10 Best Ergonomic Knitting Needles & Their Reviews For 2021
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I’m here to take you through the top ten Ergonomic knitting needles of 2021.
How often do we hear about the term ergonomic?
The word ‘ergonomic’ essentially refers to the science that deals with creating optimal working conditions for human beings while ensuring overall system efficiency.
So the obvious question that strikes us is, what is the relation of ergonomics with ergonomic knitting needles?
Has it ever come to your notice how the tools that we use to work on our yarn has hardly undergone any change over the years?
Although knitting is not an activity widely associated with injury or accidents, knitting for a prolonged period may cause pain and stress.
In 2016, a German company called Prym was the first to revolutionize the art of knitting by launching a new range of needles named Ergonomics.
Table of Contents
1. Prym Ergonomic Design Circular Knitting Needles
How can we not start with the leader of the revolution in the knitting industry?
This is the ultimate game-changer when it comes to ergonomic knitting needles.
The design and shape of these needles are noteworthy features that have managed to grab quite a few eyeballs.
The circular needle shape is indeed a clever choice as it ensures that you do not concentrate all the pressure at one point and does a better job at uniformly distributing the weight along the cable.
This, thereby relieves pressure from your wrist, keeping hand pain at bay.
The point is bulbous, thereby making the otherwise strenuous act of picking up stitches an almost effortless process.
You can easily take up larger projects on this one as the cable length is 80 cm, much longer than the standard length.
These being ergonomic, ensure an overall comfortable, pain-free experience, all while increasing your productivity.
This otherwise perfect product seems to have only one downside.
Some knitters complain the joins between the needle and cable are slightly sticky, so it tends to stick at the ends and require loosening.
Pros & Benefits:
- Suitable for people with arthritis, carpal syndrome, or similar issues
- The circular shape ensures speedy performance
- Longer cable length makes it suitable for a variety of projects; from knitting socks to large shawls
- Made from superior quality metal, these ergonomic knitting needles hardly snag
2. Knitter’s Pride Knitting Needles
This set comes with double-pointed ergonomic knitting needles of six inches with a size of 2.25 mm(US 1) and ten Artsiga Crafts Stitch Markers.
These needles are ergonomic and hence provide a comfortable experience.
You will knit like a breeze and the finishing will be perfect in absolutely no time!
The otherwise simple design is easy to grasp and can work on a wide range of yarns.
The body of these knitting needles is made up of high-quality feather-light metal, giving you a luxurious feel and simultaneously applying less pressure on your hand and wrist whenever you use them.
What’s even more exciting is the wide range of pretty colors to choose from!
The only downside is, although the slick design gives it a classy feel, you might have to compromise on your stitching time especially if you’re a beginner in the knitting world.
In case you’re a beginner, the slickness and smooth texture might not contribute to the prompt completion of your work.
Go for these if you want to try something new and affordable that saves your hands from taking all that stress.
Pros & Benefits:
- Suitable for a variety of yarns
- The tapered pointed ends glide smoothly and are perfect for professional or serious stitchers
- These make sure your knitting is less time consuming
3. Prym Ergonomics 8-Inch Double-Point Knitting Needles
Prym did it again!
It is a brand to look out for if you want to experience knitting at its finest.
This comes in a set of five Double Pointed Needles, each of 20 cm in length.
These Double-Point Ergonomic Knitting Needles are lightweight, sleek, and easy to grip.
The points are drop-shaped which enables you to pick up stitches easily without dropping or slipping any stitches.
The ingenious triangular shafts are somewhat flexible and glide effortlessly, ensuring snag-free knitting.
If you suffer from hand pain, arthritis, or Carpal tunnel syndrome, working for long hours can strain your hands or cause inflammation.
These ergonomic knitting needles mitigate the occurrence of prolonged pain and stress during those long working periods.
These provide the utmost comfort with its ergonomic grip.
Your stitching will be completed in no time without wearing out your eyes or causing fatigue.
The shafts are sculpted and designed to help you do the bulk of work without investing long hours.
For convenience, the design and size have been printed on these needles.
It would’ve been better had the sizing been embedded as the paint seems to be of questionable quality.
However, you can easily find out the sizes using a needle gauge or a needle identifier.
Pros & Benefits:
- Drop-shaped points easily catch stitches
- These provide comfort while knitting and keeps hand pain or inflammation at bay
- A perfect design which is neither too slick nor too drags
4. WooCrafts Large-Eye Blunt Needles
Looking for gift ideas ideal for gifting your knitting friend (or even yourself)?
This set comprising nine pieces of steel yarn knitting needles along with ergonomic grip Crochet hooks will demand your attention with its vibrant colors.
It is an all-in-one kit that only includes ergonomic needles but also ergonomic grip Crochet hooks, stitches markers, and a case.
All this comes in a pretty little printed pouch.
The pouch is not only visually pleasing but also quite efficient with enough room to store all your tools without any fuss.
This kit comes with nine knitting needles in three different sizes to suit your requirement.
You also get nine Crochet hooks that are extremely comfortable with its rubber handles.
It also comes with stitch markers that help you distinguish between the different sized needles.
They don’t slip off your hands or feel too slick, giving you a better grip.
I didn’t even come to the best part yet.
The absolute best part about this set is that the large Eye Blunt Steel Yarn Needles as well as the Crochet hooks come with a lifetime replacement guarantee.
You won’t even have to worry about these getting broken or not functioning as they should!
A seasoned knitter is going to love this colorful box of delight as much as a skeptical beginner.
Pros & Benefits:
- Comes in a range of vibrant colors in an oh-so-adorable pouch
- These ergonomic needles provide support to your hands and prioritize your comfort
- Comes with a lifetime guarantee
5. Knit Picks Options Square Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needles
This is such a versatile kit to invest your money in!
This kit includes nine pairs of square wood tips, four purple cables, eight purple endcaps, two mental tightening keys, and a vinyl case with ample space to perfectly store all your knitting tools and accessories.
The best feature of these Interchangeable needles is that different combinations will yield you different results.
Mix and match and create myriads of different needle combinations to knit absolutely whatever your heart desires!
The cables are pliable and can be secured to the tips with the use of the tightening keys provided in the set.
In comparison to the nickel-plated ones, these beautifully designed wooden needles give you a better grip, don’t slide off the stitches, and lets you stitch consistently without causing match discomfort.
On the downside, you need to be a tad bit vigilant while working with these, as the screwing mechanism of some specifically sized needles have been found to not be of the best functionality and may slide off the cable attachment if triggered.
But are they value for money?
Without a doubt!
So just make sure to secure the connection with the key so that it doesn’t separate and stays tight and you’re good to go!
A special hack that you may use is, remove the card and these can be transformed into double pointed needles with ease.
Pros & Benefits:
- Alleviates hand and wrist pain
- Strong and durable cables
- Comes in vibrant colors with a sturdy case for compact and mess-free storage
- Wooden needles are lighter and less slick than their metal counterparts
6. Addi Olive Wood Circular Knitting Needles
Have you ever tried knitting using wooden needles?
If your answer is negative, you need to try these to comprehend what you’ve been missing.
Addi had previously been known for its nickel-coated needles.
However this time they have hit the bull’s eye with their innovative line of ergonomic wooden ergonomic knitting needles.
Made from the wood of olive trees and botanical oil, the surface of these needles is the perfect balance between being greasy and rough.
The most distinct feature of the needles is they’re neither too slippery like metal needles nor too rough like the bamboo ones.
The icing on the cake is the fact that is made of olive wood, these are undoubtedly sturdier and harder than the birch or bamboo ones.
Addi is one of the most reliable brands in the knitting industry and these needles, like other Addi products, come with a lifetime guarantee.
This certainly makes them a wise investment and value for money.
The only downside seems to be the lack of size information on the needles.
Although this comes with a needle identifier, some people do think the size not being etched on the needles caused much inconvenience.
The smooth well-built structure gives you a better grip and control of the yarn.
Pros & Benefits:
- Versatile with both interchangeable and fixed circular needles
- Sharp tip and sturdy body enables you to knit using these needles for hours without much discomfort or uneasiness
- The circular design ensures better distribution of weight on hand and wrist
7. Addi Flexflips Double Pointed Knitting Needles
Incase wood needles are not your thing, Addi’s main range of double-pointed needles is indispensable to your knitting routine.
Double pointed needles are known to comprise four needles but trust Addi to revolutionize DPN with not four but three needles!
Your stitches are going to be distributed over the two needles while the third is used for knitting, enabling two instead of multiple needle changes per row.
The slick and flexible body makes it easier and more comfortable for you to grip.
The versatile Addi FlexiFlips possess one Rocket tip and one Turbo tip.
These needles have a sharper, pointy taper at one end and a more blunt taper at the other end.
If you’re an ardent sock or hat knitter, these are going to become your holy grail.
However, some people with larger hands have complained about these not being an ideal design for them.
The length between the two tips needs to be longer than the width of the hand to make the knitting comfortable.
If you seem to have larger hands, make sure to check the measurement before laying your hands on this otherwise brilliant product.
People with arthritis or severe hand pain often refrain from using double-pointed needles.
But these are truly a game-changer as they are flexible, lightweight, and beneficial in keeping arthritis in check.
Pros & Benefits:
- Suitable for knitting socks, caps, gloves, hats
- Innovative design and more flexible than the traditional double pointed needles
- The lightweight and smooth surface gives you better grip and support
- Provides steady support regardless of the knitting technique
8. ChiaoGoo Circular Bamboo Dark Patina Knitting Needles
Have you ever wanted to contribute to the cause of conserving nature and live an eco-friendly lifestyle?
If yes, you need to switch to these eco-friendly and 100% recyclable bamboo needles.
Being made up of Chinese Moso bamboo which is the largest and also the strongest bamboo variation, these are pretty durable and won’t snap easily.
These needles are made to undergo supplementary thermal processes to attain a darker and richer color without the use of any artificial paints or dyes.
These aren’t too slick or smooth so these definitely won’t slip off or miss stitches.
Unlike metal needles, these bamboo ones made in Hangzhou, China are lightweight and easy to work with.
Another prominent feature of these needles is that their sizes are written on their body, which helps in identifying the distinct sized ones with ease.
Circular needles help in uniform distribution of weight, thereby reducing the effects of arthritis or Carpal tunnel syndrome.
The tip is pointy and the body is perfectly smooth.
The only problem that some face is the splintering that tends to occur after some time.
These are high on functionality and save up time so be it shawls or sweaters, you would be pleasantly surprised how quickly you get done with your projects.
Pros & Benefits:
- Circular design suitable for people suffering from hand pain
- Made from incredibly lightweight material that puts less strain on hands and lets you work for hours without noticeable discomfort or uneasiness
- Ensures better grip with its neither too slick nor too drag the texture
- Environment friendly and doesn’t cause pollution
9. Katrina Yu Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles Set
So here’s another bamboo needle option to support your eco-friendly endeavors!
This recent line of bamboo Knitting Needles from this brand has improved cable connection joints to make sure the hooks and cables are secure.
The set consists of thirteen pairs of bamboo knitting needles, cables in four different sizes, cable connectors, tightening keys, end caps, a non-slip gripper, knitting lock, and a needle measurer.
All this comes neatly enclosed and organized in a PU leather bag in pretty purple color.
The thing about bamboo needles is, they don’t slip off easily while maneuvering around.
Small stitch loops can be easily made with the tapered hooks.
The length of the circular cord is sufficiently long to accommodate big projects.
The design and shape of the needles are suitable for literally everyone, regardless of the size of your hand.
Although size is mentioned on the hooks which are a big thumbs up, many people have complained that the size written on it rubs off too easily.
Nevertheless, this is a value of money and a great gifting option with all the additional tools that come with the needles in this kit.
Pros & Benefits:
- Provides sturdiness and stability unlike most regular wooden needles
- Smooth and polished surfaces provide the right amount of grip and don’t let the stress concentration at a specific part on the hands
- Eco-friendly and recyclable
- These knitting needles come in a spacious, multipurpose bag
10. Large-Eye Blunt Needles
Are you a beginner and completely clueless about which needles to invest in?
Look no more.
Made of premium quality stainless steel, the large Eye Blunt Needles are quintessential in your knitting kit.
This set comes with three sets of needles of different sizes contained in a clear bottle that makes looking for and storing these needles hassle-free.
The body has a slick feel and glides effortlessly on the yarn.
These have long and broader eyes which makes threading an easier process.
These give good support to your hand while knitting and ensure equitable distribution of pressure.
These do spread out the pressure evenly on your hand but is it the best choice for a person suffering from arthritis or any serious hand injury?
Well, no.
It isn’t as beneficial in minimizing stress as its other contemporaries.
However, do give it a shot if you’re a newbie at knitting.
Large Eye blunt needles are the perfect pick to kick start your knitting career with.
Pros & Benefits:
- Affordable and comes in a set of three different sizes to suit your specific needs
- Useful in relieving stress on hand and wrist to some extent
- Ideal for beginners and young knitters
- Made from superior quality stainless steel, these needles do not rust
What Makes Ergonomic Knitting Needles An Essential In 2021?
The study of ergonomics dates back to the time of World War One.
Ergonomics primarily came into use for a better understanding of the reasons behind an aircraft crash and how the human body proved to be a hindrance as it failed to resist the effects of the crash.
The study of ergonomics started to explore and expand the horizon of human capabilities.
Later on in the 90s, ergonomics were used as a means to make the working experience more comfortable for people working on the computer for long hours.
However, not until recently was the concept of ergonomics used in any way other than improving machines.
The process of knitting and working on yarn is nothing new.
For the past 1200 years, the construction of knitting needles was based on the same old principal.
They typically had a long shaft, a tapered end, and a button on the other end.
It became imperative to redesign and renovate the same old knitting style, revamp those needles, and prioritize comfort.
With the concept of ergonomics buzzing all around, some brands, specifically, Prym, took it upon themselves to bring about a change in the world of knitting.
And voila!
More and more companies upgraded their designs to yield this new era of ergonomic knitting needles that not only amplified productivity but also promised a comfortable work environment.
For someone passionate and enthusiastic about knitting, ergonomic knitting needles are life changers.
Final Thoughts
At the moment, we have so many options for ergonomic knitting needles to choose from.
Different combinations of needles and yarn feel different in your hands.
Few combinations are more suitable for some people than the others, and vice versa.
While working on varied projects, be it socks, sweaters, shawl, or just about anything, different sizes and types of needles would be required.
It is only with time and patience that can you determine the ergonomic knitting needles indispensable for the specific project you’re working on.
With various options to choose from, make sure to give the utmost importance to your comfort and efficiency at work.
You just have to trust your skill, take your time, and work your way through a few of these to find out which ones work perfectly for you.
