| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 06:54:13 AM
My daughter is learning to knit on circular needles but neither of us understand the advantage.
We are likely doing something wrong, cause we cant figure out how to get the work off the needles.
Can somebody give us the basics on the why circular vs straight?
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| 4forMe |
Posted - Jan 01 2009 : 10:03:55 AM
I had trouble getting used to circular needles, I bought them so that I could knit socks and then didn't understand why I was using two sets of circs to make one sock. But once I got used to them, I LOVE THEM! I use circs to knit almost everything....straight knitting (like dishclothes) and hats, sweaters etc. I truly love them, I make less mistakes with them because my knitting doesn't "fall off" the needles and it is more comfortable for me.
A dishcloth is a great think to knit up when you aren't really knitting anything in particular, just knitting to be knitting. I love the cotton yarn on spools at Walmart (peaches and cream it is called an made in the USA)....this is great for washclothes/dishtowels, baby washclothes, etc.
Sewing, knitting, gardening mom of 4. |
| barnagainkristin |
Posted - Dec 31 2008 : 9:37:45 PM
Maybe someone already mentioned this but if you are knitting something that is too wide to fit on regular needles circular needles can be used so your stitches don't have to be so squished together. Just like Stephanie mentioned you can knit back and forth just like you would on straight needles but you can make things that are much wider than you would be able to make on regular needles if you purchase the right length of circulars. Happy Knitting.
barnagainkristin |
| yarnmamma |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 5:15:28 PM
I am now making a shawl in a triangular shape. Today I just switched from one circular needle knitted back and forth used like Steph said, like using 2 needles. I switched to 2 different circulars...(put something to stop on the ends so stitches won't fall off....there are knitting plugs sold cheaply for that. I simply used some ponytail holders for now...lol)
I will have lots of roomm for the width I want the shawl about 4 ft. and will have what is the same as 2 LONG knitting needles. I hope this is understandable....if I was just learning to knit I'd be totally lost with reading this. lol
Linda in Scranton, PA
farmgirl #71
Have a wonderful Farmgirl New Year!! |
| queenofdreamsz4u |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 12:16:27 PM
You can also knit a straight piece on circulars..cast on as you would for straight needles and start knitting back and forth....or for the circular knitted peice you would pull your stitches around the circle after casting on and join each end together to get the tube (circular) going.
I'm watching a lady at my local yarn shop knit a straight scarf on the circulars I did years ago.
Stephanie
www.queenofdreamsz.blogspot.com ~~~Rug Hooking, Crochet, Sewing, Life Collections & Recollections Blog
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.com ~~~~~My Website Catalog... More coming one day!!! |
| yarnmamma |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 11:30:38 AM
I love the circular needles and use them for everything. For me it's the feel of the stiff part being short. It took me a while to get my brain to understand them but I kept trying. I wouldn't recommend first learning on them for that reason...it's confusing until you get the hang of how regular straight needles work. I'd suggest learning about knit, purl and how it looks like and casing off or ending the project on regular straight needles first. Then the circular idea will be easier to understand. I love to knit, it's so relaxing.
Linda in Scranton, PA
farmgirl #71
Have a wonderful Farmgirl New Year!! |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 08:22:57 AM
AHA! Lots to lern now!
Gotta work on it a bit.
You guys are great- so fast and easy to understand.
I'm a quilter- so this knitting is a challenge for me-seems very slow!
Thanks a bunch!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| Jami |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 07:55:26 AM
Autumn, not sure how big that tube is she's got going, but if you find instructions via U-tube or a book to bind off maybe she can get the stitches off.
Also, stockinette stitch is the knit stitch showing on one side of the knitting and the purl stitch shows on the other side. On straight needles like you're using, you know doing a knit stitch, turning the work and doing the knit stitch again makes a bumpy texture, right? That's called garter stitch....but on straights if you knit on one side, turn and purl stitch, you get the stockinette stitch...smooth on one side, all uniform looking, right? So the circulars give you the advantage of not having to purl stitch...you just knit stitch over and over and over and it's faster as some find purling slower.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 07:46:17 AM
Actually we just watched a you tube video-
I was afraid we would have a bunch of OTHER stuff to learn to knit on these.
She will likely stretch to learn it all- I on the other hand am just learning on reg needles-so I am going to concentrate on that! Im old-takes me longer to learn!
Thanks so much girls- I think I GET what we're doing now!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 07:46:17 AM
Well, that's a way to start for sure!!! 
I really do like to use them for hats and circular knitting, where you don't want a seem. In fact, I'm making a sweater for my little done, due in February, and though the pattern calls for knitting on regular needles, I'm going to do the sleeves on circs, because it will be quick, and the stockinette will be automatically done for me. I REALLY loved that aspect, as well--I'm a tight knitter, and stockinette is lovely, but a bit of a pain because of the pearl rows...It also gets a bit "boring" so it's nice that you get stockinette with very little effort on the circs.
I would get a couple of free patterns for hats off the internet and let her try her hand at them. Sounds like she got the joining of the fabric and the knitting part right off the bat--shouldn't be difficult for her at all to move stitches off, onto double points.
Trying to imagine what she could do with what she's already made....maybe a pillow cover?
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| Jami |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 07:28:04 AM
Autumn, circular needles knit in the round so you don't have to seam or sew things together and instead of having to turn the work on straight needles and purl to get the smooth stockinette stitch on one side, you can go in rounds just doing the knit stitch over and over. Mainly they are used for hats, sweaters, felted purses, etc. You're right that you're just making a tube when you're practicing, but if you were working on a hat, for instance, you would start (bottom up method) with the circulars, just knit in the round the same knit stitch or whatever pattern stitch you want up to the point where you begin decreasing stitches for the shape of the head and when the circulars are too small/tight you switch to double-pointed needles, which obtain the same thing as circulars, no seaming to make a circular shape. When using circulars, one usually places a stitch marker at the beginning of the round and when you switch over to double-pointed needles, you just start there and start knitting onto the DPN's and knit it off of the circular one. To get your practice tube off of the circular needles, you need to learn to bind off. I imagine you've got a book or some instructions for your daughter for this? Good luck.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| DeepsouthMamma |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 07:06:25 AM
Ok -no laughing- we have no idea what shes making-just knitting!!!  That's why we needed to know what in the world we were trying to accomplish.
We saw the needles on sale and decided to give it a go!
We are adventurous- and ignorant!!!
So- it makes a tube? Thats wht shes coming up with.
Is that the goal for all/most circular knitting?
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 06:59:18 AM
At some point, you'll need to switch over to double pointed needles--then eventually decrease enough to tie the piece off. What is she making?
I love using the circulars for hats and sleeves, especially, though admittedly, it took some time getting used to them. Makes a nice, easy tube, or, if the "connector" is long enough in between, you can make a nice large piece of fabric by using them like regular needles, but there isn't any danger of losing the stitches.
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