Favorite Knitting Needles
Ready to buy some new knitting needles? There are some things you’ll want to consider before purchasing a large set of knitting needles. I like to buy a pair in one size to try them out first – whether I’m testing the material or the needle tip. That way I’m not buying an expensive full set without knowing what the needles are like beforehand.
Below, you’ll find my favorite recommendations. If you need a little more information on selecting the right needles for you, scroll down to find out how to narrow down your options.
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Recommended Knitting Needle Brands
There are many knitting needle brands available. I’ve narrowed it down to three popular choices. Each of these brands offers straight and circular needle sets in both wood/bamboo and metal needles.
- Addi (current prices on Amazon) – is a very popular option featuring a wide variety of options for materials and tips. Their interchangeable ‘Click’ system doesn’t use any special tools to change out cords and needle tips.
- Chiaogoo (current prices on Amazon) – is a great alternative to Addi with needles in a variety of materials and their red lace circular cables are ‘memory free’ so they never get twisted.
- Knit Picks (current prices on Knit Picks) – is a fabulous budget-friendly option with a wide range of straight, circular, and double-pointed needles in a variety of materials.
My favorite knitting needles are the full set of Chiaogoo Twist Red Lace 4-inch tip stainless steel interchangeable needle set along with a few extra cords and end stoppers. I can use this one set of needles for almost everything I knit (even small circumferences since I like to use Magic Loop). With the 4-inch tips, I even have the option of creating a 16-inch circular needle that is perfect for knitting hats. The only thing that’s missing from this set is smaller needle sizes for knitting socks or other lace or fingering yarn weight items.
Top Choice: Chiaogoo Interchangeable Needles
- Circular needles are available in both 4-inch and 5-inch needle lengths.
- Thirteen needles ranging in size from US 2 to US 15 – which covers almost all your knitting needs.
- The red lace cables don’t have ‘memory’ so they don’t end up in a coiled mess – they are always straight and ready to go.
- The joins between the needles and the cables are smooth and don’t snag the stitches as they slide across.
- The tips are sharp enough for lace or complicated patterns but won’t split the yarn plies.
- The stainless steel is lightweight, slick, and allows the stitches to slide easily across the shaft.
- Extra cords and end stoppers mean you can change out the tips and have a few works in progress on the go.
- For extra small circumferences, Chiaogoo offers its Mini & Shortie sets as well.
While I use the interchangeable Chiaogoo knitting needles for almost everything, I do have a few other things I keep on hand:
I use Knit Picks Nickel Plated double-pointed needles and Knitter’s Pride (also known as Knit Pro in the UK) Zing double-pointed needles (available at Amazon and Deramores) for small items like dishcloths and swatches (especially when I do teaching demonstrations).
For sock knitting, I alternate between Magic Loop on a fixed Chiaogoo circular needle and Addi Flexiflips (both in size US 1.5 – 2.5mm).
These needles – the Chiaogoo interchangeable set, the Knitter’s Pride Zing double-pointed needle set, and for sock knitting, a Chiaogoo fixed circular needle and Addi Flexiflips are my go-to needles for all of my knitting projects.
Choosing the Right Knitting Needles
While I love slick metal needles with sharp tips and I use circular needles for almost all of my projects (even when I knit flat), you need to consider a few things before choosing the knitting needles that are right for you.
The first thing to consider is how you knit. Do you prefer to knit projects flat and then seam them? Do you love to use circular needles for all your projects? Are you looking for needles that work for small projects like socks? All of these types of projects can use different needles.
Straight or Circular
For all your basic projects your choices are straight needles or circular needles. If you don’t knit in the round and prefer to work garments in pieces and then seam them, you may prefer straight needles (but circular needles used for flat knitting are also an option). If you work a lot of projects in the round, you might want a set of circular needles. The weight of large projects can get quite heavy after a while, and having the project rest on the cable of a circular needle is much easier to manage for many people. If you prefer working all your projects on the same type of needles a set of interchangeable circular needles are your best option.
For small-circumference projects, you’ll also have to make a few choices. If you’re on a budget and want one workhorse option, you can use your interchangeable circulars using the Magic Loop method. Your other knitting needle options include double-pointed needles, short circular needles (with very short tips and a short cable), or flexible double-pointed needles.
Needle Lengths
Needles come in a variety of lengths (even circular needles needle tips have different lengths). Straight needles can range in length from 10-14 inches (or even longer). Double-pointed needles usually come in 6-10-inch lengths. Circular needle cord lengths vary even more -from short 9-inch circulars to as long as 60+ inches. And circular needle tips can be as short as 2-4 inches for smaller circumferences to 5-6 inches for average length tips.
The projects you plan to knit will require a variety of needle lengths so understanding these options is important. This is another reason that a set of interchangeable circular needles can be a great budget-friendly option as you can control the length of the needle from tip-to-tip as well as the needle size (circumference).
Needle Tips
Along with the length of your knitting needles, you’ll also want to consider the tips, which range from short and blunt to long, sharp, and tapered. Sharper tips are a great option for those who tend to knit tightly or for fine yarns and lace projects. Blunt tips are a good option for heavier yarns. For those on a budget, look for a middle of the road needle tip (like Chiaogoo) which is sharp enough to lace but still provides a bit of bluntness so you aren’t constantly splitting your yarn.
Needle Materials
Finally, you’ll want to think about the material your favorite needles are made from. Do you like the slick feel of metal needles or the warmth of bamboo or wood? Metal needles are a great choice if you like smooth needles that allow stitches to slide easily. Bamboo or wood knitting needles are lightweight and flexible with a bit of ‘grabbiness’ that keeps stitches from sliding off the needle. Plastic needles are another lightweight, flexible alternative that isn’t as slick as metal needles but stitches will move more smoothly than they do on wood or bamboo needles. Needle material is a completely personal preference – while I love metal needles I dislike bamboo and wood (I blame my sweaty hands!) and tolerate plastic.
Choosing the Best for You
Once you’ve considered all the options, straight or circular, needle tips and materials, buy a single set and try them out on a project before you splurge on a large set. I love the ‘Try-it’ Sets from Knit Picks which offer two types of needles in one pack. Once you’ve tried a few, you’ll be better informed for choosing a full set that meets your needs. A large set of knitting needles can be an investment so do your homework before settling on a particular brand.