They’re a discontinued brand popular in the 1960s, 1970s & 1980s. These needles survived the decades! Here’s a guide to vintage Bernat aero knitting needles.
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Friends and family may have knitted with these vintage best knitting needles!
I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on Aug 6, 2024.
Table Of Contents
Editor’s note: Online availability of Aero Knitting Needles is now rare.
Best Aero Bernat Knitting Needles
The knitting needles Aero made were straights, circulars, and double points. They didn’t sell interchangeable knitting needles or a needle set.
Aero Straight Needles
They’re smooth and an ideal length for many projects. Vintage stock from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. They’re in pristine condition, and are comparable in quality to other top knitting needle brands.
Note: The seller has other Aero needles in her store.
Features
- Sizes Available – Needle Size 2mm – 12mm (See my size conversion chart here for what they’d be in US sizing.)
- Needle Length – 35cm
- Made From – Smooth aluminum, except the larger sizes, which are lightweight plastic.
Pros
- These single point needles come in a wide variety of sizes
- These Aero Bernat tools are in excellent condition
- Original aero needle packaging
- Smooth
- Lightweight
- Easy to knit with
- The stitches slide along
- Fast shipping
Cons
- Not for beginner knitters, as the stitches slide too easily
- Not for delicate yarns, as the tips aren’t sharp
- Makes a clicking sound
Aero Circular Needle
Circular knitting needles were known as Circular Twin-Pins. The join is snagless, and the points are tapered, making it easier to get into the stitches.
Features
- Sizes – US 2 – 15, Metric 2.75 – 10mm
- Cord Lengths – 32″ (80cm)
- Needle Tips Are 5″
- Made From – Smooth aluminum, except the larger sizes, which are lightweight plastic.
Pros
- The aero circular needle has a range of sizes
- Excellent condition
- Original packaging
- Free shipping within the US
- Comfortable to use
- Lightweight
- Great for speed knitters
Cons
- Some may not like the clicking sound
- Slippery
- The tips aren’t sharp, so not for thinner yarns
Aero Double Pointed Needles
Despite being plastic, these are durable and inflexible. They’re smooth and ideal for smaller projects like baby clothes, baby hats, regular hats, and sweater sleeves.
Features
- Needle Sizes – US 00-11, Metric 1.75 – 7.5mm
- Needle Length – 9″
- Pack Of 4 (Single Needles, Not Pairs)
- Made From – Lightweight gray plastic
Pros
- Great for fast knitting
- Durable and inflexible
- Affordable
- Smooth
- Lightweight
Cons
- Some may not like the feel
FAQs About Aero Needles
Where Are Aero Needles Made?
Aero needles were made in England by the Bernat Aero company.
What Are Aero Needles Made Of?
Most aero needles are smooth, aircraft-quality anodized aluminum. However, the larger sizes are plastic. They didn’t make them using bamboo.
Conclusion
Smooth, quality knitting needles guaranteed to last years. You’ll find one to suit your needs.
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I found what may be an Aero knitting needle point protector, but I am not sure. It is a circle on a short stump with a slot in it. It is made of some rubber type substance and on one side says AERO and the other made in England. Could it be a point protector?
Thanks.
Hi Fran. What an interesting find. From what you describe it may indeed be a point protector. I’ve done a quick search for what you’ve described but only aero knitting needle images are listed.
As a person that worked for Aero Needles in Redditch England
Yes you have a point protector
Hello there Steve. Thanks for sharing your expert knowledge and confirming that it’s a point protector. 🙂 Cheers Jodie
I just bought something at a thrift shop and want to know what it is. It’s 5 inches long, has a plastic piece on each end. One end says AERO on one side and ENGLAND on the other side. The other end has an arrow on each side. There is a gray piece and a spring between the two ends if you pull on the ends, the arrow end comes off the gray piece looks like a tiny knitting needle and the spring keeps the 2 ends together. What do I have??
You have a stitch holder. The ‘grey piece’ is to hold the stitches, the plastic pieces on each end connected by a spring prevent the held stitches from falling off the holder.
