Circular Needles
Circular needles feature two pointed needle tips connected by a flexible cable, allowing you to easily knit sweaters, hats, and sleeves in the round.
Explanation
Circular needles consist of two short needle tips connected by a flexible wire or cable. Circular needles are used for knitting in the round (without seams), such as for sweaters, hats, and socks. They come in different lengths – short (16 in / 40 cm) for hats and sleeves, medium (24-32 in / 60-80 cm) for sweaters, long (32-40 in / 80-100 cm) for sweater bodies and magic loop, and extra long (40-47 in / 100-120 cm) for large pieces such as blankets. You can also use circular needles for flat knitting if you prefer.
Also known as: Circulars, Circs
For working round and flat
A circular needle is two tips joined by a cable. It is used to knit in the round, but works just as well flat — and then the cable carries the weight of the fabric in your lap rather than in your wrists. Many knitters use circulars for everything.
The cable has to be shorter than the circumference you are knitting. A 16-inch circumference will not go on a 32-inch needle; for that you use magic loop or double-pointed needles.
Fixed and interchangeable
Fixed circulars have the tips permanently attached. Interchangeable sets let you combine tips and cables freely and work out cheaper if you knit a lot — but the joins can loosen mid-round if they are not tightened properly.
Reading a circular needle's specification
A circular needle has two numbers, and both matter. The needle size sets your gauge; the cable length determines what you can knit on it at all.
The cable plus both tips has to be shorter than the circumference you are knitting, or the stitches will not reach around and will stretch off the tips. A hat at about 20 in (50 cm) circumference wants a 16 in (40 cm) cable; a sweater body usually wants 32 in (80 cm) or more. Cable quality is the other thing worth paying for: a stiff cable that keeps a coiled memory will fight you for the entire project, and no amount of technique compensates for it. Soaking a stiff cable in hot water relaxes it temporarily.
Common mistakes
- Using a cable longer than the circumference, so the stitches will not reach around.
- Forgetting to tighten the join on interchangeables, so the cable works loose mid-round.
Keywords
- circular needles
- knitting in the round
- cable needles
Frequently asked questions
What length should I start with?
A 32-inch (80 cm) circular covers a great deal: sweater bodies, shawls, and anything worked flat. A 16-inch is useful for hats and cowls.
Can I knit flat on a circular needle?
Yes. You simply turn the work as you would on straight needles. The weight distributes better and you cannot drop a needle on the floor.
Can I use a circular needle for flat knitting?
Yes, and many knitters use nothing else. You simply turn the work at the end of each row as you would with straight needles. The weight of the fabric sits in your lap rather than on your wrists, which is more comfortable on large pieces.