10 Best Knitting Needles UK 2024
Knitting is a relaxing way to spend your time, and yields one-of-a-kind accessories, baby blankets, and more. When buying your own needles you need to know about the different sizes, types and materials, which is where we step in! From straight to circular or interchangeable and bamboo to plastic, we've got all the advice you need in our guide.
Perhaps you're after the best pair for arthritic hands, or maybe you'd like a set of 8 with a matching case – either way, we're sure you'll love browsing through our ten top-rated knitting needles. Our selection ranges from affordable picks for beginners to professional-grade brands like Pony and KnitPro, all of which are available to buy on Amazon, eBay, or John Lewis.
Quick List - Top Knitting Needles
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How to Choose Knitting Needles in the UK - Buying Guide
To get you started on buying your own pair of needles, take a look at our simple buying guide whilst considering your knitting needs. We'll cover material, size, and style, and explain which are best for which projects, so stay tuned!
Knitting Needles Come in Different Materials
While the type of material that you choose mainly comes down to your own preference, there are a few things you should know to help you decide, such as how each feels and knits, and which experience level they're suitable for.
Wooden Knitting Needles Are Lightweight and Supportive
The most common types of wood used in the making of needles are bamboo and birch wood. Though bamboo tends to be a more expensive option due to its higher quality, both varieties are known for being lightweight and warm in the hands, making them well-suited to those with arthritis.
Wooden knitting needles also have a matte texture and provide a strong grip whilst being soft to the touch, and overall, they offer support, a smooth finish, and an even knitting speed.
Plastic Knitting Needles Are an Affordable Beginners Pick
Accessible, affordable, and great for beginners, plastic knitting needles are the way to go if you're a knitting newbie. They're another lightweight needle material that's kind to aching hands, and are the best option to have as your go-to pair.
In comparison to the other types of knitting needles, you'll also be able to use plastic knitting needles for more alternative knitting styles or projects, such as rope and plastic bags.
Metal Knitting Needles Are Sharp and Suit Detailed Projects
Mostly made of aluminium or stainless steel, metal knitting needles are heavier and more durable than wood and plastic. In addition, they also have a smoother surface for an easy glide while casting on and off with your wool, and result in a faster knit speed.
As they're sharper, metal needles are useful if you're knitting with a wool that can easily catch on a rough surface, such as finer yarns like lace or fluffy wools like mohair.
Plus, they also provide the notorious 'clicking' sound which can be quite relaxing while you knit!
What's Your Project? Different Styles Suit Different Knits
Whilst the pattern or the online tutorial you've chosen to get stuck into should inform you which style of needle is best, it's worth getting to know their attributes and why you may pick one over the other.
For General Use and Flat Pieces, Go for Straight or Double Pointed Needles
Straight knitting needles are best for general use and projects where there is little need for any excessive bulk on the needle whilst you're working, and can only be used for flat pieces when the project is worked in rows.
Plus, if you're working on small, straight pieces like scarves, you can use straight needles to create pieces that can be sewn together and 'pieced'.
Meanwhile, double pointed needles can be used for knitting without a seam, which could be anything from hats to baby socks. They are similar to straight needles, except they have a sharp point on either end of the needle so that you can work with both sides.
Interchangeable Needles Are Trickier to Handle, But Can Be Adapted to Each Project
If you're an avid knitter, you'll love interchangeable knitting needles, which are essentially a combination of short and long needle tips that are connected to a range of different sized cords.
Using a twist and screw mechanism, you can change the style of the needle and cord to suit your project – your pattern should tell you which lengths to use. They are suited to both knitting in the round (knitting items without a seam) and flat pieces.
While interchangeable needles offer a wide variation in technique, they can be tricky to handle at first, so we would recommend starting off with straight or double sided needles.
Match the Needle Size to the Wool You Plan to Use
The size of the needle depends on the weight (or 'ply') of the yarn that you'll be using for whatever you plan to knit. For example, if you use a 2-3 ply yarn, you should use a 2.75 mm - 3.25 mm needle. Or, if you're using double knit yarn, you'd find a 4 mm needle most practical.
If you're unsure, you can check the label of the wool you have as the appropriate needle size should be stated.
It's also important to consider the length of the knitting needle. Longer needles are generally better for beginners as they're easier to handle, so if you're new to knitting, aim for a needle no shorter than 20 cm.
Sets Offer More Variety and Save You Money
To make sure you get the best value for money when buying your needles, consider a needle set, which often comes with additional cases, bags, or other handy knitting tools. Sets can offer more variety in size, too, which is always useful.
However, for serious knitters, it may be worthwhile investing your whole budget on an individual, professional-grade pair of needles. If this is the case, we have several recommendations on our list that will last the years, and you can always grab a cheaper set as back up!
