needles look very good in person. They are smooth, nothing catches, and I love the feel of the carbon and wood material in my hands. Knitpro was a disappointment because their needles snag at the material junction, but these chiaogoo - I must say are perfect. I've already transferred my project to these Forte 2 needles, and they are very comfortable to work with. I will sell my previous set of needles and keep the Forte 2.
wow, fantastic review! just recently found your channel and absolutely appreciate your incredible thoroughness. I do like the Chiagoo fixed circulars, but all in all, you have saved me time and money!!
Wish I had seen your review before I pulled the plug....and ordered this set Yes, totally agree with you on everything! I had read SO many great reviews on Chiachoo needles and cords, I thought I would be able to have a set that would be encompass all needles and cords I would ever need. BUT....I also feel that the quality does NOT match the price. 😢 I also feel that it's a bit of a scam. Thank you for your review.
Hello Nancy, I bought this set and I do not regret. First of all, I do not like the metal of original ChiaoGoo needles. I have only their red mini set that I am using for knitting sleeves and I do not like the feeling of the metal in my hands at all. I also do not like their sharp tips. I hope the tips in this set are not soo sharp. Anyway, any needles you have to try by yourself. My set should come tomorrow and I will try. Yes, the set is expensive but I still feel that is is a good investment into the knitting instruments for me. Hope you will love the set when it comes.
Thanks for the review and your attention to detail. Seeing flaws in the tips and the shafts is disappointing. I have a lot of fixed Chiaogoo needles, as well as an interchangeable set of tiny sizes. I’ve been happy with those so far. My favorites are my wood Darn Pretty interchangeables and my Heavy Metal steel set by Dyakcraft in Vermont. They finally replaced their monofilament cables with coated steel cable like the Chiaogoos.
Very thorough review. That price outrageous though! No way! It’s DEF a quality set (the box, the case and the rest), but seriously no way could/would I pay that much. And that catch on the transition from needle to cable would drive me nuts as well!
yeah, some items really speak for the high quality. And I mean, even the tips are high quality - even if I don't like them personally - I couldn't say no less: they are well crafted.
Thank you so much, Norman, for this thorough and honest review. Seems a little odd that the set is made from two different materials--half wood, half carbon. Couldn't they find a harder wood and make all the the needles from that? That tells me that they really didn't do much beyond fixing the issues knitters brought up. It also makes me wonder how much testing they did before releasing 2.0. I'll stick with my Addis. 👍
I absolutely hate swivel cables. I’m very happy with my far less expensive Chiao Goo red lace set in small, because I seldom knit with needles larger than 5mm. For the occasional bulkier project, I knew I would not enjoy stainless steel scraping around, so I either use my Lantern Moon Ebony, or bamboo.
Great review, Thank you and fortunately I brought the first set at a reduced price and had some store credit to lower cost even further! My 2.75 snapped as I joined the cable and I cried! Chiagoo replaced the one needle with a carbon as in new set, after knitting with 1 of each type needle to make a pair I enjoy both for fingering yarn and notice no difference ...swivels cords thats another story!
Hey Norman! Thank you for reviewing these needles. I own the ChiaoGoo standard set and have been almost perfectly satisfied with them. Like you I prefer the sharper point. I like that the needle is fully stainless steel which slides nicely and breakage or scratching is not a concern. And I agree with you on all of the other "trinkets". Anyone who is going to invest in a set like this would likely be more experienced, and already has a preferred scissor, stitch markers, tape measure, a lovely travel tote for WIP, etc. (Ex. When designing a pattern I use an erasable pilot frixion pen to note my counts, and changes remain neat and clear. The pen would be useless to me.) Therefore, imo, such a large case to hold everything is overkill. I agree that it is way overpriced for what it is.
To me, that price is way out of range! But, I have never used the adjustable sets. I have been knitting for over 45 years, so I have a wide range of needles and would never spend that much on needles. I would rather spend it on the yarn. I also have needles, markers and gauges that were my mother’s and aunt’s. The plastic cables on the aluminum circular needles. can be easily straightened out by putting them in hot water before starting my projects. I made some very versatile and inexpensive markers by cutting thin rings from a plastic straw I had. Thank you for this thorough review. ❤️👍😊👍
Reduced, reuse, recycle! I love that. All of my needles and notions were thrifted or passed down as well. I love the idea of making the stitch markers out of plastic straws. I'm going to take a closer look at my recycling and see what might be useful.
Thank you so much for this review. I bought a lantern moon set last year, and I'm even happier with it now, knowing I didn't settle for second best because of the price. Besides the ridiculous price and the missing 2,5 mm size, the ChiaoGoo set looks a bit masculine to me, like a barber's tool set.
At this point in my knitting journey, I've only knit socks on dpn's and 9in circulars. I can't imagine spending that much on a set. Thanks for your honest opinion.
Excellent review, Norman! I am really trying to wrap my head over the price. It’s something that a non-knitter who doesn’t know any better would give to me, an intermediate knitter as a gift. I think the price is great if you are just getting started with using Chiaogoo cable interconnectors and Swivel 360s, and some people don’t even like Swivels at all. If you add up purchasing all the connectors and cables separately, throw in the leather pouch and $120 US dollars for the needles, then maybe the retail cost would be $250? I’ve already collected so many cables and connectors for my Chiaogoo sets, and I use fixed Lace Tip needles for fair isle and lace knitting, as well as my Hiya Hiyas. I could see if one is starting out it’s a good investment, but it isn’t luxurious enough for me to shell out $375. Also, the Forte comes in only one length? I have smaller hands so using a 5” length is uncomfortable for me. Thanks again for another insightful review.
Yeah 250 USD would be a fairer cost. Tho...the Hiya Hiya Premium sets are "only" 180 and they come with a similar range of accessories and needles. so i dunno.
@@raeleohana8797 if you're a beginner, the set looks like a great foundation, i'd keep it at that price. There's nothing wrong with the needles and Chiaogoo's tips are great. I have a Lykke copper interchangeable set. That to me is fancy but I rarely use it bc nothing beats the memory free Chiaogoo red twist cables, esp if you are a beginner which you have. You can also buy longer red twists cables over time and add them to your set :). I love Swivel 360s. They only become a problem if you are an advanced lace knitter and the super thin yarns can get caught in the joins.
Thanks so much for this review. I love love love my Signature needles, but they are no longer making them, so I will be looking for a comparable replacement at some point (I've stocked up, so I'm all good for now). My must-haves are a flexible swivel cord and the pointiest of pointy tips. The search continues!
