How to Knit on Circular Needles

Circular needles are a lot of fun to knit on and make knitting complicated projects much easier for beginners. Learn how to knit on circular needles with this tutorial post and access our free beginner knitting patterns using circular needles.

HOW TO KNIT ON CIRCULAR NEEDLES

Knitting on circular needles is essentially the same as knitting on two needles or in the round. Circular needles make knitting easier because you’re less likely to loose a needle or a stitch. The main lessons for successfully knitting in the round, is learning how to knit flat in the round, how to join in the round and how to add or avoid a twist in the round.

As a beginner, that might have seemed like a bunch of jargon. Don’t worry, I’m going to go over those three main lessons with you in this tutorial but first lets cover the very basics.

WHAT ARE CIRCULAR NEEDLES?

Circular needles are made of the same materials as straight needles, bamboo, metal, plastic, and resin are the most popular materials. Two hard tips are joined by a flexible cord that holds most of the stitches.

Circular needles can be permanently fixed to the cord, or they can be purchased as part of an interchangeable system, where the tips can be taken off the cord and exchanged for larger or smaller needles. Interchangeable needles can be purchased separately or in a set that includes many different sizes of needles and cords.

Circular needles can commonly be found in all the US sizes up to 15 (interchangeable needle kits usually run from size 3 or 4 to 15, depending on the brand).

Common lengths of cords are 16, 24, 29, 36, and 40 inches.

The pattern you are planning to knit should tell you what length as well as what size circular needles you need. It's important your length is not too short that the stitches bunch or fall off the needle, but if it's too long that the stitches are hard to work.

WHAT CAN YOU MAKE WITH CIRCULAR NEEDLES?

Circular needles allow a knitter to knit in the round easier than with double pointed needles, for less complicated projects. You can knit a flat project like a scarf, blanket or shawl on circular needles. Circular needles also make three dimensional projects like hats, cowls, mittens, socks, and more.

HOW TO CAST ON CIRCULAR NEEDLES

You cast on to your circular needle the same way you cast on straight needles. Once you've cast on the right amount of stitches your circular needle should now be full.

HOW TO KNIT A BLANKET WITH CIRCULAR NEEDLES- NOT JOINING

If you don't join the ends, you can use your circular needle to knit flat pieces, just like you'd knit on conventional needles. The long connector allows for knitting larger projects like a blanket.

A circular set of needles is also better to use when knitting a blanket as it will hold the stitches a little better and make it easier on your hands, wrists, neck and shoulders. This is because circular needles hold the weight of the yarn better.

HOW TO KNIT IN THE ROUND ON CIRCULAR NEEDLES - JOINING

You can also knit in the round on your circular needles. When you do, you'll find that the right side of the work is facing towards you, which can make patterns easy to see.

To join, hold your needle so that the yarn is coming from the right. When you are knitting in the round, it is a good idea to use a stitch marker to know where your piece began -- slip one onto your needle now if you will be using one.

Place your knitting on a flat surface and carefully turn your cast-on stitches so that they are all facing in the same way, making sure your stitches are twisted!

Then insert the needle first stitch that you cast on and knit the stitch. Be sure to pull the first stitches tight so you don't get a gap where the rounds join.

HOW TO KNIT A HAT WITH CIRCULAR NEEDLES

It is completely possible to knit a hat using circular needles as well. Some patterns will call for switching to double pointed needles, but for beginner hats this isn't always necessary. When knitting a hat from the bottom up, stitches are deceased, and are a little harder to work the last few rounds.

Learn how to knit a toddler hat using circular needles in this post.

CIRCULAR KNITTING PATTERNS

PIN THIS FOR LATER