Knitting in the round. Circular knitting

Circular knitting with two pairs of ring needles December 1st, 2015

Any knitting community will agree that knitting in the round with 5 needles is not the greatest pleasure. That is why ways are constantly being sought to make this process more convenient.

Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is to replace the 5 short knitting needles with a pair of circular knitting needles with cable. For example, to knit a hat without a seam, you can select a needle length of 60 cm and calmly knit in the round. But even if the length of the knitting needles corresponds to the diameter of the product at the beginning of knitting, then when you decrease the loops and reduce this diameter, you need to do something with the extra length of the cable. Therefore, this extra length is pulled out with a loop somewhere in the middle of the canvas. This technique is called Magic Loop. Many people knit this way and are quite happy with it.

This technique didn’t work for me, it’s terribly inconvenient for me to pull out this loop of cable between the loops of the fabric every time, apparently I knit quite tightly. And I was blessed when they explained to me how to knit in the round with two pairs of circular needles of the same thickness. I have been knitting this way for many years and talked about it here: and on Osinka back in 2006.

As it turns out, this knitting technique is not at all obvious. After this discussion in my favorite community, I decided to write about this technique additionally and in detail.

The principle of this knitting is that the loops of the circle are distributed approximately equally between two pairs of circular knitting needles. When knitting needles don't change each other. Each knitting needle knits the same semicircle.

I knit in this order.

• I cast on loops in any way. I change half the stitches onto the second pair of knitting needles. To complete the circle, I pull the stitches of the first needle to the right and knit them with the free needle of the same pair on which they are located.
• Then I do the same on the second knitting needle: I move the second half of the row towards the working thread and knit them with a free knitting needle of the same pair.
• So I continue to knit each part of the loops only with the pair of knitting needles on which they are located. And, of course, when moving from knitting needle to knitting needle, I tighten the thread so that I don’t end up with stretched broaches.

In order not to get confused about which knitting needle you need to knit with, I take not two identical pairs, but different ones, with different knitting needles or different cables, this greatly simplifies the process.

To ensure that traces of transitions from knitting needle to knitting needle are invisible, when knitting raglan from the neckline, I most often place the separation points next to the raglan. lines, sometimes in the center of the sleeves, but never in the center of the front and back. Sometimes traces from the transitions still remain, so to hide them you can each time shift the transition line from knitting needle to knitting needle by several loops in any direction.

This method has some other advantages that free you from additional body movements.

There is no need to pull out the cable loop in the middle of the web, where there may be a stretched gap between the loops. The loops on the knitting needles are pulled from one edge to the other without any problems, “it happens quickly and easily - whack!” © vedana_ua

This method also greatly simplifies the fitting of products during the knitting process. You can distribute the stitches on two knitting needles and straighten the fabric to its natural size; in this form it is convenient to measure knitting and try it on your figure. It is quite difficult to do this on one circular knitting needle; you have to retake the loops with additional ones. knitting needle or thick thread.

With this knitting, you can use knitting needles of any infinite length, although the length of 60-100 cm is the most convenient. And you can absolutely easily do without short circular knitting needles of 30-40 cm, there is no need to multiply the essences.

The same method is convenient for knitting two small items at the same time, for example, socks or mittens, which turns out to be a salvation for those who do not like to knit two identical paired items in a row.

Paired items are knitted simultaneously in exactly the same way as one, only from two balls. First, loops are cast on from one ball, then onto the same knitting needle from the second ball. Then you need to distribute the loops on two knitting needles so that each knitting needle has half the loops of each circle. Then the first circle is closed and half of it is knitted, then the second circle is closed and its half is knitted.

Perhaps this picture will clarify the process (the picture is not mine, it was found once on the Internet).

If starting knitting in this way with two circular knitting needles is completely inconvenient, you can start each product separately in the traditional way with 5 knitting needles, knit 2-3 rows, and then re-slip the stitches onto two circular knitting needles.

How to knit in the round on circular needles and why is it needed? We will try to answer these questions, as well as give important advice, which you cannot do without at the initial stage of studying the technique of creating a canvas.