Hi it’s a spring stitch holder.Slip stitches on the needle then replace the spring end back on
Hello, I’ve recently purchased some 5.5mm aero twin pins. I think they’re plastic but the lady I’ve bought them from insists that they are aluminium. They don’t feel like aluminium to me at all. Could anyone please help. I’ve looked for a guide for materials and sizes but can’t find anything.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Lindsay
Hi Lindsay. Thanks for getting in touch. From my research 5.5mm would more than likely be plastic as the seller in this listing points out. https://knitlikegranny.com/recommends/aero-circular-knitting-needles/ A little difficult if the lady you’ve bought them from insists they are aluminium. Do you have an option to return them if you are not happy with them?
Hi me again
They are more than likely plastic but on the very odd occasion they did small batches of aluminium
Not much help really for your inquiry.If the flex is a different colour to the needle parts then aluminium if the needles are the same colour as the flex (grey)they are plastic
Thanks so much Steve for taking the time to try and help. It is much appreciated. Cheers Jodie
I have a red wallet with a full set of Aero needles in and it is beginning to split. Are the holders still available anywhere? – the only ones I see advertised are full of needles.
Thanks for getting in touch Janice. Perhaps one of my readers would know. If I hear anything I will be back in touch. Cheer Jodie
I don’t think they make them anymore
Aero needles owned the company that made them then sold the company to Arrow Display in Redditch England
Ok, I bought a bag from a thrift shop as well, and in it is 2 sizes of… something…they are shaped like croquet wickets, like a squared arch. It says “Aero” and they are sized “1.5” and “2.5” and also say “England” on the other side. Any ideas???
I’ve just found one of these when sorting through my mum’s things. Would love to know what they were used for.
Not a lot of help but I can remember seeing them in the packing department they also had a small flat plate that slipped on to the two straight parts.But sorry I have no idea what they were used for
I’ve finally found out what they are. They are hairpin lace crochet tools. You can find a demo on YouTube!
That’s great Karen! Thanks for letting us know.
I have been knitting for nearly 60 years and in my opinion Aero needles are the best. What a loss that they are no longer made. I learnt to knit using them and wool does not flow on any modern needles that I have had the misfortune to use. The look on a shopkeepers face recently when I returned a pair of ‘modern’ needles to the shop as they did work! If I need new needles now I buy them from charity shops as that is the only place I can find decent Aero needles for sale.
Thanks for sharing your experience of Aero Needles Anne. Good to know you’ve had success finding them in charity shops.
Yes, I love them too. I have been knitting for 51 years. What I like best and miss greatly is that the Aero needles are longer then the US and now also Euro needles.
I have found an aero product none can tell me what it is……It is about six inches in length with plastic stoppers at both ends one marked with an arrow. One needle thin lying along side a piece of elasticated metal also with plastic moulded into each end with the needle so it looks like two 6 inch needles but one steel the other wire both ends in plastic together. Any ideas
Hi Marily. I believe this might be a stitch holder. You remove the end with the arrow, place the live stitches on the needle and then replace the end to keep the stitches in place.
Hi I have aero knitting needles with the number 4 on one side and Aero England on the other. Does that mean they’re 4mm needles? If not, what size in mm are they?
Hi Rowena. I’ve done some research to see what size the number 4 is for the vintage Aero Knitting Needles. I found a listing on Etsy for an Aero Needle Gauge and it showed that the Number 4 is a 6.5mm needle. Here’s what I found https://knitlikegranny.com/recommends/aero-needle-gauge/ Another thing you can do for an estimate is to place your needle on a ruler and see how many mm it measures from one side to the other. Cheers Jodie
Found a set of needles where one has a hook. Can you tell me what this is and how I can use it? I love and prefer Aero to other brands by far.
Hi Sharon. I’ve sent you an email asking if you would please send me a photo of the one with the hook so I can help you further. Cheers Jodie
Sorry, I thought I sent it will do right now.
It is a hook for “tricot” or “Tunisian crochet” work.
Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Hi Sharon
Thanks for sending me through your pics via email. Steve has again been a great help and confirmed that the hook is an Afghan hook used for Tunisian crochet. The other is a single point knitting needle but they weren’t sold as a set. Cheers Jodie
Sorry, I thought I sent it will do right now.