Knitting is a popular craft that has been enjoyed for centuries. It is a versatile skill that allows you to create beautiful garments and accessories. One of the most useful tools in a knitter’s arsenal is a pair of circular needles. Both beginner and experienced knitters can benefit from learning how to knit using circular needles.
Circular needles are two pointed needles connected by a flexible cable, forming a complete circle. They can be used for a wide variety of projects, including knitting in the round, creating seamless sweaters, and making large blankets. They are also great for working on projects with a large number of stitches, as the stitches can be easily divided onto the cable, reducing strain on your hands and wrists.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know to get started with circular needles. We will explain the different types of circular needles, how to choose the right size, and how to cast on and knit with circular needles. We will also explore more advanced techniques, such as knitting intricate lace patterns and using circular needles for sleeves and collars. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter looking to expand your skills, this guide will help you master the art of knitting with circular needles.
Why Learn Knitting with Circular Needles?
Knitting with circular needles is a versatile and popular technique that offers a range of benefits for knitters of all skill levels. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced knitter, learning to knit with circular needles can greatly expand your knitting possibilities and help you create beautiful and professional-looking projects.
- Seamless Knitting: One of the major advantages of using circular needles is the ability to seamlessly knit in the round. Unlike straight needles, circular needles allow you to knit in a continuous spiral, eliminating the need to sew seams together. This is especially useful for projects like hats, socks, and sweaters, where seamless construction can enhance the overall appearance and fit of the garment.
- Comfort and Ergonomics: Circular needles offer a more comfortable knitting experience compared to straight needles. The weight of the project is distributed across the cord, reducing strain on your wrists and hands. The needles also provide a more relaxed grip and allow you to knit for longer periods without feeling fatigue. Additionally, circular needles are available in various lengths, allowing you to choose the size that best suits your project and personal preference.
- Portability: Another advantage of circular needles is their portability. The flexible cord of the circular needles makes them easy to carry around, unlike straight needles that can be cumbersome to transport. This makes circular needles a great choice for knitting on the go or while traveling.
- Versatility: Circular needles can be used for a wide range of knitting techniques and projects. In addition to knitting in the round, circular needles can also be used for knitting flat pieces, such as blankets or scarves. By using the magic loop method or knitting with two circular needles, you can work on projects of any size without the need for multiple sets of straight needles.
- Tension Control: Circular needles provide better tension control compared to straight needles. The continuous loop of the circular needle helps to distribute the stitches evenly and prevent uneven tension. This is especially important for projects with colorwork or intricate stitch patterns, where even tension is crucial for the overall appearance of the design.
Overall, learning to knit with circular needles opens up a world of possibilities and benefits for knitters. Whether you are looking to improve your skills, expand your project options, or simply enjoy a more comfortable knitting experience, circular needles are a valuable tool to have in your knitting arsenal.
Advantages of Circular Needles
Circular needles, also known as circular knitting needles, are a versatile tool used by knitters of all skill levels. They consist of two short needles connected by a flexible cable. While traditional straight needles have their own benefits, circular needles offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for many knitters.
- Seamless knitting: One of the biggest advantages of circular needles is their ability to knit seamless projects. With straight needles, you would need to sew separate pieces together, resulting in bulky seams. Circular needles eliminate the need for seams, allowing you to create items like hats, socks, and sweaters in one continuous piece.
- Even distribution of weight: Unlike straight needles, circular needles distribute the weight of your project evenly along the cable. This reduces strain on your wrists and hands, making circular knitting more comfortable, especially for larger or heavier projects.
- Portability: Circular needles are easy to carry around compared to straight needles. The flexible cable allows the stitches to be pushed onto the cable, making it easy to fold your knitting and put it in a bag without worrying about stitches falling off. This makes circular needles a great choice for knitting on the go.
- Knitting in the round: Circular needles are essential for knitting in the round. This technique is commonly used for creating seamless hats, socks, and cowls. With circular needles, you can easily join your stitches to form a continuous loop and work in a spiral, allowing for endless possibilities in your knitting projects.
- Better for large projects: When working on large projects like blankets or shawls, circular needles provide a longer cable length, allowing you to hold more stitches. This extra length comes in handy when working on projects with a wide circumference, making it easier to accommodate a larger number of stitches on one needle.
