Casting on Circular Needle

Wanda Witch · 11-25-2007, 02:48 PM

I have yet to knit a flat piece on a circular needle. My question is: What is the best, or most preferred way, to cast on? I have to date cast on with two needles but not certain this is the best way for the circular needle. There is just something about that little skinny cable between the two needle ends that spooks me.

Any suggestion(s) would be greatly appreciated.

fibrenut · 11-25-2007, 07:59 PM

Hiya Wanda,

You can go ahead and cast on with your regular straights and then knit the stitches off the straights with your circs. That way you don't have to worry. But, you just cast on circs just like you would for regular straights. If you feel that the cast on edge is going to be too snug then just cast on a larger size circ and then knit the co with the ones you are using for the project at hand.
Hope that helps ya hun.

Wanda Witch · 11-25-2007, 08:22 PM

Thanks for the advice. I had 'wondered' about casting on with a straight needle - but - haven't been doing that much knitting in a very long time. Will certainly give it a try. I appreciate your advice.

Mulderknitter · 11-25-2007, 11:08 PM

You can also treat the circular like a big long straight needle. So just hold it as you would when casting on a straight needle. If you usually cast on to 2 straights held together, but a straight next to it, and cast on. then you can just pull out the straight and your stitches will all be cast on the circular!

Wanda Witch · 11-25-2007, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mulderknitter

You can also treat the circular like a big long straight needle. So just hold it as you would when casting on a straight needle. If you usually cast on to 2 straights held together, but a straight next to it, and cast on. then you can just pull out the straight and your stitches will all be cast on the circular!

To Mulderknitter, I am a little 'confused.' It is the second sentence above. Do you mean to cast on with the 'straight' needle to the circular one? Would I use the right needle to cast on the new stitch to the circular? I can't picture this - yet - in my mind. I will certainly keep the above and any reply you might want to make, and thank you so much for helping.

Mulderknitter · 11-26-2007, 02:28 AM

Wanda, I meant that sometimes people use 2 needles together to cast on so that their cast on stitches aren't too tight. what you end up doing is holding 2 needles together adn casting on as if they were one needle, and then slipping out the extra or 2nd needled and "ta da" all of your stitches are nice and loosely cast on the 1st needle.
Does this help?

ETA: pm me and I can take pics of casting on if u need more help

Wanda Witch · 11-26-2007, 03:25 PM

Gosh, I feel so dense. Just cannot picture this in my mind. I presently cast on with two 'straight' needles but with the circular one - ? Would I just do the same thing? Oh gosh, it would be fantastic IF and when you have time to send the abovementioned pictures. Thank you SO much. Wanda, who is befuddled - haven't had coffee yet.

suzeeq · 11-26-2007, 04:37 PM

Yes, just hold your tips together, then when you have enough sts, pull one out.

Mulderknitter · 11-26-2007, 06:16 PM

I certainly can sometime later tonight when I have a chance. And yes, it is exactly like casting on w/ 2 straights.

Mulderknitter · 11-27-2007, 12:04 AM

ok, so here goes. first pic is me holding my straight needle together with the circular. The needle on the left is the straight, the needle on the right is the circular. I am holding the circular straight against the straight all straightened out so the top points up and the bottom points down

The second photo I have cast on my yarn with them together pretending they are one needle

the third photo I have slipped the straight needle out from the bottom and have all of my cast on stitches on my circular.

Now you just follow what the pattern says after you have cast on!
Hope that helps! (I always love visuals)