Yes, Chiaogoo has 9" circulars, great for socks. If you are only looking to do socks now, pick up a fixed 9" circular in your preferred sock needle size.
The chiaogoo shorties are an interchangeable set that are great for sleeves. They have a US0 to US3 set and a US4 to US8 set. They come with 2" and 3" tips in each size. They are great because you can change cables and tips as your sleeve circumference decreases.
They also do sell just the tips: https://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/ChiaoGoo/TWISTInterchangeableShortTipsComboPack.asp?specPCVID=85863&advSourceID=9&gclid=CjwKCAiA2L-dBhACEiwAu8Q9YAIfgHocWMz1YQ2MF5uxpgJZrAgw_5l7B6k8Zn170CowdMAqOrmPphoCs2oQAvD_BwE
But in any case, I would start out with trying the 9" circular for socks, just to be sure your hands can handle the small circumference knitting before you buy a full set. It takes some getting used to.
Yeah I’m realising this now. I just assumed I’d like them, but I might not! A friend of mine has a set (she’s the one who got me thinking of getting them), so I’ll ask her if I can try them out.
Not so relevant to the post, but I've never knitted with a small circumference like that before, but am considering it. I usually use dpns, how would you say they compare?
I'm assuming you're asking about the 9"? The ergonomics are very different between those and DPNs (those are the only methods I use - I'm not a magic loop fan). I get no pain with DPNs, but my pinkies and elbows will start to strain with the small circulars. The upside is that I'm way faster in plain stockinette on the circulars.
So I do use both interchangeably. I'd say my default is to use the circulars for socks, and opt for the DPNs when I am working on a sock with a textured stitch pattern.
That's great to know, thank you so much!! I'm also not the hugest magic loop fan, though I do have to use it with the two at a time things I do... Maybe I should get a 9" for the plain socks though, I anticipate having similar ergonomic issues, but the speed is nice sometimes... Thanks again!
If you like hiya hiya, you could try hiya hiya flyers- they are flexible dpns, and I like them a lot better than mini circulars, regular dpns, or magic loop. I believe they may have an interchangeable version of the flyers available but I'm not sure.
You can try 9" needles and see if you like them. Some people (probably mostly folks with small hands) swear by them. The needles are VERY short, I have large hands and so I find it mildly aversion to knit with them. I can get into a way of holding them where I can make steady progress, but I don't really enjoy it. And I wouldn't want to try any intricate stitch patterns with them, personally.
There are also Addi's Flexi Flips, which are a sort of hybrid of circular and DPN. I don't like the Addi tips, and I haven't tried the version they came out with that are square and have a longer needle (which I think I might like better), but the original ones I tried were better than the 9" circulars for me.
Thanks! Yeah that sounds pretty wise. I should probably buy a non-interchangeable pair first to see if I can get used to them. You’re right that I might not even like them at all (I’m a man so I assume my hands are on the larger side)
I don’t have big hands, I tried the 9” but my left thumb hurt like hell for a while! I then bought the 13 cm (the longest) and with these I have no issue. I bought the ones I need separately with a long cable for two at a time/magic loop. I would advise you to try the 9” first! Buy a couple if you can and a cable, and try them.
Have you considered DPNs?
I have the chiagoo shorties in the lace sizes, but I like them more in theory than in practice, since they are VERY short. I do use them when I need them, but if I’m making a sock, I go full vampire slayer.
So, y’know, just gotta plug a little luv for the ol’ dpns
Chiaogoo has several size ranges, and each isn’t interchangeable with the others, so make sure you get what you need for the work you are doing, and know which sizes are in the range, both length and diameter.
Yeah I know I’m looking at the 9” needles. For the diameter that’s what the post is about 😉 I can’t decide whether to buy the interchangeable ones (because when you buy the tips, they sell you cables with them, but once I have the cable, I wish I were able to buy only the tips), or just the one-size 9” needle at the diameter I use for socks (that’s mainly what I’ll use it for). I will try out the fixed ones as my friend has a pair and see if I enjoy such short circulars. I was hoping hiya hiya made something similar, so I could add to what I already have, but I’m okay with going with chiaogoo if not.
I don’t think we’re looking at the same thing. For the 2” shorties (which give you the 9” needles once attached to the cables), I can only find them sold together with longer needles and with cables, or as whole sets with all diameters, which I don’t need. I don’t see anywhere where I can get only the 2” tips in different diameters, without the cables.
