question about circular knitting needles
Hi. I'm a new member of this community, and a new knitter. I've almost finished my first project, a scarf, and I'm trying to decide what to make next so I can be ready to jump right into it when the scarf is done. I've been looking at patterns for baby afghans (because I'd like to do something that's different from a scarf but still flat--I'm not ready to take on anything that involves shaping or working in the round just yet). I want to use a circular needle, because it just seems to make sense for a larger object like that (and everything I've read recommends going that route). My problem is that I can't figure out how the length measurements work or what length to buy.
I read somewhere that when making a flat object on a circular needle, it just needs to be long enough for the width of the object I want to make...but does that mean just the cord part of the needle needs to be that long, or do I count the length of the needle heads (or whatever they're called) when I choose the length of needle to buy? The patterns I've looked at so far usually seem to say use a size 9, 10, or whatever circular needle, but they don't prescribe what LENGTH of circular needle to use. I get the feeling that they just assume it should be obvious from the project dimensions of the fo, but like a lot of things, it's not necessarily all that obvious when you're a beginner. (At least not to THIS beginner!)
Finally, is the length given on the packaging of circular needles the length of the actual cord part or the whole tip-to-tip measurement? In other words, once I know what length I need, how to I interpret the information on the packages to be sure I GET the right length?
If I'm not being clear enough, please let me know. I am not sure of the right terminology for the various parts of the circular needle, among other things. Tia for any assistance anyone can provide!
I read somewhere that when making a flat object on a circular needle, it just needs to be long enough for the width of the object I want to make...but does that mean just the cord part of the needle needs to be that long, or do I count the length of the needle heads (or whatever they're called) when I choose the length of needle to buy? The patterns I've looked at so far usually seem to say use a size 9, 10, or whatever circular needle, but they don't prescribe what LENGTH of circular needle to use. I get the feeling that they just assume it should be obvious from the project dimensions of the fo, but like a lot of things, it's not necessarily all that obvious when you're a beginner. (At least not to THIS beginner!)
Finally, is the length given on the packaging of circular needles the length of the actual cord part or the whole tip-to-tip measurement? In other words, once I know what length I need, how to I interpret the information on the packages to be sure I GET the right length?
If I'm not being clear enough, please let me know. I am not sure of the right terminology for the various parts of the circular needle, among other things. Tia for any assistance anyone can provide!