FORTÉ tips are ChiaoGoo's carbon fiber interchangeable needle tips. Each tip has a carbon fiber shaft with a stainless steel join at one end and a stainless steel sharp lace point at the other.

Carbon fiber has slightly more grip than ChiaoGoo's stainless steel tips and less than SPIN bamboo. The grip holds slippery yarn on the needle, and stitches still slide easily along the shaft. ChiaoGoo press-fits the steel ends onto the shaft, grinds each join for a smooth connection, and finishes the tips with a nano-coating.

Sizes

These are 5-inch (13 cm) tips, in 15 sizes from US-2 (2.75 mm) through US-15 (10 mm). One size is not included in the FORTÉ set: US-10.75 (7 mm). Every size has a carbon fiber shaft. The FORTÉ 2.0 set has African Blackwood shafts in US-9 through US-15.

Cables and Swivel Adapters

FORTÉ tips screw onto ChiaoGoo interchangeable cables. Choose a cable with the join size that matches your tips:

FORTÉ tip size	Cable join
US-2 through US-8	Small [S]
US-9 through US-15	Large [L]

Red TWIST and silver SWIV360 cables come in both join sizes. Find both in the ChiaoGoo Interchangeable Cables collection. ChiaoGoo has discontinued its clear nylon SPIN cables, and some Small [S] and Large [L] lengths are still in stock.

Choosing your cable length

Two 5-inch (13 cm) FORTÉ tips add approximately 10 inches (26 cm) to the cable length.

Cable	Circular needle
14-inch (35 cm)	24-inch (61 cm)
22-inch (55 cm)	32-inch (81 cm)
30-inch (75 cm)	40-inch (101 cm)
37-inch (95 cm)	47-inch (121 cm)
50-inch (125 cm)	60-inch (151 cm)

Choosing a swivel

A swivel lets the cable turn independently of the tips, so the cable does not twist as you knit. A swivel is optional, and tight stitches made with fine yarn can catch on the swivel. Swivels are available for Small [S] and Large [L] tips, US-2 through US-15:

• Silver SWIV360 cables: The cable has a built-in swivel, so you need no adapters.
• Red TWIST cables: These have fixed joins. A pair of swivel adapters adds a swivel, one between each tip and the cable. FORTÉ tips also connect directly to red TWIST cables without adapters.

Other ChiaoGoo Tips

FORTÉ tips also come in a 4-inch (10 cm) length. For sizes smaller than US-2, stainless steel TWIST Lace tips come in the same 5-inch length in a wide range of sizes: US-000 (1.5 mm) through US-15 (10 mm). Every ChiaoGoo tip length and material is in the ChiaoGoo Interchangeable Tips & Hooks collection. Not sure whether 4-inch or 5-inch tips fit how you knit? The tip length guide covers the difference.

Product Details

• Brand: ChiaoGoo
• Item #: 4505-2 through 4505-15, one item number per size
• Line: FORTÉ
• Material: Carbon fiber shaft with a stainless steel point and join
• Tip Style: Round, with sharp lace points
• Tip Length: 5 inches (13 cm)
• Sizes: US-2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 10.75, 11, 13, and 15 (2.75 mm to 10 mm)
• Pack: Two tips in one size
• Join Sizes: Small [S] for US-2 through US-8; Large [L] for US-9 through US-15
• Size Marking: Permanently laser-marked on each tip

Questions About These Tips

Will they fit in a ChiaoGoo case?
Yes. FORTÉ tips fit in the ChiaoGoo Interchangeable Case, which has 29 labeled inside pockets and one outside zippered pocket. The FORTÉ 2.0 case is not sold separately.

Do the tips come loose while knitting?
They can if they are only finger-tight. Tighten each tip with a tightening key through the hole at the cable's join every time you attach it. The guide to keeping your ChiaoGoo tips secure shows each step.