why do they not make small circular needles?

Question

The smallest size circular needles I can find is 16", and then if you want to make something smaller than that you have to use 4 needles. Why? To me using 4 needles is SO confusing. I wanted to make some socks, but I can't use 4 needles. Why don't they just make small circular needles? :(

Answer 1

With small circs, you're not going to be able to have the room necessary to get the join in and still be able to knit. Even if they made them to a size where you could, socks would end up all stretched out because room is needed for the needles.

I'd get a set of double-pointed with five needles (much easier, and easy to find in sock sizes) and just practice a bit. Remember, you're still only knitting with two needles at a time, and once you get the hang of it, it's not too hard. There's also the Magic Loop method, where you knit socks on two pairs of circs, but I have to say...I'm a weirdo who really loves knitting on dpn's. :)

ETA: Here's instructions for using two circs" http://www.az.com/~andrade/knit/twocirculars.html which I still think is crazier than dpn's, but worth a shot.

Answer 2

I can't use 4 needles either, but you can learn to knit on 2 circs which is what I did.

You get the same effect (socks etc) but it is way easier. A fellow knitter at our local LYS showed me how, but there are instructions on this website.

Answer 3

Addi Turbo circulars are available as small as 12", but many people find that they are hard to use -- my hands cramp up on those short points. But I made my first sock on them. You may have to call around a bit to find them, I bought mine at a shop in Costa Mesa, CA called Suzoo's Wool Works.