June 2003

My pattern calls for circular needles but doesn't tell me what length. How do I figure out what to buy? The pattern calls for a 29" needle and I have the same size in 24", can I use what I have?

• Circular needles come in a wide variety of lengths, 12", 16", 20", 24", 29", 32", 40", 47", and 60"
• Generally, the weight of the yarn determines how many stitches will fit on the needle but a good indicator of the "best" size depends on the circumference of your project.
  
  • Look for "finished size" dimension information on the pattern.
  • Look at the schematic and find the flat width and double that number.
  • Or, do the math: Divide the number of cast on stitches by the gauge, i.e. 204 stitches cast on at a gauge of 18 stitches to 4" would be 18 divided by 4" or 4 ½ stitches per inch, then 204 divided by 4 ½ stitches for a circumference of 45.33".
• Now that you know the circumference of the garment, you know the maximum length needle you can use. The needle length must be less than the circumference. You cannot make a sweater with a circumference of 40" stretch to a 60" needle circumference.
• But, what is the minimum length I can squeeze the project on to? Think about circular needles as two needles with a connector. Each needle end is approximately 4 - 5" long, so the connector is about 8 - 10" shorter than the length specified on the packaging. A 29" needle has about a 19" connector. You can comfortable work 1.75 - 3 times as many inches of knitting per inch of connector. So a 29" needle will comfortable hold between 1.75 X 19 = 33 up to 3 x 19 = 57."
• Next time you shop, check the back of an Addi Turbo Circular Needle, it has a chart suggesting appropriate needle length for everything from doll sweater to afghans.