Circular Gauge (Knit Flat)

Knitting in the round may yield a different gauge than flat knitting. In flat knitting, the right side of the stockinette stitch is all knit with the wrong side comprised of purl stitches. When knitting stockinette in the round, every stitch is a knit stitch. For many knitters there is a discrepancy in size between a knit and a purl stitch which can impact the stitch count of your gauge. To ensure the accuracy of your gauge, the swatch should be knit in the same manner as the garment. For example, if you are knitting a sweater in the round then your gauge should also be knit in the round.

You can cut your swatching time in half with this short cut that will give you the proper circular gauge as you knit flat.

Join in the Round

Circular knitting is the preferred method used to knit most socks and hats.  It is so popular that many knitters choose circular knitting for sweaters since it eliminates most seams from the garment.

A circular knitting pattern will ask you to cast on the required number of stitches and then “join in the round”.  This phrase causes confusion for many first time circular knitters.  The process is really quite simple and will open the door to the world of circular knitting.

I hope after watching this video that you will be tempted to try knitting in the round.  (Hint – socks!)