Another fabulous video, Norman. This was so helpful as I love the regular Ciaogoo needles and the cable that doesn't twist. At the price asked I don't think I would have purchased this set, but it is wonderful to see these and have your review which was helpful learning things about any interchangeable knitting needle set. Thank you. 😊
I have been using Knitters Pride and Lantern Moon but recently tried ChiaoGoo. I loved them, especially for Magic Loop. I have been thinking of switching to ChiaoGoo in general and was planning to buy several more cords to match what I have. I knew about the Forte 1.0 fiasco but figured, surely they fixed all the problems. So, justifying that I would be getting 9 cords, and it was my birthday, (and some FOMO), I ordered the Forte 2.0. They arrive tomorrow, so I will see how it goes. Thanks for your review. I hope I have a different take on the set.
Thank you for another lovely, thorough review :-) Maybe you've heard the (terrible) American expression: "Price it high and watch them buy, price it low and watch them go." I feel this is a case of ChiaoGoo having a very high opinion of their products without actually living up to the price point. I LOVE all of my Lantern Moon needles and cables - even their cable tool is lovely, with its handle made of pretty wood that is so much easier to use than that little wire/pin that comes with most other sets.
Sorry Norman, I wouldn’t be able to use a set like that. I like to keep my Turbo Rockets in the plastic sleeve they come in. I would get so confused which size needle is which. I accidentally lost the packet, even with my glasses, couldn’t read the size on the cable cause print was so small. I really don’t like any needles made in China. I use the scissors I got from Fashion district in Manhattan. I’m constantly having to measure a project so keep my collapsible tape measure I got from yarn store, near my project. I was lucky to find this two sided silk zippered case I got in Chinatown. I put my scissors, needle point needles for fixing of yarn, and stitch holders. I use an Art case I got on sale from Michaels to hold my circular needles. Sad to say all my straight needles I used to use years ago got tossed when house was sold. I forgot to take them with me. Circular needles don’t put a strain on my arms and wrists.
Hey Norman, my lawyer ordered me the Speckled Hen yarn from Purl Soho to make the Sleeve Scarf. Best of all though he got me two size 5 Addi Turbo Rockets 16 inch circular needles. So happy don’t have to use the Chinese needles. So looking forward to the yarn. When Argyle yarn store hand dyes more of there Luminous Brooklyn yarn in Beachcomber, I’m going to make my own version of the tube scarf.
The Forte 2.0 set sells for €429 at my LYS. There was no way I was going to buy it at that price. It only made me research other needle sets. In the end, I went for the Lantern Moon Heirloom. It was the artisan and handcrafted quality that won me over.
Love the review. I’ve seen these advertised this week as limited edition, and a I started to have FOMO. But I already have the full set of Chaiogoo interchangeable, and I bought the Lantern Moon black wood needles a few months back, which I quite like. When I saw the small needles were carbon, I thought ‘why spend $330 for carbon, when you can buy carbon needles separately.’ Hearing your impression tells me that I do not need these. Seriously looking at the Lykke copper set though…cause we love all the toys.
For that price, I'd like to see dual tips: one needle pointy, one rounded. Also, with the accessories, a chrochet hook would be useful to deal with some cast ons and with repairs.
I appreciate your honest review of these needles. You took the time to explain the pros and cons (in your opinion) and I think it will make sense to someone looking to possibly purchase a set. In all honesty, I think this set is WAY overpriced for what the consumer is getting. Thank you for putting out great content!
Please always remember: We all knit with a different style, our hands have different sizes (and there might be other physical differences/limitations), we prefer different yarns & projects, and our general preferences might differ on top of that. As a result, needles I like might be ill-suited for you and vice versa. Needles that are well in your budget might not be in mine.
So, when we as a knitting community talk about knitting needles, we should always comment from a place of personal preference and never generalize personal likes as absolutes.
That is fair and true. I appreciate you saying this. I trust your reviews A LOT and will not purchase a set of needles that do not get a glowing review from you. 😍 Thank you for all of your hard work and research. ❤
Thank you for such a thorough and fair review ❤
I love my Seeknit, have you ever considered a review? Even though I know that you are metal needle person for those of us that are not metal I think they’re the best option. Good quality, good ethics.
@@jennifergomez8260 I'm kinda hesitant. I kinda..i dunno...since I don't knit with bamboo at all, I just feel that I couldn't give you a useful feedback. My feedback would probably be "this is horribly slow, sticky and the tips are way too blunt". haha...which wouldn't exactly be helpful :P
@@NimbleNeedles it’s part of what I’m curious about because they created a heat pressure process that makes them the closest to metal. I myself switched from metal to them, but hate any other wood needles. I had many customers at my LYS who did also. But I understand what you’re saying that would be like me doing a review on a non-articulating ICN - all garbage😂
I am blown away by this price. Outrageously expensive.
It's certainly no budget friendly option. If I couldn't deduct this as a company expense (and get vat reimbursed on top of that)..i'm not sure if I had bought them!
And in Australia, they are $575 Au!
@@karenhenderson4546 Fellow Aussie here. Who would even carry them here? The whole set is ridiculously overpriced, imho.
@NimbleNeedles Even with the business deduction and VAT reimbursement, you still paid up front. Thank you!
£365 in the UK!!
Thanks Norman! I didn't know about the controversy around this set but recently got an email from my local yarn shop that they are taking preorders for it, and in my local currency after the exchange rate and everything it's $550! I was absolutely shocked! For $550 it better do my knitting for me, weave in all the ends automatically, and magically block the finished objects :,)
😅 I think some used knitting machines are actually cheaper!
I just sold my "like new" bulky knitting machine for $400!@@NimbleNeedles
I agree in Au$ it’s nearly 600. 😮
I love that you’re not sponsored by Chiaogoo or anyone so can give us an honest unbiased review. Thank you ❤
Always. I honestly think that one cannot do un unbiased review ans be sponsored. Why bite off the hand that feeds you?
I can totally respect the fact that different needles exist at different price points, but $375 for a set is just a little mind boggling! I think the case it comes in is lovely, but not worth $200 more than other sets.
Well, I think the case is what matters little if the contents are not just exciting. These needles actually feel worse than the normal CG tips 😓
They're selling in New Zealand for $575-600 a set!! I just can't justify spending that - especially as I'm only a beginner knitter but even as an experienced knitter I just couldn't spend that amount!
