Shawl Pins That Won't Snag Your Knits

A shawl pin holds a wrap, shawl, or chunky-knit cardigan closed without buttons, so the point and clasp matter more than the sparkle. Three styles cover most needs: the classic stick-and-loop, where a long pin slides through a fixed ring; the penannular (Celtic-style open ring) that locks under the pin's own tension and rarely snags; and magnetic pins that clamp two layers without piercing fine yarn at all. Look for a smooth, well-polished point — a burr or rough tip will catch lace-weight and mohair. Common materials are turned hardwood, hammered brass, pewter, sterling silver, hand-thrown ceramic, and antler or horn. Sizes run roughly 3 to 5 inches; longer pins suit bulky garter-stitch wraps, shorter ones suit fingering-weight shawls. Price bands: simple wood and pewter pins $15-$35, hammered brass and ceramic $25-$55, sterling and gemstone-set designs $45-$110. Many stock pins ship in 3-7 business days; custom engraving or made-to-order metalwork runs 1-3 weeks.

Use the material and style filters to jump to wood, brass, pewter, or magnetic pins, and the related searches below to find penannular and chunky-knit sweater pins.