Almost all knitters like their knitting needles sharp and smooth. Not stabbing sharp but pointy enough to smoothly make stitches with precision tips that work with all kinds of yarn. Ask any knitter if they would prefer blunt needles and you’ll get “NO” as an answer. Knitting with blunt needles is similar to cutting vegetables with a blunt knife- you may be able to complete the task at hand but you will certainly not enjoy it and even spend more time getting the job done.
If you're looking for sharp knitting needles, chances are it's because you're not happy with the points of your current needles and knitting needle sets. Needle tips that are too rounded can make working on detailed projects such as lace and stranded colorwork a real hassle. In fact, for many yarns too, mostly fuzzy fibers such as mohair, angora, cashmere, alpaca and llama wool, the sharp tips of knitting needles work the best. Sharp tips work best in metals, especially stainless steel knitting needles. It is very hard to match the point profile in wood, bamboo or any other material. Many knitters think that sharp needles are a difficult task but once you explore the benefits, you’ll sure be switching to pointy tips and never go back to regular needles.
Here are the 5 reasons, you must absolutely work with sharp-tip knitting needles.
1. Ideal for Lace Knitting Patterns
Lace knitting stitches and techniques require accuracy as by the time you spot a mistake, you most likely have knit a dozen or more rows and going back to fix is no easy feat. In fact, many times you will have no option but rip out the stitches and that too is very risky because of the delicate nature of lace yarns. Of course you need to pay attention but then sharp-tipped knitting needles assist a lot.
The polished tips are helpful in knitting multiple stitches together which is a major lace-knitting requirement. In lace patterns, the needle has to go in two or even three stitches at once, thus there is a need for sharp tips so that you can knit smoothly and the yarn does not snag or split. There is also the need for yarn over (yo) once or multiple times that works smoothly with the steel surface.
For lace knitting, there’s more to consider than just the point profile of needles so do check out our previous guide on the best knitting needles for lace.
2. Perfect Small Gauge Stitches
Like lace patterns require precision, knitting small gauge stitches require the same exactness. Sharp tip needles are perfect for the task. They easily insert in the stitches. Besides being sharp the stainless knitting needles are strong and durable, even in the smallest sizes. Another plus point is the rust-resistant material that allows your stitches to flow smoothly.
3. Working with Fuzzy yarns
Sharp needles shine when working with very fine yarns, like lace weight or fingering. Like we had discussed before fuzzy fibers such as mohair, angora, cashmere, alpaca and llama wool. If the yarn is particularly thick or loosely plied, then a sharp knitting needle may do more harm than good if you are not careful. You may split the yarn or do damage. However, for fine-point accuracy, the smooth tip knitting needles of the Mindful Collection perfectly balance the sharpness that only works best for knitting with all kinds of yarn.
4. Best for Big Decreases
Knitting decreases are a part of patterns where you want the project to take shape. There are various methods of decrease but most of them require sharp needle tips. After all, you will be merging two stitches in one and that too very neatly. There are many knitting patterns that will instruct for multiple knitting decreases. You need to knit together many stitches and sharp tips will help you comfortably.
This is also helpful for knitting increases. You can easily knit one stitch twice to add stitches. The sharp tips will assist in working with the knit stitches.
5. Knitting with Multi-Color Yarns or Colorwork Patterns
The stainless steel needles from the Mindful Collection are sharp-tipped as well as smooth. The tapered tips work perfectly for knitting colorwork patterns. The pointy tips help you view and insert stitches neatly and comfortably. You can also easily inspect the yarns if you are working closely with two colors or a multi-shaded yarn.
As long as you are comfortable with knitting you can easily choose sharp needle tips. They will make your stitch-making neat and easy. Most of us knitters prefer a set of needles or brands over others for the natural ease of working with it. The Mindful Collection carries a complete assortment of knitting needles. You can choose individual sizes or purchase knitting needle sets that contain the most popular sizes plus accessories. Kits are often the best and most economical way to buy interchangeable circular needles since they include a variety of sizes but also added helpful accessories that, if bought separately, would cost more.
The sharpest tips are made from metal and you’ll be hard-pressed to match that point profile in wood or bamboo or acrylic. The Mindful Collection is a range of knitting needles made from stainless steel. The precision tips, assist in smooth knitting. A unique concept of the range is that it is designed to enable knitters to practice mindfulness with their creative craft. Every needle in the range has an inspirational word imprinted on the tip to strengthen the focus on the meditative aspects of knitting. The sharp stainless steel needles work beautifully for your craft. The circular needles are designed with smooth teal cords. For the knitters who love an entire kit, knitting needle sets have been designed with the most popular sizes and accessories. Each set has a beautiful name such as Gratitude, Grateful, Explore and more, that are designed on the theme of mindfulness.
If you would like to explore the creative path of mindfulness, please follow our blog.
Till then, happy knitting!
