reblog

Circular knitting needles bring an unmatched level of comfort and convenience to many knitters. For many circulars are just everyday needles that they use for all kinds of knitting projects. Regardless of the size of the projects or stitch count, making them a truly multi-functional tool. Whether it's a flat knitted piece like a shawl, or blanket, or a tube-like piece such as socks, mittens, etc., with circular needles you simply cast on the stitches and begin crafting.

Circular needles have only been around for a century, yet they have come a long way since their inception. There are two primary types of circular needles: fixed circular needles (FCNs) and interchangeable circular needles (ICNs). The former has a cord that is permanently attached, while the latter allows the needle tips and cords to be changed around for added versatility. The needle tips are generally available in 10 cm (4″) and 13 cm (5″) sizes with cords ranging from 20 cm (16 inches) to 126 cm (60 inches). An interchangeable needle set offers versatility as the needle and cords offer multiple combinations and options to increase the cable lengths with connectors.

If you are unsure let’s walk you through how to get the best out of your circular needles.

1. Reduce strain on hands and arms for all projects

With knitting often requiring plenty of hand movement and strain, the ergonomic design of circular needles evenly distributes the weight of the project from one needle tip to the other, including the cord, providing a much more relaxed experience. Moreover, with the ability to fit more stitches onto the length, the stress of working on heavy projects and bulky yarns is significantly reduced and is especially beneficial for those with arthritis or other joint pain.

2. Easy storage

Both fixed and interchangeable circular needles are designed to fold up into a neat and compact shape, making them extremely easy to store in your craft bags. Interchangeable circular needles are particularly well suited for those who are conscious of space, as they come with multiple needle sizes, cable lengths and accessories like cable connectors, end caps and cable keys.

3. Knitting on the go

The ergonomic design of circular needles means they are ideal for knitting on the go. There is a very small chance of accidentally poking anyone that is close by as the pointy tips are busy knitting and the other tip is connected with a cable. You won't need to worry about losing a needle as both tips are attached to each other so neither would they be one be lost with sudden jerks when you are on the road nor would they dare to roll away from you. A circular needle set solves many of your knitting woes.

4. Tackle all kinds of knitting projects

Circular needles can be used to both knit back and forth, and seamlessly in the round, making them an incredibly useful tool for all types of projects. While the needles were invented for the purpose of knitting in the round they lent their versatility to projects knit back and forth.

The regular lengths allow us to make projects in the round. With special sizes of 25cm needles, you can easily work on small baby hats, socks and more. Another way to work on the small circumferences is the magic loop technique that requires an extra-long circular needle length for which you can use any length upwards of 80cm but make sure not too long. Simply cast on stitches and join them in the round.

To knit back and forth you simply cast on stitches all over the needle length. Even if you have a 300+ stitch count you can make a needle length of almost 200 cm and even more by joining two cables with the connector. Knit a row and turn your WIP, and continue till you have your project measurements or as the pattern instructs.

5. Work faster

Advanced knitters may prefer to use circular needles as they allow them to work more quickly and efficiently. There is no need to switch needles when knitting in the round, while stocking stitches are also easier and faster with circular needles, as you are always knitting on the right side of the project. In addition, with circular needles, you don't need to knit separate pieces and then bring them together, and the lifeline hole which is built into interchangeable circular needles allows you to work on complicated knitting techniques with ease.

Circular needles are comfortable, portable and much more. With these knitting needles enjoy your craft and many projects such as a pair of baby booties to wide blankets. The Mindful Collection offers stainless steel knitting needles in options of fixed as well as interchangeable ones along with single pointed and double pointed needles. It is always recommended to have the entire collection for your craft. Once knitters have experienced the joy of working with stainless steel circular needles, they are likely to stick with them for the rest of their knitting careers.

Happy knitting!

Source: https://uberant.com/article/1897996-how-to-get-the-best-out-of-your-circular-knitting-needles/

It’s never too early to dream about spring and get your knitting needles ready. Knitters have many reasons to love every season but there is a special joy when it comes to spring. With winter blues fading and yellow summery sunshine making it was, spring it's the perfect season for knitting. Unlock your creative side and discover the endless possibilities of knitting. With this blog, it'll be a breeze to create stunning spring pieces in no time.

