Knitting on circular needles involves creating a tube of fabric, primarily used for items like hats, socks, or seamless sweaters. Here’s how to get started, incorporating information on joining in the round.
Steps to Knit in the Round on Circular Needles
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Cast on: Cast on the required number of stitches onto one of the circular needles. Make sure the cast on is not too tight.
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Join in the round: This is a critical step that transforms your straight line of stitches into a circle.
- Ensure that all stitches are facing the same direction and are not twisted.
- Bring the two ends of the row together, being careful not to twist the cast-on edge.
- Knit the first stitch on the left needle with the working yarn from the right needle (as described in the YouTube video excerpt).
- Pull the stitch you just knit right off, which joins the round. Now you can continue knitting.
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Knitting: Once joined, simply continue knitting each stitch around and around. The "round" refers to one complete circuit around all your stitches.
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Continue Knitting: Keep knitting across the round.
Tips for Success
- Stitch Markers: Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round to help you keep track.
- Needle Size: Ensure your needle size is appropriate for your yarn to achieve the desired gauge.
- Tension: Maintain even tension to avoid ladders (loose stitches) or overly tight fabric.
- Twisting: Double-check that your stitches aren't twisted when joining to prevent a Möbius strip.
