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Pin: Work in the Round with Two Circular Needles.

Knitting In The Round: Two Circular Needles

The convenience of only two needles while knitting items in the round.


Are double-pointed needles (dpns) a pain in your backside? If so, simplify knitting items in the round with two circular needles instead.


It’s essentially the same as knitting with double-pointed needles, except you only have two needles—one is the working needle, the other is just holding stitches. As a bonus, if you use longer needles, you can knit two socks simultaneously.


You may also want to check out my Joining Yarn in the Round tutorial.

Video Tutorial

How to Do It

Basic Principle:



You’ll be working around in a circle using two circular needles of the same tip size, but only working with one at a time.

Steps

  1. Choose two needles of the same tip size, and preferable different tips (colours or materials) so you can easily tell them apart. The cords can be different lengths.
  2. Cast on stitches onto one of the needles. Move half of them to the second needle and join yarn.
  3. Handling the ends of only ONE needle at a time, work in the round. In other words, work from one end of one needle onto the the other end of the same needle. When you’ve reached the end of those stitches, switch to the second needle and repeat.
  4. To prevent “laddering”, it’s best if the first stitch on your new needle is a knit stitch. Also, after working onto a new needle, give a little tug on the working yarn after the first stitch to keep you tension tight.
Talena Winters wears a textured scarf and smiles at the camera.

About My Secret Wish Knitting

Hi! I’m Talena Winters (a.k.a. the Yarn Mermaid).

I started My Secret Wish Knitting in 2010 to empower and delight knitting heroes like you who want to elevate your knitting and make magic with yarn. When I’m not concocting new yarn potion recipes, I’m creating story magic as a fantasy and romance author and fiction editor (at talenawinters.com). I live with my family and pets in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, where sweater weather lasts at least nine months a year and my closest neighbours are bears and wood nymphs.


This website is a labour of love by a team of one (me!). If you found value here, please support the effort by purchasing a pattern. If you want more knitting magic, check out my community events and newsletter in the Knitting Circle. We’d love to have you!