What needle to use?

Hi! I am about to start a wall hanging, and I’m unsure of which to use - straight needles if they’re long enough or circular and how long?

I’ve knitted years but have somehow never used circulars and I’m nervous about doing so.

The pattern uses 3mm, I’m going with 4mm so it’s a tiny bit bigger. I have to cast on 161 stitches. Do straight needles long enough for this exist? Or should I use circular and how long?

What pattern are you using? How many stitches a needle will hold depends on yarn weight. If you’re using fingering more stitches can fit in the same space than worsted weight stitches. I don’t use straight needles and don’t know how many stitches the longer ones will hold. For me using circs is more convenient - if I drop a needle tip it’s leashed and easily retrieved. Straight needles liked getting caught in my long sleeves and circs don’t. Others will have a better idea and knowing what yarn you’re using would help them help you. You could just start casting on and see how it works. That’s what I’d do.

Sorry I left that out! It’s DK yarn. I may have to start casting on and see, I think I need to use circular, just not sure how long.

I think a 24" should work. I’d use my cable that makes a 24" with appropriate tips. If you’re buying a fixed circular specifically for this project you might want to go with longer just in case.

Thank you so much! That helps. Now I know what I need!

1 Like

I love circulars, and have gotten rid of my straights. I find using the circulars keeps my elbows in, and my back doesn’t go out. Plus they don’t get caught up like the straights do.

If you want your new needle (presumably a fixed circ) to be more useful you might want a 32". You might eventually want to get really wild and crazy and try magic loop knitting for small diameter tube things. A 32" would be long enough for magic loop.

1 Like

Straight needles long enough do exist, some straights are really long. However many people prefer circular as the weight of the fabric can lay on your lap and you don’t need to hold the weight of all those stitches and a long fabric hanging from the end of a long needle which can put strain on arms, hands, wrists etc.
Lever knitting uses very long needles and one needle is supported on a knitting belt or under the arm which can help hold the weight on that needle. The other needle is often held at a different angle which I believe reduces the strain on that arm.

I’d probably go with circular.

Do you have a pattern you are following?

Of course, everyone is different, but I bet you’ll find you love the circular needles. Most people find them much more comfortable, for all of the reasons mentioned here by others. They are also easier to pack into your knitting bag!
If you DO love them, look into interchangeables, where the cords and tips are separate. You can combine them to make whatever needle size and length you desire. I love really short tips that fit into my hand; others prefer longer tips. Metal, wood, bamboo, plastic…you can surely find something that suits you.
Enjoy making your wall hanging, and I hope you’ll post pics here when you’re done!

2 Likes

The biggest advantage to circulars is that when you are making a large project like this, the weight of the knitting does not fight you as you work. You can drape the large piece in your lap, and there will not be resistance at the end of the (longer than normal) needle, since it is supported from underneath. If that makes any sense.

Good luck!

1 Like

I’ve been thinking about this. If you can knit with the needle holding the stitches anchored either against your hip or under your arm you might want to use straight needles. It depends on how you knit. Knitting this way doesn’t work for me because I’m the oddball that can’t knit English style - my dominant right hand refuses to tension the yarn. But if you can, you just might prefer to stick with straight needles.

1 Like