Best Circular Knitting Needles: Review and Guide 2024

Giving a detailed review of best circular knitting needles, their famous brands and types along with a buying guide.

Nothing can be better meditating than a quality leisure time knitting session. But is it hard for you to know what the best circular knitting needles are? Circular knitting needles are designed for fast, small woolen knitting projects. We can do the job without striking needles and catch more stitches at a time.

Let’s first kill the myth that straight needles are the pioneers of knitting. No, they are not; in old times, circular needles were the only way of knitting. These needles are the best that one can get to work on small projects like socks and gloves. We also kept looking for the best circular knitting needles for a long time. After extensive research, our team of experts compiled some of the premium circular needles for you after a long time period of practicing and testing.

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Best Circular Knitting Needles: Review and Guide [year] 15
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#1 Best Bamboo

Clover Takumi: Overall Best Circular Knitting Needles

Clover Takumi
  • Features: 3.8″ to 4.2″ needle length, Us 3-15 needle size range, with 5 number of cords.
  • Material: Polished Bamboo.
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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#2 Best Metallic

ChiaoGoo 7500C: Best Metallic Circular Knitting Needles

ChiaoGoo 7500C
  • Features: 5″ needle length, Us 2-15 needle size range, with 3 number of cords.
  • Material: Stainless Steel.
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Top 5 Circular Knitting Needles – Expert Knitter’s Review

No. 1

Clover Takumi Needles: Best Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles

5/5 Our Score

Specifications:

  • Needle Tip Length: 3.8” for sizes 3-10. 4.2” for sizes 10.5 – 15
  • Number of Needle Sets: 12 Sets of needle tips
  • Sizes of Needle: US 3 – 15 | ( 3.25 – 10mm).
  • Number of Cord: 5. 
  • Cord lengths: 16″, 24″, 29″, 36″ and 48″.
  • Material: Bamboo.

With the best circular knitting needle set, it becomes much easier for us to knit all types of projects, large as a blanket and tiny as a baby’s socks. While looking for some premium needles on the internet, I found the Clover Takumi Combo and dug up all its features which pulled me to add these needles to the top list.

The material construction is the most important thing about any needle for other hand knitters and me. This needle is made of bamboo wood: perhaps the best you can find. It gives a very comfortable grip without compromising the needle’s strength.

It has a screw-type fitting that comes with an advantage and disadvantages. These screws need to be well-tightened to ensure that they do not unscrew while knitting; however, if screwed properly, they act like fixed needles.

With the precise construction of the needle tip, making any kind of design is much easier. The needle is perfectly shaped and does not get stuck in the wool. With the smooth body construction, it is much easier to hold the needles and develop a grip over them.

We get these premium needles in multiple sizes and have all the sizes of cords attached so that we can interchange the needles and use them for all kinds of knitting projects. The finishing at the ends makes it much easier for users as we can attach the cords conveniently.

Why We Liked it
  • Durable for heavy project handling
  • Lightweight for easy handling
  • Sturdy tips for easy wool handling
  • Comfortable wooden grip
  • Unique to support all kinds of knitting techniques
What we Disliked
  • Traditional problem with the screw. If not tightened, it may loosen during knitting.

Clover Takumi is one of the best circular knitting needle sets I have ever used or reviewed. They come in a protective case and are very easy to carry. I recommend these best for all levels of knitters as multiple size options are available in the bag, and above all, I just love the firm bamboo grip of this needle.
Click Here to Check Reviews from Actual Users.

No. 2

ChiaoGoo 7500C Needles: Best Circular Knitting Needles for Speed Knitting

4.7/5 Our Score

Specifications:

  • Needle Tip Length: 5″. 
  • Number of Needle Sets: 13 sets of needle tips.
  • Sizes of Needle: US 2 – 15 | ( 2.75 – 10mm).
  • Number of Cord: 3. 
  • Cord lengths: 24″, 32″, and 40″.
  • Material: Stainless Steel.

However, wooden needles are not always preferred by everyone. Often speed knitters like metallic needles to knit the yarn more swiftly. When we talk about the best circular knitting needles for speed knitting, ChiaoGoo Twist Needles are one of the premium choices.

This needle package includes elegant stainless steel needles in a fancy black bag. This keeps the needle safe and easy to store and carry anywhere.

