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QuestionQuestion from a beginner knitter
I’m trying to knit a hat on circular needles, following a pattern online (I think it’s a website called bhooked). For the life of me, I cannot get the pattern right. I am capable of knitting it on regular needles, and achieve the ribbed part. It looks good. But when I go on circular needles, it all goes wrong. It looks chaotic, although I do exactly the same thing. (Or so I think, at least). Could anyone help me and tell me what could be doing wrong? Thank you very much!
A picture would really help.
I don't love magic loop when knitting hats - so I bought small circumference needles just for hats
But take a pic and we can better diagnose the problem :)
I got so frustrated that I un-did everything so now I don’t have a picture. But I’ll try again, I’m sure I’ll make the same mistake 😬 I’m using 16in circular needles so it’s good for the hat for now.
Are you knitting it flat, or working in the round? (I do all my knitting on circulars, and mostly knit flat). There are various things that can make knitting in the round look messy, as u/bannedrui_resin described. It can throw your tension out, or doing magic loop (where you have to pull a loop of the needle cables out between stitches) can stretch it a bit. But without seeing the work, we're guessing.
I’m working in the round. I un-did everything but I’ll start again and post pictures.
I can't tell exactly what's wrong from your description "looks chaotic". I can think of two possibilities, though. Firstly, did you accidentally twist the circle before joining so that it is a mobius strip instead of a cylinder? Secondly, is it just that your stitches look messy? You may have different gauge for flat and round knitting. Usually the difference is slight, but perhaps not in your case.
I am using the same gauge, and I kept it untwisted:-) it’s just that the pattern of 2 knit, 2 purl doesn’t produce the same ribbed effect.
I got it! I think :)
always knit into the knits and purl into the purls. Unlike knitting in the flat, you don't go back and forth (knit 2, purl 2 round 1; then purl 2, knit 2 - round 2).
In the round, always knit into the knits and purl into the purls!
This, I think, is your problem :)
I think you cracked it! Thank you!
Are you working with an odd number of stitches?
No, multiple of 4.