| Home | Articles | Blog | News | Patterns | Podcast | Reviews |
Converting Flat Knitting To Circular Knitting
The other day I reviewed the book Very Easy Circular Knits by Betty Barnden. In the review I said it was frustrating trying to convert a flat pattern to one knitted in the round. Betty doesn't cover how to do this, but I have a method that I use.
When converting flat knitting to circular knitting it is important to remember that the pattern is written to accommodate sewing a seam. So usually an extra stitch or two is added to the front and the back.
First, I determine how many stitches I need to cast on. This is usually done by adding the number of stitches needed for both the front and the back (which is typically double the front or back number) minus two stitches.
Taking the extra stitches out is especially important when using a stitch pattern that is knitted in multiples of stitches. If the extra stitches aren't removed then the stitch pattern will be off.
Take for example a pattern that states:
K4, *P3, K3* until end of row, P3
The extra K at the beginning needs to be eliminated so that the pattern is knit in the round with K3P3
After I cast on the stitches I've calculated that I need, I knit in the round until I get to the armhole shaping. Then I put half the stitches on a stitch holder. I consider these stitches the front.
I then knit the back, shaping the arms and the neck according to the pattern. I then do the same for the front.
I also knit the sleeves according to the directions. Then all I have to do is seam the armholes and the shoulder seams. Much better then having to seam the sides too!
You can knit the sleeves in the round to avoid seams there as well but at the cap you need to knit back and forth.
Now if you want to do the whole sweater in the round without any seaming then you might try a top-down raglan. There is a great top-down raglan pattern generator at Knitting Fool.
I've knitted a sweater using one generated from this site. The nice thing about top-down sweaters is that you can try on the sweater as you go and not guess if it will be long enough!
Labels: knitting, knitting patterns, sweater
Posted 4/21/2007 - Converting Flat Knitting To Circular Knitting
Knitting Magazine: Spring 2007 Knitty.Com
The Spring 2007 issue of Knitty.com is now available. Here is a preview of all the great free knitting patterns.
bmp - charted sock pattern
carolyn - stripped knitted cardigan
tahoe - v-neck cardigan
ribena - short sleeve top with ribbing and arm warmers
torque - asymmetry cable sweater
isabella - tank top with picot edging
ester - cable shrug
morestripes - skeeked ribbed vest
monica - girl's tank top
briar rose - girl's sweater
hey mickey - girl's pleated skirt
vestee - toddler's sweater
palette - lace scarf
dashing - men's fingerless mitt pattern
paperbag - knit bag
bauble - knit bracelet
queen of cups - lace socks
quill lace - lace anklets
clessidra - cable socks
There are also some great articles including one on dyeing yarn with food coloring, one on spinning hemp, and one loom knitting.
Labels: cardigan, free knitting patterns, knitting, knitting magazine, knitting patterns, scarf, skirt, socks, spring 2007, sweater
Posted 3/07/2007 - Knitting Magazine: Spring 2007 Knitty.Com
Knitty.com Winter Bonus Patterns
Knitty.com today released new knitting patterns and knitting articles as a bonus to its Winter 2006 issue.
Thermal by Laura Chau is a longjohn inspired top knit with a fine guage yarn.
Dragonfly by Laura Zukaite is a flirty knitted sweater with a dragonfly inspired neckline.
Elbac by by Laura is a knitted scarf that uses ribbing stitches for a reversible scarf.
Mad River Mittens by by Symeon North are great looking felted mittens with buttons.
It's not a stash...it's a collection by Kate Antonova covers collecting vintage yarn.
Cheating at color theory by Julie Theaker covers using Hue, Intensity, and Value when selecting yarns colors for knitted projects.
Labels: free knitting patterns, mittens, scarf, sweater
Posted 1/30/2007 - Knitty.com Winter Bonus Patterns
MagKnits January 2007
The online knitting magazine MagKnits has a great assortment of free knitting patterns in their January 2007 issue.
The issue includes:
Holey Cable! by Amy King - a sweater with cables running down the sleeves.
New York Hat by Marina Bekkerman - a great looking warm, quick, and well-fitting hat.
R31 by Emily Schneider - a form-fitting laptop cozy with a pocket for cables.
Waders Socks by Jennifer Young - lace sock pattern
Indian Summer Collar by Ildiko Szabo - colorful collar or wrap to spruce up a coat or a top.
Labels: free knitting patterns, hat, knitting, knitting magazine, socks, sweater
Posted 1/17/2007 - MagKnits January 2007
Knitting Magazine: Winter Knitty.com
The winter issue of Knitty.com is now available. Included in this issue are some great free knitting patterns:
center square - fair-isle hat knit in the round
calorimetry - headscarf
antifreeze - knit mask
binary - scarf
argosy - modular knit scarf
corazon - mittens
tiffany - Fair Isle mittens
legwarmer socks - knit legwarmer and socks all in one
rolling thunder - knitted socks
monkey - knit socks
eiffel - DK yarn knit top
lauren - bulky yarn scarf
emerald - cardigan
twinkletoes - knitted balarina style slipper
spanish dancer - mitered, bottom up shawl
slingshot - knitted coffe cup holder
babe - ice skate blade covers
venezia - knitted wire napking holders
brown bag - felted luch bag
starsky jr - child's cardigan
blended hues - baby sweater
piggle - child's hat
norberta - knitted stuffed dragon
sheldon - knitted stuffed turtle
book of Knitty - knitted book
The issue has some great knitting articles including:
Sez who? by Cheryl Krementz
Vintage patterns by Kristen Rengren
Felted beads by Star Athena
The magic of hand-painted yarn by Beverly A. Army
Knitting in the Indian Himalaya by Tracy P. Hudson
Labels: cardigan, free knitting patterns, hat, knitting, knitting magazine, knitting patterns, scarf, shawl, socks, sweater, winter 2006
Posted 12/08/2006 - Knitting Magazine: Winter Knitty.com
The Knitting News Cast™, Knitting For Your Ears™, is a podcast especially for knitters.
Subscribe To Podcast
