Knitting with one stitch on each needle

[LoveBugAngel]

I made a bag from a pattern and it came out too small so I am trying it over and am going to make more increases, I had a really hard time starting the other one and now this one I can't even start it at all, I am to cast on 4 stitches and divide on 4 needles and join in the round. I can't stop getting the needles mixed up and the stitches keep falling off. Is there a trick? It gets easier after about 4 increases because then I have an crush square but the beginning is so hard!

[Jan in CA]

I would knit flat for a few rows then join. You can fix that little opening with the tail when you're done. I'm assuming its the bottom of the bag so it's no big deal.

[LoveBugAngel]

So I knit flat for like 3 or 4 rows then transfer and then begin increases?

[Jan in CA]

Exactly. Do as many rows as you feel comfortable with. If it's heavy yarn you may only need a few. You can increase flat, too. Is it a felted bag?

[LoveBugAngel]

No it's a market bag. I just tried knitting it flat but the needles still got all mixed up when I tried transferring them ugh I'm using100%cotton worsted yarn the bag is on ravelry called flower power bag

[Ingrid]

I would knit it flat until it was manageable, too, increases and all. One stitch on each needle is pretty unmanageable.

[suzeeq]

That's really tricky. A better way is to put 2 sts on 2 needles and use the 3rd to knit with. Then when you've added more sts and it's larger, add the other needles and arrange the sts so there's an equal amount on each needle.

If you do knit the first few rows flat, you don't have to 'transfer' the stitches, just start knitting with a dpn, work a few sts onto that, then knit the next set of stitches with another dpn, and so on.

[Jan in CA]

Yep, do the increases flat and knit a few more rows if you have to. Do this on one needle not multiple needles. You can knit off the one when you reach a point it becomes easier.

[LoveBugAngel]

Did it! Have a big hole in the middle that I will fix when I'm done! Question is it possible to change to circulars? I'm finding there is too many stitches on each needle. The original pattern has 18 sts on each needle but with me making it larger I'm up to 25 on each needle and its getting to be a bit cramped

[Jan in CA]

What weight yarn and needle size are you using? Anything will work on magic loop or two circs. I think 100 stitches will be fine on 16", but you might have to try it.