Needles & Hooks

From straight needles to interchangeable sets, we carry needles and hooks in wood, metal, and carbon fiber from brands like LYKKE, ChiaoGoo, Addi, Knitter's Pride, and Clover. Whether you're picking your first set or replacing a favorite size, this is a good starting point before narrowing down by type.

Knitting needles come in a few basic forms: straight needles for flat knitting, double-pointed needles (DPNs) for small circumference projects like socks and hats, circular needles for both flat and in-the-round knitting on a flexible cable, and interchangeable sets that let you swap needle tips onto different cable lengths as needed. Crochet hooks follow a similar range of materials and sizes, suited to their own projects.

Material affects how a needle feels to knit with as much as what it's made of. Wood and bamboo needles have some grip, which can help slippery or splitty yarns stay put and suit many beginners. Metal needles are smoother and faster, often preferred for lace knitting or by knitters who want their stitches to glide. Carbon fiber sits in between — lightweight with some grip, but with more strength than wood at fine gauges.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between circular and straight needles?

Circular needles have two needle tips connected by a flexible cable, letting you knit in the round or work flat projects with a lot of stitches without the weight resting on your wrists. Straight needles are the traditional pair, generally used for smaller flat projects like scarves or dishcloths.

When do I need double-pointed needles instead of circulars?

DPNs are typically used for small-circumference projects like sleeves, sock cuffs, mitten thumbs, or hat crowns, where a circular needle's cable would be too long to comfortably work the stitches. Some knitters prefer circulars for these projects too, using techniques like magic loop instead.

Are interchangeable needle sets worth it?

If you knit a lot of different projects at different gauges, an interchangeable set can be more economical and space-efficient than buying separate fixed circulars for every size and length. If you mostly stick to a couple of go-to sizes, fixed circulars or straights may be simpler.