Using circulars as if they were 2 needles

#1

I just got my first pair of circulars, size 6 US, and want to learn how to use them as NON circular needles. Do you hold stitches on the circular part, or only use the hard needle part? I know this is very basic stuff and I’m sure it’s been asked before, but I’d be very thankful if someone could tell me how to do this.

ALSO any good easy beginner patters anyone has for size 6 needles for me to do? I’m still very new to all of this, and would LOVE :heart: to use my nice new needles.

Alexis

#2

Hey there–you just knit as you would normally–some of the knitting may rest on the metal needle and some may rest on the cord–it’ll depend on how many stitches you’ve casted on. The cord is just an extention of the needle. I don’t have a good pattern for you but if you just cast on and knit/purl some stitches–you’ll see how it works. Just treat them like normal needles. I can’t stress this enough–you gotta try it to see. If there is anything I’ve learned from this site it’s that things make more sense when I’m doing it…good luck!

#3

[color=blueviolet]Pretend they aren’t connected and use the needle that’s in your right hand to knit off of the needle in your left. After you finish a row turn the work around now the empty needle that was in your left hand is in your right and the full needle that was in your right hand is in your left.

As for patterns I don’t have anything to suggest.[/color]

#4

Hello fellow northwesterner! (I’m in North Dakota. :))

The circular needles can easily be used in the same way you would two individual needles for flat knitting. Basically, you do the same thing you do with straight needles, and switch the needles from one hand to the other at the end of the rows. In this case, because the work is still attached to both needles, you’ll be turning it around and knitting (or purling) on the other side. Does that help?

Yes, you can use the cable to hold your work. Many people who knit flat on circular needles do so partly because the cable helps to support the weight of the work on big projects.

I can’t think of any patterns off the top of my head for you. Try checking at www.knittingpatterncentral.com and see what you come up with. :slight_smile: