Why mini-circulars?
In a word: ease. In another word? Practicality.
I live with many small children, including a toddler who is often in my lap. Fiddling around with magic loop or double-pointed needles just isn't going to work with chubby little hands eager to grab them.
So, what is a sock loving knitter to do?
For me, mini circular needles have been the answer.
Back in August when I started these socks it was sunny and I could knit outside.
The Method to my MadnessI simply cast on the appropriate number of stitches (I'm a big fan of Susan B. Anderson's simple sock tutorial) using mini-circular needles, mine are 9 inch circulars, and then I work on the small circulars until I get to the heel flap.
Once I get to the heel flap I work the stitches for the heel only back and forth using dpn's (double-pointed needles).
Then, I pick up stitches for the gusset and slide the whole she-bang onto the mini-circular, this time adding stitch markers to indicate where the dpn's would be normally.
("Normal" being those of you who are probably not knitting with a sleeping baby or wiggling toddler in your lap).
That's it.
I get to knit socks, the kids get to cuddle.
Everyone is happy.
Also? Hooray! First finished object of 2013!
I purchased my 9 inch circulars needles from Amazon, but I've also heard that you can get them from The Loopy Ewe. I bet if you ask at your local yarn store they can hook you right up!
Great post. I just mentioned it (with a link back) in a post in "Tallahassee Sock Knitters" group on Ravelry. We had talked about 9" needles in a meeting last year and, frankly, were uncertain why someone would want to use them. Now we know. Thanks for the insight.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin! Once upon a time I couldn't imagine who would ever find a use for use tiny needles either. But, for this season of life - the lap and arms full of babies years - they are a perfect fit for me :-)
DeleteCome to think of it, lately I'm finding that the answer to the question "who on earth would ever ...?" seems to end with me. Ha ha!
Thanks for stopping by and for the link up! I appreciate it!
Mini-Circulars! Who knew, not me, I'm going to have to get some now. My 2 year old daughter seems to take great joy in sliding my DPNs out of my work as I'm knitting in the round, I always find myself knitting standing up so that I can move faster. I've never knit socks, but it's on my to-try list.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of the baby factor (or in my case toddler and pre-schooler). Both of my kids have a love of taking one of my DPN's completely out of my stitches...and then typically hiding it. This would probably help deter them :-)
ReplyDeleteThe little circulars can still be ripped out, but the devastation usually isn't as complete ;-)
DeleteAnd dpns are basically little daggers in the hands of my kids, so I try and avoid them whenever I can.
Someday the dpn (or magic loop, two at a time) sock knitting phase of my life will return, but for now this works for me :-)
Which brand of circulars do you prefer and why? Thanks for the great tutorial. Just what I was searching for- a way to modify my dpn method without completely switching to two circs or magic loop. Thanks !!
ReplyDeleteTN
I just ordered some 12" circular needles as that is what I was recommended. I did see a video on 9". Is there a reason you prefer 9" over 12" circs?
ReplyDeleteI like dpn's for wool worsted weight yarn but do the mini circs help with finger weight yarn? I'm hoping so as its harder for me to work with that weight yarn.
Just found your site, today and want to check it out much more. Thanks