So because I am Canadian, I just feel like I should point out that 9″ circulars are the same thing as 23cm circulars. However, almost all patterns will refer to the cord length in inches, so I thought I should follow convention.
- Appropriate weight yarn
- The correct gauge knitting needles in 23cm circulars
Any Pattern Worked in the Round by Anybody
When I was looking into sock knitting, one of the things that overwhelmed me was the number of different tools. Some people swear by double-pointed needles (DPNs), while other people will only use magic loop. There also seems to be a small, but passionate, group of people who use small circumference circulars. I ended up choosing to use 9″ circulars for my first sock pattern as well, because that’s what I saw Stephanie (All About Ami), do for her first socks! She made it look so easy, and I felt like I could make that happen too.
I’ve found that many people who choose to use 9″ circulars still use DPNs on the toe sections, but I figured since I chose 9″ to avoid double-pointed needles, I could make the toes with the small circulars as well. The short cord length definitely makes it hard to do the decreases at the top of the sock, but it is possible.
The small circumference means that you are just knitting continuously, which is nice. I do recommend using stitch markers so that you can keep track of where the beginning of the round is, but other than that, it’s just smooth sailing! One of the common problems with beginner sock knitters is the “ladders” that occur when you switch DPNs or when you have the break for the magic loop. With the 9″ circulars, you can avoid that!
I’ve also seen some comments that the small circumference means you can’t try the sock on while you’re knitting it, but I didn’t have this problem — I could try the sock on during the whole process, I just had to be careful to not let any stitches slide off. However, I will add that I have small feet (size 6 US), so that might be why.
I do intend to try the other two methods eventually (DPNs and magic loop), but this was a great introduction to sock knitting.
Until next time, happy crafting!