Hi Everyone!

I'm new here and happy to have found lots of knitters! I have question -- I'm starting a poncho and I'm not familiar with the following instructions.

It says to cast on 158 stitches (no problem). Do not join, but work back and forth in rows. I'm afraid I don't know what it means to "not join..." Can someone explain?

thanks!
Shamrock

This simply means that you'll be working the piece "flat" instead of "in the round." Circular needles can be used to knit pieces as you would using just regular straight needles, you just don't join and work in the round. Most people (me included) would rather use circular needles instead of the regular single point needles. It's all a matter of preference.