avoiding circulars

peace2778 · 11-07-2008, 01:10 AM

I'm new to knitting but it feels so familiar and wonderful. But I don't like knitting on the circulars I have tried. I want to knit a long rectangle on straight needles but I don't know if I can scrunch the whole thing on one. Is there anything I can do to avoid the circular needle? I'm imaging using dpns with end protectors but worry it will cause loose stitches. I am only able to afford the bare min right now in supplies....and the dpns will be useful for other things...thanks for listening!

Jan in CA · 11-07-2008, 06:16 AM

You don't like circulars??

What is it you don't like if I may ask? I just can't imagine knitting with straights anymore.

A large piece of knitting on straight needles is very hard on the arms and hands. It gets heavy after awhile. Not impossible if you buy extra long needles though.

crazykntter83 · 11-07-2008, 07:12 AM

awww don't hate on the circulars, they're your friends. I used to think they were evil, until one day I decided to give them one more go, and they made the pain in my wrists go away.

Maybe you just need a little more practice.....anyway, sorry about the rambling. Good luck!

teachermom · 11-07-2008, 12:05 PM

I use my circs for larger projects because the weight of the project is not in my hands, wrists, and arms.

I still use straights for smaller projects, like scarfs.

I love my DPNs for hats and socks...

circs take some time to get used to because the needles fit a bit differently in your hand, however, I notice that once I knit a few rows, I've gotten used to it.

If you are tight on money - you can always make your own needles with dowel rods. (You'll need to get a needle gauge if you want to make a specific size - they are only a few dollars) there was a thread on this topic and I believe that there is a video under the video section.

When I started knitting, I only bought the needle sizes I needed and I asked my family for certain needle sizes for b-day and xmas gifts. Eventually, I got enough needles that I don't have to buy as many as I used to.

losnana · 11-07-2008, 01:29 PM

Give the circs another try. they take some getting used to, but I can't imagine using straight needles anymore, much less DPNs. I use my Options for everything I knit, and LOVE them.

Knit4Pie · 11-07-2008, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by peace2778

I want to knit a long rectangle on straight needles but I don't know if I can scrunch the whole thing on one. Is there anything I can do to avoid the circular needle? I'm imaging using dpns with end protectors but worry it will cause loose stitches.

One thing, if you don't think the stitches will fit on a regular straight needle, there's no way that they will fit on DPNs. Dpns are in general, much shorter than regular needles. Unless I'm missing something in what you wrote.

I can't knit on straights anymore either. I tried a couple of times for a project that was knit flat, but just couldn't do it.

sue in canada · 11-07-2008, 02:08 PM

What kind of needles did you try? I hated circulars until I used Addi needles. I just loved them and have since used all kinds of circulars. Give them another try and you will probably get to love them..

11-07-2008, 03:29 PM

I kind of agree with everyone else. I've been knitting for about three months now. I bought a pair of bamboo 8" straights to teach myself how to knit. Then I bought a pair of metal 13" straights, which I found to be heavier. They also wore my arm out because I knit English.

About one month into knitting, I joined the Southeast Oddball baby blanket group here and discovered that I would need some circulars to make baby blankets with. At first, they were akward. I kept thinking, "How am I going to be able to knit on these things and not get my working yarn tangled up in the cable?" But, I wanted to learn because I wanted to do the charity knitting.

So, I started doing flat things. I was even confused the first time I put a project on my circulars because I thought that everything done on circulars had to be in the round, like socks or hats or whatever. But, I quickly discovered that my arms weren't getting so tired and I didn't have to move as much to knit. I was in love! I bought the whole set of Knit Picks Harmony Options and some Addi Turbos in small sizes to make socks. Honestly, I'm never going back to straights.

shelluie · 11-07-2008, 10:07 PM

maybe you should try the circulars at least 1 more time and you might find that you start to like them. I didn't like them the first time I used them - they seemed so ackward to me. But now I will grab them over straights. For me, I am able to knit faster using a circular because it lets me hold the needles in both hands and I don't need to rest the one needle on my leg (that's how I knit with straight needles - probably strange! hee hee).

crazykntter83 · 11-08-2008, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by shelluie

For me, I am able to knit faster using a circular because it lets me hold the needles in both hands and I don't need to rest the one needle on my leg (that's how I knit with straight needles - probably strange! hee hee).

No that's not strange at all, I used to hold mine the same way lol.