I used to be one of the many knitters who didn’t particularly enjoy a visit to sleeve island. Working with dpns or a long circular and magic loop, I rarely looked forward to knitting the second sleeve of a pair. This changed radically when I started knitting with 8 or 9 inch fixed circulars a few years ago. I was gifted a few sets from Mel, who had tried them and (like many knitters, it seems) didn’t get on with them too well. But I found that in my case they really suited my knitting style, and that their effect on how I worked was transformative – particularly where sleeves were concerned. No longer did I worry about the occasional gap or ladder; no more was I forced to interrupt my rhythm when switching from one tip to the next. With my teeny tiny circulars, I zoomed away happily, round and round.
From being something of a knitterly chore, making sleeves rapidly became something that was genuine fun to do. Now, if I find myself with space and time for a day of relaxed knitting, I often treat myself to just making a sleeve, with audiobook or radio accompaniment. I think that one of the reasons I enjoy sleeves so much is precisely that they allow me to switch off. I spend lots of my knitting time working with my design brain: swatching and re-swatching; figuring bits of a garment out, ripping rows back, planning an area of shaping, knitting and re-knitting. But a trip to sleeve island offers the promise of plain sailing: because I have made so many sleeves, I know how many stitches to cast on, and the underarm count to aim for. And as I so very rarely knit these days with any yarn other than my own, there are few gauge surprises to concern me on the journey either. Thus so it is that whether I’m knitting smooth stockinette or something textured, and whether there are stripes or stranded colourwork, sleeve island is for me no longer a place of knitterly purgatory, but a happy end and destination in itself. Indeed, it’s a place I enjoy so much, I named a pattern after it.
I love knitting most sleeves, but for some reason I particularly enjoy whipping up one from cuff to underarm, of the kind that’s destined to later attach itself to a yoke or raglan. Indeed, I’ve been enjoying life on sleeve island so much of late that I currently find myself with four completed sleeves of this kind, and no accompanying sweaters. Spotting this group of lone appendages this morning, I imagined creating a garment that might suit Zaphod Beeblebrox, but thought better of it, and quickly cast on the body of a sweater into which my own regulation two arms will, at some point, fit.
Do you love knitting sleeves as much as I do? Or do you dread visiting sleeve island? And, out of interest, do you enjoy or dislike working with the small fixed circulars I love so much?
KDD & Co 
I must have an idiosyncratic knitting hold – neither like a knife nor like a pencil, the two methods usually described in knitting handbooks. I hate small circs – they make my hands ache and I cannot master trying to hold and knit at the same time, so I keep dropping them. I tried Addi Crasy Trios and they didn’t help either. In fact, I even struggle with 40cm – the shorter tips make my hands ache, and my tension is like a vice. I used 2 circs for years, but the dangly bits are quite annoying so I am now trying Magic Loop.
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I’ve tried using those 8-9″ circulars again and again and again. I don’t know whether it is my larger than average hands or the fact that I typically have my fingers all over my needles, but they just don’t work for me. The only time I managed to stick with them was when I was knitting sleeves that had an all-over colorwork pattern. For that, the tiny circs were still easier than DPNs or magic loop (my usual method), but it took f o r e v e r.
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I started knitting both sleeves at the same time on 2 circular needles. That way they both match and are done at the same time.
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I enjoy knitting sleeves and never really understood ‘sleeve island’. I use dpns. I have only ventured into sock knitting with 9″ fixed circulars and I enjoy them very much. Maybe I should invest in a set, too.
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I’m called weird or a unicorn (depending on who you ask) every time I mention that I enjoy finishing work and knitting things like sleeves or long stretches of stockinette. I never had a problem with making the second item, be it socks, mittens or sleeves, either. – To be honest, I’m getting a bit annoyed when people talk about “sleeve island” as something negative. It’s (most of the time) part of the journey to a full garment. That’s why I was very happy you called that lovely jumper “Sleeve Island”.
I tried short circulars but the needle tips are just to short for my knitting style, I need the tip to at least reach the outer ends of my palms (if that makes sense) – I can knit with the Addi crazy trio but I still prefer dpns, the first needles I owned were dpns :-) (as my frist ever project were socks).
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It makes perfect sense what you describe with the length and your palm – it’s exactly the same for me.
