How to start picking up the stitches?

[JenniferMelberg]

I think I am just confused about the whole concept. I have the garter stitches on the left needle and the right one is empty. Do I insert the right needle and pick up all of the stitches onto the right one and add the stitches to the bottom, or do I use the left needle to just keep adding stitches onto the left needle? I have been inserting the right hand needle to pick up stitches and I think I am supposed to use the left one with all the stitches already on it? Right? Sorry, I'm just not understanding the concept. A video would be great!

[suzeeq]

There's a video on picking up sts on the Tips page. You don't have to literally 'pick up' a stitch with the left needle then 'knit' it with the right. You can insert your right needle into the edge to pick it up all in one action.

[Mirl56]

When I'm making a bag that has a flat piece that needs stitches picked up on 3 sides (it has live stitches one one side) I find it easiest to use double pointed needes, one for each side. It can be really difficult to work a circular needle around the square or rectangle bottom piece picking up stitches.

Once I get the 4 needles with stitches on each side, continue knitting circularly around for 2-5 rows with the dbl pt needles. Once you get some rows done, knit back onto the circular needle around all sides. Then continue knitting.