@@MrsGump: Yikes! I think one also needs to look at the sizes one is and isn't getting in the case. Most of my knitting is fine or very fine, so I want to start at the old British 14 gauge (2 mm) and go up by 1/4 mm increments to about British size 8, as I rarely use anything larger*. The Forte set doesn't have the small sizes I need and it has some large sizes I'm never going to use.
* Typically, I work on pairs of single pointed needles, yes, I'm old fashioned. I have a stack of larger needles in my collection, including some I inherited from my mother. Why we bought those larger sizes is a mystery, as Mum never used them and I don't use them!
Crikey!!!! How on earth are people going to afford that. I have knit pro zing needles. I had them for a present. Cost around £35 for the set. I wouldn't have spent that much on myself but for a present it is acceptable. I love my needles! I have straight and circular.
I really love my Knitter’s Pride needles with Lantern Moon swivel cords. It’s the perfect combo for me. I don’t see anything in the forte set that tempts me to change. Even if I could afford it, I’d rather spend the money on yarn.
Seems like a wise decision! ☺️
I use exactly the same system! It’s perfect. Love my Knitters Pride
How is the lantern moon swivels compared to the knitter's prides ones?
@@IamJocie Lantern Moon is a subbrand. So they are interchangeable. Same as Lykke, etc. All the same company
@@NimbleNeedles Thank you for that extra little piece of information! I had no idea 😁 Have you considered trying Hobbii’s semi-new blue sets of interchangable needles?
Really appreciate you spending the time and money😮 to show these needles. I really enjoy my original Chiaogoo interchangable needles and after seeing your review, I can see I do not need the Forté needles. Great video as always!😊
heh. No, I personally will stick to my regular CGs as well :P
Let's just talk about that wonderfully exclusive sweater that you are wearing today! YES!
Haha..I thought it was quite fitting 😅
@@NimbleNeedles It looks like it fits perfectly. I can’t imagine you knitting anything that doesn’t! 😉
I thought Norman made it and I was going to ask for the pattern source!❤
I checked on the wood they are manufactured from, African black wood, it is a listed wood, endangered. When I posed this question on a retailers page they quickly stated its from reclaimed wood and deleted my question shortly after.
So do we believe manufacturers in China are strictly using reclaimed African black wood to mass produce knitting needles?
The Chinese government is shady. They rip off our designers daily and nothing happens to them. I refuse to buy anything endangered.
Well, now I know that these kind of ethical considerations are less of a concern in China. And of course, it would have to be reclaimed wood, otherwise they'd have problems to important them into Europe.
That being said, when it comes to China, I'd not trust what it says on the label. There's tons of chinese 100% cashmere yarns that have little to do with actual cashmer...other than being spun in the same factory ^^. You can also see great divergences in the steel quality when you look at different sets (say the Minis and the standard red twist). That'S probably because they are using different manufacturers and/or blanks from different manufacturers.
I never was able to contact CG with my emails (nor HiyaHiya). That, in and by itself, says a lot, sadly.
At one point when someone asked about the wood , they were told ................... the black wood used is slivers of wood left over from making other things (someone if I remember correctly , used example of pianos) Seems if the smaller needles are breaking, and they have replaced majority of them with a different material , perhaps not the best quality or source was used in the original set
They are manufactured in the US. They are using scraps from musical instruments and they continue to recycle. Love Chiagoo!
@@catawbacats and every person I've spoken to has a different story of their manufacture. Funny how that works.
What a thorough and intelligent analysis. I agree with your assessment of this fine, yet very expensive knitting needles. Thank you for taking the time to share such a clear and detailed analysis. it is greatly appreciated!!
Always happy to help ☺️
Exactly
I bought one of the original Forte sets sight unseen. I am so disappointed in it and I was thrilled to see you review this set though you did have the 2.0 set. The snagging while you are knitting killed all of my joy knitting. I don’t use them at all. I bought them convinced that their reputation meant they would be the highest quality. Lesson learned! I wish I had purchased $300.00 worth of yarn and just stuck with my fixed red lace Chiaogoo needles instead.
maybe you can re-sell or trade them on Ravelry? there''s a CG fan group there
Why couldn’t you return them jc
Never seen any needle set worth that price. Thank you for sharing your expert & honest reviews! ❤
well. I really fell in love with the signature needle arts dpns where one set costs (or rather cost) 65 USD. So they were pricey but I really love them!
Loved your comment and expression at the end 🤣… Thank you for the review!!❤️
@@NimbleNeedles - Norman, did you know they once made 2.00 mm size DPNs? It was the only size that was surgical steel (they manufactured surgical equipment) and not color coded. I lost one needle and am so afraid to lose any of the remaining 4 so I NEVER leave the house with them.
Thank you Norman! As a relatively new knitter I'm always excited to learn more about new products, as well as the already established kits. I really, really appreciate your honest reviews. I learn so much from them, and it's easy when you're new at something to be willing to sink a lot of money into it with the hope that it will make you better and I appreciate you cutting through the marketing hype and give us the honest answers. I always look forward to your content.
I agree with you and want to add a thanks also to Norman for investing money and doing in-depth, thorough reviews and comparisons…also with compassion and kindness for people having different needs, wants and likes in their knitting tools. Thanks, Norman, for being honest, giving your biases, and working very hard to provide the knitting community with valuable information in a kind and respectful way.
Knitting is like any other skill yes the tools help and there are better and worse but from experience I've learnt that expensive does not always mean better. As for buying sets of needles..... there's no point in that for me I'd end up with sizes that would never be used.
I just found 9 sizes of Chiagoo fixed circular knitting needles still packaged in the thrift store and got them all for 9 us dollars. I was so ecstatic. I am always on the search for knitting supplies at thrift stores. I would never pay over 200 for knitting needles. At least right now. One time I found a knitting needle case full of these really nice wooden Straight needles and some dpns. I got them all for 15 dollars at the thrift store.
what a great find!
I'm very happy that the algorithm suggested this review to me. I was planning to buy this set, although I already have a full set of chiaogoo needles, including minis and shorties. You convinced me that I would rather spend that money on yarns instead of buying another set just because it's LOOKS so nice.
You took the words right of my mouth.. I'm so glad that I didn't purchase this set.