DPNs were my first needles, too. I knit so loosely at the beginning the needles kept falling down :D
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Yes– I need to “hold” the needle and not the cable, so not a fan of the smaller circulars.
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I never heard of sleeve island until I joined Ravelry.
As I can’t knit with dpn’s or short circulars I use magic loop or knit my sleeves flat.
Sometimes I start with the sleeves.
I don’t mind sewing the seams. It’s part of the journey to create something beautiful. 😊
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Sleeve island is a brilliant concept – I’ll have to remember it!
I tend to use a mixture of magic loop and teeny tiny circs. My go-to teenies are HiyaHiya steel ones; I use them so much I keep a couple in my notions bag. I’d love to get a set of teeny tiny interchangeables one day, but until then my fixed teenies are the best!
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Umm, just spent my SAD lamp time reading through the comments to Sleeve Island. I am taking away that I should try knitting my sleeves first, which I will on my next garment. I will try the minis although comments seem divided. Thanks
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I knit sleeves both together t the same time on straight needles and have never known sleeve knittig was an issue before today. :-)
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I never usually comment on posts, but I had to scroll through to see if anyone else does the same as me… and they do! (of course!) I am with you Wild Daffodil. Although I love working in the round, I can’t get on with any of the options for small diameters so I do them both flat at the same time. This has the added benefit of leaving a bit of seaming to do, because I also quite like doing some mattress stitch.
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it makes me happy to see all this knitterly variety!
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Thank you for reminding about these short needles. I bought some when they first came out and just couldn’t get comfy with them although I have used them as cable needles. When I read this I realised that my knitting technique has changed so much that I think these might be really ideal for me now. Eagerly awaiting the sleeves so I can try them again.
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I use interchangeable needles all the time now as the weight is taken off my hands and into my lap. Not too keen on the super short ones but I knit English more than continental and I can see where they would work well with two hands on top.
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Thank you for this most helpful article! I’m on sleeve island now and ordered some ChiaoGoo minis. Very exciting.
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One last comment (is that allowed?): “Sleeve Island” is a hilarious name for a blog, a sweater, or a state of mind! Thanks for the laugh!
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I use dpn’s; that’s what I learned on. Once I tried over and over and over to make simple lace socks on dpn’s and had to give up. I’ve never tried magic loop, though I’ve heard it’s the bomb. Maybe when this damn pandemic is over I can get someone to mentor me through it in person.
Pandemic unemployed so not able to try a new type of needle (such as small circular) right now.
As for sleeves, since my dpn and circular needle gauge are the same, I use the sleeve to swatch. If my gauge is on target, yippee! I keep going.
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My Chiaogoo interchangeables are my best friend when I’m knitting sleeves. They make the job so easy. I love not having to interrupt my flow. I cant get used to DPNs and magic loop is stalling…I love being able to just flow along and just count the next 6 or 8 rows, before you know it you’re there!
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Magic loop isn’t for me, either. My preference is two circulars; if I have enough of the size I need, I knit one sleeve for the number of rounds to the next decrease or increase and do the same for the other sleeve in order to maintain consistent gauge. The needle shafts on the very small ones would have my hands in perpetual cramp. Different strokes . . .
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Me, too, Elaine. I love your idea of knitting on both sleeves, taking turns as the increases appear. That does mean having four circulars of the same size, but they can be of different lengths, can’t they?
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I do both sleeves at once, where I can, and before I make the body. That makes it easier for me to cope with the sleeves,
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Before there were tiny circs, I used to knit sleeves flat and sew them up. I tried dpns and it was always like knitting with five cactuses, magic loop broke my cables and left ladders. But I have small hands, do a lot of hand embroidery and tend to knit light yarns on small needles so the fiddliness doesn’t bother me. If I can, I knit sleeves first as a swatch. I like how fast they come, and the satisfaction of having them all ready when I finish the body.
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I have trouble knitting socks with these. Have never tried anything above sock sized. They make terrific cable needles for many stitch cables(6×6 for example). Just put the first 6 stitches on the cable needle, knit the other 6, put the stitches on the to be knit needle from the cable needle and knit the final 6. I just made the abyss cowl and this really helped. That being said I am wary of large cables in patterns for now.
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Ha! I love the Bernie mittens, too–crazy and quirky, like some of the best knitting out there! (The rest is classy and refined, of course–ain’t knitting the best?)
