Hi everyone. I’d like a little input as to which would be more versatile 5 inch versus 4 inch interchangeable needles. I finally decided to bite the bullet and go for a nice set. However, I’m in a quandary as to what length needles I should get.I have average size hands and can really knit with either Four or five. In truth, I think the 5 inch are a little more comfortable, but I think I would get more use out of the 4 inch.I’m thinking the 4 inch would be more versatile because it would allow me to do a 16 inch when added to the 8 inch wire. Thoughts please…
This is totally knitter’s choice. Personally I can’t use the shorter tips without my hands hurting but others love them. If you’re more comfortable with the longer tips I think they might be the better choice. You can add sets of shorter tips for the sizes you would use most for 16" needles. You could also use magic loop or two circs for smaller pieces that would fit on a 16" circ. For two circs only one tip needs to be the correct size, the other can be smaller because you don’t knit with it.
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I bought shorties thinking they were more versatile. I had to adapt my knitting style to use them, which was fine… but ultimately I ended up buying the longer interchangables in a few sizes, then a few more, and now I never get the shorts out at all.
But that’s just me.
I agree with the others - I have some expensive short interchangeables but they hurt my hands after a few rows! So I use the longer ones, and use two circulars for small circumference ( which of course means that I have to buy two nice sets!! 
)
Thank you for all the great input. I am going with the 5”. I did watch a video on magic loop. Although I’ve never done it before, on the rare occasion I need it, that is what I’ll do. I really appreciate this forum.
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I’m on the other side–I love the shorties! They fit nicely inside my hands. If I use 5", I feel like I might as well be using straights.
You only need two tips of the correct size to do two circs. The business end that does the knitting has to be the right size but the other can be smaller since it just holds the stitches. You can do two needles with, say, size US8 and US 7. I’d have to look up the mm’s but the idea is one is larger so it doesn’t matter that much this time. Every time I try using two circs I end up with all the stitches on one needle so just stick with magic loop. I do think two circs might have some advantage over magic loop when it comes to avoiding laddering but I’ve worked out my solution for the problem.
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Good point! But I’d be bound to mix it up at some point, especially when doing short rows! I’m a TV knitter so I have to minimise my risks of confusion! 
Oh, I get it! That’s why I don’t use two circs. Too many moving parts if you get my drift.
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