How do you knit in the round?

Answer 1

You need circular knitting needles, which you can get at any craft shop. You can also use double pointed (also called double ended) needles. Double pointed needles ususally come in a set of 5 but you generally only need 4 to knit in the round. This is the traditional way of circular knitting used before circular needles were available. I think it's easiest to cast on the stitches using a straight needle first and then transfer them to the circular/double point needle after. Once you transfer all your stitches (be EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO TWIST THE STITCHES!) you just join the two sides and knit away. Joining the ends is as easy as knitting to the end of the row and then knitting the first stitch without purling back or reversing direction at all. Knitting in the round is nice because you always go the same direction, the right side is always facing you, you don't have to change direction, and there are no seams to sew because your tube is closed (like a sock). There are tons of great books for beginners that can help you get more info about this. Best of luck to you! --jo

Answer 2

It's fairly simple. Though keep in mind, if you know how to knit (normally) it is a lot the same except you don't slip the stitch off onto the right needle at the end. So after you put the loop on, you can skip a bit if you are very familiar with knitting normally. Using normal knitting (the most common method, used for most things) You get your ball of wool (making sure it isn't tangled) and find the end, leaving about five inches of space, you go as if to tie a knot, but instead of pulling it strait, you take the loop in between the circle of wool and put it onto your needle, tightening it. You hold this needle in your left hand, with the working wool, and the empty needle in your right hand. Then you insert the right needle in the loop on the left needle, from bottom to top, right to left, and the right needle should go behind the left needle. You should now be holding the needles in an X shape with the left needle in front of the right needle and the working wool beside them, looped around both needles. Then take the working wool (make sure you don't get it mixed up with the end of the wool) and loop it around the back needle (the right needle) and then in between the needles. You then bring the back needle to the front by taking it close to the left needle so that you don't loose the wool loop. Then pull your right needle away from the left needle, the loop should come with it, slipping through original loop, you then put the bigger loop onto the left needle and tighten it. You should now have one new stitch on the left needle, meaning that after the first time you do this, there will be two stitches on the left needle. You then repeat this process until you are happy with your number of stitches. Then begin knitting. So, practically casting on is just like normal knitting, except you don't slip the stitch off onto the right needle at the end. If you are confused about this and can't follow it, please leave a message on my message board and I would be happy to send you a video of casting on with instructions.

Answer 3

There are several ways to join the end of a row with the beginning to form a closed circle for knitting in the round. This is my favorite:

1. Knit the required number of stitches.

2. Form a circle of the stitches if using a circular needle, or a square if using double pointed needles (evenly divide the number of stitches to each needle).

3. Carefully check that the bumps at the base of the cast on edge are all facing the same direction. If they are not, the circle will twist and will reach a point where it is impossible to continue. It also doesn't form a tube. It is not possible to correct this once the round is joined and if this mistake is made, all the work must be ripped out back to the joining.

4. Place a marker and slip the first stitch that was cast-on.

5. Holding the tail and the working yarn together, knit the next three stitches.

6. Let go of the tail and continue knitting with only the working yarn.

7. When you get back to the beginning of the row, slip the marker and knit the first stitch normally.

Answer 4

Wendy

Depending on how many stitches you are casting on, pull a long(ish) length of wool free from the ball and then, when you get to the desired length, wrap the strand of wool at that point round your thumb and pull the strand through (making a loop round your thumb), insert your needle and put the wool round (from the ball, not the long strand) and "knit" this stitch onto the needle, repeat until you have got the desired amount of stitches. There are other methods of casting on, but this is the one that I use. My mom used to do it somehow knitting the stitches on with both pins - but me being left handed and trying to copy her never got the hang of this!!

Answer 5

You do a few links then join them together. This will form a small circle. Then you do a link into one of the circle links and then another into that circle link. Then do a link into the next link and so on. You will have to add more links into each one as the circle gets bigger.

Answer 6

To crochet in the round, you have to first start with a ring. There are several ways to do this.

1) You can join a length of chain stitches to make a ring and then crochet into the ring for your first round. You join your last stitch to your first stitch using a slip stitch, or any of a number of methods for ending a round. Then you would chain up a number to begin your second round depending on your stitch, so the stitches of the second round will be the same height.

2) You can crochet a number of chains (depending on what stitch you are using) and go into the first chain, working all our stitches in that first chain. For example, if you are making a dc, you might chain 4 and go into the first chain, which is the fourth chain from hook (just as you would in crocheting by rows). You continue to work the stitches of your first round in that same chain. You would then continue rounds as above.

3) Another method is to crochet in a spiral. In this method you do not join the rounds, but mark each round so you know where it begins and then just continue around and around. You would add stitches to each round depending on your pattern.

4) You can also use the magic ring (also called adjustable ring) where you wrap the yarn around your finger and then pull yarn through the ring you've created. Then continue as above. You can also close this ring when you're done by pulling on the dangling strand.

5) Yet another method would be to use an actual ring - like a keychain ring or a plastic ring or whatever suits your needs - and work as above.

If you want your work to stay flat you need to increase stitches each round. An example might be if you start with 12 dc into the ring on the first round, you would crochet an additional 12 on the next round, working 2 stitches in each stitch of the first round. Then on the third round you would increase by 12 again - working an increase (2 stitches) in every other stitch, and so on. Then when you want your work to curl upwards as in a hat or basket perhaps, you would work even with no increases.

Answer 7

If you're right handed...

Begin by looping the yarn around the needle with a knot at the bottom.

Hold the needle with the loop in your left hand, and the empty needle in your right hand. Slip the empty needle into the stitch on the left needle as though you were knitting it, and make a new stitch with a large loop and place it back onto the left needle.

Next, using your (still empty) right needle, place it behind both loops of your previous stitch and make another new loop as though you were knitting, and place this stitch, also, back onto the left needle. Follow this last step until you have sufficient stitches, then begin your new row as normal.

**************

There are different ways to cast on. I know of two kinds (the one above being one). I am not really a knitter, but I do know how to cast on. I use the Continental method. I think it's a lot of fun to do, but you do have to estimate how much yarn to use before you start. They suggest 1" per stitch.