Vintage knitting needles are favorites with collectors and knitters who love lightweight needles. Double Pointed needles are the oldest form of these products.
These were typically sold in sets of four to six with shorter lengths than straight needles. These good knitting needles were used for handmade circular knitted items like sleeves, socks, mittens, and collars.
Brands like Aero, Boye, Inox and Susan Bates, Zephr (made by the American company CJ Bates & Son) are popular vintage needles. Many of the older styles are straight with a knob at the end.
Here are some of the vintage knitting needles on sale at the Etsy store.
Table of Contents
- A Little Bit Of History On Vintage Needles
- Susan Bates and Boye Circular Vintage Needles
- Aero Vintage Straight Knitting Needles
- Boye Vintage Plastic Knitting Needles
- Vintage Susan Bates Double Pointed Knitting Needles
- Zephr Knitting Needles Vintage
- Vintage Wooden Knitting Needles
Here is my guide to the best places to buy yarn.
Vintange needles aren’t the only antique craft-related thing you can find on Etsy. You can get supplies for quilting, applique, patchwork, piecing, sewing, embroidery, cross-stitch, and needlepoint.
If you need specific supplies, you can easily find wool, crochet hooks, a loom, fabric/thread, a button for a project, a thimble, a seam ripper, a tape measure, scissors, or a pincushion.
Susan Bates and Boye Circular Vintage Needles
Set of circular needles Size 4, 6, 8 in package, Size 6 double point needle, stitch holder.
Aero Vintage Straight Knitting Needles
Beautiful silky grey knitting needles from Bernat by Aero. Made in England for the North American market.
All of the needles in this listing are/have: 14 Inch length Grey Finish. The size on the stopper is the US number.
Boye Vintage Plastic Knitting Needles
Begin or rebuild your collection of vintage Boye USA Single point knitting needles. All needles are plastic with Steel stopper unless stated otherwise.
Vintage Susan Bates Double Pointed Knitting Needles
Genuine Susan Bates Double Pointed Knitting Needles of aluminum. They are 10 Inch in length. Made in USA. Most, but not all, in the original package.
Zephr Knitting Needles Vintage
All nylon circulars. All of the needles in this listing are: Zephr (BATES) – All nylon – points and cables – Slightly tapered points. Most in the original package.
Vintage Wooden Knitting Needles
A lovely choice of vintage wooden knitting needles – various sizes. Each pair measures 34cm long unless otherwise stated.
Conclusion
There are many to choose from, and with these type of needle, you’re sure to experience a little living history when you knit.
Do you love Vintage Knitting Needles? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Drop me a note below in the comments section or get in touch with me here.
Pin For Later
I recently received Susan Bates wooden knitting needles that my mother got from my grandmother’s things. Neither one ever knit. I’ve been trying to find out when they would have been made.
Hi Lanita. That’s a good question. I’ll see if any of my readers know and get back to you.
I have just found my father’s knitting needles, There’s a pair of 14 inch size 2’s and a single 14″ size 3 made by Berkalin. What can you tell me about them? What was the Berkalin Company? What might they have cost?
I remember him knitting even in the 1940’s and perhaps in the early 1950s and remember that the needles were off-white. I also have some of his other needles. There’s a pair of 14″ size 4’s that have a peaked black metal cap (rather the shape of the Chinese worker’s hats, one is broken. Another pair are size 4 14″. with a flat plastic top.
I have several DPNs. One set is green plastic, 3 of them measure size 4 and one measure size 3, which I suspect is a manufacturing flaw as I have never seen any other green plastic needles. I have one set of 4 white plastic 7″ needles, size 5, and 2 partial sets, 3 of size 3 and 3 of size 4.
Can you tell me anything about these needles?
Hi Charlotte. How lovely that you have your father’s knitting needles. I am no expert in vintage knitting needles, so I’m not familiar with the needles you describe above. I’ve done a quick search for Berkalin Needles and only found this on the Webster’s Knitting Needle Notions site – length 14″ straight, name Berkalin, and size in mm marked on shaft of the straights near the stopper and at the midpoint of the DP. Black hemispheric stopper engraved with the size or with K or with W or M inside a diamond.
Good luck in your search for more information. Cheers Jodie
Thank you. I’ll keep looking.
Charlotte
Hi there! I have a pair of original bakelite antique knitting needles which date back to the first world war when women were encouraged to knit for the troops on the battlefields.
They have the following inscription on them:
” English made B.G. no.8. The Double Century Pal.”
I understand that the Double Century Pal Factory closed down in the 1950s. They are light beige in colour.
Basically I would like to know where I can sell these needles and how much approximately are they currently worth because I have absolutely no idea. They are in near perfect condition with a very very tiny chip on the head of one of them. I would appreciate any information you can give me.
Very kind regards
Hi Anne Mae
I’d recommend doing some research on second hand selling platforms like ebay or equivalent sites in the UK and see if your needles are showing up there to get an idea of price.
Also some sellers on Etsy deal in Vintage Needles, you could search there too.
Cheers Jodie