Anyone who has never used this technique can say that even without it they cope perfectly with the embodiment of their own creative ideas. Knitting in the round has one highlight - it allows you to create seamless items. This means that they will be without seals at the joints of the parts, the risk of deformation of the product in this area is eliminated, and, which is also quite important, there is no need to spend your precious time assembling all the parts together, laying jewelry seams. This method is relevant for creating turtlenecks, sweaters, all kinds of hats and more. The scope of application of circular knitting on knitting needles is limited only by the knitter’s imagination.

Is everything as simple as it seems at first glance? So how to knit in the round? Maybe it’s enough to simply bring the first cast-on loop to the last one, and then continue using the same technique as knitting a straight fabric? This almost corresponds to the real state of affairs. But there are several small, and at the same time, quite significant adjustments.

Getting Started: Ring Connection

There is nothing difficult about knitting on circular needles. Pitfalls lurk at the very beginning of the process. We start working with loops: cast on the estimated number plus one. This additional unit will make it possible to make the junction of the beginning of the first row with the last smooth and without flaws.

The loops are cast on. Having distributed them evenly along the entire length of the circular knitting needles, we bring the first, which is in the right hand, to the last (left). Please note that the typesetting row along its entire length must be even, and in no case twisted. Now we remove the first loop from the left knitting needle to the right one, pull it through the last one (after that it became the second one), return it again to the left one, lowering the unit through which it was passed. Here's what to do next. Thus, one loop was lowered - this is the same additional unit that was added during casting. With its help, the row was connected into a ring. Now the edge will be smooth. To firmly fix the joint, you need to pull the tip of the thread at the beginning of the cast-on edge, tightening the fixing loop tightly. Circular knitting has begun. At the end of the work you only need to thread the tip of the thread.

Knitting in the round

At the back there is a connection of loops into a ring. It is clear to any needlewoman that she needs to mark the starting point - this will make further work easier. To create patterns, considering the front and back sides of the design is one of the most important aspects of knitting in the round. Therefore, to indicate the beginning of the row, we put a special marker on the right knitting needle (a small fastening plastic part with a rounded eye, sold in sewing stores) or, if there is none, replace it with a small ring. In this case, the presence of a connector does not matter. If you don’t have a marker or a small diameter ring at hand, then you can just use a thread of a contrasting color, attaching it to a knitting needle between the beginning and end of the row.

The marker is always followed by the first stitch. Next we begin to knit the front row. As the stitches are knitted, the marker gradually moves to the left side of the work. The technique is similar. Having knitted the last loop, we again move the marker to the right needle - this means the end of the first and the beginning of the second line. There are also some nuances.

If we knit a pattern according to the pattern, then the second row is considered purl, but you need to take into account the fact that it is created from the front side.

When knitting in the round, every odd line is a knit line, and every even line is a purl line. We repeat the process until we get the canvas of the required length.

Here are all the secrets of knitting on circular needles. If you have ideas for creating seamless products, feel free to get to work. All that remains is to test from personal experience how to knit with circular knitting needles. Success is guaranteed: only the eyes are afraid, but the hands do it. And you shouldn’t avoid complex silhouettes, because this is not just a straight seamless fabric. The modeling possibilities are almost limitless; all techniques on straight knitting needles are available in circular knitting. In this case, we are talking not only about decreasing or adding loops. Therefore, the only thing left to do is to start a new product and, of course, finish it.

In this master class we will talk about how to ensure that the edge is neat and perfectly smooth.

Video master class on joining circular knitting:

We cast on the required number of loops for your product, plus one loop to connect the row. We produce the set in any way. In our master class you can see a set of loops using an additional double needle. After casting, we take out the additional knitting needle and put it aside; we won’t need it anymore.

In your right hand we take the knitting needle with the last cast-on loop and working thread, and in your left hand on the knitting needle we bring the loops to the edge, the first cast-on loop should be located on it.

Before joining the edge, be sure to ensure that the edge does not twist! Once connected, it is no longer possible to correct the twisted row and everything will have to be unraveled.