I was really excited about the short circulars, but they’re a total flop for me–they make my hands ache terribly. I’m still searching for my nirvana method, but for now, magic loop works reasonably well for me, especially since I learned to stop pulling the last stitch on each needle too tightly. My fear of ladders caused anti-ladders! Knitting is so much more forgiving than I give it credit for sometimes. . .
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I love dpns! I find their rigidity helps me get into a rhythm and I find sleeves to be relaxing and fun. My hands cramp up with small circs —I find that I go straight from a 24” circ to dpns. I have to use caution though as my household is busy with kids and dogs and the dpns can be risky at times…I have stopped knitting socks on metal dpns for a while as that just seemed like an accident waiting to happen here.
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I have tried the super short circulars for sleeves but I just cannot handle them properly. My hands are far too large to hold the tiny needle tips. And i then invested in the flexitip-type of needles – but the stitches always fall right off these needles. After spending a small fortune on these knitting innovations (and I have no one to gift them all to!), I continue with dpn, or I use two circulars at one time. I don’t consider sleeves to be that frightful as the pieces aren’t big (only long) and I know they signify the end of another knitting journey.
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I like them too! They save me from sleeve-fatigue. I can knit more or less mindless and love that everything goes really fast (colourwork or plain) with this little wonder!
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Sleeves for garments for me are always a long progress, I have a 22″ underarm seam.
Having tried various methods, I prefer to knit two at a time, magic loop on a long circular. It may take slightly longer than knitting one sleeve, maybe even longer that two knitted at the same time on straight needles, but at least the decreases match and they end up the same, provided I remember to keep changing yarn balls as I go round! And, look, no seams for making up.
In fact I prefer an all-in-one construction because no making up, or very little, for all altering anything can be a bit more of a problem.
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I would love to know how to knit two sleeves at the same time. I never get my sleeves even.
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I only use the 9” or 12” for sleeves BUT anyone know if/where one might be able to buy size US 10 or 11’s in that small circular size? I can’t find them.
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What do you think of the Bernie Sanders knit mittens craze this week?
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things that raise interest in / awareness of hand-knitting? Hurrah! Hand-knitting associated with an icon of progressive left-wing politics? Three cheers!
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Alas they were not hand knit! They were cut from a repurposed sweater, which can be good too!
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they do seem to be inspiring a lot of hand knitters, to hand-knit mittens though!
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Alas Bernie’s mittens aren’t hand-knit! They are created from recycled sweaters, which is also a good thing!
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Alas, Bernie’s mittens aren’t hand-knit! They are created from recycling sweaters, which is good too!
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I don’t hate sleeves, but I don’t live for them either. I try to pick them up/transfer the stitches on hold as soon as I’ve cast-off the body or I let them linger too long sometimes. It’s usually so easy but I always think it’s going to be more work to get them on the needles than they are. If it’s bottom-up, I try to start with them.
Whenever possible, I do my sleeves two-at-a-time on a 40″ circular needle. I only use dpns for complicated cable sleeves where I might have to rearrange stitches. I haven’t bothered to try the 8 or 9″ mini circs since they’re fairly expensive and I don’t really enjoy working with my 16″ interchangeables. The tips are just too short to be comfortable for my style. (English flicker)
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I bought and liked some FlexiFlips, and then some FlexiFlip squared. When I needed a different size, I discovered I had enough fixed circulars 16 “ (3) to sub in some ChaoGoo needles for the same effect. I’m convinced! Three short circulars work for me! I actually prefer them for sleeves and mitts, except for completing thumbs on mitts, where I’ll use dp’s.
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I don’t mind sleeves, especially in top down sweaters — they mean I’m almost done! I don’t love bottom up when I have to knit lone sleeves, knowing I still have the yoke construction to do. I dislike small circumference needles as the short lengths of the needle tips hurt my hands. It’s magic loop for me.
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I love them! Both the 9 inch and 12 inch ones. In fact, I am using them right now to put sleeves on my Strathendrick. I find them easier to use than DPNs and my stitches are much more even.
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I love small circulars. I was always dropping a double pointed needle as well as stitches with dpns.
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Two 16” circulars are my go to for sleeves, socks, cowls – anything small or smallish in circumference. The flexi flips are ok, but I’m not about to buy multiple new sets of needles. In a pinch I’ll use DPNs, but tend to drop or misplace them. I don’t have the dexterity to work with a super short needle.
