Sharp Knitting Needles – All Your Sharpest Options

By Jodie Morgan

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When you’re knitting something intricate or with a finer yarn, blunt tips don’t cut it. You need something sharp. Based on my research, see the brands with the sharpest knitting needles.

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If you’re a pusher (moving the needle with your finger tip) like me, you get poked when you’re knitting! I cover a simple solution to this problem and more within my guide.

Most sharpish needles are circular, not double-pointed needles or straight, and they aren’t suitable for beginners.

Table Of Contents

HiyaHiya Circular 40″ Sharp Steel Knitting Needles

HiyaHiya Circular 40 Check Price On Amazon

Perfect for knitting two socks at a time, or for working on projects with a larger circumference, these are fixed circular needles with sharp, smooth tips. The needle tips are 5″ long.

  • Sizes – US 0/2mm, 1/ 2.25mm1, 2/2.75mm, 2.5/3mm, 3/3.25mm, 4/3.5mm, 5/3.75mm, 6/4mm, 7/4.5mm

Pros

  • Made of surgical grade stainless steel with a smooth surface
  • Flexible, pliable cables and smooth, snagless joins

Cons

  • The cables don’t swivel, which may be an annoyance to some knitters. They’re very sharp, so don’t prick your hand!

Love2Knit Short Tip Interchangeable Knitting Needles

Love2Knit Sharp Short Tip Interchangeable Knitting Needles (US5-10, Brights) Check Price On Amazon

Love2Knit is made by Denise Knitting Needles. This family-owned American company manufactures its products locally from local materials. They’re made from smooth plastic resin.

Great for smaller projects in the round, like hats and baby clothes.

  • Sizes – US 5-10
  • Cord Lengths – 9″, 12″ and 14″
  • Needle Tips Are 2 3/4″ Long

Pros

  • These circulars are great for teaching kids to knit, with any amount of yarn
  • Easy to differentiate between the sizes as each is a different color
  • These classes of needles are Comfortable and easy to knit with
  • Smooth connection between the tip and cable
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Not sharp enough for some people
  • Some found the connection system quite tricky to master

Knitter’s Pride Karbonz Interchangeable Needles Set

Knitter's Pride Karbonz Interchangeable Needles Set Check Price On Amazon

Made in India, these are manufactured from carbon fiber (hence the name), a lightweight and robust material. It also has high tensile strength.

  • Sizes – US 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
  • Cord Lengths – 16″, 24″, and 32″.
  • Needle Tips Are 4″ Long
  • Notions – 4 cable stoppers and two cable keys.

Pros

  • Warm to touch, slightly flexible, strong and smooth
  • These categories of needle are comfortable to use

Cons

  • Some found they didn’t last long, and they lost their color after prolonged use. No international shipping, and US orders sometimes take a while to fulfil.
  • Not for tight knitters or people with nickel sensitivities, and they’re for sale for an expensive price.

Addi Click Lace Long Interchangeable Needles

Addi Click Lace Long Tip Interchangeable Knitting Needles Check Price On Amazon

Addi lace is an excellent choice for lace knitting, or intricate knitting. (They used to be made of brass, but not anymore.

This has the genius, secure interchangeable connector system with the sharp tips of the Rockets line, but longer tips for those who prefer to have longer needles.

  • Sizes – US 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11
  • Cord Lengths – 24″, 32″ & 40″.
  • Needle Tips Are 5″ Long
  • Notions – A connector, golden heart pin, and a case

Pros

  • Smooth finish and an easy connection system, and the needles are excellent for pin-point accuracy.
  • The flexible cables don’t grab the yarn

Cons

  • Needles make a clicking sound, which may be annoying to some people. Not the best choice for pushers!

HiyaHiya Sharp 5″ Interchangeable Needles

HiyaHiya Sharp 5 Check Price On Amazon

Made with high-quality stainless steel, these are sharp, smooth, and all-around great needles. These sharp circular needles are good for a collection of yarns – anything from mohair to wool.

Excellent value for the price you pay. If you’re serious about lace knitting or knitting smaller projects, this is the perfect set.

  • Sizes – US 2 – 15 |Cord Lengths – 18″, 26″, 34″, 42″
  • Needle Tips Are 5″ Long
  • Notions – Small Cable Connectors Tip Adapter, Small and Large Panda Stoppers, Small and Large Single Point Adapters, Puppy Snip, Darn Its, and a safety pin.

Pros

  • The case has pockets for accessories. These things have a smooth finish and a large range of sizes.
  • Suitable for hand knitting all types of things, from baby items to a lot of knit fabric squares.

Cons

  • Has a slight drag on the yarn

Knitter’s Pride Royale Interchangeables

Knitter's Pride Royale Interchangeables Check Price On Amazon

The luxury brand of knitting needles from Knitter’s Pride, these lovely needles come in cases of 9 different sizes, and four cord lengths. They are made from smooth birch wood and metal.

