The only thing my Mum uses for knitting her socks are DPNs - Double Pointed Needles. They are shorter knitting needles with tapered points at both ends usually 15-20cm long.
Perfect for knitting in the round: socks, sleeves, leg warmers, anything where you go round and round and don't want a seam. Packs contain four or five needles but you may only work with three