That seems like a good idea. I don't think this set brings anything to the table you might need
I have had the Twist red lace set 11 years and love it. I bought the shorter tips and cables in smaller needle sizes to get 16” needles. All fit in the fabric case well. It was expensive when I bought it, a treat, that is well used.
Thanks so much for this! I love my regular Chiaogoo Twist (metal) interchangeable set, which I bought on sale many years ago for $100. Getting it was a big deal on my then-student budget, but it was easily the best investment I’ve ever made in my knitting. What a shame that the same company is now selling something for almost 4 times the price, but which lacks sufficient care and attention to detail.
Was really wanting to purchase this set. Took your advice and will keep my regular Chicagoo
I think you are not making a big mistake there. I mean, with time, I think you'll be able to buy single tips or single cables. Maybe try them out. There were many who said they kinda liked the original forté set (when the needles didn't break that is).
Thank you so much for taking one for the team. ❤. That is a whole lot of cash for prestige purposes only. I only use wooden needles to slow myself down and knit cotton or silk. So, lace knitting or cotton. I don’t knit cotton very often so I wouldn’t be interested in a whole set of needles like that. I am grateful so see how you judge the needles. That is most helpful. 😊
I think the Latern moon needles might be better there! maybe order some test tips (not sure if they offer them, tho)
I'm totally happy with the interchangeable set I already have. I'm not looking for another, but it is interesting to see this new one.
Awesome! Besides the whole point if a set is that your are set for life..or at least the next then years!
Another great video as always! Thank you for your unbiased opinion on this set and for going through all the testing, even on two different yarn weights. This set was a bit out of my price range but as a fan of ChiaoGoo, I was interested in hearing about how they functioned and whether they were worth the lofty price tag.
Thank you again, Norman!
This is a great review, Norman. I especially appreciate your thoroughness and attention to detail. I believe I’ll stick with my regular Chiaogoo And lantern moons sets. Thanks, you are a star!
Same for me.
I couldn't argue with that!
Thank you for taking the time to review these. You are fair and unbiased. The points you raised are useful to decide when deciding on which needles to use in a project and whether to invest in yet another style or pair. Well done those local yarn shops who stock a good variety and allow their patrons to test knit with them.
After I'd been knitting for awhile and decided to invest in a set of interchangeable needles. I purchased the Knitter's Pride Kindness set and have been really pleased with them. I thought they were a really good value and the cables are similar to Chao Goo's. Even with their reputation I just think $375.00 is just out of the reach of a lot of us hobby knitters.
definitely. I mean, not all sets need to cater to the needs of EVERY knitter..but still...i do believe this is taxing the limit a bit too far.
Thank you for taking the time to check these needles out. I am very happy with my Knitters Pride. Great video. ❤
Glad you like them!
❤ Excellent and thorough review of the 2.0 I bought the original Forte set and I am very happy with it. They do seem to work well for me personally. I did have one 4 mm needle break and they replaced it immediately. I sent them a picture via email. The replacement needle came in the mail right away but it was not packaged as safely as it should have been and that surprised me. I find the tips an excellent taper and to me they are sleek and fast and my yarn is not catching with my Forte (but it does a lot on their bamboo set). I have arthritis in my hands and the first day I started using them I used them for hours with no hand or wrist pain. All the best, Joyce
happy to hear the original set works so well for you. And yeah, i can see how these warm, non metall stalks work well for people with wrist pain.
After watch your review. Norman, the only way I could justify buying an expensive set of ChiaoGoo needles is if they were all carbon, no wood, with lace tips and includes all sizes say up to 8mm and both red and silver cables ! Maybe someday in the near future the company will work out all the kinks and make us truly happy to spend nearly 400$...Thanks for the honest and thorough review of this product...Love your sweater❣
yeah, I think that would have been a bit more consistant. 12 cables, all carbon stalks, all lace tips, and ditching the uncessary accessories. for...say...250 USD. Then it would be a consideration...
oh Norman. I love your videos. I absolutely trust you! Thanks so much.
Goodness! That price point is way beyond reasonable. The set is lovely, but I also quilt and embroider, so my discretionary funds are not dedicated to one craft. Thank you for your reliable reviews. They are really helpful! Happy knitting, Norman.
I'm so glad you did this review, Norman. I was looking at this set and given most of my knitting is lace or sock weight yarn, this sounds like a nightmare. Back to testing my single interchangeables until I find the "perfect" brand.
for lace weight I personally currently prefer HIyaHiya the most currently. They are NOT perfect but the lace tip make up for a lot of the minor flaws, imo.
@@NimbleNeedles thanks for the suggestion. I'll check them out.
Great camerawork and editing. Thank you. and thank you for manicuring your nails! This has frustrated me with other channels and I will chose your's before any other because of your professionalism.
“No, we’re not coming best friends here”… that made me laugh. I appreciate your detailed review. Although the set is beautiful, it’s not something I would purchase. I prefer a needle set in a small case. I have one of Chiagoo’s red lace sets and I love the fabric case, it holds everything it needs to. I have a notions pouch that I put in my project bag with all the stitch markers, tapestry needles and such.
I put popsicle sticks with labels in the needle slots to keep track of which projects my needles are in.
yeah, as I said at the end of the video, the standard CG fabric pouches are fine. I mean, there are certainly ways to improve them but they really do the job.
@@wendyellis6402 nice hint , thank you
The square tips hurt my fingertips. That's what I've noticed. Mine are a different brand, but with similar squarish tips. I really don't like them, compared to the more traditional, rounded tips. I'm a tight knitter too, and enjoy complicated patterns. Another problem I have with the interchangeable cables, is that no matter how well I think I have tightened the connecting screw, mine always becomes loose at some point and that's when the yarn REALLY gets caught. And it's such a pain to try to tighten the screw while the stitches are covering it. But I can't get them out of the way before I can tighten the screw first! 😵💫
I have been knitting/crocheting for over 40 years and to me, we are being taken advantage of.
Granted I have a set of interchangeable needles and hooks and I love them, no more using stitch holders when making a garment, no more carrying around needles that are almost a foot long, There are some very nice advances but I think KnitPro (knitters pride in the US) symfonie are very nice and they cost around £50 for the set, also come in other materials! Other people have other preferences and that is the joy of diversity.
To charge over 6 times the price for a set that had to be recalled in the first version, then $75 added to the price for THEIR MISTAKES is being taken advantage of in my book
I found this entire video so interesting ... and I was seriously debating about the purchase. After watching, I am pleased with my current ChiaGoo interchangeable set which I have accumulated one at a time. I won't move forward with this special purchase after all . THANK YOU! I very much appreciate your balanced and thoughtful review!
