Before this spring, I’ve mostly been a sock knitter. Sure, I’ve made a few other projects here and there, but mostly I’ve spent a lot of time with my tiny DPNs. For larger projects, I usually just took out my flat bed knitting machine. So, when I decided that I really wanted to lean into hand knitting some sweaters back in December of 2024 I knew it was time to invest in some interchangeable knitting needles. So, I decided to try and find the best interchangeable knitting needles for me. In the post, I’ll give you a full review of the ones I choose from Lantern Moon.
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Why I Chose Lantern Moon Knitting Needles
Pros: Pretty, nice texture, cords and needles available individually.
Cons: Less smooth and sharp than metal, bulky cord caps, less than smooth transition between needle and cord.
Honestly? Because they were pretty. Ok, this wasn’t the only reason, but the dark ebony wood and the gold plated connectors are just really my vibe. So, when I got to the part of my search where all the remaining options started seeming the same, I decided to go with the ones that I liked the look of the most.
There were a few other things I considered when I was starting my search. The most important thing was that the needles needed to be available individually, not just in setts. I didn’t want to purchase a big set of needles in sizes I wouldn’t end up using. I also wanted the flexibility to buy a few needles and try them out before investing a lot of money.
Another thing that was important to me was having the flexibility to change up my needle or cord style latter without replacing all my cords. The Lantern Moon swivel cords are compatible with other interchangeable knitting needles made by Knitter’s Pride (which is transitioning to the name KnitPro) and may also be compatible with a few other brands (I haven’t tested this myself, but I trust the folks over at r/knitting to know what’s what).
How I’ve Used My Interchangeable Needles
Since I started collecting Lantern Moon interchangeable needles over six month ago, I’ve used them to knit projects using a wide range of fibers and yarn sizes.
The first project was a scrappy raglan Whatever Sweater made from odds and ends of (mostly) fingering weight superwash wool held double. Then I made a variation on the Sophie scarf using Jo Sharp Mulberry Silk Georgette. I made a short sleeve raglan spring sweater from some Knit Picks Shine Worsted and two copies of the Tolsta Tank out of DK weight Cascade Ultra Pima and DROPS Belle. Currently, I’m working on the DanDoh Lily sweater using DROPS Bomull-Lin (a worsted weight cotton linen blend) and the Gone to Seed cardigan in a custom dyed wool/silk/cashmere blend from Knomad. I also knit another small scarf using an improvised pattern and some hand spun merino yarn.
Most of my knitting has taken place at home, but I’ve taken these projects with me to work, on day trips, and even on two short air plane trips.
So, you can see that over the time I’ve had them, I’ve really throughly tested these needles out!
What I Like About Lantern Moon Interchangeable Needles
First, I liked that it was very easy to buy needles and cords individually. While they do come in sets with cases, it also wasn’t hard to find them sold individually. I bought some of mine through Jimmy Beans Wool and other through Amazon. I was able to buy exactly the cords and needles I needed for each project as needed. Over the last six month I’ve built up a decent collection, but since I was buying tips one set at a time, it didn’t feel like I was spending a ton of money in any one go.
This also allowed me to experiment a bit. The needle tips come in two different lengths, which I appreciated as an interchangeable needle newbie. While I ended up preferring the shorter, 4″ style, I was glad to have the chance to try out the 5″ variation. This is also one of the other benefits of buying individual needles before getting a big set.
Second, I really enjoyed knitting with ebony wood needles. Not only are they just as pretty in person as they are in the online photos, but there is another advantage to the color that I didn’t anticipate: it’s just really easy to see my work on these needles. Because they’re dark in color and not at all shiny, light to medium colored yarns show up really well on the needles. I tend to knit a lot at night in not the best lighting and the dark needles do make it easier to read my work.
Using the needles in general has been great. The wood has a smooth texture with a small amount of grip. This means that yarn slides on and off smoothly when knitting, but I’m less likely to drop stitches than when I use metal needles. They also feel structurally sound. I haven’t managed to break one yet and I haven’t been particularly careful. My project bag often gets shoved unceremoniously into my work or travel bag, so it’s entirely possible I’ll crush one at some point.
Changing needles is also quite easy. While they come with a small device to tighten them, I usually can remove and attach the needles with just my hands. I found I needed the tightening device on one specific needle the first few times I attached it, but after that I could do it with my hands.
The cords come with caps so that you can put sections of your knitting on hold as needed. Sure, I could use a piece of scrap yarn to put my stitches on hold, but it’s nice to be able to keep them on a cord while I’m working on another section of my project.
