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Arts & crafts

Circular needles

(17 Posts)
overthehill Thu 22-Apr-21 13:23:57

What a revelation. I'm knitting myself a cardigan and so many stitches on the back made it difficult on the medium sized needle and I don't like long ones, they get in the way. I bought myself the Zing posh circular needle and it is wonderful.
All the stitches can be pushed aside. As it get larger the weight is on your lap and not straining your wrists, less lightly to lose a needle when you go to put it away (down the sofa with me). What's not to love, circular from now on for me.

LadyGracie Thu 22-Apr-21 13:55:58

I agree overthehill they’re so much easier to use. I like them so much that I bought a set with interchangeable needles, longer cords for more stitches.

tanith Thu 22-Apr-21 14:18:02

They certainly are a revelation.

Nannagarra Thu 22-Apr-21 14:26:17

I also use them for knitting back and forth, not just in the round. They’re smaller, easily transported when I meet the K and N group, I’m not going to poke someone sitting next to me and there’s no likelihood of me losing a needle.
I tend to go for fixed ends now for, as much as I tighten them, they eventually work loose. The interchangeable points with varying cord lengths are still in use from time to time.

Niobe Thu 22-Apr-21 14:48:11

My mum was an avid knitter and when she died I inherited her ( vast) collection of knitting needles. I kept all the circular ones and donated all the straight ones to a charity shop. She never used the straight needles since she discovered the circular ones and neither did I for the same reason as previous posters have already stated.

Callistemon Thu 22-Apr-21 15:09:19

I just knitted a large garment on circular needles, back and forth, having resisted using them for years.

Yes, so much better on the wrists.

I bought a KnitPro set with interchangeable points so they are versatile for different yarns.
(Hope that is not advertising)

Callistemon Thu 22-Apr-21 15:10:39

Nannagarra I wondered if they might work loose but they didn't - they come with a little gadget to tighten them.

SueDonim Thu 22-Apr-21 15:25:22

I’ve got a couple of circular needles and found that items grow very quickly using them, but I find that having to keep moving stitches from the flexible part to the needle part is annoying. Maybe I’m doing it wrong? I like short straight needles, which is fine as I mostly make children’s items, not adult ones.

Witzend Sun 25-Apr-21 08:29:01

I only first used one recently when knitting scarves for charity - 270 sts IIRC, so too many for ordinary needles.
Took me a while to get used to it, though.

SueDonim, the first I used was very old, inherited from my mother, and it was very difficult to move the knitting from the fixed to the bendy bit.
I looked online for a new one which is very smooth and easy.

nanna8 Sun 25-Apr-21 08:33:32

I must try them for jumpers. I have only used them for socks and beanies so far.

NotSpaghetti Sun 25-Apr-21 09:27:03

I'm another convert too.
I don't do a lot of knitting to be honest but find them very easy.

Purplepixie Sun 09-May-21 12:48:19

When I first tried them I hated them but needs must when I was doing the edge of a single knitted bed cover. Now I love them. As you say, the weight is on your lap and you can get loads of stitches on them. I am converted!

Grandmajean Sun 09-May-21 12:52:19

Have used them for circular and back and forth ever since I was a young teacher and one of our staff knitted every lunchtime with them. She had a Norwegian husband and said everyone in Norway used them. She had the entire staff knitting with circular needles in no time. Have never gone back to two pins.

Nannagarra Sun 09-May-21 13:49:36

Callistemon

Nannagarra I wondered if they might work loose but they didn't - they come with a little gadget to tighten them.

Callistemon - my interchangeable needles are Knitpro. They do work loose no matter how much I tighten them with the pin provided. I was told that should I ever lose it, a straightened paper clip would also do the job.

CraftyGranny Mon 17-May-21 13:20:36

I too love the circular needles. I have found my knitting technique has changed, for the better and I swear my knitting has improved since I have been using them.

Has anyone tried the tiny circular needles, e.g. for socks, instead of the double ended needles?

growstuff Mon 17-May-21 13:28:13

I knitted a seamless blanket on them. It's lovely and snuggly.

PinkCosmos Mon 17-May-21 13:44:01

I struggle with circular needles. I just can't use them. I was taught to knit with the right hand needle under my arm and just (mainly) moving the left hand needle. I can't knit any other way now.