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World’s Largest Knitting Needles & Crochet Hook in Casey, Illinois

These roadside attractions might cause you to knit your eyebrows in confusion. But let me spin a yarn about the (former) World’s Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook in Casey, Illinois.

World's Largest Knitting Needles in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction

Casey is a small town in Illinois known for its big versions of ordinary things. It’s home to the world’s largest mailbox, world’s largest rocking chair, and world’s largest barbershop pole, just to name a few. 

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The giant knitting needles were crafted to-scale out of white pine and each measure 13 feet .75 inches long and 3.25 inches in diameter. The crochet hook is 6 foot 1.5 inches long and 3 inches in diameter. They were fabricated by Jim Bolin (the man behind most of the town’s world’s largest things) as a gift for Jeanette Huisinga, owner of a local shop called The Yarn Studio.

World's Largest Knitting Needles in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction

In order for a world record to be set, these big things couldn’t just look like the object they were representing, they actually had to function as them. So, on May 20, 2013, when Guinness World Records came to town for a verification ceremony, Huisinga knit and crocheted some giant 10-stitch by 10-row tension squares in front of a crowd of elementary students.

After that impressive display, the giant knitting needles were declared world’s largest, beating out a former 11.5 foot, 3.15 inch diameter record holder from the UK. And the giant crochet hook set a brand new record.

Giant Crochet Hook in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction

Technically, both of these Illinois roadside attractions’ world records have since been broken. In 2017 a 14 foot 6.33 inch, 3.54 inch diameter set was verified in Chippenham, United Kingdom and a 9 foot 1 inch, 4.3 inch diameter crochet hook was verified in Colchester, United Kingdom.

But don’t let that make you cast off this attraction. Casey’s giant knitting needle and crochet hook are still a purl among the town’s giants.

Former World's Largest Knitting Needles in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction
Giant Knitting Needles in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction
World's Largest Crochet Hook in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction
World's Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook at The Yarn Studio in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction
Big Knitting Needles in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction
Giant Knitting Needles in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction
World's Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook at The Yarn Studio in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction

Spend the night in Casey! Find the best Casey Illinois Hotels and find out where to stay to see big things!


World’s Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook (Former)

Address: 2 East Main Street, Casey, IL 62420
Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 10am-4pm (Check the Yarn Studio’s website for up-to-date-information), Visible through the Windows
Cost: Free to See


Pin this Illinois roadside attraction:

These roadside attractions might cause you to knit your eyebrows in confusion. But let me spin a yarn about the (former) World's Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook in Casey, Illinois. Visit these big things on a road trip to Casey, Illinois or your weekend getaway in town.  #IllinoisRoadsideAttractions #IllinoisRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #RoadTrip #IllinoisRoadTrip #IllinoisWeekendGetaways #IllinoisWithKids #IllinoisRoadTripTravel
These roadside attractions might cause you to knit your eyebrows in confusion. But let me spin a yarn about the (former) World's Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook in Casey, Illinois. Visit these big things on a road trip to Casey, Illinois or your weekend getaway in town. #IllinoisRoadsideAttractions #IllinoisRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #RoadTrip #IllinoisRoadTrip #IllinoisWeekendGetaways #IllinoisWithKids #IllinoisRoadTripTravel
These roadside attractions might cause you to knit your eyebrows in confusion. But let me spin a yarn about the (former) World’s Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook in Casey, Illinois. Visit these big things on a road trip to Casey, Illinois or your weekend getaway in town. #IllinoisRoadsideAttractions #IllinoisRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #RoadTrip #IllinoisRoadTrip #IllinoisWeekendGetaways #IllinoisWithKids #IllinoisRoadTripTravel

VALerie BROMANN

Founder & Head Road Tripper

Val is the founder and head road tripper at Silly America. Having grown up near Berwyn's famed car kabob, The Spindle, and a restaurant with a cow on its roof, her fascination with roadside attractions started early. Today, Val has visited hundreds roadside attractions across the United States and is constantly on the lookout for the next BIG thing!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.