Help please - circular needles

I didn't think you could Bez. There's no point having circular needles if you're going to turn round and create a need for a seam.

Yes, you can. You just turn the work around as you would if you were knitting on two needles. a circular needle is good if you're knitting a large piece because it can hold more stitches without them being too cramped. If the piece is not actually joined in a circle, you could also use two needles if you prefer.

My thoughts too Carol -- have been sitting here trying to picture how you could go back and forth with just one -- thank you for saying it would work bagi --- think I might just go for the right size and a normal pair though.
Thank you for replying. x x

Bez circular needles scare the pants off me but do have a look on YouTube as there are often tutorials.

I gather ...from someone who always uses circular needles (though uses them as we would a pair of needles) ...that for large items ...it helps to distribute the weight of the piece as it grows

Yes. You also need less "elbow room", I find. (But maybe I'm a clumsy knitter).

I could understand using circular needles if you want a seamless garment, as this appears to be, and using circular needles because you can get many more stitches on, but the way this is described, it's a seamless garment that would not necessitate turning round and going in the opposite direction, as the pattern appears to indicate, would it?

I don't get the impression from bez's description that it is a seamless garment, carol. Up one side and down the other suggests no shoulder seams, but you might need side seams, mightn't you? Are there any seams, bez?

By the way, I would recommend having a go with circular needles. My daughter and I have found them very easy and comfortable to work with for both to and fro knitting and circular knitting. Except socks. Socks are still easier on a set of double pointed straights!

Check out ravelry.com site for tips as well, and Drops Design.

My youngest son often uses circular needles and says he finds it much easier for knitting hats and some big things, but he always knits socks on four needles.

yes Bagi - you have interpreted right - it is a pattern with side seams but no shoulder seam -- might give the circular ones a go.

I would also recommend trying circular needles. They're very comfortable to work with once you get used to them. I don't use anything else now.
By the way, apart from Ravelry and Drops design sites, patternfish is a good site to trawl through when you're searching for a pattern (I don't think any of them are free as with Drops patterns and some of the Ravelry designs-they are quite cheap however and you download and print a pdf)

The best thing about circular needles, assuming you don't turn round and come back, is that you don't have to sew up the seams and so the whole thing can look neater. (I hate sewing up, anyway.) In fact I usually use a circular needle up to the armholes and if it's a set-in sleeve I pick up and knit downwards for the sleeves which avoids the sleeve seam and the sewing in of the top of the sleeve, which I find very hard to get right. Quite often you can go round and round with a pattern although you do have to count your rows more carefully to know when you're on the "purl" one. I'm doing an Aran at the moment and it's turning out all right. I don't think they make circular needles small enough to do socks, but 4 needles are fine - you often need them for the lower part of sleeves too.

I am in the same boat Bez, I want a pattern for a plain toddler dress and have looked for a free pattern on Ravelry but they all seem to be knitted in the round (which they do far more in the states I believe). I have actually made an appointment to have a free lesson at John Lewis on Saturday. Wish me luck!!

Have fun, nanapug. If you learn how to do "magic looping" (I think that's what it's called), you can teach the rest of us!

Ha ha Bagitha, have looked at that on youtube and it looks complicated. May have to give it a go though if you are up for a lesson!

DD says it's dead easy, once you've got the hang of it .

I just got the hang of the 'magic loop' technique and it really is dead easy, once you get going, it seems logical. All you're really doing is using the loop bit to 'store' the stitches whilst you knit as if with two needles, and round and round you go Am knitting a smart beret style hat.

I love to work on circular needles and do so for most of my projects of any size. It minimizes the weight on my wrists and it stores very nicely. I frequently carry my projects in ziploc baggies and can take them any where. I can work in smaller spaces without needles sticking out hitting arm rests or nearby strangers. I can take many projects such as sweaters and eliminate the side seams because I can put so many more stitches on the needles. You could never use 29" straight needles.

I've just bought a continuous loop needle.

blimmin' knitting shop returning books to me (i do them sale or return for resale purposes) - they returned a "socks from the toe-up" one and I wanted to try it.
i can't knit.

It is easy to convert a pattern on circulars to flat knitting..just add an extra stitch at each side to allow for seaming..then complete pattern. I hate knitting on circulars, have tried them but was then taught how to convert a pattern. I also knit socks on two needles and they wear just as well as on dpns.

Just completed a bit of mobius knitting. 420 stitches for each round. It looks good finished and as an experience was a worthwhile challenge but the finished piece is almost unwearable as its 15" deep but has no where for arms so feel like in a straight jacket!!

Just ordered £60 of angora wool to knit one 2 ply cardigan, the back of which is made on four needles and a jacket made of small crochet squares. Am I mad or what.?

ElsieJoy thanks for that tip it's just common sense really isn't it I am often put off beautiful patterns that involve circular needles. I am currently knitting socks on dpns two needles are much more my style.

Brendawymms Yes you are mad but I bet it will look fantastic when it's finished,