- Flexibility in length: Circular needles come in various lengths, ranging from 9 inches to 60 inches or more. This allows you to choose the most suitable length for your project. Shorter circular needles are great for small projects or knitting in tight spaces, while longer needles are useful for larger projects or when you need to accommodate a high number of stitches.
Circular needles offer many advantages over traditional straight needles, making them a valuable addition to any knitter’s toolkit. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter, exploring the possibilities of circular knitting can enhance your knitting experience and allow you to create seamless, beautiful projects with ease.
What You’ll Need
- A pair of circular knitting needles
- A ball of yarn
- A pair of scissors
- A tapestry needle
- A stitch marker
- A row counter (optional)
Note: When choosing your circular knitting needles, make sure they are the correct size for your project. The size will depend on the weight of the yarn you are using and the desired gauge. You can refer to the yarn label or a knitting needle sizing chart for guidance.
Additionally, the length of your circular needles will depend on the circumference of your project. If you are knitting a large project, such as a sweater or blanket, you may need longer circular needles to accommodate the stitches.
As for the yarn, choose a color and weight that you like and that is suitable for your project. The yarn label will provide information on the recommended needle size and gauge for that particular yarn.
Lastly, a pair of scissors and a tapestry needle are necessary for finishing off your project and weaving in any loose ends. The stitch marker is used to mark the beginning of each round, and the row counter can help you keep track of the number of rows you have knitted.
Getting Started
Before you begin knitting with circular needles, there are a few things you’ll need to gather:
- Circular Needles: Choose a pair of circular needles that are the appropriate size for your chosen yarn weight.
- Yarn: Select a yarn that you like and is suitable for your project. Make sure to check the recommended needle size on the yarn label.
- Tape Measure: Have a tape measure handy to check your gauge and to measure your project as you go.
- Stitch Markers: Use stitch markers to mark important points in your knitting, such as the beginning of a round or pattern repeats.
- Tapestry Needle: A tapestry needle is used for sewing in loose ends and finishing your project.
- Pattern: Find a pattern that is suitable for circular knitting. This will guide you through the stitches and techniques used in your project.
Once you have gathered all the necessary materials, you can begin by casting on your stitches. With circular needles, you can cast on your stitches directly onto the needle or use a separate set of single-pointed needles and then transfer the stitches to the circular needles.
- Hold the circular needles with the points facing to the right.
- Make a slipknot on the right needle and tighten it.
- Hold the right needle in your right hand and the left needle in your left hand.
- Insert the tip of the right needle into the slipknot from left to right.
- Wrap the yarn around the tip of the right needle counterclockwise.
- With the right needle, pull the yarn through the slipknot, creating a new loop.
- Place the new loop onto the left needle.
- Repeat steps 4-7 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches.
Now you’re ready to start knitting in the round using your circular needles! Remember to follow the instructions in your pattern and enjoy the process of creating something beautiful!
Casting On
Casting on is the first step in starting a knitting project using circular needles. It is the process of creating the very first row of stitches onto the needle.
Here are the steps to cast on stitches using circular needles:
- Hold the circular needles: Hold one needle in each hand, with the needle tips pointing away from you.
- Make a slipknot: Make a slipknot by creating a loop with the yarn and pulling the working end through the loop. Place the slipknot onto the right needle.
- Hold the needles together: Hold the needles together in your right hand with the slipknot at the end of the right needle.
- Insert the left needle: Insert the left needle into the slipknot from left to right, with the needle going under the right needle.
- Wrap the yarn: With your right hand, wrap the yarn around the tip of the right needle clockwise.
- Pull through: Use the right needle to pull the yarn through the slipknot and onto the left needle. This creates a new stitch.
- Continue casting on: Repeat steps 4-6 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches.
Once you have successfully cast on the desired number of stitches, you are ready to begin knitting in the round using circular needles. Follow the next steps in your knitting pattern to continue your project.
Remember to take your time when casting on and practice until you feel comfortable with the technique. With some practice, you’ll soon be ready to start any knitting project using circular needles!
