Circular Knitting Needles

Circular knitting needles are used for knitting seamless tubes of knitted fabric. Knitting in the round is considered to be an advanced knitting technique.

Needle Lengths

Circular needles are basically two small single pointed needles joined together with a cord made of plastic. In effect they are a large and very flexible double pointed needle which enables your to knit from either or both ends of the needle.

Circular needles come in at least three different lengths (depending on where you live).

Here in Australia you can buy circular needles that are 40, 60 and 80cm long.

If you buy from overseas you can also get theses needles in 50, 100 and 120cm lengths.

Needle Sizes

These needles are manufacturered in all of the standard sizes (from 2.0mm to 25.0mm), but you might find it a bit difficult to find the very small or very large sizes as it is often not economical for a store to stock them.

Usually you will be able to find needles from 3.0 to 5.0mm in all three sizes, but the other sizes may only come in one or two lengths.

Needle Uses

Circular needles can be used for knitting seamless items as well as knitting your garment in pieces. They are also used for circular items like shawls or rugs, or for items that have more stitches than you can comfortably work on normal (single pointed) needles.

I also use them when I plan to knit in a confined space as you need much less 'wing room' with a circular needle than you do with some of the longer single pointed needles.

Items made with circular knitting needles include socks, leggings, the body of adult jumpers, matinee jackets for babies, baby shawls and blankets, but really you can use them to knit just about anything!