For me there is nothing more relaxing and satisfying than spending the little free time that I do have knitting. It’s an amazing feeling having the ability to turn threads of yarn into something useful or pretty. I really would love for you to share in this experience, which is the core reason behind my series: Learn To Knit With @sweetpea

Over the past couple of months I have shared tutorials on how to cast on and off, how to knit rows and how to increase and decrease stitches, to name but a few. All of these steps required the use of straight knit needle. Today, however, I would like to introduce Knitting In The Round To You. This is a knitting practice that requires you to well, knit in the round. For this procedure you can either use a set of four double-pointed needles, or you can purchase a set of circular needles – short needles attached to each other with a piece of nylon (or another flexible material).

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The Circular Needles Will Look Like The Image Above And You Will Be Able To Get Them In Different Lengths And Sizes

Steps On How To Knit In The Round

1. Cast on the require number of stitches for your project on the appropriate-length circular needle (as suggested on the pattern guide you are following).
2. Before you start knitting, make sure all of your stitches lay evenly, are not twisted and cover your needles from point to point. 
3. Use a stitch marker (like a different colour yarn) to mark your first stitch.
4. To join up your stitches and begin working in the round, turn your work over so that your yarn is on the right-hand side and make very sure that your cast-on stitches have not twisted around the cable. The first stitch you work into should be the very first stitch that you cast on.
5. Continue to knit as your pattern instructs, ensuring that your stitches are straight at all times, to ensure that your work is not twisting (if your work does twist, you will have to pull all of the rows out and start again unfortunately).
6. Cast off as usual or as directed by your pattern.

TIP: If your flexible cable is all looped, place it in a cup of boiled water for a few minutes, remove and straighten them by pulling gently. 

Circular knitting is not my preferred knitting choice, it’s quite tricky maneuvering the short needles and you tend to knit slower, since you are constantly trying to make sure that your work is not twisting. If you would like to knit something round like a beanie, headband, tea-cosy or even a little dress for instance, then circular knitting will give you a neat and seamless end result. 

If you have been following my series on Learning To Knit with @sweetpea, by now you should have your needles and yarn all prepped and at the very least you should be able to cast on and knit in garter and stocking stitch. If you are new to my series, I’ll add my previous tutorials below for your reference.  THANK YOU FOR KNITTING WITH ME :)

Previous additions to the Learning To Knit With @sweetpea Series:

01 - Learn To Knit: Matching Yarn And Needle Sizes 

02 - Learn To Knit: That First Stitch

03 - Learn To Knit: Casting On The First Row Of Stitches

04 - Learn How To Knit With @sweetpea: The Knit Stitch (Garter Stitch)

05 - Learn How To Knit With @sweetpea: The Purl Stitch (Stocking Stitch)

06 - Learn To Knit With @sweetpea: Decreasing Stitches (SSK)

07 - Learn To Knit With @sweetpea: Increasing Stitches (Inc 1)

08 - Learn To Knit With @sweetpea: Increasing Stitches Purlwise (M1 Pw)

09 - Learn To Knit With Sweetpea: The Yarn Over/Forward Stitch (Used For Button Holes And Lace Patterns)

10 - Learn How To Knit With @sweetpea: Three-Needle Bind-Off

PATTERNS by @sweetpea:

• Knit A Beanie With @sweetpea - Steps And Pattern Included (YOU CAN DO IT)!
• Learn How To Knit A Flower With @sweetpea (Original Video Tutorial Included)
• Learn How To Knit Your Very Own Mittens (Brrrr, It's Cold Outside)!
• Learn How To Knit Itty Bitty Baby Booties With @sweetpea

Thank you once again for taking the time to Learn To Knit With me! There will be plenty more tutorials and patterns to follow, so please stay tuned and pop in often for more updates! Happy knitting!  

Much love - @sweetpea

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