Knitting in the Round......HEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPP

[LatinDAISYcal]

I want to knit a pair of longies for my DS and bought some circular kneedles for the task. I thought I would have a practice of knitting in the round (only done it once before aeons ago) on some mittens for him. All well and good and understand the concept yadayada, but I only have 40 stitches and cannot for the life of me get the other end of the pin round to get the thing tight together and it would appear that I need a circular pin where the solid bits are an inch long max in order to knit these teeny tiny mittens.

Am I missing something? Have looked on youtube and all the turorials involve lengthy adult sized knitting....but I assume that these needles are a standard lenght and that folks knit socks etc for kiddies so it SHOULD be possible....

Any advice greatfully received.

TIA

google magic loop for a trick for circulars and teeny tiny things. otherwise you will have to use double pointed needles.

good luck!

Have a look on youtube or knittinghelp.com for Magic Loop.
This is when you use a long circ (they come in all kinds of lengths) to knit things with small circumferences - like mittens or socks.

When you knit with a circ, you either need one that is the right length for what you are knitting, otherwise you can't physically join the stitches, as you are finding, or you need to Magic Loop. I think in this situation you need to ML! Or get a teeny tiny circ.

thanks....

thinks practising on something bigger may be in order!

dpns are really simple to get the hang of. brittany birches are nice cos they're not as slippy as metal needles so it doesn't all slide off and they guarantee them against breakage (the small gauge ones come with an extra needle per pack now).

have never tried magic loop, i like my dpns.

magic loop is easy once you get your head round it. practice knitting a tube

I only tired to knit on DPNs once; we were in the wool shop in Whitby and DP wanted a gansey so we bought the wool, pattern and some DPNs for about £65. I think I managed four rounds before giving up (didn't help that it was navy wool and I have dodgy eyesight) and it kind of put me off DPNs.

Might just do some flat knitted mittens and save the circulars for actually knitting the longies, although I think I'll have the same issues when it comes to knitting the legs.....

found a video using two sets of circular pins for small circumferences as well.....it all looks horribly difficult.

It's not, it's easy, really! ML is much easier than DPNs, IMHO, just looks really complicated.

I have a booklet that explains how to ML. You're welcome to it, if you'd like.

oooh BorntoFolk, that is soooo kind of you :0) but I think I'll get the hang of it with the help of some you tube vids.

It's just difficult to concentrate on it with a toddler and an 11 mo old cruiser wrecking the living room around me, and the 11 mo old keeps making off with my yarn every time I take my eye off it

you can buy different size circular needles for this, as you need smaller ones for sleeves etc.

You get 40cm ones for hats and sleeves but unless you are going to do magic loop, it's basically dpns for smaller diameters.
It does take practice but honestly, like everything, once you get it, you'll be fine! FWIW the first few rows I do on dpns seem really really annoyingly fiddly, then when you have more fabric is seems to stabilize somehow.

I used to use DPNs for small diameter circular knitting, but have just lost my Magic Loop virginity (on a pair of toe-up two-at-once socks no less). SO far, so good...
The ML instructions do look complicated, but once it's actually in your hands it fell into place for me. Maybe try the technique out on a tiny thing, like a baby sock or one of the Innocent/Age Concern hats?
Oh, you do need a fairly long (80cm+) circular needle for ML.
DPNs are fine once you get going too, remember you're only actually knitting with two at any one time, even though your work bristles like a porcupine

Now for a big gansey like you describe for your dh you would have been better off with a circular needle. I tried magic loop and found it really difficult, so use circular for things that will fit on it and dps when they don't.

thanks for all the tips and the knowledge that there are different lengths of cirular pins. Can you get shorter dpns as well as the ones I have are really long.....seems ridiculous using them for teeny tiny mittens and socks.

I'll have a go with both and see how I get on and will, at some point, dig out that gansey and have another go. DH will be surprised as he keeps having a dig at me about it whenever I finish something for the DC.

blasted knitting though; it's seriously compromising my MN time

A brief hijack to ask.... is it really possible to teach yourself magic loop? I hate dpns, but magic loop just looks really complicated

Daisy, I was just coming back to say yes: there are (roughly) 20cm and 15cm dpns. I find it much easier with the shorter ones. I also find bamboo easier than metal and wood, it seems to have the right 'grip' on all sorts of yarns. In fact knitting in the round with metal dpns makes my knitting look shit too.

I can't do magic loop but I am told it is easy as pie.

lol prunerz I was thinking of using cable pins to knit kiddy gloves

I am knitting korknisse www.elliphantom.com/2006/12/finished_korknisse_ornaments.html
as ds has demanded some - you could definitely do them on cable needles!
Kitscherama though
Prym do shorter bamboo dpns, they're not cheap but they're my favourites.

lol, they are gorgeous (if a leeeetle bit kitsch )....I have some red and green wool kicking around so might do some myself for the tree

another hijack...
Prunerz I am now obsessed with making Korknisse as my sister has demanded a homemade item in Christmas stockings this year (we do a family stocking for a fiver, it's more fun than the proper presents!) Where did you get your corks from - all our wine is screw top these days and I wasn't sure if there was somewhere obvious to buy them?

Aaaaah Glasvegas - umm we had some knocking round, plus MIL and FIL have a huge collection (they do knock back a lot of wine and MIL keeps the corks for drainage in the bottom of plant pots).
I know someone who went to a local restaurant and asked for a bag and they were happy to oblige!
My ds is addicted to them.....I reckon 20 mins to make each one? Once you get going.

You can getcorks from any wine making shop.

Thanks guys... it's finding the wine making shop that's proving difficult! might try a restaurant, thanks! (made two already, they look a bit empty currently without the corks!