Don’t be afraid of circular knitting needles? A practical guide
If you've ever picked up a pair of circular knitting needles and thought, "What's the point of circular knitting needles?" you're in good company. They look a bit unusual at first. Two needle tips connected by a cable does not immediately scream "simple and relaxing hobby".
One thing I often say to customers when this comes up is: Try imagining that the needle tips aren’t actually joined by a cable. Once you look at it that way, a circular needle is really just two knitting needles with a flexible connector between them. You're still making exactly the same stitches.
Circular knitting needles have been around for decades and are widely used by knitters of all levels. Once people become comfortable with them, many end up reaching for circulars more often than straight needles. Here are a few reasons why.
Circular knitting needles are a tool well worth getting comfortable with
Circular knitting needles often look more complicated than they really are. Once you start using them, they quickly become just another tool in your knitting kit.
Many knitters end up preferring them for garments because they reduce sewing up, help distribute the weight of the project, and make certain techniques easier to manage.
And perhaps the most reassuring thing is this. You're not learning a completely different skill. You're simply knitting the same stitches you already know, just on a slightly different set of needles.
If you've been curious about circular knitting, it might be worth giving them another try. They can open the door to some very satisfying projects.
Fewer seams and neater garments
One of the biggest advantages of circular knitting needles is the ability to knit garments in the round. Instead of working flat pieces and sewing them together later, the fabric forms a continuous tube.
That means fewer seams to match up and sew together at the end. Anyone who has wrestled with side seams on a cardigan or sweater will know how satisfying that sounds.
Knitting in the round can also help patterns flow more smoothly around the garment. Stripes and colourwork wrap naturally around the body instead of needing careful alignment at the sides.
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Always working on the right side
Another reason knitters enjoy circular knitting is that when you're working in the round, you're always on the right side of the fabric.
For many patterns this means you can simply knit knit stitches all the way around. There are no purl rows to work on the wrong side. Many knitters find that rhythm soothing and easy to follow.
This is especially helpful for colourwork such as Fair Isle. Because you're always knitting from the front of the work, the yarn strands stay neatly at the back the whole time.
Less strain on hands and wrists
Circular knitting needles can also feel more comfortable during longer knitting sessions.
With straight needles, the weight of the project sits on the ends of the needles. As the knitting grows larger, that weight can place strain on your hands and wrists.
With circular needles, the stitches sit along the cable instead. The project rests comfortably in your lap while you knit, rather than hanging off the ends of the needles. Many knitters notice that this makes long projects feel easier to manage.
Not just for knitting in the round
Despite the name, circular knitting needles are not limited to knitting in the round.
You can use them perfectly well for flat knitting too. In fact, they can be very useful for large projects like blankets or shawls. The stitches spread out along the cable, which makes the knitting feel lighter and less crowded.
Some knitters even find that large projects knit faster this way because the stitches move more easily along the needle.
Different ways patterns use circular knitting
Circular needles open up several construction styles that are becoming more common in modern garment patterns.
I'll start with a simple use for circular needles and that is for knitting a wide item for instance a blanket. When you are making something a metre wide you might struggle to fit all the stitches on a straight needle not to mention the difficulty in moving the stitches up and down the needles!
Some garments are worked from the top down, beginning at the neckline and knitting downwards. This approach allows you to try the garment on as you go and adjust the length if needed. The Sirdar 10690 pattern is a good example of this style.
Other designs are worked from the hem upwards. You knit the body first and then divide the work at the armholes. Sirdar 10699 uses this construction.
You can also knit the entire body of a garment in one piece up to the armholes before separating the sections. This method is particularly helpful when knitting stripes because it keeps the pattern aligned across the side seams. Sirdar 10801 follows this approach.
For sleeves, some patterns use double pointed needles or a very short circular needle. Another option is the magic loop method, which allows you to knit smaller sections like sleeves using a standard circular needle.