Basic Knitting Techniques
Knitting is a craft that involves creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles. It may seem daunting at first, but with a little practice, you can master the basic knitting techniques. Here are a few essential techniques to get you started:
1. Casting On
Casting on is the first step in knitting. It involves creating the initial row of stitches on your needle. There are various casting on methods, but the most common one is the Long Tail Cast On. To perform this technique:
- Make a slipknot by creating a loop with the yarn, leaving a long tail.
- Insert the needle through the loop, and tighten the knot around the needle. Leave the tail hanging.
- Hold the needle with the slipknot in your right hand and the tail in your left hand.
- With your right hand, bring the yarn over the needle, creating a loop.
- Insert the needle through the loop from front to back, and pull the yarn tight.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have the desired number of stitches.
2. Knit Stitch
The knit stitch is the most fundamental stitch in knitting. It creates a smooth, interlocking fabric. To knit:
- Hold the needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand.
- Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, from left to right.
- Wrap the yarn around the tip of the right needle, moving from back to front.
- Pull the right needle with the wrapped yarn through the first stitch, creating a new stitch on the right needle.
- Slide the original stitch off the left needle.
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 until all stitches have been transferred from the left needle to the right needle.
3. Purl Stitch
The purl stitch creates a bumpy texture on the fabric’s right side. It is the reverse of the knit stitch. To purl:
- Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand.
- Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, from right to left.
- Wrap the yarn around the tip of the right needle, moving from front to back.
- Pull the right needle with the wrapped yarn through the first stitch, creating a new stitch on the right needle.
- Slide the original stitch off the left needle.
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 until all stitches have been transferred from the left needle to the right needle.
4. Binding Off
Binding off is the final step in knitting, where you secure the stitches and remove them from the needle. To bind off:
- Knit the first two stitches as usual.
- Insert the tip of the left needle into the first stitch on the right needle.
- Lift the first stitch over the second stitch and off the right needle, leaving one stitch on the right needle.
- Knit one more stitch.
- Repeat steps 2 to 4 until only one stitch remains on the right needle.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a tail. Thread the tail through the last stitch and pull tight to secure.
These basic knitting techniques will provide you with a solid foundation for many knitting projects. With practice, you can expand your skills and tackle more complex patterns and stitches.
Increasing and Decreasing Stitches
In knitting, increasing and decreasing stitches are important techniques for shaping your project and creating specific patterns. Whether you want to add width, shape, or texture to your knit fabric, knowing how to increase and decrease stitches is essential.
Increasing Stitches
Increasing stitches can be done in various ways, but the most common methods involve knitting or purling into the same stitch multiple times or creating new stitches between existing stitches. Here are a few common techniques:
- Knit Front and Back (KFB): Insert your needle into the stitch as if to knit, but instead of just knitting it, leave the stitch on the left needle, knit into the back loop of the same stitch, and then slip both stitches off the left needle. This creates an increased stitch.
- Make One (M1): Insert your needle between two stitches, from front to back, and knit into the back loop of this new stitch. This creates a new stitch.
- Yarn Over (YO): Bring the yarn to the front of your work, and then knit the next stitch. This creates a new stitch and a small hole in your fabric.
Decreasing Stitches
Decreasing stitches helps shape your knitting by removing stitches from your fabric. Here are some common techniques for decreasing:
- Knit Two Together (K2tog): Insert your needle through the next two stitches as if to knit, and then knit them together. This decreases one stitch.
- Purl Two Together (P2tog): Insert your needle through the next two stitches as if to purl, and then purl them together. This also decreases one stitch.
- Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK): Slip the next stitch knitwise onto your right needle, slip the following stitch knitwise as well, then insert the left needle into the front loops of both slipped stitches and knit them together. This creates a left-slanting decrease.
- Knit Three Together (K3tog): Insert your needle through the next three stitches as if to knit, and then knit them together. This decreases two stitches.
By mastering these basic increasing and decreasing techniques, you’ll have the foundation to tackle more complex patterns and create beautifully shaped knitwear.
Knitting in the Round
Knitting in the round is a technique used to create seamless projects such as hats, socks, and sweaters. Instead of using straight needles, you use circular needles that are connected by a flexible cable. Knitting in the round is great for making tubular or circular shapes, and it’s also ideal for knitting small circumferences.