Well done Norman. As usual, you explain clearly what and why you feel about each part; from the beautiful packaging to the 'catch' and balance that with your point of view regarding price vs quality. Thank you.
Really enjoyed the frank review. I'm coming back to knitting after a 'few' decades of being way too busy to find time to knit, and all the needles I have are straight. So, this review was really interesting to me. Thank you.
Some perspective here: For $375 USD, I could make THREE Round Trips between home (Nashville) and New York City for $248USD (total). I’d take my Knitters Pride interchangeables with me and be perfectly happy…and I’d have $127 left over to buy some yarn. 😊
Knitter's math 🤣
But yeah, it really is a steep price indeed!
Thank you so much for reviewing that set of needles. I love my metal ChiaoGoo needles, but I don't think I'll be dreaming about this luxury set.
I think this was a very fair and honest review. Thank you for sharing! I'll stick with my Knit Pro needles. They've always been good to me. 😊
I like them a lot as well 🥰
I love my Knit Pro (Knitter's Pride here) needles. Now I used them with Lantern Moon cables and I love them even more
@@ursaliafibresstudio7228 I'm only just starting out knitting (I'm a crocheter but am determined to knit too!) & love the knitpro ones. It's great to know that the lantern moon cables fit with the knitpro needles - that's the kinda thing that I can only learn from others/experience. So thank you ❤️ 😃
I love my other CG needle sets, but like you mentioned... I'm not seeing a reason for the higher price with the Forte set. Thank you so much for your review! I'll stick with what I have. ❤ xo
Different hand sizes, knitting styles and tensions will always result in different subjective experiences when using knitting needles. I did own a pair of Lantern Moon needles, but I found the lettering on the wood disappeared quite quickly, so I had to use a needle gauge to ensure I had the right tips. The tips did wear down while I used them, and the wood at the tip dented - the tips themselves didn't break, splinter or crack, but the shaft itself didn't hold its shape as I would have linked. I also found that my yarn was consistently catching on the joins, and on the swivel to metal transition on the cables. I ended up replacing them with a ChiaoGoo bamboo set, which I've been pleased with since.
Whatever needles you end up using, happy knitting!
What a good and complete review! I appreciate your honesty! 🥰
As someone who owns the regular Chiaogoo interchangeable set and all of the equivalents of the notions included in this set…I wish I could just buy the case! I’d love to use it for travel. Thanks for the great and in depth review, Norman!
yeah, it would be great if you could just buy all the stuff individually
Thank you Norman for such an excellent review. One thing we need to remember is that you are really getting two sets of ChiaoGoo interchangeable needles sets in one set--all in a beautiful leather case. If you purchase the two sets individually (sizes 2-8, and then sizes 9-15), you will be spending close to $300 or more. I love my ChiaoGoo needles but have had the problem with my interchangeables coming unscrewed when in use. I can usually feel when this happens and stop to tighten them, but it's a pain. I have since ordered a few fixed sets that I use frequently. Lovely needles but too pricey!
no. I have many CG sets and their big sets around 180 USD max these days. And they have the same amount of needles. The only difference is that these have 3.00mm needles and +3 cords.
@@NimbleNeedles my mistake…sorry.
I don’t know if you missed it in the video but it’s actually fake leather so just a cheap plastic case, hardly a step above the regular chiaogoo case
Thanks for your review as I've seen tons of ads for these. I didn't know of the issues with the original version. Thought it was ironic given forte means 'strength'.
haha...yeah. I personally would have picked a different name for the second installment. Then again, I can only guess that they had a lot of old stock they wanted to reuse >.
I was fascinated by the 'security' pins, then I realized they are just what North Americans call 'safety' pins. lol I appreciate your thorough discussion, Norman, as always you are full of accurate information and interesting opinions. The part I question is that the set is half carbon and half wood. Most knitters express a preference for a certain needle medium and don't like to knit with any thing else. So I'm not sure too many people will be satisfied with this mixed bag. Otherwise, I can see your criticisms of the leather pouch; just looking at it, I see a lot of wasted space on one side to make room for the accessories on the other side. I am a 'knitter of moderate means' - it took me 2 years to have enough money to buy my full set of stainless steel Chiagoos (12 sizes), but I absolutely love them. I enjoy the smoothness and accuracy of the steel tips and the non-kinkiness of the cables, so I don't see any justification for paying so much more for this mixed bag set of Fortes; and certainly I could NEVER afford them. Oh AND I did buy a set of 3 mm tips and a 50 inch cable to do TAAT socks. (Yes, I like all that extra cable, and it's great for magic loop hats, or wide blankets as well.)
I was thinking of buying them for my soon coming birthday. In my country the cost is 420$ for this set the price is outrageous and as I can see now, not worth buying. However we should remember that there are no perfect needles on the market. They all have pros and cons. It depends on personal preferences. Still, you provided us with a thorough review -thank you for that effort, it's very useful and informative.
Thank you so much for your review. I appreciate you being so nitpicky about it, because you should! these are very expensive needles. It don't think that they are worth the price even if they are nice needles.
exactly! I mean...if they were 50 USD, the video and my critique would have been completely different!
I've coveted a Chiaogoo set for years and been hesitant. Thank you great review I won't be buying it. Now I know why I've hesitated.
Thanks for the detailed review! I love my ChiaoGoo stainless steel set, so I was interested to see what these looked like. While I LOVE the leather case and all the pockets and accessories, I do not love the slight gaps and defects you pointed out. The reason I splurged on my ChiaoGoo spin set was because I absolutely hate when my yarn snags on the needles. The spin set has SUCH a smooth join, and I am ROUGH on my needles. (I'm a tight knitter, and I've learned to embrace it, no changing me now! LOL) I've had my current set for a few years now, and the join is STILL so smooth. (Let's just say that my Knit Picks set did not last very long; the screw part became misaligned with a noticeable overbite that snagged every stitch. Drove me crazy!) So, while I love that case, I'm going to stick with my spin set. Maybe I'll just indulge in some more cables. I need more for all my WIPs! LOL Thanks again!
I would not spend that much for these needles when other brands offer basically the same thing at half the price...I guess its a prestige thing. Thank you Norman for another excellent analysis.