  • Sizes – US 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11
  • Cord Lengths – 1 24″, 2 32″, and 1 40″
  • Needle Tips Are 5″ Long
  • Tools – 8 end caps, four cord keys, one cable connector, and a case

Pros

  • Each needle size is a different color. These items are perfect for speed knitting, and they’d make a great gift

Cons

  • It’s pricey, and the holes in the needle tips are annoying, despite being designed as lifeline holes.

ChiaoGoo Red Lace Twist Interchangeable Needles

ChiaoGoo Red Lace Twist Interchangeable Needles

Sharp tips designed for lace knitting, but a range of sizes are in this set to suit a variety of knitting projects. A highlight of this product is the trademark red smooth, and memory-free cables.

  • Sizes – US 2 – 15 | Cord Lengths – 24″, 32″ & 40″
  • Needle Tips Are 5″ Long
  • Notions – Cable connectors, end stoppers, T-Shaped tightening keys, stitch markers, a needle gauge.

Pros

  • One advantage is the cords are memory free, (most other brands aren’t) and the needles are lightweight.
  • This type of needle is one of my favorites.

Cons

  • Chiaogoo needles often have manufacturing residue on them, wipe with rubbing alcohol on a cloth before use.

Knitter’s Pride Deluxe Interchangeable Knit Needles

Knitter's Pride Deluxe Interchangeable Rose Knitting Needles Check Price On Amazon Check Price On Amazon

Made of luxury Indian Rosewood, these are beautiful needles in a functional, lovely box.

  • Sizes – US 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5 and 11.
  • Cord Lengths – One 24″, two 32″, one 40″.
  • Needle Tips Are 4 4/8″ Long
  • Notions – 4 cable keys, eight end caps, a shawl pin, and a pouch to store the cables

Pros

  • Makes an ideal gift, and a good range of sizes
  • Resilient, flexible cords.
  • Smooth, lovely needle tips that are warm to the touch

Cons

  • Pricey, and some experienced the box having an odd smell, though airing it out solved this problem.
  • Needle sizes on the side may rub off after prolonged use.

Signature Convertible Circular Needle Set

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Products from Signature Needle Arts have been dubbed the “Rolls Royce” of the knitting needle world.

The signature needles are made by a family-owned company in Wisconsin, with locally sourced, sustainable aluminum. Featuring the trademark stiletto tips, they’re sharp and strong.

  • Sizes – US 3-10 | Cord Lengths – 1 32″ cable for each size
  • Needle Tips Are 5″ Long
  • Notions – Cable connector, and a lovely case

Pros

  • Smooth, made of robust and durable aluminum
  • Good range of sizes and easy connection system

Cons

  • Expensive, but worth it, and a limited range of cable lengths

FAQ

Why Do I Need Sharp Needles?

Here is a list of when you might need sharp needles.

  • For intricate knitting designs
  • Using a yarn that’s fuzzy or a novelty yarn, makes it easier to get into the stitches
  • Any time when you’re struggling to perform the knitting techniques needed for the pattern
  • When you’re using lace-weight or fine yarns
  • Projects with a large number of decreases make it easier to get into all the stitches at once

Some people are a big fan of the sharp knitting needle, and they use it for almost everything! However, if you’re a pusher, the above are the only times you need them.

They’re not great for the beginner, either. If you want to use them to make something, read some tutorials first.

Are Knitting Needles Sharp?

Yes, all the types of knitting needles mentioned in this post are sharp, designed for thinner yarn or intricate designs. However, bamboo knitting needle tips have blunt points.

Which Knitting Needles Are The Sharpest?

Most expert knitters say HiyaHiya or Chiaogoo needles are the sharpest, and they’re easy to find online. (You need an account to place an order at almost every online shop.)

How Do You Sharpen A Metal Knitting Needle?

Though it’s risky business and requires a specific power tool, Kendra from Kendra Makes gives a quick and straightforward tutorial on sharpening a metal knitting needle.

I’m A Pusher, How Do I Stop Getting Poked?

Buy knitting needles that aren’t too sharp, so they’re enough to get the job done, but not so much they hurt your fingers. Read customer reviews to help you decide.

Conclusion

Some of the best and sharpest knitting needles, perfect for lovely sock patterns or any project made with thin, fingering weight yarn. I hope you found this helpful.

Have fun making your beautiful knitted fabrics! Which needle appeals to you? If you’re a pusher, what solutions can you offer to avoid getting pricked? I’m interested to hear!

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About The Author

Jodie Morgan From Knit Like Granny

Jodie Morgan (Author & Founder)

jodie@knitlikegranny.com | Lives In: Regional Australia

Author: Jodie Morgan is a passionate knitter and blogger with 40+ years of experience currently living in regional Australia. Taught by her mother and wonderful grandmother “Mama”, she fell in love with crafting from a young age. When she’s not knitting, you’ll find her enjoying a cup of coffee with cream, or sharing helpful resources and tips with the online knitting community. Get to know Jodie and the team on our meet the team page.

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