Where to Shop for Cheap Circular Knitting Needles

Many modern knitting patterns - especially sweater patterns - call for circular knitting needles. While there are many advantages to using circular needles including being able to try on pieces as you knit and avoiding seaming, the needles themselves can be quite expensive. Depending on the size of needle you need as well as the style you go with (metal vs. bamboo, etc.) you can sometimes wind up paying $20.00 or more for a single set of circular needles. If you do a lot of knitting and need to get needles in many different sizes this can add up very quickly.

Fortunately there are some places you can shop for inexpensive needles. By saving money on your needles you can afford better yarn, more needles or can simply afford to do more knitting. Here are some places to look for cheap circular knitting needles:

Thrift Stores

Thrift stores are some of the best places to find bargains on knitting supplies and circular needles are no exception. Many times you can find sets of needles in multiple sizes for a fraction of the price you would pay to buy them new. Usually knitting supplies are found in the fabric or craft section of the thrift store.

Garage Sales

Garage sales are another likely place to shop for inexpensive circular needles. In particular, keep your eyes open for garage sales held by churches or senior centers as fund raisers. These sales can offer a treasure trove of knitting supplies for pennies on the dollar.

Hang a Flier

Can't find needles at a thrift store or garage sale? Try hanging a flier at your local library or community center. Many times people will have old circular needles laying around their house that they are happy to sell for a very small sum of money. In some cases they may even be willing to give them away for free. Be sure to include your contact info on the flier that you post and to state that you are looking for knitting supplies - circular needles in particular.

Online Auctions

One last place you can find inexpensive needles it through online auctions. Typically you'll find the best deals on bamboo cicular needles. Many sellers offer bulk sets where you can get a variety of sizes in one package. Usually these discount needle packages ship from overseas. I recently bought a set from a seller in China and was very happy with the quality of the needles. I received 8 pairs of bamboo needles for $14.99 including shipping. That's a huge savings over what I would have paid to buy all those sets individually.

I hope that helps give you some ideas on where to look to find bargains on circular knitting needles and other knitting supplies. Good luck with your future projects!