$375!!?? I just gave away my entire interchangeable Chiaogoo set because I don’t like the needles. I’m an Addi and Knitters Pride Zing type of knitter. To each their own, but nothing in that set is calling my name. Thank you for your review.
First, THANK YOU for such an in depth review!!! The price is ridiculous but I also think that Furls prices are just as ridiculous for their hooks. Buying a complete set of hooks depending on which ones you buy can easily run you the same amount of money if not more and that's JUST hooks. I would never buy a Furls because that tapered, long neck would make me crazy. I love in-line hooks. At least with this set you have a case and accessories as well. When this set first came out, I was intrigued. I might've actually splurged on them as I love ChiaoGoo and want all their stuff but they sold out (didn't know they actually stopped production) before I could seriously consider buying. After a few reviews, I decided that if anything, I'd only buy the swivel cords (since they can be used with all their needles) as the normal interchangeable sets were fine. You can never have enough cords in various sizes and I didn't NEED fancy wood or carbon. With this set, I do love that you can read the sizing on the needles way better, something I hope becomes standard with their other needles. I already wear glasses because I can't read tiny words and the struggle is real for the normal needles as the etching is very faint. I agree on the different size cable connections. It is odd that they ends aren't the same for the small and the large when you're paying that much for the set or either of their regular interchangeable sets. Of course the minis need smaller connections. I'm very happy that you compared other needle brands as well. You now have me rethinking buying their swivel cords because the Lantern Moon cords definitely function better.
Even though these are your personal impressions, they are still extremely insightful and probably speak to what we're all thinking on some level. If you're going to pay that much, the company HAS to do better. Unless I find a set in a yard sale or thrift store, I'll be sticking with their normal sets.
yes, I agree...the sizing on their normal tips needs to be enhanced. I never really understood that. THeir target audience is mostly older woman. These need to be big bold black fonts and not some whimsical grey thin line you see if you hold it against the light at a certain angle :P
Hello. I wanted to thank you for previous video where you were creating a latch tool for creating cord. I just made 5 of them with spare needles from my knitting machine and polymer clay, they are perfect. I am going to give away to all my knitting friends
Glad it worked out and you could make it work! what a great gift
Thanks for the review. I ordered and got mine yesterday. Wish your review was out a week earlier. I will check to see what I think about them later. I really like Lantern moon needles for slippery yarns.
Don't let my view influence your joy! Approach them with an open mind please! 🥰
I will but I'm really a Hiya Hiya girl at heart. Thanks, I hope I like them.
I'm so glad I saw this!! I also felt the accessories cost to much and I don't need them anyway. Thank you so much!! I always enjoy your reviews. ❤
I don't quite understand it either. I mean, this set clearly targets experienced knitters. None of them need a plain metal scissor or a needle gauge anymore. We already have 20 of them and 19 of them are prettier (and the 1 ugly is the one we actually use!)
I like having the scissors and the gauge in case. I appreciate them being added.
I like having the scissors and the gauge in case. I appreciate them being added.
I like having the scissors and the gauge in case. I appreciate them being added.
I have to say that I love my lantern moon needles - and even the fabric case. Thank you for your always honest reviews.
I do love your review videos. So detailed and fair. Thank you for that. I don’t have this new set, but I do have 1.0 and they totally sucked. They did send me a bunch of new cords, a new size 4 to replace the broken one- which came broken- and a new tape measure- after I sent them a scathing email- but these needles were NOT worth the price. Mine were also scratched and scored. The joins - so catchy. Quite frankly, CG knew these needles sucked, they should allow us to send back the 1.0 for replacement with the 2.0, but based on your review, this set doesn’t sound any better. The case is the best part of it. The rest was junk. I say this as a lover of regular Chiaogoo. I seldom write to companies to complain, but these needles (again, the first version) were such a disappointment after so much hype. I love your ending to this. You captured my feelings exactly-. I really don’t understand what I paid for here.
I guess if the set was half the price, we could start arguing. But at that high price point, my standards are just as high - and have to.
I'm SO GLAD you're talking about these. These and their Red Lace set is always so highly recommended. I see these sets often on second hand sites but the price is still exorbitant although less than the original.
I bought these needles as well. I think you gave a person review 100 percent accurate. I feel the same way about them as you do. For 356 dollars the quality should have been a whole lot better. Thank you for your input and opinion on these, great job.
glad to here that there are others with a similar opinion :)
Thank you SO much for this review!! I am actually a new knitter, but took the leap since it’s a limited run and everyone around me swore by them. But I dislike the sterile plain severe case and the insipid tools. I didn’t realize just how pricey it is for a set; way above even other xlnt comparables. I will return or sell.
Ouch on the price! As always your reviews and information are detailed, very informative and there is always something new that I learn about needles/knitting in general. Thank you so much for taking the time to do the reviews.
The measuring tape! Wow I always assumed that the reason it is best to use a ruler is because the measuring tape might distort with time. Very surprised that a brand new Chiaogoo measuring tape was not exact. Thanks for pointing this out!
They probably converted inches 1:1 to centimeters. Very common in the knitting industry. 4 inches is NOT 10cm
I went to the store certain that I was going to buy the chiagoo Forte. When I looked at the set I really didn’t like the cable connections and the tips. So I came home and as I was researching I found your video and I’m so glad you confirmed my reluctance. thank you for such a detailed and informative review 🙏🏼💙
i mean, kinda sorry to hear that. then again, I guess I did the right thing. some sets are just not for you, right?
Wow so glad to hear your fair and accurate review of these sets.
Thanks for watching!
I have the twist complete interchangeable set that I bought 5 years ago & never regretted it. I have also bought additional fixed circular so that I can have several projects going at once. I agree that this new product seems less than ideal than the original product based on reviews. I have added some bits & parts for the interchangeable set. I love lace knitting & everything else & stainless steel is the only way for me.
Yeah, the normal sets can be great indeed. There's a reason why so many love them. Here..I'm a but doubtful
Thank you for the honest and unsponsored review. My heart goes out to you, and I am astounded that Chiagoo has presented such average tools at this price. I would like to add that I personally don't mind blowing my budget on high quality items as long-term investments, but this is basically an outrage. I hope you can get your money back if you don't want to keep the set.
I was very interested in finding out if they resolved some of the issues with this new edition. Thank you for saving me money. I love my interchangeable .
