Affordable Short Knitting Needles from Temu for Sleeves and Socks

Short knitting needles, especially short interchangeable circulars—often called shorties—are one of those tools that many knitters are curious about but hesitate to buy. I was in exactly that spot when I decided to try an affordable short knitting needle set from Temu and test it on a real project: the sleeves of my Nia Sweater.

I used these needles consistently, finished both sleeves in three days, and paid attention to everything from tip sharpness and cable behavior to comfort, sound, and overall feel. If you’re wondering whether affordable shorties from Temu are actually usable—or just another “too good to be true” purchase—this review is for you.

Why I Decided to Try Shorties

I’ve been curious about shorties for a while, especially for sweater sleeves and small-circumference knitting. I’ve looked at premium options like Chiaogoo shorties more than once, but the price always made me hesitate. Not because they don’t look good, but because I wasn’t sure if short needle tips would actually work for my hands.

Short needles are very personal. Some people love them instantly, while others find them awkward or uncomfortable. I didn’t want to invest in a higher-priced set without knowing whether shorties were even a good match for me.

The push came from a knitting meetup. Someone casually mentioned using short interchangeable needles from Temu as a low-risk way to test shorties before committing to a more expensive brand. That idea made sense to me. If the needles were usable, great. If not, at least I’d know shorties weren’t for me—without spending a lot.

So I ordered an affordable short knitting needle set from Temu, fully expecting it to be a “test run” rather than a long-term solution.

What’s Included in This Temu Shorties Set

This set is the Guclud Interchangeable Short Circular Knitting Needles Set, which includes a wide range of needle sizes, swivel cables, and basic accessories for short-circumference knitting.

Accessories and Extras

For the price, the accessory list is surprisingly generous.

Rubber grip pad (1)

The black rubber grip pad helps when tightening the needles, but it does attract dust and lint quite easily. Functionally it works, though aesthetically it’s not my favorite piece in the set.

Cable stoppers (4)

Having four cable stoppers is genuinely useful, especially if you like to park stitches or swap needles mid-project. Two of the stoppers were a bit stiff the first time I screwed them on and required extra force, but after that initial use, they worked just fine.

Tightening keys (2)

These are standard tightening keys. They do exactly what they’re supposed to do—nothing special, nothing to complain about.

Cable connectors (2)

I haven’t tested these yet on a project, but they screw on securely and feel stable, with no wobbling.

Needle Tips and Sizes

This is where the set really surprised me.

You get 12 pairs of aluminum needle tips in the following sizes: 3.0, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and 8.0 mm. That’s a wide range, especially for a shorties set.

I was particularly happy to see 3.25 mm and 3.75 mm included. Those in-between sizes are often missing from budget sets, and they’re incredibly useful for getting gauge just right. The only size I wished for was 4.25 mm, but considering the price and coverage, I was still very satisfied.

They’re slightly over 2 inches long, not a full 3-inch shortie, which puts them firmly in shorties territory.

Cables

The set includes four swivel cables: 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, and 60 cm. This range covers most small-circumference needs, from sleeves to smaller accessories, and even allows for some flexibility if you want to size up mid-project.

The Case and Storage Thoughts

The case itself isn’t bad at all. It’s sturdy, holds everything securely, and feels durable enough for long-term use. However, it’s also quite thick for what I prefer in short needles.

For someone with plenty of storage space, this probably won’t be an issue. For me, it was. My knitting storage is fairly compact, and the bulkiness of the case made it inconvenient. I ended up transferring the needles to a slimmer organizer and stopped using the original case altogether.

That said, if storage space isn’t a concern for you, the case is perfectly usable and well made.

Using These Shorties on Sweater Sleeves

I used these needles for the sleeves of my Nia Sweater. Both sleeves were knit in the round, and I finished them in three days total.

From a practical standpoint, these short circular needles for sleeves did exactly what I needed them to do. I didn’t experience hand or wrist pain, even with fairly long knitting sessions. That alone was a big relief, since comfort was one of my main concerns going into this.

