Knitting in the round creates seamless, tubular fabrics that are perfect for hats, socks, sweaters, and other circular projects. Joining the stitches together to form a continuous loop can seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple with a few simple steps. By following the instructions carefully and practicing a little, you’ll be able to join stitches in the round with ease and create beautiful, seamless knitted pieces.
To begin, cast on the required number of stitches onto a circular needle or double-pointed needles. Once you’ve cast on all the stitches, you’ll need to join them together to form a loop. The most common way to do this is by using the slip stitch method. To do this, insert the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, as if to knit it. Then, slip the stitch onto the right-hand needle without knitting it. Now, insert the right-hand needle into the first stitch on the right-hand needle, as if to knit it. Again, slip the stitch onto the left-hand needle without knitting it. Continue slipping stitches from one needle to the other until you’ve joined all the stitches together. Once you’ve slipped the last stitch, pull the yarn tail to tighten the join and secure the stitches.
Now that you’ve joined the stitches together, you can start knitting in the round. To do this, simply follow the pattern instructions as usual. When you reach the end of the round, slip the first stitch onto the right-hand needle and continue knitting the round as before. Once you’ve completed the first round, you’ll have a seamless, tubular piece of fabric. You can continue knitting in the round until the piece reaches the desired length. When you’re finished, simply bind off the stitches and weave in the ends to complete the project.
Forming the Magic Circle
Step 1: Make a Slip Knot
- Take the yarn end and make a small loop.
- Insert the crochet hook into the loop and hook the yarn.
- Pull the yarn through the loop to create a slip knot.
Step 2: Create the First Chain Stitch
- Place the slip knot onto the crochet hook.
- Hold the hook in your left hand and the yarn in your right hand.
- Hook the yarn from the back and pull it through the slip knot to make a chain stitch.
Step 3: Join the Circle (In Depth)
-
Yarn Over (YO): Pass the yarn over the hook from right to left.
-
Insert Hook into Chain Stitch: Insert the hook into the first chain stitch.
-
Hook Yarn: Catch the yarn with the hook and bring it back through the chain stitch.
-
YO and Pull Through: Pass the yarn over the hook again and pull it through the loop on the hook.
-
Continue YO and Hook: Repeat steps 4-6 until there are 5 loops on the hook.
Round Number of Stitches 1 6 2 12 3 18 -
Slip Stitch (SLST) to Join: Insert the hook into the first loop on the hook and hook the yarn.
-
Pull Through: Pull the yarn through the loop to join the circle.
Joining the First Stitch
To join the first stitch in the round, follow these steps:
- Insert the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle. This is the same stitch you made when you cast on.
- Wrap the yarn around the left-hand needle from front to back.
- Pull the yarn through the stitch, creating a new loop. This new loop will be on the right-hand needle.
- Transfer the new loop back to the left-hand needle. This will complete the first stitch in the round.
Inserting the Left-Hand Needle into the First Stitch
When inserting the left-hand needle into the first stitch, be sure to do so from the back of the work. This will ensure that the new stitch is created on the correct side of the fabric.
Here is a table summarizing the steps for joining the first stitch in the round:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Insert the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle from the back of the work. |
| 2 | Wrap the yarn around the left-hand needle from front to back. |
| 3 | Pull the yarn through the stitch, creating a new loop on the right-hand needle. |
| 4 | Transfer the new loop back to the left-hand needle. |
Working the Next Row
Now that you have joined your stitches in the round, you can begin working the next row. Here are the steps:
- Hold the needle in your right hand and the yarn in your left.
- Insert the needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle.
- Wrap the yarn around the needle from back to front.
- Pull the yarn through the stitch.
- Slide the new stitch onto the left-hand needle.
**Repeat steps 2-5 for the remaining stitches in the round.**
**When you reach the end of the round, the first stitch you made should be on the left-hand needle. This stitch will be the first stitch of the next round.**
**Here is a table summarizing the steps for working the next row:**
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hold the needle in your right hand and the yarn in your left. |
| 2 | Insert the needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle. |
| 3 | Wrap the yarn around the needle from back to front. |
| 4 | Pull the yarn through the stitch. |
| 5 | Slide the new stitch onto the left-hand needle. |
Slipping the Stitch Marker
To slip the stitch marker, follow these steps:
1. Insert the left-hand needle into the stitch to the left of the stitch marker, as if to knit it.
2. Lift the stitch onto the left-hand needle, but do not knit it.
3. Slip the stitch marker over the tip of the left-hand needle.
4. Knit the next stitch.
5. Slip the stitch marker back over the left-hand needle.
6. Knit the slipped stitch. Repeat the process for all other stitches until you reach the end of the round.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Insert the left-hand needle into the stitch to the left of the stitch marker, as if to knit it. |
| 2 | Lift the stitch onto the left-hand needle, but do not knit it. |
| 3 | Slip the stitch marker over the tip of the left-hand needle. |
| 4 | Knit the next stitch. |
| 5 | Slip the stitch marker back over the left-hand needle. |
| 6 | Knit the slipped stitch. Repeat the process for all other stitches until you reach the end of the round. |
Working the Second Row
In the second row, you’ll continue to knit the stitches in the round, but you’ll also start to use the slip stitch marker as a reference point. The slip stitch marker helps you keep track of where the beginning of the round is located.
