Stitches

Considering knitting socks on two circular needles?

I'm planning on trying to knit socks (one at a time) on two circular needles. Are there any quirks about this method I should be aware of? Also, is it better to work toe-up up or top-down, or are they equally suited for this type of knitting? Forgot to ask this: what is the best length of needle to use?

Public Comments

1. There is a great book out called "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" by Cat Bordhi. Knitpicks might have it. I knit socks on one 12" circ. made by Addi-Turbo. You knit a tube down to the heel turning for the cuff, then divide onto doublepoints for the heel, back onto the 12" for the body of the foot, and do your heel the usual way. This is for top-down socks. Hope this helps and happy knitting!
2. if your going to use 2 needles I'd suggest using the same size but 2 different types so while one is resting your knitting with the other and you won't get to confused. both ways are equality suited for this method. I'd also recommend if your going to use the 2 circs to knit 2 socks at the same time..
3. I found a few websites that may interest you, since I don't know the answer myself. http://az.com/~andrade/knit/twocirculars.html http://socknitters.com/2circs/index.htm http://needletrax.com/twocirculars.htm http://burninghand.org/2circsockpattern.html
4. I've always used double-pointed needles for this, and would recommend them highly. It may look a little confusing at first, but once you get used to it -- after a couple of rows -- it's really not hard at all. I guess two circulars would work ok. Some people seem to like that method. It seems to me it would leave an awful lot of the needle hanging over, though, even with the 40cm ones. Wouldn't that get tangled in your work?
5. i think using two circs. will work fine, as far as toe up, or ankle down, if you work toe up, you can try it on as you go
6. I few hints: I prefer 2 24" needles, because 16" are too difficult to work with. I also recommend as mentioned, two different needles brands. IMHO? An Addi Turbo and a Knit Picks. The cables are different colors. Except on rare occasions, you always leave the stitches in the same needle. When you change from one circular to the other, pull the next one or two stitches tight that you knit. This prevents ladders. If you do a cuff/leg down, your going to find the gusset a little cumbersome at the beginning. This is normal. It gets easier as you decrease. Once you get practice, there is always two socks at the same time. :-)
7. Suggestion: Try one circular needle! Google up "magic loop knitting". Takes a couple rounds to get the hang of it. As usual, the first few rows are hardest just because you need to make sure you're not turning your sock into a mobius strip. It has the advantage of being one less set of needles flapping around while you knit and you never have to worry about knitting on to the wrong end. (which happens when you knit the next row with the wrong needle and all your stitches end up on one twisted up circular needle) See one reference shown below. Another advantage to this method is that you only have to buy ONE set of circular needles instead of two. TIP: Just make sure you buy 36" at least so you have enough space to hold the stitches comfortably and your stitches don't slide into one big bunch.