Abstract: A knitting needle has multiple segments, at least one of which is relatively non-rigid, wherein the segments can be combined to produce a needle that is sufficiently rigid to be used for knitting, while also having diminished usefulness as a weapon. In three major classes of embodiments, one of the segments fits inside the other in a telescoping manner, one of the segments wraps around the other, or the two segments can fit together in some sort of slotted fashion. There may be one or more engineered points of structural failure. Segments can be held together frictionally, magnetically, threadably, using a snap or twist and lock fitting, or in any other suitable manner. Contemplated segments can have any suitable composition, including especially a bendable plastic or a foam rubber.