Take your knitting game to the next level this spring. Whether you're a beginner or a master knitter, there's something new for everyone. Creativity and yarn is the heart and soul of your craft but your knitting needles are the ones doing the job. So, make sure to work with comfortable knitting needles in the right type and size as mentioned in the pattern. Single pointed needles work best if you have limited stitches on hand and want to construct the project in pieces. Double pointed needles are great for knitting small things in the round. Circular needles work for both knitting back and forth and rounds as long as you have the right length. Besides, the needles, do carry the other knitting essentials such as stitch markers, darning needles, sharp scissors, etc. A knitting needle set will have the tools & accessories all ready for your crafting.

Let’s get ready for Spring knitting.

1. Lace Shawls or Wraps

Shawls are not limited to winter knitting but can be easily carried into spring and summer. Lace knit shawls are the perfect project to get you into spring fever. There are thousands of patterns to explore or you can start small with basic lace stitches and techniques. You can start with a wrap or shawl with the stainless steel knitting needles from the Mindful Collection. Choose a size that is wide enough to wrap the wearer. The sharp tips and smooth surface make them the ideal lace knitting needles. You can create artful holes in your fabric with k2tog and yarn over. Keep stitch markers and darning needles handy for your project.

Knitting lace patterns requires skill, patience, and practice. However, the results are worth it as you can create stunning works of art that will be admired by all who see them. Make sure to choose vibrant shades of blues, greens and yellows or stick to the elegant white.

2. Cowls in Condo Knitting

Cowls are believed to be typical winter wear but then with the right yarn weight and shade they can be pretty spring and summer accessories. For a lighter construction, condo knitting is a good technique. It means you simply knit a garter pattern with two knitting needles of different sizes in alternating rows. Say for example, 4.5mm and 5mm or 5mm and 6mm. This will ensure that your knitted fabric has a unique look. You cast on stitches with the smaller needle. Knit a row or round with the same needle and then for the next row or round take the bigger needle. Continue alternating till you’ve completed the project. Mark the different rows and rounds in different stitch markers to help you with reference to the change in the pattern. For a cowl you can go ahead with a pair of single pointed needles and then join the project with a darning needle. Or, knit with circular needles or double pointed needles and then there would be no step for seaming later.

3. Tees

Tees are for every season. Spring means beautiful colours and patterns of leaves and flowers. If you do not want to look for a pattern, make it in garter with fade colour palate. Get yarn in spring-inspiring shades and plan out a fade. Or go for a self-striping skein or the range of hand-dyed yarns. With the measurements of your project and gauge you can easily make a tee without a pattern. Make the tee with STNs with front and back knitted separately or make them on circular needles with DPNs used for the neck or sleeves.

4. Shrugs & Cardigans

Shrugs and Cardigans are similar in pattern with different lengths and design elements. If you have knitted a sweater previously, you can easily go ahead with a basic shrug or cardigan. Knit a gauge swatch first. This way you’ll have an idea of how the pattern will look and how much yarn will be needed. Use some lace patterns for the neck part or the bottom to give them a delightful spring look.

5. Headbands

If you have lots of stash in different shades, cast on a pattern for a headband. The simple garter or stocking stitch pattern will look beautiful. Single points or circulars can have them ready in a day or even a few hours. To give them a special touch knit flowers or leaves separately and then add to them the project or knit them on the headband. You’ll have a beautiful hair accessory to get you into spring.

Besides the above project ideas, you can also make socks and hats in bright shades.

Happy Spring knitting!

Source: https://medium.com/@mindfulknitpro/7-knitting-projects-to-make-spring-special-87142ed7d7f4

To cast-on stitches on the knitting needles is the first step of any knitting project whether you knit back and forth or round. It is the first stitch of the row or round on your knitting needles whether you work with single-pointed, circular, or double-pointed needles. You must have heard the proverb; “A good start makes the rest easier”. and that is why it is important to have the right way to cast on knitting and lay the foundation of your project. In your knitting practice, someday you might come across the instruction to cast on with two needles. To help you do that in this blog post we’ll walk you through the steps on how to cast on knitting with two needles.

