I would like some purchasing advice for circular needles. I am a new knitter and would like to move on from knitting rectangular things and cowls to other projects such as hats, mitts, and mittens. I have a set of Tulip CarryC Long 5” bamboo interchangeable circular needles and have an opportunity to get the similar set with shorter, 3.75”, needles. The sets use the same cables except that the shortest cable, which makes a 16” with the short needles, is a bit too short to work well with the long needles.
I am trying to figure whether to get the set with the short needles, both for the immediate plans mentioned above and for future flexibility (someday a cardigan!). The short set may not continue to be easily available so I’d really like to get them now if they might be useful.
What factors would you consider in making this decision? I like the feel of the long 5” needles that I am currently using for a cowl. I don’t know if there would be a clear winner with respect to hand fatigue as shorter needles would be lighter but have less room for resting the fingers. The long needles are pretty light but I haven’t knitted for long sessions.
I understand that there are other options for working projects with a small circumference such as DPNs, magic loop, and two long circulars. I also got a few flexiflips at a close-out sale. I haven’t worked with any of these methods yet. I am a patient learner so I’m open to exploring different methods.
I would appreciate any thoughts on this. Thank you!