How to Knit in the Round Using Circular Needles

Welcome to Studio Knit! It’s Hat Month, and I’ve received many requests on how to knit using circular needles. Knitting in the round is a great way to create seamless projects like hats, cowls, and sweaters. With just five simple steps, you’ll be knitting in the round like a pro!

What Are Circular Needles?

Circular needles consist of two knitting needle tips connected by a flexible acrylic or plastic cable. Unlike straight needles, they allow you to knit continuously in a loop rather than turning your work at the end of each row. Some people also refer to this as the Magic Loop method.

Step 1: Casting On

Begin by casting on the required number of stitches for your pattern. The cast-on method is similar to what you would use on straight needles. The long-tail cast-on is a great choice for this.

Step 2: Avoiding Twists

Before you start knitting, ensure that your stitches are not twisted around the cable. The edge of your cast-on stitches should be straight along the inside of the circular needle. Twisted stitches can ruin your project, so double-check before moving forward.

Step 3: Joining in the Round

To start knitting in the round, place a stitch marker at the beginning of your row. This marker will help track the start of each round. To secure the join, knit the first stitch using both the working yarn and the yarn tail together. After this first stitch, drop the tail and continue knitting normally.

Step 4: The Knit and Scootch Method

As you knit, you will notice that stitches bunch up on the cable. To keep your knitting smooth, scoot the stitches from the left needle up and the ones on the right needle down as you go.

Step 5: Weaving in the Tail

A handy trick to avoid weaving in your yarn tail later is to knit the first few stitches of the second round with both the tail and working yarn held together. After knitting about three stitches, drop the tail and continue knitting normally. This secures the tail, eliminating the need to weave it in separately.

Why Use Circular Needles?

Knitting in the round with circular needles is faster, eliminates seams, and provides a more enjoyable knitting experience. Whether you call it the Magic Loop or simply knitting in the round, this method is ideal for making hats and other seamless projects.

Final Thoughts

I hope this tutorial inspires you to try knitting in the round! If you found this guide helpful, be sure to subscribe to Studio Knit and check out my Hat Month playlist for more fun projects. Happy knitting!