How many knitting needles do you need?

Dear users, dear authors,
when are two knitting needles enough, what is a set of double-pointed needles used for, and when do you use circular needles?

You need a set of double-pointed needles for smaller circular projects, such as socks; otherwise, it usually doesn’t matter whether you use two straight needles or circular needles. Personally, I find circular needles more practical in general because you can safely leave the knitted piece on the cable—especially when you’re traveling and want to quickly knit a few rows on the go.

I prefer working with circular needles. For flat pieces, the stitches are distributed more evenly, so the finished piece doesn’t get too heavy at the ends. And with circular-knit pieces, the stitches don’t slip off as easily as they do with a set of double-pointed needles. For small circular-knit pieces, I find the Crazy Trio needles ideal. 

I also prefer circular needles or needle tips with cables, since then I don’t need as much space. With straight needles, I always end up bumping into things when I knit with a lot of momentum.

A set of double-pointed needles comes in various lengths. For small children’s socks, for example, I use the very short ones.

For a hat—I always knit them in the round—I start with the shortest circular needle and switch to a set of double-pointed needles when it’s time to decrease.

I’ve never knitted with a Crazy Trio, but I’m sure I’ll give it a try someday.

Bottom line: As an avid knitter, you need a lot of knitting needles.

I prefer using circular knitting needles in various lengths when knitting.

And for smaller doll clothes, a set of double-pointed needles is handy. Then there are the ones with cables for clothes meant for larger dolls.
Back in the day, the ones with cables used to be called “health needles.” 

"Healthy needles"? Because you don't impale yourself on them? :-)) I've never heard that before.

I also have a shorter set of double-pointed needles for gloves. But I don’t use them very often—it’s quite fiddly work. And I also have a single needle: a cable needle.

It really depends on what I’m knitting. For my blankets, for example, I used circular needles because that way I could adjust the cable length as the blanket grew. I knit the blankets diagonally. I prefer to knit with the short 16-cm needles—even for hats and headbands.

Best regards, Inge

About “health needles”: - I grew up with that term🧐

Before these came along, my mother and I always knitted sweaters, jackets, and the like with long needles. 
And that was exhausting. The work in progress hung from your arms, and you could feel it in the back of your neck. It was awful.
That’s how we learned to do it in school.
And no one ever thought to use circular needles instead. Those were used for round projects—skirts, tube hoods, and necklines on sweaters

Then these needles came along with the plastic cord and the button at the end.
And knitting became super easy. It didn’t weigh so heavily on my arms anymore, and my neck didn’t hurt either.
What a relief that was😄

But circular needles are much better. A big advantage—you can’t lose a needle. Stitches don’t fall off as easily when you’re not knitting.