[Chrissy]

Firstly I have been using circulars for 'straight' knitting for some time and love them!
I have found a lovely sweater pattern on here (called Amused) which is knitted in the round and from top down (2 new areas for me)
It says 32" length needle on pattern but this is less than my ample chest!
How do I estimate needle length please.
Many thanks.
Chrissy

 

[HandyFamily]

Well, the garment on the circulars is ... shrunk would be a not the best word, but something close... wrinkled? - well, not straightened. You don't really need to have the length matching your measurements. However, if the circs are too short, you won't be able to fit the number of stitches you need...
Hm.
Make a swatch, see how many stitches you need. Than make a bigger swatch - with many stitches - and knit a few rows. Than squeegee them as tight as you can. (well, not too tight, I guess... don't force them too much) and see how much of the circ's length they occupy. Now multiply bu the number of stitches you actually need (and divide by the number of stitches the piece you knitted is). If the result you get is smaller than the length of the circ you have in mind - than you are ok. Undo the thing you just knitted and start with the garment.
Have fun!

 

[StitchDesigner]

If the pattern is less than 40", the 32's will be fine. Go up to 42" only for sizes above 42". You need slack (some scrunchiness) in the stitches or they won't move on the needle smoothly and easily.

 

[baredwine]

Having extra length on your circular needles never hurts. I would buy longer ones and use them for everything big or little with that gauge needle. You don't have to fill the needle to knit around your work. You can leave some of the needle cable hanging out on either side of your work. The back of the piece just stays on the middle of the needle cable as you knit the front with the needle part. You can knit something with just a few stitches per side in the round with long circulars. Watch a video on Magic Loop knitting to see what it looks like. It will change your world and make buying needles easy. You really only need one long one in each gauge with this technique - wish I had known it years ago.

 

[Yarn Happy]

I am making a 48 inch sweater right now on 32 inch, and there is plenty of room to spare on the needles, I think you could knit a sweater twice as big as the needle is long.

 

[Kissnntell]

keep in mind the weight of the yarn, also
*fat* yarn will take up more space than thin

 

[Chrissy]

A 'BIG THNK YOU' for all the above advice.
It all seems to make sense.
I hope to post a photo or 2 when completed.

 

[Doreen LaVine]

The reverse is often the case as well. I am currently making a cowl, just a test run of a possible Christmas gift, that asks for 24" circs. It is knit in the round and has 136 stitches. Because it is a DK weight (#3) yarn, anything longer than a 24" cable on my needle would make the stitches stretch and pull. I would guess if you had a 24" or a 29" needle it would be just fine! Good luck with your project.

 

[Patp]

Formula for circular needle length---knit a guage, then for example if you get 5 sts. per inch a 16 inch circular will hold minimum of 5 by 16, or 80 stitches--any less will stretch too far---Conversely it will carry 3 times this amount or 240 stitches. In the same way, at 5 per inch, a 29 needle length will take 5 times 29 or 145, and could carry 3 times 145, or 435. This might help when they don't give circular needle length in pattern.

 

[ginnyinnr]

The parts of the project that are not on the needle ends gather all up so that many more stitches fit just fine. No need to have chest measurements. My whole afghan stitches, 192, gathers up to about 10 inches in the middle of the circular needle.

 

[Doreen LaVine]

Formula for circular needle length---knit a guage, then for example if you get 5 sts. per inch a 16 inch circular will hold minimum of 5 by 16, or 80 stitches--any less will stretch too far---Conversely it will carry 3 times this amount or 240 stitches. In the same way, at 5 per inch, a 29 needle length will take 5 times 29 or 145, and could carry 3 times 145, or 435. This might help when they don't give circular needle length in pattern.

Thanks for this great formula and a way to determine if the number of stitches will work. This is going in my SAVE folder!

 

[AmyKnits]

All of the above answers are correct for the question you asked. However, I took a look at the pattern you intend on making and it is a pretty challenging one. I only knit top down sweaters and they are a very different animal. I would highly suggest trying an easier one, first. Perhaps a five-hour baby sweater? There are loads of "easy" top down's on Ravelry and Knitting Pattern Central, etc. I love Knitting Pure and Simple patterns and they also have a seamless baby sweater for free on their site.

Even if you ARE an experienced knitter, you may want to try an easy or intermediate top down sweater for your first one because this is a new technique to you.

Just didn't want you to be discouraged with my "favorite" kind of knitting by picking an "experienced" pattern for your first top down project. JMHO.

