How do I avoid messy looking joins when knitting in the round?
When joining stitches in the round it can be difficult to create a seamless join on circular needles and DPNs.
Here are two tricks to solve the problem:
Cast on one extra stitch. When you start the first row, slide the last cast on stitch onto the left hand needle. Then knit two stitches together, avoiding the loop that is caused by the join.
*OR*
Before placing your stitch marker and knitting the first stitch, swap the first stitches on the left and right needles as follows:
- Slip the first stitch on the right needle to the left needle.
- Slip the second stitch on the left needle up and over the first stitch and onto the right needle.
- Place a stitch marker on the right needle to indicate the beginning of a new round.
- Knit the first stitch on the left needle.
- Continue until all stitches have been knit and you’re back to the stitch marker. This completes one round.