The craft of knitting is like the knitters, diverse and unique. There is no right or wrong method to cast on stitches. If you are following a knitting pattern you may be given instructions on how to go about it but many times it will be left to your choice. The method to cast stitches depends on the project. Socks require a stretchy edge while a sweater or a blanket would be requiring some other way. It also depends on the fact that every knitter is different, each one has a different style of tensioning the gauge.

Why Cast on with two needles?

There are many reasons to use two knitting needles to cast stitches. It may be the design or the knitter's comfort. The result is generally a much stretchier edge. This is particularly amazing for lace projects, 2×2 or 3X3 rib stitches, and similar patterns. In comparison to the basic methods, it’s a bit more complicated to do worth investing the extra time and effort.

If the purpose is to cast on with two needles is design then both needle tips will have the stitches that will be worked in the next rows or rounds. It is recommended to choose circular needles for the purpose. You can cast stitches on the needles at the same time by making loops with the cable of the needle.

If the two needles are used for a knitter’s comfort in getting loose gauge then you treat the needles as one. Once you have the number of stitches (do not forget to count the slip knot as the first stitch) carefully remove one needle from the arrangement and start working the first row or round.

Before you cast on, first gather your supplies

• Knitting needles: Choose any needles according to the pattern recommendation or the project. Use any pair of single-pointed or circulars if you are going to knit back and forth. For knitting in rounds, use a set of double-pointed needles, one-circular or even two-circular needles. Make sure to work with the right needle size as you may require to work with two different sizes or the same size.

In case you just want to practice, use needles that are easy for you to work with. We recommend using sizes such as US 6 (4mm), US 7 (4.5mm), or US 8 (5mm) in lengths according to the number of cast-on stitches you need.

• Yarn: If you are following a pattern you will have the information; if not, go for yarns that allow you to see stitch formation. Try 4-ply DK yarn or anything that you have in your stash.

Cast on with Two single-pointed needles

Now if you’ve got two STNs make sure to hold them as one. You can use the same size or use a different size. Once you have made the loops, remove the single-point needle from the yarn.

Cast on with Two Double-Pointed Needles

DPNs are used to knit in the round so use both needle tips as one. Here you need to be extra cautious as the stitches might slip. It is recommended to use needles of different sizes. Remove the smaller needle and then divide the stitches into the rest of the three or four double points.

Cast on with One Circular needle

When working with circular needles you can either make seamless tubes or knit back and forth. If you are knitting back and forth then simply remove the needle length in a way that the loosely cast stitches can sit comfortably on the cable. And, if you are knitting round then too remove the tip and join the stitches.

Cast on with Two Circular needles

Two Circular needles can make it easier to work the smallest circumferences or two socks at one time. Here the needles will have individual cast stitches that you will be working on in the first round.

Now whatever knitting needles you use, the steps will be to make a slip knot. This can be on both needles as one or individual knots on both needles. Then make loops on the needles that you will work on the next row or rounds.

With this, you can successfully try to cast on your knitting with two needles according to the pattern or as your project demands.

Happy casting!

Source: https://www.zupyak.com/p/3478376/t/how-to-cast-on-knitting-with-two-needles

Do you want to knit faster? Is it taking too much of your time and effort to get a project done? Knitting at a fast pace is developed after a lot of practice but then there are also a few tips that can help you. So, before you start knitting, make sure you have quality knitting needles in the right size and type and yarn along with knitting accessories to assist you in the craft.

1. Make Knitting a Daily Practice

Like all skills, knitting takes practice. The more you knit, the better and faster you get. Make time for knitting as much as you can. Daily practice will certainly help but if you do not have the time, try over a weekend. Giving time is important but it is equally necessary to knit without distractions. A playlist of your favorite songs will assist you with knitting. So get one ready before you get started. It is also a good idea to participate in knit-along (KALs) in your community for the reason to get some purpose to your knitting. Another habit to develop is knitting without looking. It requires a lot of practice but can be mastered with time. This is because even if you do not focus on your knitting needles, your muscle memory will take over your hands and get you knitting faster.

