Trying knitting for first time with a very simple throw. I can make a very nice fabric with straight needles but cannot master the fat, stubby needles on my circular! Do they make circulars with longer needles?
The only circulars I have that can described in the way you described yours (“fat, stubby”) is the ones with the total length being really short (like for knitting socks without magic loop on single circular needles). Like you, I have difficulties to use those. If yours are also very short then I suggest you either buy longer ones and use magic loop technique or then double pointed needles (my own preference).
Fat, stubby needles? The tips of my interchangeable circular needles are 4 1/2" and my long fixed needles I use for magic loop to make socks have 5" tips. When I’m using the really big sizes, over US 11, then fat, stubby might apply simply because they are so large. What brand and size are you using? If you need to shop online my favorite place for needles is Handsome Fibers. They have free shipping in the US (I don’t know where you are) and currently offer 20% off. As authorized dealers they can also handle any warranty problems that arise.
https://www.handsomefibers.com/Handsome-Fibers-Stay-Home-and-Craft-Sale