Stitches

What needle length to use for knitting sweaters and other tops?

I've read that when knitting tops that it is better to use 24" long needles. However, 24" needles are circular needles. Is it better to knit tops using circular needles? (Even if the pattern doesn't call for circular needles)? What would be a good length to use for knitting tops on regular single point needles?

Public Comments

1. I prefer my 13" straight ones. I had a slightly shorter pair (they were likely 12" or 12.5") and they worked fine, too. The 9" ones are too small, but anything around 12" to 14" works just fine. I have friends who prefer knitting tops with circulars, but I stick to my straights for the most part. After knitting the whole thing on straight needles and sewing (or crocheting) it together, I'll switch to circulars to do the neck, but that's all.
2. Circular are more versatile, so I find them a lot better to have than a whole set of others. All you need are long circs and you can do anything you want, including socks, fingers on gloves, sweaters, afghans. Circs are easier to use for sweaters because you don't have all that weight hanging off the one needle, and making your arms sore. You can do flat or round knitting with circs... there is no law saying you MUST only do circular knitting with circs! Knitting is just working one stitch at a time with two pointed sticks. What they have in the middle doesn't matter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-aWWES8Rxc
3. When I knit sweaters, I usually knit them all in one piece using a circular needle. If it's a pull-over, you would knit around until you were up to the armholes, then work back-and-forth on the front and back separately. If a cardigan, you would work from one side (center front) around the back to the other side, turning it. I hate sewiing them together, so this way I can do the body in one piece, bind off the front and back shoulders together, then pick up stitches around the armhole and work top-down (circularly, of course) on the sleeves. PRESTO!
4. Circular needles are great as you never lose a needle to start with. Just remember if you are knitting flat to turn your work, if you decide to knit in the round up to the armholes to make sure your cast on row is not twisted. Some patterns will not work in the round as they need the reverse side worked to complete them(or require lots of thought to do so). If you have any trouble with your arms or wrists when knitting circular needles may help as the weight is on your lap not hanging on the needle. Also when you are not knitting the work is less likely to come off your needles due to the extra length.