The 13-needle set comes with six needles and assorted cables, which we can interchange using its screws. And the needle sizes range from 2mm – 15mm.

The best thing that I like about metallic needles is their durability. Wooden needles get worn out, sooner or later, as they loose their pointy tips and texture. But this is not the case for metallic needles. Stainless Steel needles, like ChiaGoo, is you life time knitting partner, and its tip remain pointy forever.

Why We Liked it
  • Less stiff cables for easy magic loop adjustments
  • Safe and easy to keep with a pouch
  • Lifeline hooks for easy wire attachment
  • Travel friendly as it is easy to carry with the case
  • Interchangeable hence are easy to adjust
What we Disliked
  • The cables do not have adaptors, so we cannot combine multiple cables; great for simple knitting.

I find this needle the best metallic knitting needle, highly suitable for speed knitters, with the perfect shape, size, and package for lifelong usage.
Click Here to Check Reviews from Actual Users.

No. 3

CHIAOGOO Mini Needles: Best Circular Knitting Needles for Socks and Small Knitwear

4.8/5 Our Score

Specifications:

  • Needle Tip Length: 6-pieces of each 2″ and 3” 
  • Number of Needle Sets: 12 sets of needle tips.
  • Sizes of Needle: US 0 – 3 | ( 2mm -3.25mm).
  • Number of Cord: 3. 
  • Cord lengths: 5″, 6″, and 8″.
  •  Material: Stainless Steel.

I learned it the hard way that for knitting small knitwears like socks, gloves kids wear, etc., you must use small size knitting needles only. For this task, Chiaogoo mini circular needles are the best circular knitting needles for socks and other small knitwears.

These specialized mini needles make this knitting process much more manageable, and their size is upto 2″ and 3″ small. This makes small knitting clothes much more convenient but is not suitable for large-size clothes.

The best this I like about these needles is their built quality and how easily yarn slides onto the needles. The surgical-grade steel composition of the needle makes it much more durable and enhances its usage quality.

In the set, we get all the necessary accessories one should have for a successful knitting project. Each of the needles can be attached to three thick wires to handle the weight of the project. The versatile needles enable tiny knitting socks to baby hats and sweaters.

Why We Liked it
  • The needles are cased in a pouch for safety
  • Extra accessories for economical knitting
  • Durable with solid steel construction
  • Mounting holes in tips for a secure connection
What we Disliked
  • Not suitable for large-size projects.
  • Not suitable for beginners.

I found the ChiaoGoo needles as one of the best circular knitting needles set for socks due to their small size. The needles are best for professional socks knitters and enthusiasts, as they can only be used for small knitwear.
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No. 4

 Knit Picks Options Wood Needle Set: Best Wooden Circular Knitting Needles

4.7/5 Our Score

Specifications:

  • Needle Tip Length: 4.75” 
  • Number of Needle Sets: 12 sets of needle tips.
  • Sizes of Needle: US 4 – 11 | (3.5mm – 8mm).
  • Number of Cord: 4. 
  • Cord lengths: 2x 24″, 32″, and 40″.
  • Material: Wood.
  • 7 Different Color Options.

Usually, wooden knitting needles are of pale or dull colors; however, to make knitting super fun, the needles must be attractive and compatible with the user. I regard Knit Picks wood needles as the best circular knitting needle set in terms of their enticing colorway and quality.

These knitting needles come in striking and appealing colorways with 7 different color options. This needle pack has nine knittings ranging from size 4 to 11, sufficient for handling projects of different sizes.

I found the whole packaging as the complete combo for knitting. The end caps make it easier to keep the needles in shape for better use. With the cable connector in the package, two cables can be connected to extend the cable length. With the two tightening knobs, attaching the needles to the cord is easier for me.

The cables are a treat for me as they are super easy to use. The needle’s cords are memory-free and do not bend or tangle, so using them is much more convenient.  

Why We Liked it
  • Attractive design outlook and color variations
  • Smooth with perfectly tapered tips
  • Memory-free cables for snag-free knitting
  • The handy vinyl case for needle safety
What we Disliked
  • Traditional issues with screw connectors

    9 sets of needles are sufficient, yet a relatively lesser size range.

