Circular knitting

{{Short description|Form of knitting that creates a seamless tube}}

Circular knitting or knitting in the round is a form of knitting that creates a seamless tube. Work in the round is begun by casting on stitches as for flat knitting but then joining the ends of that row of stitches to form a circle. Knitting is worked in rounds (the equivalent of the rows in flat knitting), which forms the tube by winding around in a helix.{{Cite web|url=https://knitty.com/ISSUEfall03/FEATtheresa.html|title=Circular needles|website=knitty.com}}

Historically, circular knitting was done using a set of four or five double-pointed needles. Modern knitters may instead use a circular needle, which resembles a pair of short knitting needles connected by a cable between them. Circular knitting can also be performed by knitting machines: a double-bed machine can be set up to knit on its front bed in one direction and then its back bed on the return, which creates the tube.{{Cite web |url=http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/4100766.html |title=Flat knitting machine having four opposed needle beds - Patent # 4100766 - PatentGenius |access-date=2007-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003827/http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/4100766.html |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/3969912.html |title=Circular knitting machine - Patent # 3969912 - PatentGenius |access-date=2017-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101232154/http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/3969912.html |archive-date=2017-01-01 |url-status=dead }} Specialized knitting machines for sock-knitting use individual latch-hook needles to make each stitch in a round frame.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldtymestockings.com/sockmuseum.html|title=Sock Machine Museum Sock Knitting Machine Information, Sales, Patterns and Museum|website=www.oldtymestockings.com}}

Many types of sweaters are traditionally knit in the round. Planned openings (arm holes, necks, cardigan fronts) are temporarily knitted with extra stitches, reinforced if necessary. Then the extra stitches are cut to create the opening, and are stitched with a sewing machine to prevent unraveling.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kidsknits.com/steeks_introduction.html |title=KidsKnits - Steeks Introduction |access-date=2007-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224153118/http://kidsknits.com/steeks_introduction.html |archive-date=2016-02-24 |url-status=dead }} This technique is called steeking.

Magic loop technique

Invented by Sarah Hauschka and first described in Beverly Galeskas’s booklet The Magic Loop, this technique uses a long circular knitting needle{{Cite web |title=Circular knitting needle |url=https://www.lanternmoon.com/products/circular-needles }} (for instance 40 inches) to knit projects (of any circumference substantially less than the needle length) in the round. The key is pulling a loop of extra cable out between the stitches halfway through the round.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.tincanknits.com/2013/10/03/magic-loop/|title=Magic Loop Technique: How To Knit in the Round Using a Single Long Circular Needle|first=Emily|last=Wessel|date=October 3, 2013|website=tin can knits}}

The magic loop technique also allows knitting two-at-a-time projects like pairs of socks or the sleeves of sweaters. This knitting both pieces at once makes it easier to render the two as similar as possible.

==Spool and machine circular knitting==

Spool knitting is a form of circular knitting using pegs rather than needles, one peg per stitch. A variant automates the stitching action, thus producing a hand-crank circular knitting machine. Commercial knitting machines are heavy-duty powered versions of the hand-cranked ones; they may knit multiple threads at once, for speed.

File:Punniken met 3 spijkers.jpg|Minimal spool knitting frame

File:Loom-knit fingerless gloves.jpg|Fingerless gloves being knitted on a 12-peg frame

File:Giulia's tuque coming along. -knitting.jpg|Knitting a tuque (hat) on a larger frame

File:Knitting loom with yellow knitwork.jpg|Oblong frame for circular knitting

Loom Knitting.jpg|It is not necessary to use the full length of an oblong frame

File:Mulinetto tricotin (cropped).jpg|Narrow hand-cranked spool knitting machine

File:Knitting Nancy with crank.jpg|Larger hand-cranked circular knitting machine

File:Griswold's stocking knitting machine.jpg|18-hundreds knitting machine, also hand-cranked

File:Sock knitting machine.jpg|A similar old sock-knitting machine in use

File:Old-Knitting-Machine-Knitting-Machine-Close-up-Dial-1588882.jpg|Close-up of a similar machine

File:WLANL - theodora69 - rondbreimachine.jpg|1959 power knitting machine

File:WLANL - jpa2003 - Rondbreimachine3(ca 1959).jpg|Side view of 1959 machine

File:Rundstrickmaschine Nadel scharf.jpg|Machine for fine knitting

File:CSIRO ScienceImage 2912 A Circular Knitting Frame.jpg|A commercial machine knitting wool, 2000

Notes

==Further reading==

Allen, Pam, Trisha Malcolm, Rich Tennant, and Cheryl Fall (2002). Knitting for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7645-5395-0}}
Breiter, Barbara, and Gail Diven (2003). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting Illustrated, 2nd Edition. New York: Alpha Books. {{ISBN|978-1-59257-089-8}}
Galeskas, Bev (2002). The Magic Loop: Working Around on One Needle. Fiber Trends. (Sixth edition {{ISBN|978-1933398006}})
Hiatt, June Hemmons (1989). The Principles of Knitting: Methods and Techniques of Hand Knitting. New York: Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|978-0-671-55233-6}}
Rutt, Richard (2003). A History of Handknitting. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press. (Reprint edition {{ISBN|1-931499-37-3}})
Zimmermann, Elizabeth (1972). Knitting Without Tears. New York: Simon & Schuster. (Reprint edition {{ISBN|0-684-13505-1}})

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20061101025613/http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/advanced_techniques/ "Large and Small Diameter Circular Knitting videos"] from KnittingHelp
[https://archive.today/20130222131622/http://www.weebleknits.net/circular.html "How to knit with one circular"] from WeebleKnits
[https://archive.today/20130222093342/http://www.weebleknits.net/twocirculars.html "How to knit with two circulars"] from WeebleKnits
[https://archive.today/20130222093831/http://www.weebleknits.net/mloop.html "How to knit small circumferences using one long circular needle"] from WeebleKnits

Category:Knitting

Category:Circles