When knitting in the round, you will work in a continuous spiral, without turning your work. This eliminates the need to seam pieces together and creates a seamless finished product.
To start knitting in the round, you will need a set of circular needles with a cable length appropriate for your project. The stitches are distributed evenly around the cable, with the working yarn coming from the right needle. It’s important to avoid twisting the stitches when joining in the round, as this will create a mobius strip instead of a tube.
Before you begin knitting in the round, it can be helpful to place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of your round. This will help you keep track of your progress and ensure that you maintain the correct stitch count.
When working in the round, there are two main techniques you can use: knitting on circular needles and knitting on double-pointed needles (DPNs). Knitting on circular needles is generally easier for beginners, as the weight of the fabric is supported by the cable. However, DPNs are useful for small circumferences, such as socks or sleeves.
When knitting in the round, you will typically use the knit stitch for every round. This creates a smooth stockinette fabric on the right side and a reverse stockinette fabric on the wrong side. However, you can also incorporate other stitch patterns, such as ribbing or cables, into your project.
When you reach the end of a round, you will simply continue knitting in the same direction, without turning your work. This creates a continuous spiral, with each round stacked on top of the previous one.
Knitting in the round opens up a whole world of possibilities for your knitting projects. Once you master this technique, you’ll be able to tackle more complex patterns and create beautiful seamless garments.
Finishing Off
Once you have completed your knitting project using circular needles, there are a few final steps to finish off your work.
1. Bind Off: To secure your stitches and create a finished edge, you will need to bind off your knitting. Start by knitting two stitches, then insert your left needle into the first stitch on your right needle. Lift this stitch over the second stitch and off the right needle. Continue this process until you have one stitch remaining, then cut your yarn and pull it through the last stitch.
2. Weave in Ends: Use a tapestry needle to weave in the loose ends of your yarn. Thread the needle with the yarn and carefully weave it through the back of your knitting, keeping the stitches hidden. Trim any excess yarn once the ends are securely woven in.
3. Block your Project: Blocking is a process that helps to shape and relax your knitting. Depending on the yarn and pattern, you may need to wet block or steam block your project. Wet blocking involves soaking your finished knitting in water, gently squeezing out the excess, and then shaping it to the desired dimensions. Steam blocking involves using a steamer or iron to lightly steam the knitting and shape it. Always follow the instructions for blocking provided by the yarn manufacturer or pattern designer.
4. Finishing Touches: Once your knitting is dry and blocked, you can add any desired finishing touches. This could include sewing on buttons, attaching a lining, or adding any decorative elements. Follow the pattern instructions or use your own creativity to customize your finished project.
5. Enjoy! With your project fully finished, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Whether you’ve made a cozy scarf, a warm hat, or a beautiful sweater, take the time to marvel at your handiwork and show off your new creation.
FAQ:
What are circular needles used for?
Circular needles are used for knitting in the round, typically for projects like hats, socks, and sweaters. They eliminate the need to have a seam or stitch the work together.
Do I need special techniques to use circular needles?
No, using circular needles is similar to using straight needles. The main difference is that the work is joined in a circle, but you still use basic knitting stitches and techniques.
Can I use circular needles for flat knitting?
Yes, you can use circular needles for flat knitting projects as well. Simply knit back and forth instead of joining in a circle. The length of the circular needle allows you to hold a large amount of stitches, making it convenient for bigger projects.
What sizes do circular needles come in?
Circular needles come in various sizes, ranging from very small for delicate projects like lace, to larger sizes for thicker yarns. The size is typically indicated by the diameter of the needle, which can range from 2mm to 20mm or more.
What materials are circular needles made from?
Circular needles can be made from various materials such as metal, plastic, wood, and bamboo. Each material has its own characteristics, such as being lightweight, durable, or flexible, so you can choose the one that suits your preferences.
Are circular needles beginner-friendly?
Yes, circular needles can be great for beginners. They provide a more even distribution of stitches and are more comfortable to hold for long periods of time. The circular shape also helps keep the work from slipping off the needles. Plus, once you learn to use circular needles, you can knit a wider variety of projects.