Casein Knitting Needles are made from a milk protein used in cheese making. Often a milk byproduct, so it’s an ecologically friendly plastic material to make knit needles out of.
They have a pearly, tortoiseshell-like coloration and texture, but they’re smooth and lightweight like plastic.
Unfortunately not widely available these days, and quite hard to find for purchase.
Table Of Contents
- Benefits Of Casein Knitting Needles
- Disadvantages Of Casein Knitting Needles
- Swallow Casein Knitting Needles
- Vintage Knitting Needles Collection Including Straight Casein Knitting Needles
- Casein Circular Knitting Needles
- Your Questions Answered
Benefits Of Casein Knitting Needles
- Biodegradable
- Environmentally friendly
- Using up a material that would otherwise go to waste
- Doesn’t transfer heat, so it doesn’t make your yarn static and fluffy
- It also doesn’t heat up
- Comfortable to use and suitable for people with carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and hand pain or strain
- Warms to the touch
- Lightweight
- Slightly flexible but durable
- Smooth surface makes sure the yarn doesn’t snag
- Not very grippy, but the stitches won’t accidentally slide off the needle
- Good for faster knitting
Disadvantages Of Casein Knitting Needles
- Hard to find
- The company who made them seems to have discontinued manufacturing
- The tips are almost always short and blunt, so not suitable for finer yarns or intricate designs
- Slightly pricey, if you can find them
Swallow Casein Knitting Needles
This was an Australian company that sold casein needles made of milk protein in the early 2000s, which now seems to have discontinued. You can visit their website for more information here.
Vintage Knitting Needles Collection Including Straight Casein Knitting Needles
Available in this listing is a pack of about six pairs of vintage straight knitting needles from the 1950s, all in excellent condition.
Though they’re not all made of casein, about two pairs included are made of faux tortoiseshell, which is another name for casein.
(Sizing is UK Sizing.)
This pack includes –
- Two pairs of Patons Faux tortoiseshell (1 pair 12s, and one pair is much thinner)
- One pair of thick yellow Beehives
- One pair of Red Patons 8 beehives
- One pair of blue INOX 3s
- One pair of JMRA green 4s
There are two other options available.
The second one includes –
- Two pairs of Faux tortoiseshell (Patons 10 and 3.25mm)
- One pair of unused Red gauge 10 with yellow tops
- Two thick pairs (1 pair Pink and one pair of Yellow JMRA 10)
- One pair of Blue JMRA 5.5.
The third one includes –
- Two pairs of Faux tortoiseshell (Patons 10 and 9)
- One pair of thick Red Beehives
- One pair of Pink
- One pair of Green beehives)
- One pair of unused Patons No. 13
Casein Circular Knitting Needles
Unfortunately, the only needles made of Casein I could find available online were straight needles. No circular needles were ever made as far as I can see.
I will update this section if and when I find something. If you have any information about these needles for knitting, let me know down in the comments section.
Your Questions Answered
Where To Buy Casein Knitting Needles?
It seems the only place would be vintage stores or very rarely in local yarn stores. The only ones I could find online were vintage knitting needles sold in a pack, including a few faux tortoiseshell ones made of casein.
How To Care For Casein Knitting Needles
Here is a list of recommendations for how to care for casein knitting needles.
- Before using them, soak them in water for no longer than 30 seconds, and wipe them dry.
- When not using the knitting needles, regardless of whether you’re using them for a project, keep them in a dry, clean, sealed plastic bag. If not using them for a work in progress, store them in the plastic sleeve they came in.
- Keep the needles away from heat, and store in a cool, dry place.
It’s a shame these needles aren’t widely available anymore. They seemed such an excellent tool and useful for a variety of projects, not to mention being lovely to knit with.
If you know of where you could buy these needles online or in a physical store, please comment below.
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