Knitting needle question

[firecat]

[xposted to <lj user=knitting] I'm taking a class at Stitches West this year, and it calls for the following tool: 8-11” appropriately sized circ ndl (5-5.5mm (US 8-9)) I assume this means a set of size US 8 or 9 circular needles with a length of 8 inches to 11 inches. But I just went to my Local Yarn Store and they don't have any such thing. The smallest-length circular needles I could find there or at http://www.knittinguniverse.com was 12 inches. So does any of you know where such a thing can be had, or can you think of something else that might be meant by the phrase?

Comments

[bobbylevi.livejournal.com]

The smallest circular needles I've ever seen have been 40cm. I would have read it that way too. Would it be possible to use a set of double-pointed needles instead. Can you get clarification from the course leader?

[firecat]

The tools list also calls for dpns. I could track her down but there is no official way to contact her.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I don't like using dpns for something like that--I feel like I'm creating ladders, and that all my time is spent changing needles instead of knitting. That's why I moved to 12" circulars for socks.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Weird.

They don't make them smaller than 12" these days. An 8 or 9 12" needle would be tough to work with--pudgy. I have a 3 that is about as big as I would be comfortable.

What is the class?

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

with. comfortable with.

Sigh.

[firecat]

Class Title: Helix Knitting
Description: Knit circular stripes with absolutely no jogs. Use as few as two colors or as many as you like. This technique produces perfect interlocking sprials of each color. Cover casting on, shaping and working with circular needles and dpns.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Ah. Then you definitely want a 12" needle, to concentrate on where the round changes. So maybe an 8 or 9 would be okay. I would feel awkward, I think, but for a class like that, it'd be worth getting past.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever seen a circular needle less than 12 inches long. It seems like a 12-inch one would work for most things, unless the piece was less than that in diameter. What are you making in the class?