 

[funthreads623]

The yarn will make some difference...if it's a fine yarn, you can have more stitches on your needles; if it's a heavy yarn, less. I would encourage you to keep a close check (like every couple of rows) on your join of needles and cable, if they are interchangeable. If your needles are fixed, no worry. I have over 500 stitches now on a 40" Signature fixed and it is just fine. Good luck, and have FUN! and, please post a picture when finished. I think that you are brave and ambitious to take a jump up in your skills!! That's how we learn!

 

[Loramarin]

What a gorgeous sweater.It is knit on aran weight yarn which takes up more room on the needle than lighter weight. I usually use a 24 or 32 inch needle for most of my top down knitting up to size 40. However I always have another needle with a longer cord so I can try the project on as I go. I knit off half the sweater before taking off sleeves and again if shaping waist. This is where interchangables come in handy. If possible have more than one length cord. Also you will have a lot less stitches when you put your sleeves on Hold, so again two different cord lengths might be best.

 

[Chrissy]

All of the above answers are correct for the question you asked. However, I took a look at the pattern you intend on making and it is a pretty challenging one. I only knit top down sweaters and they are a very different animal. I would highly suggest trying an easier one, first. Perhaps a five-hour baby sweater? There are loads of "easy" top down's on Ravelry and Knitting Pattern Central, etc. I love Knitting Pure and Simple patterns and they also have a seamless baby sweater for free on their site.

Even if you ARE an experienced knitter, you may want to try an easy or intermediate top down sweater for your first one because this is a new technique to you.

Just didn't want you to be discouraged with my "favorite" kind of knitting by picking an "experienced" pattern for your first top down project. JMHO.

Thats very sweet of you, but as a very seasoned knitter with a love of cables, I had to have a go at this.
just attatched side panels and all going very smoothly (so far!) stitches sit very nicely on circular.
Will post when its done. :thumbup:

 

[Chrissy]

The yarn will make some difference...if it's a fine yarn, you can have more stitches on your needles; if it's a heavy yarn, less. I would encourage you to keep a close check (like every couple of rows) on your join of needles and cable, if they are interchangeable. If your needles are fixed, no worry. I have over 500 stitches now on a 40" Signature fixed and it is just fine. Good luck, and have FUN! and, please post a picture when finished. I think that you are brave and ambitious to take a jump up in your skills!! That's how we learn!

Its a chunky yarn and needles are fixed, thank you.

 

[Chrissy]

What a gorgeous sweater.It is knit on aran weight yarn which takes up more room on the needle than lighter weight. I usually use a 24 or 32 inch needle for most of my top down knitting up to size 40. However I always have another needle with a longer cord so I can try the project on as I go. I knit off half the sweater before taking off sleeves and again if shaping waist. This is where interchangables come in handy. If possible have more than one length cord. Also you will have a lot less stitches when you put your sleeves on Hold, so again two different cord lengths might be best.

Thank you for your input as well, I do have a shorter circular in same needle size.
Going to get a few more rows done while waiting for hubby to come home!

 

[Hotsticks]

All of the above answers are correct for the question you asked. However, I took a look at the pattern you intend on making and it is a pretty challenging one. I only knit top down sweaters and they are a very different animal. I would highly suggest trying an easier one, first. Perhaps a five-hour baby sweater? There are loads of "easy" top down's on Ravelry and Knitting Pattern Central, etc. I love Knitting Pure and Simple patterns and they also have a seamless baby sweater for free on their site.

Even if you ARE an experienced knitter, you may want to try an easy or intermediate top down sweater for your first one because this is a new technique to you.

I have to agree. I would start out with a simpler pattern if this is your first attempt at top down, knitting in the round. It is a beautiful sweater.

Just didn't want you to be discouraged with my "favorite" kind of knitting by picking an "experienced" pattern for your first top down project. JMHO.

 

[CamillaDesertMouse]

exactly !

If the pattern is less than 40", the 32's will be fine. Go up to 42" only for sizes above 42". You need slack (some scrunchiness) in the stitches or they won't move on the needle smoothly and easily.

 

[orcagrandma]

Just an added thought if you ever knit a baby onesie in the round you can't use a larger circular than called for because it won't stretch. Made that mistake. Thought I could get by with a larger circular and was very wrong. It knitted from the top down as well and was raglan. But yes, for a sweater unless it is really bulky yarn you can get by with less circular than called for. Oh, I love your boxer. I had one that was simply gorgeous. He was from a champion winner. His name was Duke. They are so sweet.