So, let's begin the connection process itself. Using the right knitting needle, remove the first loop from the left, inserting the knitting needle from right to left. Now, using the left knitting needle, we throw the last of the cast-on loops over the first one, transferred to the same knitting needle, i.e. we throw the second over the first. In this way we removed that extra loop, and the edge will now be smooth and beautiful. The loop must be returned to the left knitting needle and the threads tightened.

We hope everything worked out for you.
Share your result with us and leave comments.
Author Svetik

She showed how to knit a narrow neckline with circular knitting needles. When you don’t have knitting needles with short line or stocking needles at hand, this method helps.

Welcome to my knitting blog! Has this ever happened to you? Knitting something in the round. As long as the part is wide, everything is fine, no special difficulties arise. But when it comes to the collar, neckline or sleeves, a problem immediately appears. The fishing line on circular knitting needles 80 or 100 cm long immediately begins to interfere. The loops stretch along it, in general, it’s just torture.

I thought that someone might also find this simple one useful way. It allows you to knit small circles on the neckline/sleeves using knitting needles with long fishing line. The method was not invented by me. Perhaps some of you saw it somewhere on the Internet, or came to it through your own experience. Well, for those who are new to this method, this mini-MK.

I knit the neckline with long line knitting needles

Well, this technique was very useful to me once again recently, when knitting a coral jumper. The fact is that on my knitting needle the length of the fishing line is 80 cm. It has reached the neck, the circumference of which is gradually decreasing and becoming shorter.

There were no suitable size knitting needles or knitting needles on a short line at hand. Therefore, I continued in this way, which allows me to knit such narrow sections in the round with long circular knitting needles. I took a photo during the process and am sharing it.

So, I’ll show you using my coral jumper as an example. Let's say I now have 118 loops left in my work. The arrow points to the ends of the knitting needles - it is clear that they are clearly too long for knitting such a neck circumference. So, I will use a secret method))

Briefly, what is the essence of the method

The fact is that when knitting the fabric, the fishing line is shortened twice - by pulling out the excess length (without cutting). To do this, I divide the number of loops in two to determine the middle and beginning of the row, where the fishing line will be pulled out.

For example, there are 118 loops left. After the 59th loop, I pull out the fishing line until the loops lie evenly on the knitting needles (that is, they are not stretched along the knitting needle, but lie normally, next to each other, freely). As a result, the excess length of the fishing line is released (does not participate in the work) and now you can continue knitting calmly.

When I finish tying to the middle, the part of the fishing line that I released before comes back into action and begins to interfere. Therefore, I repeat the pulling action. But not in the middle of the canvas, because this is where I am now. And, from the opposite edge - i.e. at the beginning of the row.

I also pulled out the extra part of the fishing line, and quickly tied the row to the end. And, again, I pull up the line alternately in the middle and at the beginning of the row. In principle, nothing complicated, the main thing is to get used to pulling the fishing line.

In words it seems unclear. But when you try it once, it becomes clear what is being done and how.

Below I showed the process in photographs. You can click on one photo and scroll through it like a photo album.

My jumper is knitted with raglan sleeves (with a slanted shoulder line). Therefore, there are 4 markers hanging on the jumper, i.e. the loops are evenly divided into four parts. But, as mentioned above, with this method you just need to halve the number of loops.

Therefore, I do this: I divide the number of loops in two, i.e. 118:2 = 59 The beginning of the row is marked with marker No. 1. And where the middle is, on the 59th loop, marker No. 2 hangs.

Before starting the next row, I pulled out the fishing line behind marker No. 2, making sure that the loops did not come off at the other end. If you jerk sharply, you can throw the knitting off the knitting needle.

At first, the line “goes” with difficulty, the loops in this place stretch to the sides. But, I immediately squeeze the beginning of the fishing line with two fingers and pull it out. I pulled it out - thereby removing the extra length of fishing line from the work. I quietly knit half of the product for myself.

This is what knitting looks like. You see, I knit a row from right to left, in the direction from marker No. 1 to marker No. 2, i.e. from the beginning of the row to the middle.