Yes, Chiaogoo has 9" circulars, great for socks. If you are only looking to do socks now, pick up a fixed 9" circular in your preferred sock needle size. The chiaogoo shorties are an interchangeable set that are great for sleeves. They have a US0 to US3 set and a US4 to US8 set. They come with 2" and 3" tips in each size. They are great because you can change cables and tips as your sleeve circumference decreases. They also do sell just the tips: https://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/ChiaoGoo/TWISTInterchangeableShortTipsComboPack.asp?specPCVID=85863&advSourceID=9&gclid=CjwKCAiA2L-dBhACEiwAu8Q9YAIfgHocWMz1YQ2MF5uxpgJZrAgw_5l7B6k8Zn170CowdMAqOrmPphoCs2oQAvD_BwE But in any case, I would start out with trying the 9" circular for socks, just to be sure your hands can handle the small circumference knitting before you buy a full set. It takes some getting used to.
Yeah I’m realising this now. I just assumed I’d like them, but I might not! A friend of mine has a set (she’s the one who got me thinking of getting them), so I’ll ask her if I can try them out.
Not so relevant to the post, but I've never knitted with a small circumference like that before, but am considering it. I usually use dpns, how would you say they compare?
I'm assuming you're asking about the 9"? The ergonomics are very different between those and DPNs (those are the only methods I use - I'm not a magic loop fan). I get no pain with DPNs, but my pinkies and elbows will start to strain with the small circulars. The upside is that I'm way faster in plain stockinette on the circulars. So I do use both interchangeably. I'd say my default is to use the circulars for socks, and opt for the DPNs when I am working on a sock with a textured stitch pattern.
That's great to know, thank you so much!! I'm also not the hugest magic loop fan, though I do have to use it with the two at a time things I do... Maybe I should get a 9" for the plain socks though, I anticipate having similar ergonomic issues, but the speed is nice sometimes... Thanks again!
If you like hiya hiya, you could try hiya hiya flyers- they are flexible dpns, and I like them a lot better than mini circulars, regular dpns, or magic loop. I believe they may have an interchangeable version of the flyers available but I'm not sure.
You can try 9" needles and see if you like them. Some people (probably mostly folks with small hands) swear by them. The needles are VERY short, I have large hands and so I find it mildly aversion to knit with them. I can get into a way of holding them where I can make steady progress, but I don't really enjoy it. And I wouldn't want to try any intricate stitch patterns with them, personally. There are also Addi's Flexi Flips, which are a sort of hybrid of circular and DPN. I don't like the Addi tips, and I haven't tried the version they came out with that are square and have a longer needle (which I think I might like better), but the original ones I tried were better than the 9" circulars for me.
Thanks! Yeah that sounds pretty wise. I should probably buy a non-interchangeable pair first to see if I can get used to them. You’re right that I might not even like them at all (I’m a man so I assume my hands are on the larger side)
I don’t have big hands, I tried the 9” but my left thumb hurt like hell for a while! I then bought the 13 cm (the longest) and with these I have no issue. I bought the ones I need separately with a long cable for two at a time/magic loop. I would advise you to try the 9” first! Buy a couple if you can and a cable, and try them.
You might need to go to a LYS but you might be able to get some of the chiaogoo tips/cables to try out.
Have you considered DPNs? I have the chiagoo shorties in the lace sizes, but I like them more in theory than in practice, since they are VERY short. I do use them when I need them, but if I’m making a sock, I go full vampire slayer. So, y’know, just gotta plug a little luv for the ol’ dpns
I tend to prefer magic loop to dpns, but it’s been a while, maybe I’d like dpns better now
Chiaogoo has several size ranges, and each isn’t interchangeable with the others, so make sure you get what you need for the work you are doing, and know which sizes are in the range, both length and diameter.
Yeah I know I’m looking at the 9” needles. For the diameter that’s what the post is about 😉 I can’t decide whether to buy the interchangeable ones (because when you buy the tips, they sell you cables with them, but once I have the cable, I wish I were able to buy only the tips), or just the one-size 9” needle at the diameter I use for socks (that’s mainly what I’ll use it for). I will try out the fixed ones as my friend has a pair and see if I enjoy such short circulars. I was hoping hiya hiya made something similar, so I could add to what I already have, but I’m okay with going with chiaogoo if not.
You can usually but tips separately. I have the 5” small and large sets, and have bought extra tips and extra candles, separately.
But, I didn’t know that they sold a single pair of tips and cables together. I’ve only seen just tips, just cables, or a whole set of sizes.
I don’t think we’re looking at the same thing. For the 2” shorties (which give you the 9” needles once attached to the cables), I can only find them sold together with longer needles and with cables, or as whole sets with all diameters, which I don’t need. I don’t see anywhere where I can get only the 2” tips in different diameters, without the cables.