circular needles and double-pt needles--interchangeable?

[Kirin]

Hi

I have a pattern for a simple hat which calls for double-pointed needles. Would it be OK for me to start this on a circular needle of the same size, and then to shift everything to the double-pointed needles after a couple of inches of knitting? I think I'd be more comfortable about not dropping stitches if I could start on the circular needle.

Also, how do you join stiches on a circular needle? I knit a hat and when I finished casting on I just continued by knitting in the same direction. However, I got a gap at the bottom edge, which I'll close up by sewing. Is this the norm?

Thanks

[Ingrid]

As long as your stitches fit on the circ, you can use that for as long as you can and then switch. One way to avoid a gap is to overlap the first and last stitch of your cast on, basically take the last and first stitches off their respective points and switch them. I generally just use the tail from my cast on to close any noticeable gap--simpler.

[Kirin]

Wow, Ingrid--you're amazingly fast and clear in your responses. Thanks for the help.