How to Knit in the Round

Many beginner knitters are intimidated by the process of knitting in the round because of the double-sided needles used to carry out this skill. However, as long as you know how to knit with two needles, it's really not that difficult -- and then you will be able to create sweaters, hats, socks, and more, all with even seams.

You will need four double-pointed needles.

1. Cast your stitches onto 1 needle only. Divide the stitches evenly among 3 needles by slipping them onto 2 more needles.

2. Once all 3 needles have the same number of stitches, lay the needles flat on a table, loosely lined up end to end. (Your right-most needle should have the working yarn.) Make sure stitches aren't twisted; they should all face the same direction.

3. Join the needles to form a triangle as follows: Take the left needle in your left hand and the right needle in your right hand. Bring the needles together to form a triangle with the middle needle. Pick up your fourth needle. With the triangle still in place (and the working yarn on the right needle), knit the stitches onto the left needle, pulling working yarn tightly to join (see the image at left). You are now knitting in the round.

Insert left needle, from front to back (see the image at left), below the horizontal strand between the 2 stitches. See the next slide for the next step in how to increase.

Knit picked-up stitch through the back of the loop, crossing your right-hand needle behind the left (see the image at left).

Slip first stitch purlwise onto a double-pointed needle. Slip second stitch purlwise onto other working needle. Repeat, alternating (see the image at left), until stitches are divided equally between needles.

Slip needle knitwise through 2 loops, not 1 (see the image at left); knit both stitches together.