Top 10 Best Knitting Needles in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yeestone Knitting Needle Set | | The Strongest and Most Versatile Stainless Steel Needles | |
2 | Curtzy Bamboo Knitting Needle Set | | Silky-Soft Bamboo Needles in a Value Pack | |
3 | Pony Single Pointed Knitting Needle｜P31605 | | Classic Aluminium Needles for Scarves and Blankets | |
4 | LIHAO Bamboo Knitting Needles Set | | A Light Set Full of Variety | |
5 | Bonnin Aluminium Single Pointed Knitting Needle | | Lengthy Aluminium Needles for Everyday Knits | |
6 | KnitPro Symfonie Wood Interchangeable Needle Deluxe Set | | The Ultimate Set for Avid Knitters | |
7 | KnitPro Symfonie Interchangeable Knitting Needles | | Colourful and Strong Professional Needles | |
8 | KnitPro Zing: Knitting Pins｜KP47405 | | A Deluxe Set of Aluminium Needles | |
9 | Coopay Short Knitting Needles Set | | Colourful Knitting Needles With a Sweet Matching Bag | |
10 | Rapide Knitting Needle Set | | Simple and Ideal for Beginners |
The Strongest and Most Versatile Stainless Steel Needles
The pack contains 22 individual needles, making 11 pairs of sturdy, long-lasting steel, as well as plenty of other handy notions such as a measuring tape, needles, and pins. For its versatility and reliability, it sails to our top spot!
Silky-Soft Bamboo Needles in a Value Pack
With this set, you're gifted with 16 pairs of single pointed knitting needles in all different sizes, big, medium, and small. Though the design is fuss-free, the size of the needle is permanently marked on the side of each item, which makes them easy to spot in knitting bags and workshops.
The soft-touch bamboo is also great for keeping grip of your stitches, and is easy on arthritic hands. With a total of 32 knitting needles for under £15, this is possibly the best value for money you'll see on this list!
Classic Aluminium Needles for Scarves and Blankets
Great value and simple yet efficient, these knitting needles by Pony are a classic go-to product for knitters everywhere. They're the perfect width and length for classic projects such as scarves or blankets, and they're made from solid aluminium for a sturdy hold.
With their sharp pointed ends and labelled stoppers at the top to prevent a slip in stitches, you can't go wrong with a pair (or two, or three) of these needles!
LIHAOBamboo Knitting Needles Set
A Light Set Full of Variety
Made from bleached bamboo, these smooth knitting needles are available in sizes 2 mm to 10 mm, but the best part is that they're all in the same pack! They have a straight design with a rounded top to ensure that the wool doesn't slip off while you knit.
We love the variety in this set and it's clear that it contains every size you need for multiple projects, which is why we would recommend it to any knitting fan, particularly those who suffer from aching hands after lengthy knit sessions.
Lengthy Aluminium Needles for Everyday Knits
Made from solid aluminium which is lightweight and flexible in comparison to other metals, they're also long in length and easy to use, which makes them one of the best options for those just getting to grips with the craft.
KnitProSymfonie Wood Interchangeable Needle Deluxe Set
The Ultimate Set for Avid Knitters
This deluxe set of interchangeable knitting needles is a great product for knitting experts. Making sure that you have everything you could need, this set contains 8 pairs of needles, 8 end caps, 4 cable keys, 1 set of cable connectors, and a cable case for when they're not in use.
While not as appropriate for beginners, for interchangeable knitting, this is the best set that you can get - and for such an affordable price, too!
Colourful and Strong Professional Needles
In addition to the loveable multicoloured design, this product also features a clear vinyl case for extra protection. Although the needles don't come with any cord, they're fairly-priced and you can always buy your preferred length separately!
KnitProZing: Knitting Pins ｜ KP47405
A Deluxe Set of Aluminium Needles
This premium selection of Knit Pro knitting needles are made from a sturdy but lightweight aluminium that can withstand heavy wools, and you have 8 different sizes to choose from.
We love the simple see-through case that these needles come with as it really rounds off the look and feel of the product, however, the price could be a little too steep for newbies.
CoopayShort Knitting Needles Set
Colourful Knitting Needles With a Sweet Matching Bag
They're ideally suited to flat projects due their simple straight design, and while the plastic can be more flexible than necessary, they're another set that are affordable and beginner-friendly.
Simple and Ideal for Beginners
This 8 piece set of knitting needles is an ideal starter pack for beginners, with a range of different sized needles to get you started with. They cost under £5 which is a great deal for the quantity in the pack, and it's not a big spend for new knitters.
Each needle is approximately 25 cm long and the widths vary from 4, 5, 6, and 8 mm. We will note that the plastic is fairly thin in comparison to others, though, which may be an issue if you're knitting with heavy wool.
Get Your Craft On!
Crafting is a satisfying way to get creative, indulge in some me-time (or family time!), and produce some masterpieces of your very own. If reading this article has ignited your creative spark, why not check out some of our other recommendations?
Summary
Straight or interchangeable, steel or bamboo, this list of knitting needles had them all. We hope that you found this buying guide useful and that you're ready to buy your own pair (or 11 pairs!) of knitting needles.
Author: Annie Speight
Top 5 Knitting Needles
No. 1: Yeestone｜Knitting Needle Set
No. 2: Curtzy｜Bamboo Knitting Needle Set
No. 3: Pony｜Single Pointed Knitting Needle｜P31605
No. 4: LIHAO｜Bamboo Knitting Needles Set
No. 5: Bonnin｜Aluminium Single Pointed Knitting Needle
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