I just finished my first knitting project and posted it over on the mainboard.. now I'm fully addicted and searching for easy patterns. I've found a few that use stitches that I think I could do but they all seem to use circular needles... could someone please explain how to use circular needles when you aren't making a tube (like if you're making a blanket), and if they are necessary.

Currently I have straight needles... size 8 and size 10 and they're 13" long... most of the patterns I like are calling to cast on about 131 stitchs (for a baby blanket)... is it possible to use the size 10 straight needles I have, or do I need circular needles?

Thanks so much :)

Tammy

With circs, to knit flat, you just turn your work at the end of each row, just like knitting with straight needles. I have attempted bigger projects on straight needles with lots of cast on stitches and while it works in theory, it is not as much fun to knit when something is all bunched up. Knitty.com has their patterns rated by ease.

With circs, to knit flat, you just turn your work at the end of each row, just like knitting with straight needles. I have attempted bigger projects on straight needles with lots of cast on stitches and while it works in theory, it is not as much fun to knit when something is all bunched up. Knitty.com has their patterns rated by ease.

Thanks :) I couldn't visualize how to knit flat on something that is essentially round but now it seems to make sense. Right now I'm trying to make a hat on straight needles (which I will sew together to make 1 seam)... this weekend hopefully I can go out and get some circular needles because most of the projects I want to try (baby blanket, hat, socks) seem to take circular needles and/or double pointed (which I think I will pick up too).. which is sort of strange for me to get used to because my image of knitting is a woman with two straight needles.... was everyone on TV just knitting scarves? ;) More likely they were knitting more complex patterns right? :)

Tammy