How to Knit in the Round: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

Many beginner knitters are intimidated by the process of knitting in the round because of the double-pointed 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.

To start, you will need four double-pointed needles or a set of circular needles. Both are used for knitting in the round. The main difference between them is that double-pointed needles are often used to knit items that are too small for circular needles (for instance, the individual fingers on a glove), while circular needles are commonly used for larger, heavyweight garments like sweaters.

To start, cast your stitches onto one needle only. Divide the stitches evenly among three needles by slipping them onto two more needles. Once all three 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. Then, join the needles to form a triangle as pictured: 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.

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Insert the left needle, from front to back (see the image at left), below the horizontal strand between the two stitches.

Then, knit the picked-up stitch through the back of the loop, crossing your right needle behind the left needle.

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

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