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The 9 Best Yarn Needles for Beginners (Reviews) in 2023

Like most experienced knitters, we’ve been knitting since we were very young kids. Growing up, we used to visit the local knitting or craft store for our supplies with parents or grandparents but, as time goes on, many local yarn stores have closed down, and now we rind that not every little town out there has a place that you can just run to in order to pick up small notions.

Best yarn needles

That’s why, when we found ourselves in need of a new set of yarn needles (often called darning needles) because we finally lost the last one we’d been hanging onto for years, we decided to look online and see what kind of knitting notions we might be able to order there.

How to Pick the Best Yarn Needle?

We were actually pleasantly surprised by the fact that you can get essentially any knitting supply you want on the Internet, which we guess we should have known. In fact, we found so many options that we started bookmarking all kinds of different designs and packs so we could collect the best ones to go back through after andreally choose the best one.

By the time we’d placed our order, we realized that we’d basically also compiled a recommendations list, so we decided to share it so that other knitters who need yarn and darning needles can see the options too.

Best Yarn Needles to Buy

Check out these nine needles available for sale online that we came across in our search.

1. Editor’s Choice: WooCrafts Large-Eye Blunt Needles

Woocrafts large eye blunt needles

While you’re replenishing your darning needle supply, would you actually prefer to pick up and restock on some of the other useful knitting notions that you find useful in your process and like to have on hand? We’re always losing hooks and stitch markers, so we can totally understand wanting to have extras. That’s why we liked this bundle offered byWooCrafts so much!

Obviously, the part of this kit we found the most immediately useful; was the range of yarn or darning needles it includes; you’ll get nine of them in a range of sizes, all stored in a convenient cylinder case, so you don’t lose them. On top of that, you’ll get a small pack of locking style stitch markers, nine crochet hooks in a full range of useful and practical gauges, and a cute zipping case to keep it all in that’s small enough to toss into your knitting bag.

View price on Amazon

Pros:

  • Perfect for knitters with arthritic hands thanks to the handles.
  • 9 different sizes.

Cons:

  • The case isn’t that sturdy.

2. Fairycece Embroidery Needles

Fairycece embroidery needles

Instead of buying a whole kit full of other knitting notions, would you much rather just stick to what you need currently and buy a pack of darning or yarn needles specifically? Well, especially if you like the idea of getting a range of sizes, then we think you might enjoy what this pack fromFairycece has to offer.

In one simple, snapping plastic case, this brand offers you 12 yarn, darning, or tapestry needles in one place, organized strategically by size and color. Each color is a different size, which helps you find them quickly and easily without having to search through all of them when you’re in the middle of something. The brand provides you with five large needles, five medium gauge needles, and two of the smallest size. We love that they’re all metal, since sometimes the plastic ones can break if they’re of cheap quality.

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Pros:

  • The pack features 12 darning needles in three sizes.
  • Comes with a handy tube to keep them all.

Cons:

  • The needles aren’t sharp, so it may be difficult to get through some knots.

3. KOKNIT Crochet Hook Set with 100 pieces including Yarn Needles

Koknit crochet hook set with 100 pieces including yarn needles

Did we actually really pique your interest when we started talking about full kits that will replenish all kinds of notions besides the darning needles you need to weave your ends in, but you’d rather invest in something even more thorough than what you saw before if that’s the idea you’re going to go with? Then we think you might get along a little better with a kit like this one fromKOKNIT!

This kit offers you nine darning needles in total, some of which are plastic and some of which are metal. You get a range of sizes in each, letting you choose whether you want the strength of the metal ones or the flexibility of the plastic versions.

Besides giving you darning needles, however, this kit also gives you a pretty good overview of the fundamentals of the kind of essentials knitting kit that every knitter, new and experienced, should have! This makes it a great gift for someone else as well as a restocking effort for yourself.

View price on Amazon

Pros:

  • Complex kit with over 100 pieces.
  • Knitting and crochet supplies.
  • Cute case to keep them all in.

Cons:

  • Better suited for beginners, rather than experienced users.

4. Lion Brand Yarn 400-5-5002 Large-Eye Blunt Needles

Lion brand yarn 400 5 5002 large eye blunt needles

Are you intrigued by the idea of purchasing metal darning needles on their own, preferably in a kit that includes a few sizes to work with, but you’d rather keep things a little simpler and more basic than what you’ve seen so far since you know you can be guilty of losing them anyway? Then maybe you’d get along better with something like this six-pack from Lion Brand Yarn!

Even in the smallest sizes, these darning needles are specifically designed to have large eyes, making them easier to thread and more diverse in the way they can be used with a wider range of yarns if the eye can fit more gauges. These needles are made of nickel-plated steel, so, between that and the number of them that you receive, it’s practically a gift that you can get this whole pack for only $6!

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Pros:

  • Super affordable set.
  • Features six blunt needles in three different sizes.

Cons:

  • The needles sometimes snag in the yarn.

5. Knitter’s Pride KP800198 Wool Needles

Knitter's pride kp800198 wool needles

Have you actually always had a little bit of trouble getting your darning needles threaded, for whatever reason, even though you definitely keep them on hand because you use them all the time? Then maybe you’d have better luck with this design from, Knitter’s Pride that has a flexible loop in the end instead of a metal or plastic eye!