When I reached the second marker, I tighten the line again. But now from the opposite side, i.e. in the place where the first marker is. I don’t show it in the photo, because everything is repeated, as shown above.

Having pulled out the fishing line, I tie the row to the end. To knit the next row, I again pull the line in the middle of the neck, at the second marker.

Having reached it, I stop and pull the line from the other edge, at marker No. 1. So I knit until the end. As a result, after the cuts, less than 90 stitches remained on the neckline. But, as you can see, even such a narrow neckline was knitted on a long fishing line. In theory, that’s how much extra length there is on the fishing line.

Conclusions:

This method of knitting a neckline on knitting needles with a long fishing line is really very helpful when you don’t want to knit with stocking needles. For example, I even prefer to knit mittens on two knitting needles)) By the way, look at these mittens. Time is saved, knitting is easier and faster than with 4 stitches!

Of course, there are also factory knitting needles with short line. But, firstly, I know from experience that you won’t find them in every store. Secondly, not all sizes are available.

And just like that, please, just once, and I’ve skipped the difficult section)) True, this method is a little troublesome. After all, I want, as usual, to quickly walk along the row. And then you have to stop and pull the line.

But once you get used to it, it turns out comfortable. I would be glad if someone likes this method and finds it useful in their work.

Best regards, Saule Vagapova

Seal

Every craftswoman at some point in her practice is faced with the fact that to make a particular knitted product or element of a product it is necessary to use circular knitting needles. However, many knitters, having become accustomed to using straight knitting needles, often abandon the practical use of circular knitting needles, replacing them with five regular ones. It also happens the other way around, when after knitting on circular knitting needles, needlewomen simply cannot pick up ordinary straight knitting needles. And in this matter there are no those who make the wrong choice. It’s just that we are all different and each have their own habits, including knitting. In this article we will figure out how to knit on circular knitting needles, what types they are, and also consider their main advantages.

WHAT CIRCULAR KNEES LOOK LIKE

Circular knitting needles are two short knitting needles that are connected by a steel cable or elastic line. They come in completely different diameters and can be made from various materials, from aluminum to bamboo. The length of the fishing line also varies.

There are also special sets of circular knitting needles in which the fishing line and the knitting needles themselves are detached from each other and you can combine knitting needles of different diameters with different lengths of fishing line.

Similar sets can be ordered via this link

ADVANTAGES OF CIRCULAR KNEWS

1. When knitting on circular knitting needles, the final product does not have a seam. This factor is important in the manufacture of hats, snoods, sweater necks, etc.
2. Circular knitting needles are universal. With their help, you can knit absolutely any product, which cannot be said about straight knitting needles.
3. When creating wide products, the bulk of the knitting remains on the cable (or fishing line) and does not weigh down the knitting needle you are working with. This reduces the strain on the arm and hand.
4. Compactness. Circular knitting needles are much shorter in size than straight ones, and the fishing line or cable twists easily. You can easily take these knitting needles with you on the road, because they even fit into a woman’s handbag.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF KNITTING ON CIRCULAR KNITTES

The main specificity of knitting in the round is that we knit only the front side of the product. Casting on loops on circular knitting needles can be done in any way, as you are used to doing this using straight knitting needles. The only thing to consider is the lack of edge loops. Therefore, they are not included in the overall calculation of cast-on stitches.

To avoid getting confused during the knitting process, it is advisable to mark the beginning of the row with a special marker that can be transferred from one knitting needle to another.

When knitting, we work with a certain group of loops, which is currently on our working knitting needle. The remaining loops at this moment are located on the fishing line and are waiting for their turn. Gradually moving the knitted loops onto the fishing line, and the unknitted ones from the fishing line onto the left knitting needle, we carry out our process. It is necessary to ensure that the loops do not twist and lie flat on the knitting needles.

In order to avoid a gap at the junction of the first and last loops of the row, it is necessary to cast on one extra loop on the knitting needles and remove it in the first row without knitting. At the end of the circle, this loop must be knitted together with the first. But if such manipulations are quite difficult for a beginning knitter, then you can simply pull the thread tighter when closing the circle to prevent a gap between the loops.