Re: circular needles

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: : Dear Kathy, : : If you are not knitting in the round, then basically : : there is no : : difference between circular needles and straight : : needles, except that : : the the points are joined by a cord on a circular : : needle. Visualize, if : : you will, cutting the circular needles in the middle : : and putting : : stoppers at each cut end, this would resemble a : : straight needle. We have : : converted many of our customers from using straight : : needles into using : : circular needles because we feel that knitting with : : circular needles is : : far more comfortable; the points of the needles fit : : handily into the : : palms of your hands. Additionally, you don't have : : the extra weight of : : the fabric which sits on the straight needle to : : balance as you are : : knitting. : : In order to knit your hat in the round you have to : : use circular needles : : or double pointed needles to create a circle of : : stitches. After casting : : on the stitches you need, you will join the circle : : by knitting into the : : first stitch that you cast on. The newly formed cast : : on stitches are in : : your right hand needle. Do Not Turn your work! Grab : : the other needle : : with your left hand and move the first cast on : : stitch to the edge of the : : left needle. Take the right needle and yarn hanging : : from the last cast : : on stitch and enter the first cast on stitch on the : : left needle and knit : : it. This completes a circle of stitches. : : It is very important that before you knit into the : : first stitch that you : : make VERY SURE that the bottom edge of your cast on : : stitches are all : : facing into the circle (made by your circular : : needle) and not twisted in : : a spiral. Be vigilant that the work is not twisted : : for about two or : : three rows. After that you can relax and just knit. : : As you knit in the : : round, the resulting fabric will be stockinet : : stitch; the same as knit : : one row and purl one row when you are knitting a : : flat piece. : : Since you are new to circular knitting, also be : : aware that at some point : : when making your hat you will need to decrease your : : circle to create the : : crown of the hat. This requires you change to a set : : of double pointed : : needles. When the crown on the hat becomes smaller : : than the length of : : your circular needle, you be too long. You cannot : : knit a six inch round : : crown on a 24 inch length needle. Mathematically it : : will not fit. : : Hope this make sense to you. We plan to create an : : on-line class making : : circular hats. We can notify you about the schedule : : if you like. : : Happy Knitting, : : Nancy & Caryl : : : : can you explain the difference between using a circular needle vs. a pair of straight needles. i'd love to start knitting with a basic roll-brim hat and i've been recommended the circular -- which I bought but i'm having a hard time imagining how it all works. also, how do you connect the two sides of the knitting to form a hat? thanks very much -- great videos!!! p.s. i'm left handed, my mom tried to teach me knitting the english way and i never could get the feel for it. i've now learned the continental way using my left hand and i'm doing it!

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