The needle length worked well for sleeve knitting, and I never felt like I was fighting the tools. For small circumference work, these shorties made the process smooth and straightforward.

Needle Tips – Sharpness, Finish, and Weight

Tip Sharpness

One of my biggest questions was whether the needle tips would be too blunt or poorly finished. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case at all.

The tips are sharp—comfortably so. They’re not aggressively sharp to the point of splitting yarn, but they’re precise enough to handle decreases, tight stitches, and more detailed work without frustration. Compared to Chiaogoo needles, I didn’t feel like I was downgrading in sharpness.

Finish and Consistency

The finish across all needle sizes was consistent. I didn’t notice rough edges or uneven tips, which is something I always worry about with budget tools.

The size markings appear to be printed on the needles. After completing both sleeves, the markings were still intact. I want to double-check over longer use, but at least after one full project, they held up well.

Weight

Because these needles are aluminum, they’re lightweight. That made a noticeable difference during longer knitting sessions and likely contributed to the lack of wrist fatigue.

The One Thing That Really Bothered Me: Sound and Friction

This is where the biggest downside comes in.

There’s a noticeable scratching sensation when knitting. It’s not just a sound issue—although the sound is definitely there—it’s also the tactile feeling of metal rubbing as stitches move along the needle.

I’m usually not sensitive to metal needle noise. I use steel needles regularly and have never been bothered by the sound they make. But these aluminum shorties felt different. The stitches moved smoothly on the needles, but there was a constant metallic sensation that I could feel through my fingertips.

At first, this was genuinely distracting. It took some adjustment, and I had to be more mindful of how my hands and fingers touched the needle surface. Toward the end of the sleeves, I adapted, and it became much less noticeable.

Still, this is something to be aware of. If you’re particularly sensitive to sound or tactile feedback, this might be a dealbreaker. For me, it was annoying—but not enough to stop using them.

Cable Performance and Swivel Experience

The swivel cables were one of the best parts of this set.

I’ve used swivel cables before, but this set was a good reminder of why people like them so much. The cables didn’t twist, didn’t fight me, and made switching cables mid-project incredibly easy.

I didn’t experience yarn catching at the joins, and the cables had virtually no memory. Even after being coiled for storage, they relaxed quickly once I started knitting again.

Functionally, the cables performed very well, and I didn’t feel like I was compromising just because the set was affordable.

Color and Design – Not My Taste, But Functional

Visually, this set is not my favorite.

The bright red cables, colorful needle tips, and mismatched cable stoppers don’t align with my personal aesthetic. The black rubber grip pad also tends to collect dust, which doesn’t help.

That said, there is a practical upside. Brightly colored needles make it easier to see stitches, especially when working with dark yarns. From a usability standpoint, the colors do their job—even if they’re not my style.

Value for Money – Worth Trying Before Going Premium

At around $20, this set delivers far more than I expected.

Are there drawbacks? Yes. The sound and friction are real, and the design won’t appeal to everyone. But for the price, the overall quality, range of sizes, swivel cables, and comfort level are impressive.

As a way to test whether shorties work for you before investing in a premium brand, this set makes a lot of sense.

Quick Summary Before You Decide

Before getting into who I’d recommend these Temu shorties to, here’s a quick breakdown of how the needles, cables, and accessories performed overall. This isn’t a verdict—just a practical snapshot of what worked well and what didn’t, based on actual use on sweater sleeves.

Who I’d Recommend These Shorties To

I’d recommend these affordable short knitting needles to:

• Knitters curious about shorties but unsure if they’ll like short needle tips
• Anyone who wants a low-risk way to try short interchangeable needles
• Knitters working on sweater sleeves or other small-circumference projects like socks and mittens.
• Those who value function over aesthetics and can adapt to minor drawbacks

If you’re sensitive to metal friction or sound, these might not be your perfect needles. But if you’re open to adjusting and want an affordable entry point into shorties, this set is surprisingly capable—and honestly better than I expected.