Rosewood is a common name for several different hardwoods, predominately from Asia. Now considered an endangered species as most natural occurrences of this type of wood have been overused.
Many knitting needles of this material aren’t being produced.
However, stocks from before the halt in manufacturing are still available.
A dense hardwood with high tensile strength beautiful rich wood grains, they look as beautiful as they are functional.
Table Of Contents
- Pros And Cons Of Rosewood Knitting Needles
- The Best Rosewood Needles
- Lantern Moon Rosewood Knitting Needles
- Rosewood Interchangeable Needles
- Hey Trend ™ Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set
- Short Tips 3.5″ Rosewood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set
- Rosewood Double Pointed Knitting Needles
- 7″ (18cm) DPNs
- Rosewood Single Point Needles
- Nagina Single Point Rosewood Knitting Needles
- Your Questions Answered
Pros And Cons Of Rosewood Knitting Needles
Pros
- Durable
- Smooth
- Warm to the touch
- High tensile strength
- Comes in a variety of lovely colors
- Beautiful texture and wood grain variation
Cons
- Hard to find
- Not environmentally sustainable
- Many companies have stopped manufacturing needles out of this wood to adhere to trade laws
- Expensive
The Best Rosewood Needles
Lantern Moon Rosewood Knitting Needles
Lantern Moon Destiny 40″ Rosewood Circular Needles
Created by the company Latern Moon, this was a fair trade and ethical manufacturer that worked with local artisans and supported local communities where their needles were produced.
The company disbanded in 2018, though Lantern Moon needles are still available in some places online and in craft and yarn stores.
Features
- Sizes Available – US 10.5 (Stocks subject to availability)
- Cord Lengths Available – Only 32″
- Needle Tips Are 4″ Long
Pros
- Needles swivel at the join to avoid kinks
- Flexible, memory free cables
- Smooth, yarn slides along easily
- Warm to the touch
Cons
- Expensive
- Limited sizing available
Here you will get information on where to find the best yarn store.
Rosewood Interchangeable Needles
Hey Trend ™ Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set
An Indian company makes it with locally sourced materials and sustainable practices.
Note: This set is also available in Ebony.
Features
- Sizes Included – 3.5mm (US #4), 3.75mm (US #5), 4.0mm (US #6), 4.5mm (US #7), 5.0mm (US #8), 5.5mm (US #9), 6.0mm (US #10), 6.5mm (US #10.5), 8.0mm (US #11) & 9.0mm (US #13)
- Cord Lengths Included – 60cm (24″), 80cm (32″), 100cm (40″) & 120cm (40″)
- Needle Tips Are 5″ Long
- Notions Included – End stoppers and cable connectors.
Pros
- Includes a good range of sizes
- Smooth and warm to the touch
- Excellent customer service
- Fast shipping
Cons
- No instructions are included on how to use the connection system
- Not suitable for speed knitters as the nature of the wood may slow you down
Short Tips 3.5″ Rosewood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set
For those who prefer a set with shorter tips but made with rosewood, this rosewood knitting needle set is a perfect choice.
Note: Also available in Ebony and Olive Wood
Features
- Sizes Included – 3.5mm (US #4), 3.75mm (US #5), 4.0mm (US #6), 4.5mm (US #7), 5.0mm (US #8), 5.5mm (US #9), 6.0mm (US #10), 6.5mm (US #10.5), 8.0mm (US #11) & 9.0mm (US #13)
- Cord Lengths Included – 1×40 cm, 1×50 cm, 1×60 cm & 1×80 cm
- Needle Tips Are 3.5″ Long
- Notions Included – Cable connectors, end stoppers, and case
Pros
- Handmade by artisans and craftspeople in India
- Quality craftsmanship and
- Prompt shipping
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Smaller sizes aren’t included.
Rosewood Double Pointed Knitting Needles
7″ (18cm) Rosewood DPNs
Made in India by local craftspeople for this company, The Little Knitting Company, a small business based in the UK.
Features
- Needle Sizes Available – 3.25mm to 10mm (But the stock is subject to availability)
- Total Needle Length – 7″ (18cm)
- Comes In A Pack Of 5
Pros
- Reasonable pricing
- Smooth
- Durable and slightly flexible
Cons
- Not many sizes available
Rosewood Single Point Needles
Nagina Single Point Rosewood Knitting Needles
Made by Nagina International, these are smooth and excellently crafted to make knitting much more comfortable.
Features
- Needle Size Available – US 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 35
- Total Needle Length – 14″
Pros
- Needle tips are designed not to split the yarn
- Smooth
- Just the right amount of grip
- Yarn doesn’t snag
- Comfortable to use
Cons
- Some found the tips weren’t a nice shape
Your Questions Answered
Where To Buy Rosewood Knitting Needles Online
You can buy them online on eCommerce stores such as Amazon and Etsy, and from yarn stores and yarn companies. However, as stocks are no longer being made, the needles are subject to availability.
Rosewood Knitting Needles How To Care
The same tips and suggestions for caring for wood needles apply to rosewood needles. Use a special wax to keep them polished, clean them with beeswax and a soft cloth regularly.
How Do I Restore My Rosewood Knitting Needles
Cleaning, lightly sanding and polishing them would a good start. If all else fails, you can take them to a woodworker and see if they can help you!
Hopefully, this post helped you discover the best rosewood knitting needles available. Smooth, with a beautiful texture that warms to the touch and available in a wide variety of lovely wood grains.
I’d love to hear any experiences you have of these needles. Drop me a note below in the comments section.
Hi Jodie!
Just wanted to update you on the Zeshane listings. I looked everywhere, and they are no longer being sold, however, YouShine Handicrafts on Etsy is selling the exact same items and seem to be direct sales from India, same as Zeshane and HeyTrend.
I bought their Olive Wood 5” set during a sale, and to my surprise, the PayPal email I got said I’d sent a payment to Zeshane Handicrafts!
The photos for HeyTrend on Amazon are exactly the same, so I’d wager that HeyTrend is actually Zeshane as well. I’ve also come across at least two private labeled brands that use the same design.
On a semi-related note, have you found there to be much practical difference between rosewood and olive wood? I’ve gone through the wood database and found the crushing strength and breakage strength to be slightly higher in olive than in rosewood, though in the reviews for the Addi Olive needles I saw a reviewer say that olive needles are more fragile?
Hi Liz. Thank you so much for sending through this information. I will get busy updating my post. That’s a good question regarding the difference between rosewood and olive wood. I think very tight knitters may put more strain on their wooden needles and hence find them more fragile when doing complicated stitches. I’d be interested to hear how you get on with your Olive Wood set. Thanks again and happy knitting! Cheers Jodie