I found Knit Picks as the best circular knitting needle set in terms of design, color, and utility. The needles are the premium choice for daily knitters who want much more attractive colorful wooden needles in their collection.
Click Here to Check Reviews from Actual Users.

No. 5

KnitPal Fixed Cable Needles: Best Fixed Circular Knitting Needles

4.3/5 Our Score

Specifications:

  • Number of Needle Sets: 5 sets of needle tips.
  • Sizes of Needle: US 4 – 8 | (3.5mm – 5mm).
  • Lengths: 16″. (optional 24″ and 47″)
  • Material: Stainless Steel.

When we talk about the best circular knitting needles set, there is no way we can ignore the KnitPal needles. These are fixed type metallic needles with unbreakable cables. These are among some of the famous fixed needles for beginners and hobbyists.

The stainless steel composition makes the needles durable, so we can use them for a long time. The needles are designed to avoid snagging, so we can go for easy knitting. The needles have a perfectly tapered tip with smooth ends so that the wool can glide through them smoothly.

The needles are designed for heavy-duty work by joining high-quality nylon cables to needles with particular joints so that heavy project handling is much easier.

The needles are available in the 5 most common sizes: US 4-8, so handling most of the projects is convenient.

The needles are economical and come with multiple freebies.

Why We Liked it
  • Sturdy metal construction for extra durability
  • No worries about worktime cable separation
  • Insured as is snag-free for unique and convenient knitting
  • Durable as it is excellent for heavy-duty projects
What we Disliked
  • Not suitable for fine knitwear like socks and gloves.
  • They are not interchangeable, so they have fixed lengths.

I found Knit Picks as the best circular knitting needle set in terms of design, color, and utility. The needles are the premium choice for daily knitters who want much more attractive colorful wooden needles.
Click Here to Check Reviews from Actual Users.

Buying Guide

Circular needles are a modern addition to the techniques of knitting. They are designed to make knitting much more accessible and convenient. There are multiple circular needles available in the market. Each of them has a different composition hence giving conventional results. This fact makes it hard to choose the best circular knitting needles. But we are here to help. Here you go with a buying guide, so selecting the needle for your knitting work becomes more accessible.

The Needle Material

The circular needles are made with a variety of materials. Each material gives its results. Here is a list of materials and a detailed review of the pros and cons of each material needle.

  1. Carbon Fiber
  2. Wood
  3. Bamboo
  4. Metal

1. Carbon Fiber Circular Knitting Needles

Carbon fiber circular knitting needles are one of the most premium options. These needles are made of carbon fiber which gives a smooth working. The needles are gentle in hand and most favorable for knitting projects like socks and lace knitting. These needles come in a size of 1.00 mm to 6.00 mm. The needle gives a warm feel while it is comfortable for working.

2. Wood Circular Knitting Needles

Wood circular needles are one of the oldest types of needles. The needles are perfect for people whose hands get tired in no time. The needles warm up by your body temperature and are great for the arthritic joints. The needles are quiet and relaxing as they do not produce noise while working. The needles are great as it is easy to develop a grip over them.

But the con for these needles is that they are a bit slower than metal and carbon needles. If you find the clicking noise soothing, you will miss that as wooden needles are very quiet. These needles are not durable and might break if we give them any heavy load.

3. Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles

I found the bamboo circular knitting needles my favorite as they are even better than the classical wooden needles. The bamboo needles are easy to knit with as they are easy to hold with a developed grip. It is much easier to knit as they are lightweight. The needles are great for beginners.

The cons for these needles are as same as wooden needles. These needles have the same pros and cons; the only difference is that the bamboo needles are lightweight while the wooden ones are a bit heavier.

4. Metal Circular Knitting Needles

If you are a professional, metal circular needles are a premium choice. These needles are a great choice as they help to work fast in no time. The needles are smooth to the touch. The needles are your premium choice if you are fond of the meditating clicking sound.

The needles are a bit slippery for the yarn as they are very smooth, and the structure has no rigidity. The needles are not easy to use as they might feel cold at times and are not easy to use for people with arthritic hands. If you love to work in a quiet environment, the needles are not for you as they produce a clicking noise.

Differentiation based on Tips

Based on tips, there are two types of circular knitting needles.

