Tired of knitting with double pointed needles? Here's a great solution - you can knit small tubes with two circular needles. It's fun and easy!

Knit a Tube with
Circular Needles

This is great for knitting socks, mittens, gloves, or other small tubes when you don't want to use double pointed needles. 

This is an ingenious technique that seems to have been discovered by Cat Bordi and Joyce Williams at about the same time. Two circular needles are used to knit a tube. The technique is simple, one half of the tube is worked off the points of one circular needle, and the other half rests on the band of the second, which has just enough bend to give the working needles the angle they need.

While not really faster than knitting with four double pointed needles, this technique is certainly less intimidating to the beginning sock knitter. It is also great for mittens, gloves, and even the top part of hats where the sts are coming together.

I have always liked knitting on double pointed needles, and never found them to be difficult. So, at first I had a hard time with the circular technique. Changing needles is a bit slower with the circular needles because you have to pull the working needle off the sts, slide the new needle into place, grab the back end of the new needle and position it to start knitting again.

At first this was a little frustrating for me, but after awhile my hands seemed to learn the new movements, and my speed increased. After finishing a couple of socks I have to say that, even though each needle change is slower, changes are done only half as many times as with double pointed needles, and it all comes out equal.

There are many other positive points for working tubes with circular needles. What I like best is that my work is so easy to put down, stick in a carry bag, and pick up again. I never have to worry about sts slipping off, or losing that loose needle.

It is very handy to have my sock "palette" divided in two sections for fancy patterns. Because sts are divided in half, the instep sts can be held on one needle, and heel/sole sts on the other.

Last, but not least, it is very easy to try your sock, mitten, or glove on for fit as you go. Simply slip all sts down the bendable cable on the circular needle, and put the sock on your foot. Trying on regularly as you go insures both a proper width to the sock (if you are willing to rip out one that isn't fitting right), and a perfect length for the toe.

So with all that praise for this new way of knitting--Let's get started!!