Using circular knitting needles?

Question

I have a few pairs of circular needles, but the only ones i can find are 80cm long. I went to loads of shops to find smaller ones but the cord is always 80cm. is this bad, and if not, can you tell me how to use circular needles, i have all the equipment ( stitch markers etc ) but dont know what to do. I want to make some socks so is 80cm to long?? and if not, how many stitches do i do. i also have dpn so could you also tell me an easy way to do that. I dont mind if you dont answer all of this, but some would help.
Thanks.

Answer 1

It is easy enough to use the magic loop method, once you have seen it it is logical.

There is a video explaining it and other methods on this page:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques



I saw that some circular needles are also sold in 40 cm length but that is still way to long to knit socks without the magic loop.



How many stitches depends on the yarn you use, which has to be knitted with a fitting size of needle, and maybe also the pattern you use.

Best search for wool and pick a pattern that uses the same size of needle in the gauge as the needles you have.



I prefer circular needles with the magic loop over double pointed needles, but both can be used for socks. You can even change from the one to the other if you want.



Added after reading Tantalise's answer:

You do not need long needles to knit with the magic loop method.

At the moment I knit one sock on a 60 cm needle and the other sock on an 80 cm needle. Both work well.

I also have a long needle, a 250 cm long needle, you can use it with the magic loop method, but the ones below one meter work better for the smaller projects.

Answer 2

You need an exceptionally long circular needle (40 inches = 100 centimeters, right?) to do magical loop.



What you can do, is use TWO circular needles of the same diameter/needle size, instead of double point needles.



Some people like to have needles that are two different colors for this technique. You knit the front of the sock on one needle, and the back on the other. When you reach the last stitch, you knit it, drop the needle completely, then pick up the other needle and knit with it.



A designer called Cat Bordhi has a book "Socks Soar on Two Needles" explaining this technique. It might be available in a public library so you could check it out before you purchase it.

Answer 3

There is a technique for using circular needles to knit socks, but it can't be described online and it's kind of advanced. Usually one uses DPN needles to knit socks. I would suggest getting a good basic book on knitting. One of the best is Maggie Righetti's book "Knitting in Plain English" which should be at your library or local bookstore. It explains all the techniques, how to choose yarn, which needles are best for what, etc. Good luck.

Answer 4

there is a method using circular needles called magic loop knitting - there is a video on youtube describing this.

When doing magic loop knitting the longer the needle the better.



For stitches to cast on - it depends on the yarn so doing a search for sock patterns will bring up plenty of sites with patterns for you to choose from



good luck

Answer 5

If you are just wanting shorter circular needles, you can go to a hardware store & show the clerks what your needles are bound with & how long you want. They can cut it to order, no issues. As for socks, dp's are the way to go. I have done them with dp's & circular & the circular was much more difficult & the tension just would not stay correct.

Answer 6

Use a place marker which you are going to discover rather on the top of the row once you turn the around needles!! i take advantage of a distinctive yarn tied in a loose bow so it exhibits the place the beginning up ending is. you only turn the entire element and initiate returned doing the subsequent row. i take advantage of a pencil to tick off the rows as finished to boot.