  1. Pointed Tip
  2. Rounded Tip

1. Pointed Tip

The needles made of any material have an integral part of their tip. A pointed tip is designed to create a more precise tip. These tips go great for work like small laces and give high-end design quality.

2. Rounded Tip

The second type of needle is the one with a rounded tip. The round-tip needles are designed for bulky projects. The round tip allows it to work smoothly even with the heaviest yarn.

Types Of Circular Knitting Needles

Circular needles are the types we use to handle circular knitting projects. These needles might come with a wire in between. In most of them, the cables are removable. When we talk about circular knitting needles, they are basically of three types. These needles are hard to differentiate, but I will try to break down the types for you. Following are the types of circular knitting needles.

  1. Double Pointed Needles.
  2. Fixed Circulars.
  3. Interchangeable Circular Needles.

1, Double Pointed Knitting Needles

The double-pointed needles are one of the ancestors of knitting needles. These are one of the most basic needles. These needles look like wires. Most of the time, these needles are made with steel. In old times these needles were made of ivory and bones. From the back, the needle design has pointed at both ends.

DPNS needles are the choice one can go for to knit projects when they are too small for other types of needles. We can use these needles for areas like sleeves, mittens, socks, small toys, children’s woolens, and many more.

2. Fixed Circular Knitting Needles

The fixed circular needles have a single pointed end needle attached to a wire. The needles are available in specific sizes. These needles are designed to tackle a tiny type of project; as you cannot choose the size, you have to find the right project to work with these needles. The needles come in 4 to 5 lengths attached to cords of sizes 8 to 40.

3. Interchangeable Circular Needles

These needles are almost the same as the fixed circular needles, but the difference the good part is that these are interchangeable. You can attach any length of the needle to any wire you want. Mostly you get all these needles in the form of a set, but these needles are also available in pairs.

The needles are the premium choice among all the types of needles as they have multiple pros to help you out while working on your project. It is easy to knit as the attached cables can spin while working. The needles can effectively distribute the weight and are excellent for large projects like blankets.

A cable joins the needles, so it is always easy to find them. These needles can be used for multiple types of projects. We can use these needles to knit blankets, sweaters, shawls, and other materials. If you ask me, I recommend you choose circular Interchangeable knitting needles.

General Check To Find The Best Circular Knitting Needles

Although we have learned all about needles and their types, there are some general tips you should keep in mind before going to the market. Whatever type of needle you buy, you must put your hands on the durable ones. The durable needles are long-lasting and take more weight. Check that the needle is smooth and has no edgy structure so the yarn does not get damaged.

When you start knitting, it is essential to check if there is no kink inside the cables. Suppose there is some kink; you have to remove it. If there is some kink, you must follow some tips to remove the kink. Take a hot bowl of water and pour your cables into it. Pour them with a chopstick so that your hands do not get burnt. Leave the needle for a few seconds, and after that, dry them. Now your needles and cables are easy to use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which of the above knitting needles is best among professionals?

When we talk about the top choice of knitters, ChiaoGoo Stainless Steel Knitting Needle is at the top of the list. Knitters mostly prefer needles from the ChiaoGoo family. The needles are durable, and versatile, yet very easy to use.

What is the difference between a magic loop and circular needles?

When you use circular needles to knit a very small object, it becomes complicated as the needles click with each other. For this purpose, magic loops are a great choice. These loops work great at small circumferences like cuffs, gloves, and socks.

What is the trick behind determining the right size of circular needles?

It is elementary to decide on the right circular needle size for your work, but all you have to do is put some concentration on the work. The method is to determine the extent of the shortest needle you might use. You have to divide the number of stitches over the stitch tension value in each cm. Divide the total obtained value by three and add up 25 cm or, if in inches, 10 inches to the value. Use that needle length or the one with larger dimensions.

What is the most common size for circular needles?

The size of a circular needle mostly depends on your project. The most popular needles are 7-9, the ones one can have for all types of worsted-weight yarns.

Conclusion

I hope you have ended up buying the best circular knitting needles. If you are interested in some of the most fantastic knitting and sewing gear, visit more of our articles. See you again with some more exclusive products and info; till then, stay connected and enjoy happy virtual shopping. Bye.

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