By this point you may have knitted a lot of hats, scarfs and snoods in the flat, this is going back and forth turning your project. If you are ready to level up and knit your hats in the round this is the best guide you will find. Stop searching patterns for knitting hats because here you have the best one.
At first it might be scary, but when you finish your first beanie you will love this way of knitting. It is faster because you will save a lot of time! With this way of knitting you avoid seams and turning your work. Also your tension will improve.
Materials needed
We are going to take the Hipster beanie as an example, because we think it is the perfect project to knit. Also is perfect if you are searching for knitting free patterns.
You will need 6 mm circular needles. You can knit in the round using double pointed needles or circular needles. But we prefer to work in circular needles, they are easier to handle.
We will use our Meriwool, this fiber is perfect for beanies due to its softness and you can also wash it on your machine. But you can also try our Petite wool as long as you respect the gauge.
Basic knitting techniques to work in the round
Close in the round
When you finish casting, don’t turn the work. Continue by working into the first stitch that you cast on. This way the right side of the work will always be facing you, and you will create a tube without having to sew the sides together. Make sure that the stitches are all straight and that they are not twisted around the needles before closing the work in the round. We recommend placing a stitch marker before the first stitch to easily locate where the round begins.
Magic loop
You will notice that it is not easy to close in the round because the project width is less than the length of the cable and needles. Normally beanies are narrower than cable and needles.
In these cases, the magic loop technique is used, which consists of pulling part of the needle’s cable in between two stitches and crossing it to create a loop. You can do this in one or a few places in the round, as needed. This is done so the stitches can be close together, allowing you to better handle the needles.
Close in the round
This technique is not always used, but is perfect to avoid the gap between the first and the last stitch. If you are not very experienced in knitting in the round you should try it to do so. Cast on an extra stitch, in the case of the hipster beanie it already has, slip the last stitch to the needle on the back to the needle on the front. Pass the now second stitch from the first needle over the slipped stitch. Now you just decrease the new stitch and secure the joint.
Knitting the stitches between the needles
When you reach the last stitch of the magic loop, work this stitch tighter to avoid the gap that forms between the magic loop stitches. Try to pull the cable gently, do not twist or bend the cable, this might harm or even break the cable.
Knitting in the continental style
Knitting in the continental style is not necessary but it would definitely help you go faster and more comfortably, besides learning a new way of doing something you already know is the best vitamin for your brain and your memory so you should try it.
Hold the yarn on your left hand and pass it through your fingers starting wrapping your pinkie then pass it above the next finger, continue going under and above until you reach your index finger. This will give you the right tension.
To knit, pass the right hand needle through the stitch, and with the needle catch the yarn, moving the needle under the yarn, and pulling it through the stitch, slide the stitch you already knitted off the needle.
To purl, pass your yarn through the front by moving the index finger to the front and with the right hand and your index finger catch the yarn passing the yarn above the needle and pulling it through the stitch, slide the stitch you already knitted off the needle.
Continue practicing this technique until you master it, it will definitely be worth it.
Close the beanie
Once you have knitted all the rounds you will have to finish the beanie, finishing the beanie is quite easy, it is one of the knitting finishing techniques you will love. Cut the yarn leaving a 20 in length of yarn. Thread the tapestry needle in this end and pass it through the stitches in the same direction you knit.
Pull the yarn tight to close the little hole on top. And make a strong knot to secure the closing.
If you want to try other kits in the round you should go to our kits section and pick one.
We hope you like this tips and that soon you share your projects with it on social media with the hashtag #weareknitters 🙂 Until next time!
