Knitting in the round. HELP!!!

I use the double ended set of four needles when doing socks etc. I find that very comfortable to do it that way but will now look on YouTube to see how you use a circular needle.

Using a technique called Magic Loop, even the smallest round knitting can be done on circular needles. Some of the newer circulars have long, very flexible cords. I learned Magic Loop by searching for videos on youtube and I do everything circular with this technique. I've even converted some patterns, written for flat knitting then seaming, to be worked on circulars.

I enjoyed working with the circulars so much that I do all my flat knitting on them now, too, investing in a set of interchangables with extra cords.

Toe up socks, four at a time, on two circular needles. I've turned all the heels and now just need to finish the legs. Not something I'll do again, but just because it became tedious, not because it was difficult. I normally do socks two at a time, no second sock syndrome.

The trick is actually to use TWO circular needles. Effectively you hang your knitting between them. It's very easy once you get over the psychological hurdle! I recommend the book "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" by Cat Bordhi. But you can use the technique on any piece of in-the-round knitting. I've done pocket bags and mittens with it, and I'm sure that if I ever feel up to doing an entire jersey or steeked cardigan I will use the same technique. Also you can use the same pair of circulars for lots of differently circumferenced items. Match it with Judy's Magic Cast-On and Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sewn Bind-off and find out what amazing things are possible!

I've recently bought a circular needle to try and also some row markers which sounded a good idea. In spite of my good intentions to knit for Christmas I've not got round to it yet!

I do knit socks etc with double pointed needles. However I am left handed and when I first started I went round the wrong way. I have to really concentrate when starting then it is fine

As others have said, make sure the length of the needles matches the maximum number of stitches of your knitting. There are an enormous range of circular needles for sale online so it is easy to choose one most suited to your needs.

DD has been using them recently when she was knitting a cardigan that had the equivalent of a circular yoke. She had over 200 stitches on her needles at one point and the pattern recommended circular needles even though she was knitting back and forth in the conventional way mentioned above by loopylou.

I use circular needles to knit the conventional way too, turning after each row. The weight of the knitting sits on your lap and I find my hands ache less when knitting Aran jumpers for example.

Mine did too, and my mum and my British/ZA mil and sil... and I had to learn at school, with 4 + 1 (mil did 3 + 1) - but yes clicekty click and a pain- hence the bright idea to invent circular needles - which are brilliant. As said, all you need is to have the right cord size for the job, a stich marker to mark the beginning of a row, and Bob is ...

My grandmother used to knit socks on four needles. Clickety clack

I have used circular needles a lot and found them better than ordinary ones. That was until I had to stop knitting because my arms were developing what appears to be RSI in my arms and my thumb joints were also giving me a lot of pain.
I was about to knit a large throw but It would take me years to complete. It's a B*****ation

I knitted some fingerless gloves a few years ago I did the first one on double pointed needles but then bought a circular needle, at first I thought it was impossible to get the hang of, but after watching some utube tutorials found it easy peasy and very speedy. If you search utube look through till you find one you like the look of there are loads.

No, you just have to have circular needles with a very short cord between the needles for smaller items like gloves and socks - the size of the cord has to fit the project. Much better than struggling with 3 + 1, or 4 + 1 s in Ye Olde Days.

If you google it, you will find quite a few tutorials which explain it really well.

I would go for double pointed too , much better , the circular needles are ok for larger things

I don't like circular needles. Have you tried knitting on four double pointed ones - the old fashioned way?