Tubular knitting is a technique that creates a smooth, seamless fabric, often used in projects like socks, sleeves, or hats. One of the common challenges knitters face when working with tubular knitting is joining the stitches into a circle without creating an awkward seam. Using Double Pointed Needles (DPNs) is one of the most effective ways to join tubular knitting into a circle seamlessly. If you’ve ever struggled with this step, this guide will walk you through the process, step by step, to help you join your knitting smoothly and with confidence.
1. Cast On and Prepare the Tubular Knit
Before joining your work into a circle, you need to cast on your stitches using your preferred method for tubular knitting. A common method is the long-tail cast on, but other methods like the tubular cast on can also be used, depending on the desired outcome.
Once you've cast on your stitches, make sure you distribute them evenly across your DPNs. It’s usually best to divide the total number of stitches evenly across three or four needles.
For example, if you're casting on 24 stitches, you would place 8 stitches on each of three needles or 6 stitches on each of four needles.
2. Check for Twist
Before you join the round, ensure that your work is not twisted. This is a very common mistake, especially when working with circular knitting. Lay the needles flat on a table and check if the stitches are all facing in the same direction. If there’s a twist in the fabric, carefully untwist the stitches and adjust them so they are aligned properly.
3. Join the Stitches into a Circle
To join your tubular knitting into a circle, start by positioning the first and last stitch of the cast-on edge together. This means that the working yarn from the last stitch should be ready to knit the first stitch. Hold the two ends together with one needle, making sure to not twist the stitches.
Now, using your first DPN, begin knitting the first stitch from the first needle, and then knit the first stitch from the last needle. You are essentially knitting across the two needles to join the first and last stitches together. Continue knitting the stitches in the round, working in the same way you would with any regular circular knitting.
4. Ensure the Join Is Smooth
At this point, it’s important to make sure that the join is smooth and doesn’t create any noticeable seam. This is where your knitting technique comes in: try to make sure the first stitch of the round is aligned carefully with the last stitch to avoid any gaps.
If you're finding that there is a noticeable seam or a gap, you can tighten up the first stitch of the round or use a stitch marker to help track where the round begins and make sure the stitches stay even.
5. Continue Knitting in the Round
After you’ve successfully joined the stitches, continue knitting in the round as you would normally. Keep an eye on the fabric to ensure that the tension remains even as you work. If you notice any unevenness or gaps in the join, you can adjust your technique slightly, but for the most part, the join should be barely noticeable once you continue knitting in the round.
6. Finishing Up
Once you’ve completed your tubular knitting project, you may need to bind off or continue to the next step, depending on your project pattern. If you are using a ribbing pattern or a hem, you can switch to a smaller needle size or continue with the same size, depending on the project.
Tips for a Seamless Join:
Tight tension: Keep a tight tension when you join the stitches to ensure that there are no gaps in the join.
Stitch marker: Use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round, which can help prevent mistakes.
Practice: The more you practice joining tubular knitting in the round, the easier and smoother the process will become.
Happy knitting!
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