newbie knitting ?'s, re: circ & dpn

[amandaleigh37]

I've only knit a few things so far, nothing in the round. I bought a pair of size 9, 16" circular needles to try making something (I don't know why I picked that size... I think I saw a pattern for a toddler hat that i've since misplaced). Anyway, do all of the patterns for hats & such also require DPNs? I want to learn to do these things but unsure of which size(s) I should buy to start out. I guess what I'm asking is, what is a simple way to learn/practice?

Thanks for your help.

[SoCaliMommy]

Buy either Denise Interchanables or Knit Picks Interchangable

It will save you money from having to buy needles in the long run


You can do Magic Loop Using a 47" circ is way easier than trying to use a 16" fixed circ when working in the round.

Oh and any pattern that calls for dpns you can just use magic loop instead of dpns.

[~Megan~]

Some hat patterns, most in fact, do require dpns. You can dp magic loop, though some people don't like it (me included). As for the above suggestions, I had a Denise set and continually broke them. I really prefer the Addi Turbos but I understand hestancy to pay $16 a needle when you can buy a whole set for $40.

[amandaleigh37]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure I want to invest in a whole set at this point, since I'm *brand* new to knitting and would want to be sure I'll keep it up before I spend the money on a nice set. Is there a simple project I can make with the circular needle I have, where maybe I'd only have to buy a set of DPN's & can try it out first?

[sabrinat]

I know some people don't like them because they feel the cable is stiff, but I got a set of Boye Needlemasters that have size 2-15 in them for $25 at Tuesday Morning. I have to say I love them...and I love the price. I'm not a very fast knitter and I don't mind the cable at all so you might check in to seeing if you could find those. I do love Addi's but my LYS sells them for $15 at that price it get's a bit rich for the blood. I do have KP harmony interchangeables...if I had it to do over I think I would get the nickels since I've had issues with the tips coming unglued. (KP replaces them without a problem...but still)

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by amandaleigh37

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure I want to invest in a whole set at this point, since I'm *brand* new to knitting and would want to be sure I'll keep it up before I spend the money on a nice set. Is there a simple project I can make with the circular needle I have, where maybe I'd only have to buy a set of DPN's & can try it out first?

I don't like dpns and almost never use them. It's easy enough for me to adjust pattern to using magic loop or 2 circs. Two circs is my favorite. You can also use your circ to knit flat. I can't think of a pattern that needs just one 16" circ, but check Ravelry, where you can search patterns by needle size.

[love2bmom]

Although I'm a magic loop person, I still like dpns for some jobs. I think the top of a hat would be one of them. I find that on really small numbers of stitches I seem to like dpns better for some reason.
At any rate, buying just a pair of Knit Picks needles here & there is still less expensive (even w/ shipping) than buying them at my local yarn shop.
There are a few hat patterns that are knit flat and seamed up the side.
Happy knitting

[TortelliniMama]

I think learning to use dpns is useful (even if only to tell you that you really want to learn to magic loop or use two circulars instead ), but if you want to make something with just a 16 inch circ, maybe a cowl? There's no decreasing, so you wouldn't need dpns. Here's a simple one.