To work the second row:
1. Slip the first stitch onto the right-hand needle without knitting it. This stitch will act as the slip stitch marker, indicating the beginning of the round.
2. Knit the next stitch.
3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you reach the last stitch in the round.
4. Knit the last stitch.
Slip the slip stitch marker back onto the left-hand needle, making sure it’s in front of the first knit stitch. This will mark the beginning of the next round.
Now that you’ve worked the second row, you can continue to knit in the round, repeating the instructions for rows 1 and 2 until you reach the desired height for your item.
Working the First Seven Stitches in Detail
To provide further clarity, let’s break down the first seven stitches of the second row in detail:
| Stitch Number | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Slip without knitting (slip stitch marker) |
| 2 | Knit |
| 3 | Knit |
| 4 | Knit |
| 5 | Knit |
| 6 | Knit |
| 7 | Knit |
Continuing the Rounds
To continue working in the round, you’ll follow a similar process to starting the round, but you’ll begin with a slip stitch into the first stitch of the previous round.
1. Insert your hook into the first stitch of the previous round and yarn over.
2. Pull up a loop and yarn over again.
3. Pull through both loops on your hook.
4. After completing the slip stitch, you’ll continue working the stitches as directed by your pattern. Remember to maintain even tension and keep track of your stitches.
Once you’ve completed the first round, you’ll repeat the process for each subsequent round. Each round should begin with a slip stitch into the first stitch of the previous round, followed by the specified stitches.
It’s important to note that some patterns may indicate a specific stitch count for each round. Be sure to count your stitches regularly to ensure accuracy and maintain the shape of your work.
| Round | Stitches |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12 |
| 2 | 15 |
| 3 | 18 |
Securing the Stitches
Once the stitches have been joined, it’s important to secure them to prevent them from coming undone.
To do this, insert the hook into the first stitch and pull up a loop.
Yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook.
Continue to yarn over and pull through the remaining loops on the hook, one at a time.
When all the loops have been pulled through, pull the yarn tail to tighten the knot.
Trim the excess yarn tail.
Your stitches are now securely joined.
Step-by-Step Instructions with Images
| Step | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Image of inserting the hook into the first stitch and pulling up a loop] | Insert the hook into the first stitch and pull up a loop. |
| 2 | [Image of yarn over and pulling through the loop on the hook] | Yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook. |
| 3 | [Image of continuing to yarn over and pull through the remaining loops on the hook, one at a time] | Continue to yarn over and pull through the remaining loops on the hook, one at a time. |
| 4 | [Image of pulling the yarn tail to tighten the knot] | When all the loops have been pulled through, pull the yarn tail to tighten the knot. |
| 5 | [Image of trimming the excess yarn tail] | Trim the excess yarn tail. |
| 6 | [Image of the securely joined stitches] | Your stitches are now securely joined. |
How to Join Stitches in the Round
When knitting in the round, you will need to join your stitches at the end of each round. This will create a seamless cylinder or tube shape. There are two main methods for joining stitches in the round: the slip stitch join and the grafting join.
-
**Slip stitch join**: This is the easiest method for joining stitches in the round. To do a slip stitch join, simply insert your left-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, as if to knit it. Then, slip the stitch onto the right-hand needle without knitting it. Insert the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the right-hand needle, as if to knit it, and slip that stitch onto the right-hand needle. Continue slipping stitches until you have joined all of the stitches in the round. Tighten the yarn tail to secure the join.
-
**Grafting join**: This method is a bit more difficult than the slip stitch join, but it creates a stronger and more invisible seam. To do a grafting join, you will need a tapestry needle and some yarn. Thread the yarn onto the tapestry needle and insert the needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, from back to front. Then, insert the needle into the first stitch on the right-hand needle, from front to back. Pull the yarn through both stitches to create a new stitch. Repeat this process until you have joined all of the stitches in the round. Tighten the yarn tail to secure the join.
People Also Ask About How to Join Stitches in the Round:
How do I join stitches in the round without a seam?
To join stitches in the round without a seam, you can use the grafting join method described above. This method creates a strong and invisible seam when done correctly.
How do I join stitches in the round with double pointed needles?
To join stitches in the round with double pointed needles, you can use either the slip stitch join or the grafting join method.
How do I join stitches in the round with circular needles?
To join stitches in the round with circular needles, you can use either the slip stitch join or the grafting join method.