I also appreciated that the cords come in sets of two. At this point, I have six total cords in three sizes and that’s enough to get me through most sweaters without needing to put anything on hold using scrap yarn.
Downsides of the Lantern Moon Interchangeable Knitting Needles
While I love the color scheme of Lantern Moon needles, they do only have the one option. If you’re not into ebony and gold, there isn’t any alternative in this line. This isn’t a huge issue, but it is worth noting.
While I love that the needles are a little “grippy,” this may not be the best choice for every knitter or every project. I love a slightly less-smooth needle when I’m doing complicated lace patterns, 1×1 ribbing, or anything that uses a slippery yarn. However, They can slow things down a tiny bit when I’m trying to knit large areas of stockinette in the round. I might look into buying some compatible metal needles like the KnitPro Mindful to add to my collection at some point to give me a faster option on simple projects.
Another drawback of wooden needles (and I suspect all interchangeable needles) is that there’s a limit on how small they can go. Lantern Moon needles don’t have tips smaller than US size 2.5 (3mm). I bought some ChiaoGoo fixed circular needles when I needed them to knit the ribbing on a project, and I didn’t find it too awkward to switch between fixed and interchangeable needles when I needed to.
Because these are made of wood, they also are a little less pointy or sharp than metal needles might be. This wasn’t a problem for me, but if you tend to prefer really pointy needles, you may want to stick to metal.
I also suspect that all swivel cord needles will have the same, slightly bumpy, transition between the cord and the spot where the needle attaches. However, as long as I tighten the needle to the cord nicely, I don’t have any issues with that transition.
While I love having caps for the cords, the wooden ones they provide are bulky and cumbersome. I notice this especially if I’m at a part of my pattern that involves flipping my work a lot. One of these days I’m sure I”m going to crack my laptop screen by thwacking it with a wooden cap. I’ve also startled my cats a time or two. Smaller, lighter end caps would be really great.
Are These the Best Interchangeable Knitting Needles?
Since this is the only set I’ve worked with, I can’t say for certain that they are the best set in the world. And honestly, most knitters are going to have their own personal preference. But I do recommend this set for a few reasons.
First, the texture of the needles makes them work for a wide range of projects. Yes, metal needles would be faster at times, but I’d also be more likely to drop stitches. So, I’d consider this unless you’re a very experienced knitter, the slight slowdown should be worth the added security.
Second, once again, they are pretty. However, if ebony and gold is not your vibe, I’d be willing to bet most wooden interchangeable needles would perform similarly. So, my main advice would be to pick something that matches your own aesthetic.
Third, it was easy to build up my set slowly. Buying my needles piecemeal allowed me time to really test out the needles without too much of an initial outlay of cash. I also know that every needle I’ve bought so far has been used in a project. I like knowing I didn’t waste a bunch of money on needle sizes I’ll never use.
Based on my experience, the Lantern Moon interchangeable knitting needles would be a good investment for most knitters.
Other Interchangeable Needle Sets to Consider
However, if you think the Lantern Moon needles aren’t right for you, there are other great options.
I’ve only heard good things about ChiaoGoo metal needles. Many in the knitting community swear by them. Personally, I really like the fixed circular ones I’ve used.
If you like the look of the Lantern Moon needles but want a different type of wood, this set from Global Wood Crafts also has the option for rosewood or olive wood. Not only are the needles beautiful, but there also are two case options: fabric or leather.
For those who like things a little brighter, Knit Picks has this metal set that comes in a rainbow of bright colors.
I’ve also heard great things about Addi’s addiClick needles. These have a slightly different attachment mechanism than other interchangeable needles, which you may or may not like.
There even is a very nice set of hexagonal shaped interchangeable needles from Indian Lake Artisans. They also sell these individually, which is nice! I got to play with these for a minute at a trade show back in May and they feel really nice in the hand.
Most, if not all of these can be bought either in sets or piece by piece. So if you’re currently on a budget like me, you can grow your set slowly, as needed.
If you’re really on a budget, I’d also recommend checking out creative reuse stores, garage sales, and thrift shops for interchangeable needle sets. You may not find the perfect set for you on the first try, but will learn the most about what you like and what you don’t like through using them. Then keep thrifting till you land on a set you love, or save up enough to buy something new with more confidence that you’ll love the set you get.
Have you used interchangeable knitting needles? Do you have a favorite brand or set? Leave a comment below and let me know!