Circular needles? What is the smallest length available?

[mamamoo]

Well the title says it all I think. I am wondering what the shortest length of circs is. I LOVE knitting with circs, and want to do socks badly, but 16s are the shortest I can find here, and they are too long to do a lot of the things I would like to do with them. I think I know how to do magic loop(I have been doing something either very similar, or the actual magic loop), but can not figure out what to do if there are only like 10 stitches(like for tiny mittens)...I can't join the round. Any ideas(besides dps!!)? TIA~Debi

[Trishy]

I think 12" are the shortest length but they are difficult to find.

[perditafoster]

Amazon has a knitting book for sale that teaches you how to knit socks on circular needles...It's call "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles: a Manual of Elegant Knitting Techniques and Patterns" by Cat Bordi. Haven't read it, just looked at it...if you give it a try post here and tell us about it

[Annie]

You could also use one really long circ, called the magic loop technique. This site has really easy directions.

http://www.az.com/~andrade/knit/mloop.html

[Queen Gwen]

Patternworks and Elann.com have the 12" needles. I like using 2 circs for the small stuff; I find short circs annoying. I always feel like the needle is going to snap off the wire.

For 2 circ technique you can look in the Socks Soar book that someone else mentioned, or you can just google and find all the info you need to know.

Another thought would be to make your own tiny circular needles. I've seen how-to-make-circulars somewhere online...I think it involved fishing line and wooden dowels.

[vkberes]

i've read somewhere it is easier to use dpn than small circulars but i have no idea. i hate dpn so i am going to watch this thread. :

[blazfglori]

Here's some 8.25 inch circs:

http://www.worldknit.com/Merchant2/m...y_Code=k_n_cir

I've been thinking about getting some to knit socks as well.

[mamamoo]

Thanks ladies!! Debi

[~Megan~]

The smallest I have are 8.25" they are flexible plastic and made by Clover

[alliwenk]

Ok, I know you don't want to hear this but my first thing that I have to say is to give the dpn's a real chance....they just take some getting used to I love them...2 things that helped me is to make sure to pull the yarn tightly after the first stitch on each needle so that you avoid ladders & to overlap the needles so that the working needle is above the next one...this lets you hold them at the crux between the 2 & get a nice sure grip. Even though there are 4 or 5 needles involved, you're still only working with 2 at a time.

Secondly, go see the magic loop demo here...I think you'll find it under "advanced techniques." She does the demo with about 10 stitches and gives an excellent tutorial.

I don't know about the 2 socks/2 circs method (because I do all socks on dpns) but I know some knitters that swear by it.

I'd try the magic loop or 2 circs thing before getting really short circs. I had to do a neckline on a baby sweater on a size 1 12" addi turbo & it gave me hand cramps just trying to get the needles to meet...very uncomfortable! A waste of $13.00.

Happy knitting!
Allison

[Mami]

Just wanted to let you know that the plastic clover circulars have funky sizing. I have some 12" from them and the size 8 corresponds to our size 7, but then the size 5 is actually a size 5(or at least so close you can't tell the difference). I had lys order them for me and when they came we just tested each one for size to find the ones I needed. A Grand Yarn(lys) will order 12" for you, I've gotten the clover and addis thru them, they may be able to get the 8.25" ones too. I'm with you btw, can't stand dpns, I'm a circular junkie :