The Story of Addi

Family, Craft, and 200 Years of Making — The Story of Addi

Image - Claudia Malcus the owner of ADDI and her daughter Pauline Dörr

A Family Legacy in Every Stitch

There’s something special about a company that’s been making the same thing for generations — not because it has to, but because it wants to.
Addi, the much-loved German knitting needle maker, is exactly that kind of company.

Founded in 1829 by Peter Heinrich Selter in the small town of Altena, Addi has been crafting precision knitting needles and crochet hooks for almost two centuries — and always in the same valley in North Rhine-Westphalia. Over the years, each generation of the Selter family has carried the flame of craftsmanship forward, blending tradition with quiet innovation.

Today, that legacy continues under Claudia Malcus, who has worked with Addi for nearly forty years, and her daughter Pauline Dörr, who recently joined as a junior manager. Together, they’re shaping the next chapter of Addi’s story — one that celebrates family, craftsmanship, and care in every detail.

Innovation with Heart

If you’ve ever knitted with Addi needles, you’ll know they feel different — smoother, lighter, more alive in your hands.
That’s not an accident. Addi’s engineers and craftspeople have spent decades perfecting what they call “the haptics” — the tactile feedback of a needle that makes every stitch feel satisfying.

It’s why innovations like the CraSyTrio double-pointed needles, Novel Lace ergonomic square needles, and the Unicorn range have all become favourites around the world. Each new design begins with a simple question: “How can we make knitting feel even better?”

Why Addi Matters to Me

When I first discovered that Addi was still family-run, I knew I had to find out more. Family companies, after all, put their hearts where others might put their profit. Before I knew it, Marc from Addi’s sales team was sitting at my dinner table, explaining the subtle science of needle “haptics”.

That’s when it clicked for me — Addi’s magic isn’t just in the engineering; it’s in the feeling.
The gentle texture of the AddiNovel, the buttery smoothness of the Olivewood range, and that tiny, almost meditative “rub” of stitches moving across the metal — it’s knitting you can feel.

As I often say, a stitch becomes a breath — and Addi seems to have built that mindfulness right into their tools.

Looking Ahead to 200 Years of Addi

As Addi approaches its 200th anniversary, Claudia and Pauline remain committed to keeping production in Germany — an impressive feat in today’s world.
Their goal? To continue innovating while staying true to their roots: quality, craftsmanship, and care.

That’s why I’m proud to stock Addi here at McIntosh.
Not just because they make the finest needles I’ve ever used, but because their story mirrors my own belief that craft can connect generations, calm the mind, and colour our lives.

Shop Addi at McIntosh

Explore the full Addi collection — from Olivewood luxury needles to CraSyTrio sock sets — and discover the tools that turn every stitch into a mindful moment.

Visit ADDI at McIntosh