To account for differing sizes of yarn, these three needles are different weights and lengths, while their loops areall wide and round enough to fit just about any size of yarn. Their variance in color makes it easier for you to quickly grab the one you’re looking for while you work, and the fact that you can get them for only $3 makes them practically irresistible, if you ask us.

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Pros:

  • Compact set, features only three needles.
  • Great starter kit.

Cons:

  • Threading the yarn through the loops can be a bit difficult.

6. Mira Handcrafts 24 Acrylic Yarn Skeins with Two Yarn Needles

Mira handcrafts 24 acrylic yarn skeins with two yarn needles

Have you actually been searching for darning needles as part of your goal of making someone you love and who has been wanting to learn how to knit for a long time now a customized starter’s kit? Well, if you’re also looking for some affordable but fun yarn that they can play around with and learn on to be part of the kit alongside the yarn needles, they’ll need to eventually weave the ends on your first project in, then we’re pretty sure Mira HandCrafts has just the kind of thing you’re looking for!

Besides two strong steel darning needles, this kit also gives you two different crochet hooks in different sizes; these will be useful in learning how to pick up dropped stitches, so simply just in learning how to crochet, period! The balls of yarn themselves are a versatile double knitting weight that’s easy to learn on and are made of acrylic, which means they’re sturdy and washable. Along with a few additional things, this bundle could easily be made part of a great learner’s pack.

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Pros:

  • The set includes two crochet hooks, 2 weaving needles, and 24 different-colored acrylic yarn skeins.
  • You also get access to 7 e-books with yarn patterns to try.

Cons:

  • Some of the yarn skeins are super small, so don’t expect to make a sweater out of them.

7. BetyBedy Large-Eye Blunt Needles

Betybedy large eye blunt needles

Has the best thing you’ve seen so far on our list actually been the little cylinder of darning needles in a whole range of sizes that came in the zipping variety pack right at the very top, but you can’t help wishing you could get that precise thingwithout everything else? Then we have a feelingBetyBedy might have just solved all of your problems!

This particular kit offers you nine yarn or darning needles that are each made of stainless steel and that span a range of sizes, with one repeat in each just in case you lose one. After all, it never hurts to have a backup! These needles are specifically designed to be rust-proof, while their little plastic case makes them easy to store or throw into a knitting bag without losing the needles themselves.

View price on Amazon

Pros:

  • The set features nine different needles, in three sizes.
  • Comes with a cute storage bottle.

Cons:

  • Threading through knots can be a bit difficult due the shape of the needles

8. Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles Set with Yarn Needles

Bamboo circular knitting needles set with yarn needles

When we started talking about buying “yarn needles,” did you think we meant actual knitting needles rather than just darning needles for weaving in ends and sewing seams? Well, we actually did find a unique knitting needle option that we just couldn’t resist, including because we found it so useful, even though it doesn’t feature the darning needles you actually came here for. Katrina Yu has you covered!

In this kit, which arrives in a cute zipping canvas case that fits a surprising number of notions, you’ll actually receive an entire set of interchangeable knitting needles that can be locked onto or unlocked from separate round need cords in different lengths. The kit gives you beautifully smooth bamboo needle tips ranging from 3.0mm to 10mm wide. You also get a ruler and needle gauge tool, locking keys to make sure your tips stay on your cord while you’re working, a stitch holder, and end stoppers for if you have to borrow the needle tips, you’re using on one project for something else. Clearly, this kit is more of an investment than a set of darning needles, but it would complement several of the other notions kits you’ve seen so far rather nicely indeed if you’re aiming to get a beginner all set up!

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Pros:

  • The kit features 13 pairs of bamboo knitting needles.
  • The needles are interchangeable as they go on cables.
  • Features a cute storage bag.

Cons:

  • Cords are a bit stiff, so it may take a while to get used to them.

9. Chunky Knit Blanket DIY Kit and Large Yarn Needle

Chunky knit blanket diy kit and large yarn needle

Did we actuallyreally catch your attention here right at the end with this talk of purchasing actual knitting needles, but the thing that you’ve been yearning to try the most lately has actually been novelty-sized bulky knitting? Then we think you’ll get a real kick out of this very last kit on our list, courtesy of Rising Phoenix Industries!

Rather than being interchangeable on cords, these needles are simple, old-fashioned straight needles. This time, however, they’re custom-made for very thick yarn that knits up rather quickly indeed. Since the sizing is quite special, these big wooden needles are actually sold in a kit alongside the yarn you’ll actually need! The funniest part? This yarn is so thick that you might not actually need a darning needle to weave your ends in at all; we’ve tried knitting with the weight before, and it was big enough that we actually just did it with our fingers, and it worked just fine.

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Pros:

  • Perfect for those who want to try out knitting with thick yarn.
  • Comes with large wood knitting needles.
  • Features two needles and three super bulky yarn skeins.

Cons:

  • Yarn shreds a bit.

Conclusion for The Best Yarn Needles

Do you know a fellow knitter or yarn crafting enthusiast who needs some new yarn or darning needles but is curious about their options and could use some more information? Share this post with them, so they have all kinds of things to choose from!