Pattern from Soft & Simple Knits for Little Ones by H. Boyd

[Magnoliamama]

Hi Mamas!

I have been lost in motherland for a while, I haven't posted here in ages. I took up knitting in Fall of 2006, and since then have puttered along with some hats and scarves and dishcloths, plus play purses for my girls. I'm having a lot of fun -- I can do the basics, although my seaming is a disaster (messy!) and my stitches are still pretty loose, especially with cotton thread. Anyway...

My question is regarding a book I recently purchased (40% coupon @ Jo-Ann!) because I'm ready to try something beyond a scarf and I'm ready to move on to circular kneedles.

There are a couple of patterns where the author actually recommends knitting on TWO circular needles. She even explains this as her own home-grown technique. To imagine it, it's kind of a variation on magic-loop-type technique where you slide the yarn back and forth. I don't want to invest in sets of TWO circular needles and cables - that seems excessive. Her alternative is to knit on a set of DPNs.

I want to knit on ONE circular needle. Can I simply follow the instructions for the pattern and just use one circular, or is there something I need to look for and change? The pattern I am looking at is for Zip-Up Tassel Vests on page 61 and Handy Mittens on page 79.

Thanks for your help in advance -- appreciate it very much! Looking forward to posting more here, as I am currently brimming with knitting energy. :

Becky

[Mamax3]

Welcome Back!

I knit socks on 2 circulars and once I got the hang of it, I love the technique. I wondered the same thing when I first began knitting the socks, but what I figured out was that the socks were too small in diameter to fit on one circular and if you use a longer circ needle you have to fight with the yarn to get it around. To put it simply, it is much easier to learn to knit with the 2 circs or use DPNS like the pattern calls for.

It seems expensive when you purchase 2 sets of the same size circs, but I use mine all the time for socks so they've been worth the money. I prefer to knit with circs than with DPNS.

Good luck!