Knitting Needles for Knitting Socks
Sock Knitting Needles
What kind of needles should you use for knitting socks?
One of the most common questions I’m asked is “What needles do should I use to knit socks?” It’s a conversation I have regularly at the Noosa studio, and oftentimes I’ll answer this question multiple times a day!
Knitters come in wanting to knit their first pair of socks and want to know what needles they should use. Sometimes patterns will specify the kind of needles you should use, other times they leave the choice up to you. When you’ve never knit a sock before, being told to use your preferred sock knitting needle isn’t great news, however!
So let’s talk sock knitting needles!
Brambleby socks
pattern available on Ravelry and my website.
Socks have a small circumference so when you knit them in-the-round you have several options for the kind of needles you can use.
In this blog post, I’m covering your core needle options. There are a few options not mentioned here, and I’ve left them out for a couple of reasons: to keep this article simple and not overwhelm you, and because the other needles/methods are, in my opinion, a more complicated or specialised option that you might want to look into later on.
There are three main types of knitting needles you can use to knit socks:
Long Circle Needle with the Magic Loop Method
Double Pointed Needles (DPNs)
Short Fixed Circular needle, 25cm long
The Magic Loop Method
This method is my go-to for all small circumference projects knit in-the-round and also the method I teach in my Sock Knitting workshops both online and in-person.
Magic Loop Knitting requires a long circular needle ~ I recommend either 80cm or 100cm for socks.
There are lots of free tutorials for Magic Loop knitting online, or you might be able to find a class in your local area. My online Sock Knitting Workshop also covers Magic Loop Knitting and walks you through all the techniques of knitting a sock from start to finish.
Pros: Once you’ve mastered the Magic Loop technique it becomes very fast. I like this method because I can use my favourite circular needles, the 80cm KnitPro Zing, which has a needle tip length of approx. 13cm, a length I find very comfortable in my hand.
Cons: Learning a new technique - Magic Loop Knitting! This technique isn’t hard, but it does take a little bit of practice to get your head around it.
Note: The circular needle you use can be fixed or interchangeable (tap the link to view our range).
“A Girl Knitting Socks” by Albert Edelfelt, 1886, shows the use of Double Pointed Needles.
Double Pointed Needles (aka DPNs)
The classic method of knitting socks. You might observe socks being knit on DPNs in old paintings and portraits! For this method, you use 3 or 4 double-pointed needles to knit in-the-round.
Pros: No need to learn a new technique such a Magic Loop knitting. If dividing your work in two in magic loop knitting makes your brain hurt, and knitting on a tiny needle also doesn’t suit you, you’ll probably enjoy DPN knitting!
Cons: Laddering can happen with any in-the-round project, but it is more common when using DPNs. However, practice will eradicate this! I highly recommend Stitch Stoppers for projects worked on DPNs, they are a lifesaver!
Short 25cm Circular Needle
This method is incredibly straightforward. Unlike the previous two methods, you won’t have any new techniques to master - you’ll simply knit round and round on the circular needle. No need to learn to understand Magic Loop or adjust to knitting with a fistful of needles.
Pros: No new techniques to learn, less chance of laddering.
Cons: Needles are very short. I’ve observed that knitters either love or hate tiny needles - there seems to be no middle ground! Some knitters find these tiny needles very comfortable and easy to use, others find they make their hands ache as there isn’t a lot to hold onto. This is very much a ‘try it and see’ knitting needle.
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