How to knit on circular needles: 5 easy steps for beginners

Learn to knit using circular needles so you can master more projects

02/22/2023

New to circular needles? Wanted to try them but not sure where to begin? Here’s what you need to get started, in five step-by-step videos.

Circular needles are the ideal choice for knitting in the round – knitting to create a seamless tube. This makes them perfect for items like jumpers, hats, socks, scarves, and blankets.

In these video tutorials we’re going to focus on knitting in the round. Discover some need-to-know basic stitches, and see how to start and finish your pieces as you learn how to cast on and cast off.

We’re here to guide you, so you can get grips with the basics. Then choose your first circular knitting pattern from our selection… and keep going.

Knitting in the round vs flat knitting

The good news is you can use circular needles for knitting ‘flat’ projects as well as knitting in the round. Knit in rows going back and forth, as you would on straight needles, but using your circular needles. This method is especially comfortable when making large size projects with a lot of stitches like shawls, blankets, and rugs.

Step-by-step videos

1. How to cast on stitches - the long tail method

As with any project using two needles, the first step is to cast on the stitches. There are various different methods you can use to do this for both straight needles and circular needles.

In this video we’ll show you the most popular technique used for circular needles: the long tail cast on. This method achieves a firm, but elastic, cast on. With a bit of practice it will definitely become your favourite method for quickly casting on stitches.

2. How to knit stockinette stitch

It’s even easier to work a stockinette stitch with circular needles than straight ones. With straight needles you need to alternate a row of knit stitch and a row of purl stitch. But with circular needles you just work all the stitches and all the rounds in knit stitch.

3. How to knit garter stitch

To work the garter stitch on straight needles, you have to knit all the stitches and all the rows in knit stitch. With circular needles the work is knitted in alternating rounds of knit stitch and purl stitch. A bit trickier perhaps but it means you create a circular garter stitch and there’s no need to sew the work together at the end.

4. How to knit 2×2 ribbing

To knit 2×2 ribbing work two knit stitches and two purl stitches, then repeat these four stitches until the end of the first round. Work all stitches as they present themselves from the start of the second round. Repeat until you’ve reached the required length of ribbing.

This ribbing is ideal for knitting hats, necklines and seamless jumpers. As with the garter stitch, you’ll see that by knitting in the round you won’t have to sew parts together at the end.

5. How to cast off stitches

We’ve cast on, we’ve knitted, and now it’s time to cast off. And it’s easy. The stitches are cast off with circular needles in the same way as straight needles.