Thanks for a great review. I think they are too expensive and here in Canada they are even more because of our poor exchange rate. I like my Knitter's Pride interchangeable set as well as a great variety of fixed circulars by Addi. I do have a few swivel cables by Chiaogoo with different tips and love the "no torque" side effects on wrists of the swivel cable for large jumpers or bigger projects.
Thank you. I had just purchased my bamboo interchangeable Chiaogoo needles and was sad to see these.
After watching the video, my FOMO is evaporated. Thank you for the review.
So I purchased this set when it was first released because it was so beautiful. I clearly did not need it because I already owned the Chiaogoo complete sets in bamboo and stainless as well as the Seeknit sets. Not trying to excuse Chiaogoo for the manufacturing issues, but at least I can replace them if anything happens to them. I got to try to Forte cords before the set was released so I knew what to expect - I had a cord break on my and that was promptly replaced. Perhaps the set was a waste of money, but I like them.
i mean, to be quite fair, so many knitters buy a lot of yarn they do not need as well. So if you like them and you can afford it, I don't see no wrong there!
Once again, gorgeous cinematography, thank you for the close up video. I love the packaging of this set, I'm a sucker for a nice package. However, I will not purchase this set because I am not a fan of wood needles with a metal tip. No matter how hard they work to get them smooth, a slight change in the humidity will always create and incredibly frustrating step and snag my knitting. If they were solid wood all the way through I might consider it. I wish I could get a set like this but with the signature needle arts style needles (but without the colors, my dream set). And, why do they always include the most crappy needle gauge? I hate that thing.
I sincerely love my 1.0 version and the price was a bit high. I switch out my cables when I used certain yarns.
that's great to hear!
I tried my 1.0 set a few times and had similar problems Norman highlighted in this 2.0 review. I too used my red cables from my other CG set and had a better experience. I should give them a try a few more times.
I tried my 1.0 set a few times and had similar problems Norman highlighted in this 2.0 review. I too used my red cables from my other CG set and had a better experience. I should give them a try a few more times.
Your reviews are awesome Norman. Thank you
I just unpacked the Forte 2 set, and I must say that the needles look very good in person. They are smooth, nothing catches, and I love the feel of the carbon and wood material in my hands. Knitpro was a disappointment because their needles snag at the material junction, but these chiaogoo - I must say are perfect. I've already transferred my project to these Forte 2 needles, and they are very comfortable to work with. I will sell my previous set of needles and keep the Forte 2.
I'm happy for you
Thank you Norman..you are so thorough and your opinion is definitely valued! ❤
wow, fantastic review! just recently found your channel and absolutely appreciate your incredible thoroughness. I do like the Chiagoo fixed circulars, but all in all, you have saved me time and money!!
Wish I had seen your review before I pulled the plug....and ordered this set Yes, totally agree with you on everything! I had read SO many great reviews on Chiachoo needles and cords, I thought I would be able to have a set that would be encompass all needles and cords I would ever need. BUT....I also feel that the quality does NOT match the price. 😢 I also feel that it's a bit of a scam. Thank you for your review.
😓 sorry. I published this as soon as I received them but the package was a bit delayed
Hello Nancy, I bought this set and I do not regret. First of all, I do not like the metal of original ChiaoGoo needles. I have only their red mini set that I am using for knitting sleeves and I do not like the feeling of the metal in my hands at all. I also do not like their sharp tips. I hope the tips in this set are not soo sharp. Anyway, any needles you have to try by yourself. My set should come tomorrow and I will try. Yes, the set is expensive but I still feel that is is a good investment into the knitting instruments for me. Hope you will love the set when it comes.
Thank you 🙏 You are saving us money 💰 & bringing us joy with every stitch you make!! Love your videos ❤
Thank you very much for your time and your expertise. Much appreciated.
My pleasure 🙏
Thanks for the review and your attention to detail. Seeing flaws in the tips and the shafts is disappointing. I have a lot of fixed Chiaogoo needles, as well as an interchangeable set of tiny sizes. I’ve been happy with those so far. My favorites are my wood Darn Pretty interchangeables and my Heavy Metal steel set by Dyakcraft in Vermont. They finally replaced their monofilament cables with coated steel cable like the Chiaogoos.
These are sadly too expensive to obtain here in Europe 😓
Very thorough review. That price outrageous though! No way! It’s DEF a quality set (the box, the case and the rest), but seriously no way could/would I pay that much. And that catch on the transition from needle to cable would drive me nuts as well!
yeah, some items really speak for the high quality. And I mean, even the tips are high quality - even if I don't like them personally - I couldn't say no less: they are well crafted.
Thank you so much, Norman, for this thorough and honest review. Seems a little odd that the set is made from two different materials--half wood, half carbon. Couldn't they find a harder wood and make all the the needles from that? That tells me that they really didn't do much beyond fixing the issues knitters brought up. It also makes me wonder how much testing they did before releasing 2.0. I'll stick with my Addis. 👍
i dunno. I gave up trying to send them emails with my questions :(
I absolutely hate swivel cables. I’m very happy with my far less expensive Chiao Goo red lace set in small, because I seldom knit with needles larger than 5mm. For the occasional bulkier project, I knew I would not enjoy stainless steel scraping around, so I either use my Lantern Moon Ebony, or bamboo.
Great review, Thank you and fortunately I brought the first set at a reduced price and had some store credit to lower cost even further! My 2.75 snapped as I joined the cable and I cried! Chiagoo replaced the one needle with a carbon as in new set, after knitting with 1 of each type needle to make a pair I enjoy both for fingering yarn and notice no difference ...swivels cords thats another story!
Hey Norman! Thank you for reviewing these needles. I own the ChiaoGoo standard set and have been almost perfectly satisfied with them. Like you I prefer the sharper point. I like that the needle is fully stainless steel which slides nicely and breakage or scratching is not a concern. And I agree with you on all of the other "trinkets". Anyone who is going to invest in a set like this would likely be more experienced, and already has a preferred scissor, stitch markers, tape measure, a lovely travel tote for WIP, etc. (Ex. When designing a pattern I use an erasable pilot frixion pen to note my counts, and changes remain neat and clear. The pen would be useless to me.) Therefore, imo, such a large case to hold everything is overkill. I agree that it is way overpriced for what it is.
