Knitting in the Round with a Circular Needle

Knitting in the round can be performed using a few different techniques. In this video, Michele Lee Bernstein explains how to begin knitting in the round using a circular needle. Knitting in the round can be used for many different types of projects, such as cowls, hats, infinity scarves, sweaters, and more. This method of knitting is used so that you don’t have to seam together a piece at the end of the project.

Michele begins by casting on stitches onto the circular needle. It’s important that the correct length of circular needle is used. If the stitches are spread too far apart on the knitting needle, it will be difficult to work the stitches. Michele is using a 16-inch circular needle in the video, which is commonly used for knitting hats.

Once the stitches are cast on to the needle, Michele adds one more stitch than what is called for in the pattern. Being careful not to twist the stitches, she brings the needles together to get ready to join in the round. She joins in the round following these steps:

1. Slip first stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle.

2. Take the second stitch from the end on the right needle and pass it over the first stitch and off the needle to join in the round.

3. Slip the first stitch on the right needle purlwise, moving it back to the left needle.

The knitting is now joined in the round and a marker can be placed. Michele tugs on the working yarn to tighten the join. She begins knitting in the round. When she comes to the end of the round, she double checks once more that her knitting does not have a twist in it. If there is a twist, Michele demonstrates how to fix it after this first round is worked.