Circular knitting needle.?

Question

When buying circular knitting needles on the internet the product is displayed with the size specification like for example - US 5 16". What does the 16" stand for? Is it the size of the cable or the size of the needle from tip to tip? And if one wants to make a sweater for an adult, is there a particular size in cable one needs? And if it is for a child?

Answer 1

The number 5 indicates the diameter in US size and the # 16 stands for the length ,which is calculated from tip to tip .I have never made a sweater with circular needle ,I use them for hats ,blankets and scarves .But I saw a pattern for sweaters with circular needles @ www.lyonbrand.com ,knitting about.com and knittinghelp.com .They all offer free patterns and you can log in for free and add them to your favorites . Happy knitting !

Answer 2

16" is the length needle point-to-point.  It's the total overall length of the circular needle.  The length of circular needles is a personal preference most of the time.  For knitting sweaters, I like 24" or 32".  Any length will work for adult or children's sizes, but 16" is a little short for a back or sleeves (knit at the same time).  If the child's size is small (toddler to 6-7 yrs old), the 16" needles will probably be long enough to hold the pieces of the garmet.  16" needles are short enough to knit a winter ski-type hat in the round.  Good luck!