How to Measure Circular Needles
Circular knitting needles allow you to knit garments without seams and are a convenient alternative to long, straight needles for knitting wider pieces, such as afghans or sweaters. Circular needles consist of two straight ends connected by a flexible plastic cable. You'll need a circular needle long enough to hold the item you're knitting. The diameter of the ends determines the size of the needles. While some circular needles have the size marked on them, many do not. You'll need to measure the needle with a gauge to determine the size of your needle.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Grasp one end of the needle in each hand and stretch out the needle until the cable is straight and the needle is stretched full-length. Lay the needle out on a towel. The nubby surface of the towel will help hold the needle straight.
-
2
Align the end of the tape measure with the left tip of the needle. Stretch the tape measure all the way across to the right tip of the needle. The distance between these two points is the length of the circular needle.
-
-
3
Insert one tip of the needle into the holes of a needle gauge. The gauge has a row of different-sized holes. Find the hole into which the needle fits with no space around it. This is the diameter, or size of the needle.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If the cables of your circular needles curl tightly, making it difficult to stretch out the needles completely, dip the cables in hot (not boiling) water for 20 seconds. This will soften the cables slightly and allow you to stretch them fully.
