Sometimes the average sizes of knitting needles won’t cut it, especially if you’re trying to knit something with many stitches, like the shawl I knitted below.
Here is a review of the best long straight needles and circular needles with extra long cords.
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Though sometimes hard to find, there are long needles available. It just takes a bit of searching to locate the best knitting needle.
Table Of Contents
- Extra Long Interchangeable Knitting Needles
- Fashoknit Interchangeable Needle Set
- Extra Long Circular Knitting Needles
- addi Turbo Circulars – 40.”
- Addi Circular Knitting Needles 200cm Long
- Extra Long Double Pointed Needles
- PONY Double Point Knitting Needles – 20cm
- Double Pointed Bamboo Knitting Needles Set – 10″
- Extra Long Straight Knitting Needles
- Boye Knitting Needles – 14 Inches
- CLOVER Takumi Knitting Needles
- Curtzy 14 Inch Bamboo Knitting Needles Set
- Single Point Giant Knitting Needles – 50cm Long
- Your Questions Answered
Extra Long Interchangeable Needles
Fashoknit Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set
Made by a small business based in the US, Fashoknit’s interchangeable set comprises several types of wood and bamboo. It has a selection of longer cords than usually included in these kinds of products.
Features
- Sizes Included – 3.50mm, 4mm, 4.50mm, 5mm, 5.50mm, 6mm, 6.50mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm
- Cord Lengths Included – x2 60 cm, x2 80cm & x2 100 cm
- Needle Tips Are 5″ Long.
- Notions Included – 8 Stoppers & 4 Pins
- Made From – A mixture of Ebony, Rosewood, Steam Beech Wood & Bamboo
Pros
- Fast shipping
- Smooth, snagless connections
- Made of woods and bamboo that are smooth and warm to the touch
- Well made
Cons
- Smaller sizes aren’t available.
Want the best yarn for baby blankets? Discover the contenders with my guide.
Extra Long Circular Needles
addi Turbo Circulars – 40.”
The quality addi turbo plated circular needles you can expect, but with longer cords for bigger projects.
Features
- Sizes Available – US 000 (1.50mm), 0 (2.00mm), 01 (2.50mm), 02 (3.00mm), 2.25mm, 2.75mm, 3 (3.25mm), 3.75, 4 (3.50mm), 5, 6 (4.00mm), 7 (4.50mm), 8 (5.00mm), 9 (5.50mm), 10 (6.00mm), 10.5 (6.50mm), 10.75 (7.00mm), 11 (8.00mm), 13 (9.00mm), 15 (11.00mm), 17 (12.00mm), 19 (15.00mm), 36 (20.00mm), 50 (25.00mm)
- Cord Lengths Available – 40″ (100cm)
- Needle Tips Are 5″ Long.
- Made From – Hollow Brass & Plastic for the cords
Pros
- Smooth
- Made in Germany
- Excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail
- Made of quality materials
- Snagless joins
Cons
- Makes a clicking sound when you use them, which might be annoying for some people
- Not recommended for those with brass sensitivities.
Addi Circular Knitting Needles 200cm Long
Though these don’t have turbo plated tips, they come with the quality you can expect from Addi. Plus super long cords in a wide variety of sizes.
Features
- Sizes Available – The availability is subject to change. Check the listing for more information.
- Cord Lengths Available – 200cm Only
- Needle Tips Are 5″ Long.
- Made From – Brass Tips and gold plastic cords
Pros
- Smooth
- Snagless joins
- Extra-long cord for a variety of projects
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Only available for purchase in the US
Extra Long Double Pointed Needles
PONY Double Point Knitting Needles – 8 inches/ 20cm
Made by the company Pony, based in India, these are made from locally sourced materials.
Features
- Needle Sizes Available – 3.5mm & 4.00mm
- Total Needle Length – 8 inches/ 20cm
- Comes In A Pack Of 5
- Made From – Aluminium
Pros
- Good customer service
- Durable
- Smooth
- Lightweight
- Fast shipping
Cons
- Limited sizing available
- Needles are quite slippery
Double Pointed Bamboo Knitting Needles Set – 10″
A complete set of double pointed needles made of bamboo available in various lengths, including 10″ long.
Features
- Needle Sizes Included – US 0-15
- Total Needle Length – 5″, 6″, 7″, 8″ and 10″
- Comes In A Pack Of 5 Of Each Size
- Made From – Bamboo
Pros
- Smooth
- Slightly grippy, so the stitches don’t slide off accidentally
- Durable
- Slightly flexible
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Shipping can be expensive if you’re outside the US.
Extra Long Straight Knitting Needles
KnitPro Symfonie 16 in/40cm Straight Knitting Needles
Made from KnitPro’s colourful Symfonie wood, dyed compressed Birch, which is lightweight yet exceptionally strong and durable.
Available in 15 sizes from 3mm – 12mm
16in (40cm) long Albizia Knitting Needles (East Indian Walnut)
These 16 inch (40cm) long straight wooden needles are available in the following sizes:
3.5mm (US 4), 3.75mm (US 5), 4mm (US 6), 4.5mm (US 7), 5mm (US 8), 5.5mm (US 9), 6mm (US 10), 6.5mm (US 10.5), 7mm (US 10.75), 7.5mm (10.875), 8mm (US 11), 9mm (US 13)
Boye Knitting Needles – 14 Inches
Inexpensive and a no-frills option for a beginner knitter, Boye products are a good choice for economic needles.
