Can long circular needles be used for small things, such as: hat, baby clothes, dolls, etc?
I am overwhelmed by the needle options, figured I’d come here for sage advice.
TIA
Webby
Yes, you can use either 2 circulars or one long circ. That is called Magic Loop method. Amy has a video on it, I think. I find it MUCH easier than DPNs although others disagree. Check out the video though.,
Oh THANK YOU!! 
I think that will be perfect. It eliminates the need to have the same size needles (circular) in different lengths. And since I’m a novice, I won’t have the problem of “unlearning” how to do an old method. :happydance:
If you are going to try magic loop, make sure that you have a circular needle that has a VERY flexible cable. That makes or breaks whether it works or not. If you have a stiff cable, it can be very frustrating.
It IS easier than DPNs when you learn. That’s how I started, too. Once you get the hang of it DPNs will be easier if you decide to try them.
Thanks for all of the feedback.
I think that my needles are pretty decent. They are addi naturas, which I bought from the place I took my knitting class. I was going to buy a pair from Jo-Ann fabrics, but the instructor talked me into buying the addis.
If you are using light weight yarns like baby yarn watch out for those Addi Naturas. They have a gap between the needle and the join where light weight yarn can get stuck. It can be really frustrating. Check it out and if you have a problem take them back and exchange them for something else.
Thanks for the warning. Do you have any recommendations?
I’m in the process of knitting a child’s hat which, up to the top, I have been knitting on a 16" circular needle. I have come to the point that I can no longer use this circular needle because it is too large. I planned to use a 29" circular needle (as demonstrated in the Magic Loop video on this site) however, whenever I divide my stitches my working yarn is on the left hand needle and I’m stumped. The only way I can get my working yarn on the right needle is to turn the work inside out - but I’m reluctant to continue that way. Any advice?
Slide your stitches to the other needle tip?
sue
I was too embarassed to admit it, but I had already ordered Natura’s from the Internet. Wouldn’t ya know that each pair had the gap that you described? :wall:
Needless to say, they’re going back!
WHY didn’t anyone tell me that circs are easier than dpns, when I was starting? On second thought, I really found dpns to be a lot easier than the circs for littler projects. Its all a matter of opinion.
ahh, when i tried it (and ended up giving up) i used a stiff cable. so that explains it…
If you’ve got what I’m picturing, you don’t want to turn anything inside out. Just keep the right side facing out, and slip stitches (purlwise!) onto the right needle until the stitch that has the working yarn is on the left end of the right needle. Then rearrange the loop of the cable however you need so that you have about as many stitches on the left as on the right. It should be an easy fix once you understand what’s happening. 