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Me too! I always knit sleeves and other small diameter tubes with two short circulars: half the round on one, then the other half on the second needle. When I first learned this technique I did have to be careful about not setting off in the wrong direction when I picked the item up.
I’ve tried magic loop but far prefer this, even though it means that I need two sets of needles… easier wrt to not losing stitches off the end of your needles too, becauase you can really use any manageable length of cable.
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I love to knit sleeves on long circulars using a loop of the cable at the beginning of the round. I have some super short circulars but I don‘t like to knit with them because often the needles are shorter than on circulars with longer cables. When I get to the cuff – knitting top down – I then use dpn‘s and I am careful enough not getting latters.
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oh holy cow who knew there would be a reference to zapped beeblebrox!!! i usually use magic loop but with this ringing endorsement, I’m going to pick up some super shorts!
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I love knitting with small circular needles, I use tiny ones for knitting socks and they are a joy to work with – I only switch to the dreaded dpn’s to do the toes. I’ve brought many lengths of circular needles over the years and have built up a good collection of sizes and lengths – yarn shows are great places to stock up on unusual sizes – I am so looking forward to the day when we can get to yarn shows again. As for sleeves, I like them because it’s a sign I will be soon wearing my project.
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I used to knit sleeves with DPNs, which was awkward. Then (about two years ago) I discovered the Addi CraSy Trio, which meant knitting with three (flexible) needles, and that worked much better for me.
And then last month I knit some socks in a KAL, and because of Second Sock Syndrom I decided to knit both socks at the same time. As I only had one set of the Addi needles, I knit the second sock on two short circulars, and I think I have just found my new preference for knitting short circumferences ! So yay for short circulars, but I’ll take two of them, please…
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I find sleeves a bit boring so usually get them out the way first. Strangely, I find the bottom part of a yoke jumper relaxing – I think because it grows so slowly that I don’t have a chivying internal voice telling me how much I should complete per night. In terms of needles, I used to loathe sleeves because of the laddering issue on dpns until I picked up the trick of knitting a random number of extra stitches per needle so that the changeover happens in a different set of places in each row. Of course, we all love the magic joining up but that signals the start of a glorious yolk…
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At almost 75, I have used DPs for years. That was all we had for many years. They are no problem. A friend loaned me a 9″ needle for some sleeves I needed to knit on a top down sweater. They were fine for a while until I got close to the cuff. Then I had to switch to DPs. My issue with sleeves is that I am now wide, but my arms have not grown to the length most patterns call for in my bust size. Switching to top down patterns has helped immensely. I can now knit a sweater that fits around me AND have sleeves that fit without having to roll them up. I use the magic loop and Flexi-flips for socks. I like the innovations and the choices I now have. But DPs work well for me.
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Magic looping is not my thing. For small circular knits I use DPNS or tiny circulars. I like the latter ones as they prevent ladders and make for a quicker knit. The only issue with them is that a suitable length is required for different circumferences (as well as the needle size), so this could lead to a large number of possible combinations needed (I don’t think there exist interchangeable needle points for tiny circs). Also, for some circumferences the small circulars are still too large to avoid stretching the stitches and the fabric – I had this issue with some sections in socks.
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The ChiaoGoo I mentioned in my reply are interchangeable! And they also come in different length of the needle tips as well as the cables.
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Thank you, I didn’t know them :) I have the tiny circs but with fixed points
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I have to say that I mostly knit small accessories rather than big garments, hats, mitts, socks, all of which I can knit on small fixed circulars (switching to DPN’S at the very end). I absolutely love using them, and of course the item is quickly made, and no sleeve island.
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I don’t like knitting sleeves so I always do them first and generally do both at once if I am doing flat sleeves. If I do them in the round them I use two short circulars because I am hopeless with dpn and don’t like the magic loop. I find it fast and no ladders . I found this method on YouTube and can’t understand why more people don’t mention it.
Bruce and Bob looked very handsome the other day. Our postie has a black lab puppy who goes mad for carrots. They are his favourite treat! Take care and stay safe.
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I don’t mind knitting sleeves, and often I feel that I’m nearly finished when I get to them. I love small circulars, though sometimes use a 30cm one for as long as I can. I especially like the asymmetric type, allowing for a longer needle in my right hand. My wrist does tire after a while, so I vary what I’m working on. Though there seems to be a strange effect where everything ends up being on small circulars at the same time.
