joining

[catlvr]

I'm trying to start a pinwheel afghan on circular needles. It says to cast on 5 stitches, knit around, place marker on right hand needle to mark the first round. On the "second round" you increase to 10 stitches. Does the "rounds" part mean I need to join? How do you do this with only 5 stitches?? HELP!

[gotta knit]

I'm sure someone who knows Magic Loop will come along soon.

Since I haven't tried it yet, I'd start on dpn needles and switch to a circular when there are more sts.

[Teddi]

I do not know much about knitting, but I do know when you are knitting in the round, joining is a 1-time thing. As you increase (you knit a stitch within the original stitch on both the front and the back side of that same stitch), you simply keep knitting and it will remain joined. Gotta Knit makes a good point of starting on dpns and moving to circular once the main body of stitches has been gathered.

[suzeeq]

With only 5-10 sts, I CO, pull the cord through the sts about halfway and push the sts to then ends of the needles. Then use a 2nc circ or dpn to work the first round. If you use dpns, put the sts on only 2 of them, use a 3rd to knit with, then after you've increased and done more rounds, start using the 4th needle and rearrange the sts. Or you can CO, knit the first round then join after you increase and have more sts on the needle.