Can I get away with a circular needle?

[Purlesque]

I have cracked the circular needle, definitely preferred to DPNs.
I have seen a hat pattern that specifies using DPNs, can I just do it on circular needles?

Absolutely

You just need to know the magic loop method and then you may never need DPNs again (I hate DPNs, feels like wrestling a hedgehog).

Instead of dividing the stitches in 3 or 4 (depending on number of DPNs) just half them (bearing in mind that you may need to go a little uneven for the sake of the pattern - if there are cables or something)

I use circulars for everything now. Even plain back & forth knitting.

Working

(Oops)

You can work on a circular needle in exactly the same way as on DPNs or on regular needles. For working in the round just cast on as per the pattern, check your stitches are all straight, as per the pattern, and stitch into the beginning stitch. It's no different to working in the round on DPNs, just without the hedgehog.

Ditto for working a flat piece,ignore the fact that the needles are connected. It's just like working on two regular needles.

But what is magic loop? I have heard of it here, but never come across it in RL.

Magic loop tutorial:
tutorials.knitpicks.com/wptutorials/magic-loop/

It really is the best thing ever. I can do glove fingers and everything with it, with the same long circular I use to do the hand.

Definitely no need for DPNs unless you want to use them.

I like the Knitfreedom video tutorials - here is the one on magic loop.

Ooh! Thanks for the tutorials.

I just finished a cowl but because I cast on an extra stitch then joined I ended up with an extra stitch, it turned out different but I like it.
I need to practice joining better.

I actually really liked using a circular needle, it was light on my hands and easy.

After the hat I'll be trying my first pair of socks, will def look at magic loop, thanks.

You can do socks two at a time on a circular needle. I've never done it as I quite like working with dps, but I've seen it done. You can do them toe up or start at the ribbing. Doing it toe up two at the time has the advantage of being able to see how long the ribbing can be before you run out of yarn.