Of course, that means casting on something new!
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Perhaps I need to obtain 8 or 9” …. one sleeve is okay but ….
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I love short circulars – both sleeve and sock knitting became quite enjoyable with those. I even got the super short interchangeable ones from ChiaoGoo for baby socks and sweaters.
When in a hurry or afraid of the second sleeve syndrome, I sometimes make two at the same time though, for which a long circular is needed.
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These sound great!
What tip sizes do you have ? On their site I see them in US000 (1.5 mm) to US1.5 (2.5 mm) – good for socks or lace but not for jumper yarn weights . Do you use adapters to mount larger tips on them?
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I agree with OneFrenchWord by the time I get to sleeves I have quite often got fed up with what I’m knitting. I mentally start moving on the next project, then get my second wind at the end of the second sleeve. Off to look for mini circulars.
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I use circulars for nearly everything but I do not get on with DPNs. I drop stitches, what I knit looks like the dogs have been playing with it. Oh and I have small fingers and I don’t get on with a magic loop.I had been looking at mini circulars so I will give them a go. I have seen some curved DPNs available wondered if anyone had tried them.
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Merinda, I have these and I am really happy with them.
https://www.knitdenise.com/products/flex-double-pointed-needles
Susan
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Having often had the problem of a tighter gauge when knitting sleeves (at least top-down) I started knitting them flat. I’m really happy with the results, because the seam gives the sleeves some ‘stability’ as well. Knitting flat also means more relaxation for me. The small circulars unfortunately don’t really work for me. If I knit bottom up I use DPNs. They’re my favourite for socks, too, and work the fastest for me :)
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I knit socks all the time on interchangeable circular needles, I loathe the small circulars, tried them once that was enough, gave them to another knitter, she passed them on also. We are all different in our choice of equipment.
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I had no idea you could get circular needles below 40cm. Thank you for this. Not a fan of double point needles so I shall order some immediately! I do enjoy knitting sleeves, once I can come off the dp needles, that is.
Stay well. X
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I enjoy knitting sleeves, and like NicolaB I also prefer magic looping with long circulars. For me dpns cause ladders, and I find short circulars tiering to hold.
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I agree with you Kate, completely regarding sleeves. If they are to be knitted cuff up, I will often knit them during car journeys; always with small circular needle. Very simple, very relaxing.
Knitting sleeves with small circular needles is definitely the way to go.
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No I hate sleeves, not because of the needles but because I’m usually heartily fed up with what I’m knitting and am desperate to move on to something new! That being said, once the sleeves are done, I’m really glad I persisted. I do them on dpns, it doesn’t bother me, but I might order myself some teeny tiny circulars just to try.
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I like the small circulars too, especially on car journeys- no chance of losing them down the side of the car seat!
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I too find those tiny fixed circulars great for small circumferences. For me, magic loop is not about knitting, but about pushing stitches around! My “problem” is knitting the same thing twice. I never make socks or gloves, but sleeves are harder to avoid.
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Right now I’m stuck on the second sleeve of my Oa because I can’t remember what gauge I had used 3 years ago. Also, there was some unravelling, changing stitch counts etc…. I didn’t keep very good notes. Whatever I do now it will only be an approximation. I am waiting for a good mood, time alone and a lot of courage to do this.
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A notation I found in my knitting notebook the other day: “As God is my witness, I’ll never let a work in progress sit for 3 years again!” :-) I feel your pain.
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Oddly enough, I’m struggling with one now! This is the point when I often abandon the project. However, I’ve taught myself to knit the European method, with the yarn in my left hand. I can’t purl this way though. This method seems to help. I’m using the shortest circular needles as I find dpn’s to fiddly.
Thanks for sharing your successes!
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I suspect it depends how large one’s fingers are! I have never been able to manage dpns for socks but I am not being mentored in knitting with longer dpns. Will see how that goes!
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I quite enjoy knitting sleeves- they seem to go so fast if you knit them after knitting the body of a sweater. I use long circulars for everything- I’m not sure I have ever tried very small circulars for sleeves- as I get on well with magic loop. I find having circulars of a specific length for the task a faff- they might be just slightly too long, I’d not have the correct cable length to match the needle tip size. Anyway, I have fixed circulars on 100cm cables, and use them for everything!
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