Exactly my thoughts. Well, or maybe the target audience was the chiaogoo fan club(s) 🤷
To me, that price is way out of range! But, I have never used the adjustable sets. I have been knitting for over 45 years, so I have a wide range of needles and would never spend that much on needles. I would rather spend it on the yarn. I also have needles, markers and gauges that were my mother’s and aunt’s. The plastic cables on the aluminum circular needles. can be easily straightened out by putting them in hot water before starting my projects. I made some very versatile and inexpensive markers by cutting thin rings from a plastic straw I had. Thank you for this thorough review. ❤️👍😊👍
Reduced, reuse, recycle! I love that. All of my needles and notions were thrifted or passed down as well. I love the idea of making the stitch markers out of plastic straws. I'm going to take a closer look at my recycling and see what might be useful.
Thank you so much for this review. I bought a lantern moon set last year, and I'm even happier with it now, knowing I didn't settle for second best because of the price. Besides the ridiculous price and the missing 2,5 mm size, the ChiaoGoo set looks a bit masculine to me, like a barber's tool set.
At this point in my knitting journey, I've only knit socks on dpn's and 9in circulars. I can't imagine spending that much on a set. Thanks for your honest opinion.
Excellent review, Norman! I am really trying to wrap my head over the price. It’s something that a non-knitter who doesn’t know any better would give to me, an intermediate knitter as a gift. I think the price is great if you are just getting started with using Chiaogoo cable interconnectors and Swivel 360s, and some people don’t even like Swivels at all. If you add up purchasing all the connectors and cables separately, throw in the leather pouch and $120 US dollars for the needles, then maybe the retail cost would be $250? I’ve already collected so many cables and connectors for my Chiaogoo sets, and I use fixed Lace Tip needles for fair isle and lace knitting, as well as my Hiya Hiyas. I could see if one is starting out it’s a good investment, but it isn’t luxurious enough for me to shell out $375. Also, the Forte comes in only one length? I have smaller hands so using a 5” length is uncomfortable for me. Thanks again for another insightful review.
I paid $330; a little less painful, but am a beginner knitter and now thinking I should return and get Lantern Moon or Lykke. Thoughts?
Yeah 250 USD would be a fairer cost. Tho...the Hiya Hiya Premium sets are "only" 180 and they come with a similar range of accessories and needles. so i dunno.
@@raeleohana8797 if you're a beginner, the set looks like a great foundation, i'd keep it at that price. There's nothing wrong with the needles and Chiaogoo's tips are great. I have a Lykke copper interchangeable set. That to me is fancy but I rarely use it bc nothing beats the memory free Chiaogoo red twist cables, esp if you are a beginner which you have. You can also buy longer red twists cables over time and add them to your set :). I love Swivel 360s. They only become a problem if you are an advanced lace knitter and the super thin yarns can get caught in the joins.
Thanks so much for this review. I love love love my Signature needles, but they are no longer making them, so I will be looking for a comparable replacement at some point (I've stocked up, so I'm all good for now). My must-haves are a flexible swivel cord and the pointiest of pointy tips. The search continues!
lemme know if oyu find something ^^
Another fabulous video, Norman. This was so helpful as I love the regular Ciaogoo needles and the cable that doesn't twist. At the price asked I don't think I would have purchased this set, but it is wonderful to see these and have your review which was helpful learning things about any interchangeable knitting needle set. Thank you. 😊
I have been using Knitters Pride and Lantern Moon but recently tried ChiaoGoo. I loved them, especially for Magic Loop. I have been thinking of switching to ChiaoGoo in general and was planning to buy several more cords to match what I have. I knew about the Forte 1.0 fiasco but figured, surely they fixed all the problems. So, justifying that I would be getting 9 cords, and it was my birthday, (and some FOMO), I ordered the Forte 2.0. They arrive tomorrow, so I will see how it goes. Thanks for your review. I hope I have a different take on the set.
approach them with an open mind. Maybe the things I disliked work very well for your knitting style!
Thank you for another lovely, thorough review :-) Maybe you've heard the (terrible) American expression: "Price it high and watch them buy, price it low and watch them go." I feel this is a case of ChiaoGoo having a very high opinion of their products without actually living up to the price point. I LOVE all of my Lantern Moon needles and cables - even their cable tool is lovely, with its handle made of pretty wood that is so much easier to use than that little wire/pin that comes with most other sets.
Sorry Norman, I wouldn’t be able to use a set like that. I like to keep my Turbo Rockets in the plastic sleeve they come in. I would get so confused which size needle is which. I accidentally lost the packet, even with my glasses, couldn’t read the size on the cable cause print was so small. I really don’t like any needles made in China. I use the scissors I got from Fashion district in Manhattan. I’m constantly having to measure a project so keep my collapsible tape measure I got from yarn store, near my project. I was lucky to find this two sided silk zippered case I got in Chinatown. I put my scissors, needle point needles for fixing of yarn, and stitch holders. I use an Art case I got on sale from Michaels to hold my circular needles. Sad to say all my straight needles I used to use years ago got tossed when house was sold. I forgot to take them with me. Circular needles don’t put a strain on my arms and wrists.
Hey Norman, my lawyer ordered me the Speckled Hen yarn from Purl Soho to make the Sleeve Scarf. Best of all though he got me two size 5 Addi Turbo Rockets 16 inch circular needles. So happy don’t have to use the Chinese needles. So looking forward to the yarn. When Argyle yarn store hand dyes more of there Luminous Brooklyn yarn in Beachcomber, I’m going to make my own version of the tube scarf.
The Forte 2.0 set sells for €429 at my LYS. There was no way I was going to buy it at that price. It only made me research other needle sets. In the end, I went for the Lantern Moon Heirloom. It was the artisan and handcrafted quality that won me over.
Love the review. I’ve seen these advertised this week as limited edition, and a I started to have FOMO. But I already have the full set of Chaiogoo interchangeable, and I bought the Lantern Moon black wood needles a few months back, which I quite like. When I saw the small needles were carbon, I thought ‘why spend $330 for carbon, when you can buy carbon needles separately.’ Hearing your impression tells me that I do not need these. Seriously looking at the Lykke copper set though…cause we love all the toys.
haha..that cyrpa set has been on my list for quite some time as well :P
For that price, I'd like to see dual tips: one needle pointy, one rounded. Also, with the accessories, a chrochet hook would be useful to deal with some cast ons and with repairs.
yeah, a crochet hook, that would been a GREAT addition!
I appreciate your honest review of these needles. You took the time to explain the pros and cons (in your opinion) and I think it will make sense to someone looking to possibly purchase a set. In all honesty, I think this set is WAY overpriced for what the consumer is getting. Thank you for putting out great content!