Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Circular Knitting Needles Tips

By Gina Williams

Circular knitting needles consist of shorter needles connected by means of a nylon cord. If with classic needles you have to stop at the end of every row and turn the work around, circular knitting needles have the advantage of letting one work round and round until you finish the item or need to change the yarn. There are two main benefits that make circular knitting needles stand out, and one is the above mentioned functional advantage of being able to avoid alternative knitting. A secondary advantage is the possibility to design garments without seams if that is what you wish for.

Unlike classical needles that carry the work weight on their entire surface, circular knitting needles transfer it on the nylon cord. Only part of the working stitches will stay on the needles and part on the cord, creating less pressure on the joints and arms, by the reduction of the stress otherwise suffered the wrists. Circular knitting needles are therefore more advantageous for people who suffer from various joint problems like arthritis or rheumatism for instance.

There are some aspects you should check before buying circular knitting needles. First of all, the length of the cord has to match the knitting project; thus the length of the cord can range between six and forty inches. If you are only making a small child's pullover, then, the circular knitting needles don't have to be longer than twelve inches. Why is size so important? One thing is for sure, too short a cord makes work impossible and too long makes it cumbersome. And finally, when it comes to the cord length aspect, you should also know that the size of the needles is shorter for smaller cords too.

Last but not least, circular work needles enable one to knit while traveling without the risk of losing stitches. Moreover, it will be much easier to transport knitting work like this without the inconvenient needle protrusion. Therefore, for occasional or permanent knitters, having one or several pairs of circular knitting needles in the house proves pretty inspired when you want to try something new and don't have the time to go get supplies.

Circular knitting needles are an essential part of any knitting kit and once you use them you will be amazed at their ease of use. So do not delay go by some today!

About the Author:

No comments: