How to Join to Knit in the Round Being Careful Not to Twist Your Stitches

[@maggiedennis2004]

One of the best demonstrations. Thank you.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Wow, thank you!

[@jessicascott2293]

This was SO helpful !! Beginner knitter here, and that way you explained it made my first knit in the round a success! Thank you 🧡

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I am so happy to hear that it was helpful! You go!

[@melissaannboone3639]

You are a very good instructor!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you so much!

[@lindsaykelly3513]

I’m a new knitter, thank you for a nicely explained video.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad to have been helpful.

[@heatherallen9881]

Thank you for this video. I always have trouble with where my working yarn should be and now I know. I love your helpfulness.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You are so welcome!

[@caseyelliott3353]

Brand new knitter here, thank you for the very clear instructions and visuals. I had seen a few videos and was scratching my head, but yours was so clear. I am now knitting in the round! :)

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I am so glad that it was helpful. Sometimes I feel silly putting out a video that is literally one of dozens on the same subject. But then I remember that everyone has a different learning style and if I can explain it in a different way that might help someone, well it's worth it.

[@bornokyo5575]

I am happy to see you knit with your hands.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you! They look a bit scaly tho LOL.

[@maryhiley1496]

Thanks, very helpful. I’ve just finished a fingering weight project cast on with 285 stitches on 2mm needles. Very challenging to sort the twist. So I knitted several rows until I could see them clearly then joined. Easy to hide the join with the cast on end when finished.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

That is definitely another trick that is good to use and I considered including it in this video ... but it was already long enough as it was LOL!

[@1GoodWoman]

Nice and thank you. I’m doing knit in the round for the first time in my life…and. I am not young! I’m staring on Pumpkins for a Pumkinpalooza at my church in September. I’m thoroughly enjoying the group and we use zoom for about meetings. We get donated yarn sometimes and whatever we make from hospice blankets to baby hats and booties we donate our time and skills….and by learning new ones we keep our brains shaft too! Fun.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Pumpkins sound like a ton of fun!

[@barbarabryan-wilson8629]

Thanks I love the leap frog join. Makes it so easy.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You are so welcome!

[@FLOCKAROUNDTHETABLE]

Great video as always Barbara! I do a lot of hats and I like knitting (or purling) the first round after the cast on before I join in the round. For me, its easier to keep that first row from twisting. I use the tail to join that first cast on when i'm weaving in my ends.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Great tip! You can even knit the entire brim flat and then join if you feel like it, it is a good trick that I considered including in this video - but decided it was long enough already LOL!

[@GypsyGurl77]

I had been using a 3rd method for the join. I am going to try your 1st method on the cowl I am just about to start. Thank you for your clear and concise basic instructions! These are the things no one ever taught me (before youtube), and I really appreciate the demonstrations. 💜🙏🏼🧶

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm so glad you liked the video.

[@AnnaKlura]

I just need to say that I adooore that yarn. That is all. Please continue :)

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you! I have been working on what colors show up best for demonstrating on videos, and so far this gray is dark enough for contrast but not so dark that you can't see the stitches. I might have to get more of it because you can only knit and frog yarn so many times before it starts looking bad LOL!

[@juliekongs4856]

Cleared up my confusion about why the joined part gets so wonky😢. Thank you!!!! Now I can do better🧶🧶🧶

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You can do it!

[@heidicook2395]

Thanks so much Barbara! I never realized there was a N right ssd's ide and a wrong side to a cast on. And I love the leap frog method. I usually wind up with a crazy long strand between my first and last stitches. This will make kg e it so much easier! Great yo see you able to knit.😊

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

The one I was using definitely has a right and wrong side, but there might be some out there that are less obvious. The right side is simply the one that you like the look of best LOL!

[@heidicook2395]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit to be honest I have never seen much difference. But then I did not know to look. I will pay more attention now. Thankfully the cornea transplant is working wonderfully! My vision is soooooo much better than it has been in over two years.😁 And it will continue to have small improvements until all the stitches are removed. I may even be able to get back on Facebook again. I have been enjoying the Wednesday noontime show-and-tell you do from A Good Yarn.

[@catlady743]

Fuzzy caterpillar! That's a great way to look at it!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I didn't come up with it, but for the life of me cannot remember where I heard/read it.

[@nancybwilborn6752]

Barbara, I really liked the first way of joining in the round. The other is good , but I think the leapfrog would be easier for me. How is your hand doing? Thank you for all that you do.😍

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

We're still working on figuring the hand out. I've had xrays and an MRI and it's still a mystery. The leapfrog is my preferred method - but different things work for different people!

[@SoulShineLiveMichele]

Thank you! I am fairly new to knitting. I was having a problem with not bringing my working yarn up through the middle! I have frogged this hat so many times!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad I could help!

[@crochetisgroovy9220]

Ooooooh! Thank you for the tips and tricks.😊⛄

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You are so welcome!

[@Raphael25ify]

Great vid, somehow I've only twisted my cast on once and ever since I've been extra careful. I was wondering if you could make a video on how to prevent laddering when working with dpns. I prefer them over magic loop but because of this very issue I've been magic looping everything so I don't get laddering on my hats. Any tips, thanks!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I don't have any tips for that because I actively avoid using DPNs LOL! I magic loop *everything*.

[@karenanderson9791]

☺️ Thank you so much. You saved me such heartache trying to get the space in between the round from separating in the process. I love the extra stitch and then knit 2 together method. ❤ 🧶

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad it helped!

[@pastprincipal]

Thank you!!!! Just found your site on joining in the round. You are so right! they expect you to do it! Question: Knitting a chemo cap with 72 ST cast on. My working yarn is on the right needle so these directions seem reversed to me. After doing the Leap Frog, should I still have 72 stitches? Pattern is K2P2 for 6 rows to create a ribbed band. So How do I follow that pattern? Just keep knitting K2P2 all the way round passing through the stitch marker?

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

There are many different ways to join in the round and which needle the working yarn ends up coming from depends on what kind of cast on you use. Using the leap frog technique you shouldn't lose a stitch so you should still have 72 sts, which divides evenly by 4 so you should complete your repeat at the end of the round.

[@IslandLady76]

Another good video for the beginner. I had to learn this with trial and error--and you know how I knew it was wrong. lol I always was upset when patterns said carry up the side or just weave it together or in, as if I knew what to do. I've only recently learned the right way of weaving in and not quite sure it's the right way.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I honestly don't know if I weave in the "right" way - if there is a right way LOL. But I am always happy to share what has been successful for me!

[@darlenefarmer5921]

Thank you.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You're welcome!

[@BeautifulOaks]

Hi Barbara, do you find a difference in your knitting from having your working yarn from supplying and tension from the left versus supplying from the right while working in the round? I happen to have my working yarn supply from the right but my left hand holds the tension for the working yarn. I still consider myself new to knitting. So, when I see another way, I wonder if it’s more comfortable or if the yarn has better tension or transitions. Thanks, Barbara. P.S. I like your caterpillar and legs explanation. That is cute and simple to remember .

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Are you referring to the location of the ball of yarn or to which hand you hold the yarn in? I can't really knit well tensioning my yarn in my right hand, so it is definitely more inconsistent. But if you mean where the ball of working yarn is located - for me it can be near about anywhere and it matters little.

[@virginiaperezhernandez9143]

Thanks!!! much appreciated!!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You're welcome!

[@invecedidormire1]

THANK YOU! At last someone addresses the evil deviousness of the spiraling yarn. Never again.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

It is quite devious.

[@rachelchudley1527]

Thank you so helpful 👏👏👏

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You're so welcome!

[@joycewhite6023]

hi barbara- i just discovered your youtube channel today- very helpful!! I have a random question - can you tell me where you purchased the stitch marker you're using? Thank you!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Hi and welcome! I had to go back & watch to see what marker I was using. That is actually one I made myself!

[@GypsyGurl77]

Do you have a video that shows how to run colour changes up the side? Again...no one ever taught me this. Thanks, Barbara! 🙏🏼

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Yes I do. There is a link in the description of this video to the stripe video. I also put a card in the video itself where there should be a little drop down suggestion for that video.

[@GypsyGurl77]

Thank you, 🙏🏼

[@judithjones4041]

Needed this-thank you

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm so glad it hit home!

[@KittenWAW]

Mom taught me to crochet when I was 7 or 8. After about a year, I wanted to make her a top down poncho. Just so that someday that project would fit the topic of this video, I twisted my starting chain. Yes, that's the reason I did it! That was about 55 years ago. What took you so long?!?!? Meanwhile, back on the ponho, after several rounds, the twist was very obvious, and Mom explained how it happened, and that I'd have to just start all over again. Instead, I worked a few chain stiches, laid them over the twist, and rejoined so the following rounds were not twisted. Mom got several compliments on the clever twisted collar of her (otherwise very plain) poncho. Alas, that was the last time I was that clever with my crafting. However, I think a similar solution could be worked out for knitting? I just don't think I'm the one to do it.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

How cool! There is a way to fix a twist if you catch it on the first round, but I thought it was too much to put in this video .

[@sharong9868]

Super helpful, thanks!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad to hear it!

[@lauriesmith7517]

My first cowl was an unplanned Mobius strip, lol. This was incredibly enlightening, thank you.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

LOL, it happens to the best of us!

[@amandaallen5335]

Do I have to frog on every row? I'm very new to knitting and wanted to do peel baby hats so ther as no seam. Thankyou

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm not sure what you are asking. Frog typically means pull out stitches.

[@cw8011]

Thanks for this podcast. Do you have a video explaining decreasing in the middle of the round and how to count the number of stitches decreased. Some designers explain this technique differently and my stitch count is always off by one stitch.

[@Raphael25ify]

I need a video on this too! For my hats I've been doing a curious little thing for decreasing them. When it's time to make the crown I just knit two together on all stitches then I knit some rows until I feel it's time to decrease again and I do another round of decreasing. I don't have a formula just go with my gut feeling.

[@cw8011]

@@Raphael25ify My issue is when decreasing a neckline for tops and tank tops to make the beginning of the sleeves. Some designers have you count the first stitch decreased. Some designers do not. It's just confusing to me.

[@Raphael25ify]

@@cw8011 oh I see! Well then I'll undoubtedly face this issue at some point, I'm planing to knit some shirts and light, very light sweaters for men, I just can't find any patterns for men lol

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm afraid that I don't design garments so I'm not really certain what problem you are running up against. But I will think about how to do a video on decreasing. Mostly it's understanding how many stitches a specific decrease removes. For example both k2tog and ssk take 2 sts and reduce them to 1 st. They are considered 1 stitch decreases (but it takes 2 stitches to execute the stitch). This terminology can get confusing - like if you say "work a 4 st decrease" you will need 5 sts to make it happen.

[@GypsyGurl77]

Barbara...can you also address the last stitch in casting off in the round? Thanks! 🤔

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Hmmm, I will have to ponder this one because I don't know that I have a definitive solution for that. I mostly just futz with it LOL!

[@tanciemette2551]

I usually put the rubbery thing that keeps my yarn from slipping off, on both tips, just because the twisted cast on thing is so awkward for me to handle with all the extra twisty cable and a million stitches.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Great tip!

[@bluejay32191]

I was wondering if you could tell us the difference between brioche and the fisherman rib

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Marketing! LOL But really, fisherman’s rib is technically a form of brioche.

[@elainem9774]

On the second choice, do you lose a stitch? I saw in a different video where you should increase a stitch by one first. True?

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I believe I mentioned that when you are casting on you need to add a stitch because yes, you will decrease away a stitch.

[@elainem9774]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit oh great, I must have missed it. Thank you!

[@jmicone6895]

Good job. Series, please.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thanks! Could you elaborate on what you mean by series?

[@jmicone6895]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit Both your demonstrations and your visual presentations of skills are excellent. I would be happy to see tricky stitch combos, cast-ons, bind-offs, any skills a knitter might have missed.

[@ginnylynn1]

Love your videos❣️❣️thank you ❤️

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad you like them! ❤❤

[@wheeltrish]

And here’s me looking at this video in the middle of the night… can you guess why? :) I honestly can’t remember when the last time I knitted a hat was. (Ok, I think I started one about 2 years ago? then things happened and I never finished it. I usually do Magic Loop but this time I decided to try 16-inch circs. I think I’ll be fine once I get going but it feels awkward right now. I always hate the cast on and first row of anything. Sigh.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm glad I could be there with you, even late LOL.

[@vivrbn]

Interesting techniques, but I've never seen anyone join with the working yarn coming off the needle in the left hand. I've always joined by turning the knitting so the working yarn is coming off the needle in my right hand. That way, the stitches are joined on the first round. I'm careful with my tension and the way I hold my needles, so I don't have issues with laddering.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

If I reoriented for the yarn to come off of what I think of as the "back" needle then my CO would have been wrong side out. It has to do with the kind of cast-on you are using and where the yarn ends up at the end of that cast on. The way you do it totally works and if that's your preference then go for it!

[@vivrbn]

Ah, ok, I didn't think about the view of the cast-on edge. I honestly don't notice it in what I knit, so it hasn't been an issue. Thanks :)

[@plehrer1234]

If I am knitting flat and I’m to begin knitting in the round to join the neck how do I do that? I’m confused.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

It's something that is easier to demonstrate than explain. Hold your work so that the wrong side is facing you and the yarn is coming off the needle in your right hand. Then move your needles so that the cable forms a circle and the points are pointing at each other in the right position to start knitting. Redistribute thr stitches so they fill the cable and tips and start knitting.

[@tattynitefire7699]

I !ust have done something wrong.... I keep ending up with an extra stitch

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

If it's the first round, just k2tog at some point and it'll disappear.

[@Therese504]

Omg all this drama about keeping the stitches from twisting is exactly why knitting in the round is too nerve wracking for me

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

It is a bit fiddly, but I love knitting in the round because then I can avoid a whole mess of purling LOL! But knitting flat is fun too.