There is a lot to know when it comes to all the different types of needles used in knitting. Today we’re going to take one element of the knitting needle specifically (the short tip variety), and give you our list of the best 5.
If you’re in a hurry, I’ll give you the list in brief now. But if you want a more in-depth overview and review of each, then I suggest you read on.
So what are the best short tip knitting needles? The best 5 include offerings from Knit Picks, Addi, Knitter’s Pride, Love2Knit, and HiyaHiya. So when looking for some short tip needles, keep your eyes peeled for these reliable brands.
This guide has been made with the assumption that you already own some knitting needles, and so our list is compiled of interchangeable short tip sets which you can chop and change at will, should you so desire.
But before we get into all of that, let’s establish the basics.
What Is a Short Tip Knitting Needle?
A short tip knitting needle is—no prizes for guessing—a knitting needle with a short tip.
As you might imagine, having a short top knitting needle makes those smaller, more intricate knitting projects infinitely easier.
If you opt to use the short tip knitting needle, then you will have a much smaller, tighter stitching pattern, as opposed to a large and loose one.
So the use of this type of needle depends on the amount of detail you intend to include in your project, or in fact the size of it. It’s a good idea to have at least one short tip knitting needle around at all times while you work, in case you fancy incorporating more detail into your knitting project.
What are the best short tip knitting needles?
We’re now going to dive into the best 5 short tip knitting needle sets around. They are all interchangeable sets, meaning they are highly versatile and should make knitting super easy and simple!
1. Knit Picks Options 2-¾ Inch Short Tip Knitting Needle Set
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This short tip knitting needle set from knitting powerhouse KnitPicks offers a lot of value, at a competitive price.
Featuring 7 pairs of short wood needle tips measuring in at between 2-4”, or 3.5mm-6mm, you will have everything you need to get knitting straight away with this set.
What’s great about this set is how small they are, which makes it travel-friendly, and perfect for use with 16” cables, or smaller circumference projects.
I personally love the color of these short tips too. A beautiful aquatic mix of green, teal, and blue will make your knitting needles look better than ever before, and make you proud to wield them.
If that wasn’t enough, this set also comes with 16” cable so you can use the tips straight away, and a vinyl case to carry it all around.
Finally, you can expect amazing, snag-free knitting with these short tips, due to the flexible composition of the cables.
This set is perfect for making circumference projects like warm winter preemie hats, sweater sleeves, or cozy winter slippers.
2. Addi Click Lace Short Tip Interchangeable Circular Knitting Needles
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This next short tip knitting needle set by Addi is a more premium option, for those in search of a top-quality set, that would surely help you take your knitting to the next level.
A set that includes 8 sizes of short knitting needle tips, which measure in length at 3.5 inches each, this one also comes with ultra-pliable nylon cords to help you add lifelines to your work as you go, to essentially save your progress.
Part of the appeal of this premium set is the quality deep brown case that holds the short tips. After all, you’ll want to carry around your quality new short tip needles in style.
Each nickel-plated tip is a different size, covering 3.5mm – 8.00mm.
These short tips are extremely sharp, making them great for use with any yarn. So whatever the knitting project you have in mind, you’ll be able to pull it off with this set of knitting needle tips.
The best part about this short tip needle set from Addi is how easy they make the knitting process. If you are invested in the knitting game (I imagine you are if you’re reading this), then you really can’t go wrong with this premium set.
3. Knitter’s Pride Knitting Needles Karbonz Special Interchangeable Short Tip Set
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This interchangeable short tip knitting needle set from Knitter’s Pride is another quality product, which could provide you with everything you need to do some fantastic knitting projects.
Coming with both an easy-close Artsiga Crafts drawstrings bag, and 7 interchangeable Karbonz short needle tips, and 2 cords, you’ll have enough to keep you going for a while if you decide to invest in this set.
All tips are 3.5 inches total length, while covering US sizes 4-10, giving you a wide range of options with your knitting.
Each short needle tip is made from brass and is ideal for whatever yarn project you may have in mind. They even have carbon fiber surfaces, which makes stitching a complete joy, as the stitches will move smoothly on the needle.
By far the greatest feature of these short tips, their composition will make stitching seem truly effortless, and make you wonder how you ever managed before you had these!
The drawstring bag is a nice addition as it will allow you to take this set with you wherever you go, with minimal fuss.
4. Love2Knit Sharp Short Tip Interchangeable Knitting Needles
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The budget option of the list, this short tip interchangeable knitting needle kit from Love2Knit is perfect if you’re just starting out with knitting.
This set includes 3 cords, 6 pairs of needle heads and a convenient case for everything. The needles are made of high-quality plastic resin, which is warm to the touch, making them pleasant to work with.
These short tip knitting needle tips are ideal for making circumference projects like hats or gloves.
As I mentioned, this set is perfect for beginners, and those not looking to spend a lot of money on some short tip knitting needles. This set is a great affordable purchase which will allow you to dip your toes into the world of knitting with short tip needles.
What’s more, for the price this set is, the quality is very good. The stitches of the yarn will move smoothly over your needle, and you should have an enjoyable time working with the short tip needles included.
5. HiyaHiya 4 Inch Sharp Limited Edition Interchangeable Needle Set
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The last option on this list is an attractive short tip interchangeable needle set from HiyaHiya.
Including 7 sets of sharp, stainless steel tips covering the US sizes 2-8, you will also get needle grips, 4 cables of lengths 18, 26, 34, and 42, and a beautiful case with this purchase.
The pretty rose case that comes with this short tip needle set will carry all of the needles conveniently in its 2 zipper pockets, and 2 rows of pockets. It also makes this set a very nice gift for a loved one who loves their knitting!
These short tip needles are also beginner-friendly. They will help you increase your knitting speed, and are sharp enough to create clean stitches every time.
Related Questions
What are the main considerations for choosing the right knitting needle tips?
So now you have a good idea of why we use short tip needles in knitting, and some of the best ones available,
But what about other types of knitting needle tips, what else do you need to know?
Firstly, there are a variety of materials used to make knitting needles. These include bamboo, wood, and metal.
The material it is made of with have an impact on the tip, primarily in terms of sharpness. For example, metal needle tips will almost always be sharper than those made from wood or bamboo.
Having a sharp tip can be helpful with lace projects, for example, so in this case, metal might be your best bit, and a rounded tip might prove frustrating to work with. A sharp tip is also better for working with some of the finer yarns, like fingering or lace weight.
If the yarn is thicker, then you’ll want to stay away from a sharp-pointed needle tip.
What are the different types of knitting needles?
While in this article we focussed on the versatile interchangeable needles, there are actually several types of needles you can use.
The straight needle is the most commonly seen needle, and is best for the basics e.g sweaters, mittens and other winter clothing.
The double-pointed needle is a needle with 2 points. They are ideal for making circular projects like socks and sleeves.
Circular needles are connected by a nylon cord and are essentially 2 straight needles working together. They can be useful for people who suffer from hand issues, but can’t stay away from their passion for knitting.
