Joining a circle (also known as joining in the round) when knitting is a crucial step in projects like hats, socks, cowls, and sleeves. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you join your knitting into a circle and begin working in the round:
Materials You’ll Need:
- Circular knitting needles (or double-pointed needles if working on a small project)
- Yarn of your choice
- Stitch marker (optional but helpful)
Step-by-Step Guide to Joining in the Round
1. Cast On Your Stitches
- Begin by casting on the required number of stitches onto your circular needles. If you’re using double-pointed needles (DPNs), distribute the stitches evenly across your needles.
2. Check for Twists
- Before joining, make sure that all your stitches are aligned correctly on the needle. The cast-on edge should be facing inward, with no twists. A twist in your stitches will create a mobius strip effect, which will ruin the circular shape of your knitting.
3. Join the Round
- With Circular Needles:
- Bring the two ends of your work together so that the working yarn (attached to the ball of yarn) is on the right-hand needle.
- Place a stitch marker on your right needle to mark the beginning of the round. This will help you keep track of your rows.
- Begin knitting the first stitch on the left-hand needle with the working yarn from the right-hand needle, effectively joining the round.
- With Double-Pointed Needles:
- Arrange the stitches evenly on three or four needles, with the working yarn on the needle to your right.
- Place a stitch marker if desired.
- Use an empty needle to knit the first stitch from the needle on your left, joining the round.
4. Secure the Join (Optional)
- Tighten the Join: To avoid a gap at the join, you can pull the yarn tightly after knitting the first stitch.
- Switch Stitches: Another method is to knit the first stitch from the left-hand needle with the right-hand needle, and then pass the first cast-on stitch from the right-hand needle over the second stitch to “lock” the join.
- Weaving in Ends: If there’s still a small gap, you can use the yarn tail from your cast-on edge to sew the gap closed when you weave in your ends.
5. Continue Knitting in the Round
- Now that you’ve joined in the round, continue knitting according to your pattern. The stitch marker will help you identify the start of each round.
6. Managing the Yarn
- As you knit in the round, be mindful of the yarn tension to keep your stitches even. The circular motion might feel different at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly.
Final Tips
- Practice: If you’re new to knitting in the round, practice joining and knitting a few rounds on a small swatch before starting a larger project.
- Magic Loop Method: For smaller circumferences, consider using the Magic Loop method with a long circular needle, or use DPNs.
- Avoid Ladders: To prevent ladders (gaps) between needles when using DPNs, make sure to tighten the first stitch on each needle.
Joining a circle in knitting might seem tricky at first, but with a bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of it and open up a world of new projects!