Features
- Needle Sizes Available – This listing is only US 15, but more sizes are available in different listings
- Total Needle Length – 14″
- Made From – Aluminum
Pros
- They’re hollow, so very lightweight
- Smooth
- Excellent generic needles
Cons
- Some sizes will be hard to find in this length.
CLOVER Takumi Knitting Needles
Smooth needles made of bamboo, made in Japan from locally sourced, strong bamboo. These are smooth, slightly grippy, and have a lovely polished finish.
Features
- Needle Sizes Available – US 0-15
- Total Needle Length – 14″
- Made From – Bamboo
Pros
- Smooth
- Polished finish
- Stitches glide along easily
Cons
- Some sizes are subject to availability.
Curtzy 13.5 Inch Bamboo Knitting Needles Set
A set of 18 pairs of smooth, lightweight needles made of bamboo. With this collection at one affordable price, you’ll have the right needle for any project.
Features
- Needle Sizes – 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 10, 10.5, 7mm, 7.5m, 11, 13, 15 & 17
Pros
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Great value
Cons
- Some found they weren’t of super good quality
Single Point Giant Knitting Needles – 50cm Long
Perfect for chunky knits like blankets and household decor, these handmade quality needles suitable for extreme knitting.
Features
- Needle Sizes Available – 40mm, 50mm & 60mm
- Total Needle Length – 50cm
- Made From – Wood
Pros
- Fast delivery
- Handmade with excellent craftsmanship
- Made with sustainably sourced wood
- Lightweight
- Comfortable to use
Cons
- Expensive
Your Questions Answered
How Long Are Knitting Needles?
Here is a list of how long knitting needles are, depending on the type.
- Straight Needles – 9, 10, 12, 14″, 16″
- Circular Needles – Needle Tips – 3, 3.5, 4 & 5″ – Cords -9, 16, 24, 32, 40″, 60″, 80″
- Double Pointed Needles – 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 12″
How Long Should My Knitting Needles Be?
How long your knitting needles should be depends on the size of the project. Look at the pattern to see what it recommends.
Generally, a 10 inch long straight needle is a good starting point for most projects for beginners.
How Long Should My Circular Knitting Needles Be?
How long your circular knitting needles should be depends on how many stitches you need to have on the cable.
Too short a cable could mean you can’t get all the stitches on.
When you are knitting in the round, have the right length in a circular needle is very important. A needle length too long means the end stitch and the beginning stitch can’t be joined without over stretching the stitches.
Refer to the pattern you’re using for guidance.
What Are The Longest Knitting Needles?
From my research, it appears the longest knitting needles are 19 inches/50cm long for straight needles.
The longest length in a circular knitting needle is 80 inches/200cm.
Hopefully, this post helped you find the best extra long knitting needles. Though sometimes hard to find, if you’re knitting a large project, spending a bit of time looking for the right length makes a real difference.
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Hi Jodie…is it possible to buy straight single point needles size 3.5mm longer than 40in?? Hate working with circular needles!!! Granny Helen
Hi Helen. Thanks for getting in touch. You’ve written 40 inch length. I’m checking, did you mean longer than 14 inches in a size 3.5mm?
I’ve done a quick search for 3.5mm in 16 inch Straight needles but they only seem to be the larger mm sizes. If I find anything, I will let you know.
Cheers Jodie
Longest straight needle size 3.5mm??
I’m disappointed. When I saw “Extra Long [Straight] Knitting Needles” I thought you were going to include information about truly extra long needles. 14 inch is a standard size. I want really long needles for knitting afghans but not the ridiculously fat ones, which are all I can find. I am knitting an afghan, not a fishing net. All I can find is a set of 6, which does include the 40CM (when did knitting all convert to metric?). I was hoping to find just the size 13s that I need. Sigh.
Hi Flo. It seems extra long knitting needles in the length and size you want is proving difficult. Very frustrating to be sure. I wonder if it might be an idea to get in touch with a maker on Etsy for example who works with wood and see if you could have needles you desire custom made? If I am able to find anything in 16 inches in size 13 I will let you know. Cheers Jodie
Thanks. I did find some on Etsy, made in Argentina, that are 50mm (not cm as my earlier note incorrectly stated) which is even longer than I asked about. The needles are reasonable–about $15 a pair, but shipping is $6.50. I may still buy them just for the pleasure of not having to deal with circular needles (which come undone when the afghan gets really heavy).
Hi Flo. That’s great to hear. Would you please share the link on Etsy as I am sure it would help other readers. Cheers Jodie
Can you please tell me where you got your extra long knitting needles from.im finding it hard searching for them
Hi Jodi. I love knitting socks but I knit the European way with four needles and long. The most comfortable length would be 35 cm but I can’t find any. Can you help me?
Hi Catharina. Thanks for getting in touch. I have done a quick search for double pointed needles that are 35cm/13 inches and I haven’t found any. I wonder if you could get some custom made through a maker on Etsy? The Little Knitting Co on Etsy has DPNs in 10 inch lengths. https://knitlikegranny.com/recommends/double-pointed-needles-10-inch/
It could be worth asking them if they do custom orders and also have a hunt on Etsy. Cheers Jodie
I am looking for 50cm STRAIGHT, not horrible circular, needles, thinner than 3.5 mm.
Do they exist?
Hi Glenys. I have not found 50cm straights in small diameters. If I do I will be sure to get in touch. Cheers Jodie