I got a note earlier this year from Estelle, a company that distributes ChiaoGoo needles in Canada, offering to provide me with a free set of ChiaoGoo interchangeable needles to try and an extra set to give away. I’ve heard all sorts of gushing love from knitters about the ChiaoGoo red circular needle cords over the years, so I was excited to try them! (My go-to for years has been HiyaHiya sharps.) Plus, I always love a giveaway. Since Estelle is a Canadian distributor, my giveaway is just for Canadians, but ChiaoGoo is doing a ton of fun promotions and giveaways in the US this year, so check out their Instagram account if you’re not Canadian.

If you’re curious about ChiaoGoo as a company, here’s a link to their info. They’re a family-owned company with design and distribution in Michigan and a manufacturing facility based in Hangzhou, China. I love that the name ChiaoGoo means “highly skillful and crafty lady” and was inspired by the founders’ mother, a knitter.

I only want to knit with very pointy tips and my hands are definitely happier with longer needles, so I chose to get the 5” lace tips. This is the complete set, with both the small and large tips and cables. I’ve been knitting with these for about a month and have tried a few different sizes, so I’m ready to review them and give away that extra set! First, here’s a quick video showing the kit and everything it comes with:

5” long tips in 13 sizes from US 2-15/2.75-10 mm
Three cable lengths to make 24" (60 cm), 32" (80 cm) and 40" (100 cm) circulars (3 each for small and large needles — they require different cables because of the attachment point.)
Accessories: Connectors, end stoppers, tightening keys, stitch markers, and a needle gauge
A cloth case labeled with the different sizes

And here’s how you attach the needles to the cord.

And here’s my review!

Metal lace tips

I love these tips. They’re exactly what I want — super pointy, slick, and fast. I especially love pointy tips like this for cables and lace, but I prefer them for everything. I know lots of folks like blunter tips and enjoy the warmer feeling of wood, but this is my favourite style. They feel a lot like my usual HiyaHiya sharp tips.

Andrea holding a pair of ChiaGoo knitting needle tips in front of the whole set of interchangeable needles.

That famous red cable

I’ve worked with these cables in the standard way on the yoke and body of a top-down sweater, as well as using the magic loop method for the sleeves and a sock. They feel stiffer than than the plastic blue HiyaHiya cables I’m used to, but not in a bad way. My biggest endorsement is that I hardly noticed the cable itself while I was working.

I chose the 5” tip set, so there isn’t a 16” option, which I’d want for things like hats, but aside from that, the cables should be sufficient for most of my knitting needs. I have a bunch of fixed 16” circulars because I pretty much only want to use them when absolutely necessary, as my hands don’t like those shorter tips that are necessary to get a needle to only be 16” around.

The join

How tips and cables join up is a huge part of how well interchangeable needles will work in practice. Like HiyaHiya cables (and unlike Addi Clicks, which have a spring mechanism), these attach just by screwing them in. You use a tightening tool that looks like a T pin (but isn’t sharp) to secure them. I like this because it’s really smooth when it stays together. the point where the cable meets the metal is also super smooth, even smoother than my HiyaHiyas. But my one complaint is that the cable doesn’t swivel at the point where it meets the metal. I found that they came unscrewed more frequently than my HiyaHiyas as I worked, even after tightening with the tool, which seemed related to that lack of swivelling. So that was something I had to pay a little bit more attention to. But, the smoothness of the join was so nice that I’m not actually sure which needles I prefer overall.

Extras

I love that the case is well-made, compact, zips to make it really practical, and has the sizes labeled in both US and metric. I’m gonna admit that the fabric is really not at all my style, as I prefer more earthy tones (I’m obsessed with Bookhou for example) and have never been a big fan of the strong contrasts of black, white, and red, but that’s just an aesthetic thing.

I like that it comes with stoppers and connectors. I haven’t actually used them yet, but it’s good to know they’re available. And I didn’t try the stitch markers cause once again, they’re not my style. I think it’s the bright colours and also that they’re thicker than what I usually use. I tend to go for very slender, simple stitch markers. I’m not the person to use a pretty beaded or decorative marker, so I don’t think I’m the target audience for these.

The gauge ruler is a nice addition, but I don’t think I’ll really use it because the needles are pretty clearly labeled and the case is also labeled. But maybe the print on the needles will eventually wear off and I’ll need that more.

ChiaoGoo interchangeable knitting needle case with the accessories set out beside it — two plastic bags with red cables, a white needle gauge ruler, a small plastic bag with black and white stoppers, tightening tools, and connectors, and a small pla… — ChiaoGoo interchangeable knitting needle case with the accessories set out beside it — two plastic bags with red cables, a white needle gauge ruler, a small plastic bag with black and white stoppers, tightening tools, and connectors, and a small plastic bag with circular stitch markers of various sizes in bright shades of blue, yellow, green, and pink.

Overall

I really like this set and will definitely be using it a lot. The tips are perfect, the cables feel great, the join is smooth, and I love that it comes with so many sizes. They do come unscrewed sometimes, but that’s inevitable with screw-in needles. The alternate connecting option of a spring mechanism can come undone at really unfortunate times too, so I think it’s just the price you pay for the convenience of interchangeable needles.

The Giveaway!

Estelle gave me an extra one of these sets to give away to a lucky Canadian! Head on over to Instagram to enter. Non-Canadians, I’ll be doing another giveaway soon that’ll be open worldwide.

Set of ChiaoGoo interchangeable knitting needles wrapped in plastic with a red ribbon and a big ChiaoGoo postcard.

ChiaoGoo Knitting Needle Review