Once you develop this habit, you can knit pretty much anywhere and be fast with your knitting projects. When learning to knit without looking, it is always recommended to use a simple pattern with mainly knit and purl stitches and no other special techniques. This way you do not have to keep looking at your knitting every time.

2. Get comfortable.

A very simple technique but very effective in getting your projects done faster is to choose comfortable seating with lots of lighting. Many times a different knitting position can do wonders for your speed. You can try to sit cross-legged or seated on a rocking chair or on the sofa cuddled by your pets. Experiment and see what works best for you. Also do make sure to take breaks in between long knitting sessions. Also do not attempt to knit whenever you are tired, this way you will be making mistakes and taking time to correct them, making your knitting go slower.

3. Knit Looser

Knitting fast is all about knitting neatly. Loose stitches are your best bet to avoid knitting mistakes and therefore the option to go faster. Loose even stitches mean easier to insert your knitting needle tip. This will help you avoid any assistance from the loops and knit smoothly and faster. This also works for you to correct knitting mistakes whether you rip or tink or use any other measure.

4. Tension your yarn efficiently

Tensioning yarn in a way that best works for you are the trick to knitting fast. Every knitter has a unique way of holding and tensioning the yarn. To knit faster, it’s recommended you play around with different tensioning methods and find the one that works for you and not stick to the method you were taught. The yarn must glide effortlessly or it will certainly slow you down. Either weave the yarn in your fingers rather than wrapping them or let it lie flat in your palm. This brings us to the next point, the knitting style.

5. Switch to a different knitting style.

There are five general knitting styles and every knitter has their own style too. When we begin knitting, we generally adopt the style taught to us by our mentor and find it easy to continue doing so. To speed up knitting a recommended way is to explore knitting styles and choose one that best works for you. Try out the English knitting style for its simplicity. The Continental style of knitting works best if you are left-handed or have learned crocheting first. Lever knitting known as flicking is believed to be the fastest knitting style. Shetland knitting style is used by the popular knitter Hazel Tindall, who holds the title of the world’s fastest knitter. Even the ancient Portuguese knitting style is being rediscovered for its unique style of tensioning the yarn.

6. Change your knitting needles

While we always prefer our old and trusted knitting needles over others, the trick to knitting faster is sometimes changing the needles. Even if you find wood, bamboo and other materials work for you, metals are ideal for fast knitting. The stainless steel knitting needles from the Mindful Collection make stitch passing very easy. And it's not just the material it is also the knitting needle type. Not just the material, knitters struggling with double-pointed needles have often worked faster and smoother with circular knitting needles. And, this is for other needle types.

7. Use Knitting Accessories

Knitting accessories are knitting essentials and they help you with your craft. Be it stitch markers or scissors, knitting needle sets or cases, there is so much to help your knit faster and smoother.

With the above tricks and tips, learn to knit faster.

Happy knitting!

Source: https://knitpromindful.bcz.com/2023/01/23/7-tricks-tips-to-knit-faster/

An I-cord can be used in multiple ways in many knitting projects. With any knitting needles (single-pointed, double-pointed or circular) you own you can easily create an I-cord. The very narrow tube looks a bit like French knitting. Knitting an I-cord is a good skill for every knitter, beginner or advanced. The cord can be used to add to the beauty, make a neat edge to flat knitted patterns such as blankets and scarves or make the project useful.

In this blog post, let us walk you through all the methods of knitting an I-cord. You can knit one with double-pointed needles (the most common option for knitting small tubular projects) or circular needles or even single-pointed needles. You can find all the needle types in our Mindful Collection. Each of the stainless knitting needles has been designed for perfect stitch-making as well as each one carries an inspirational word imprinted on its body, motivating the knitter.

Method 1: Knitting with Double-Pointed Needles

The double-pointed needles are the best option for knitting small circumferences besides the magic loop technique. To make the I-Cord you do not require the entire set of five needles, as can easily work on two. Given the ability to knit from both ends, the needles are the most used option to make such a small tubular project. The trick to making a neat cord is to make sure to knit on the right side and not backward or from the inside.

So, here are the instructions.

Step 1 - Cast on 3-5 stitches. You can go ahead with any other method too as you need only a few stitches.

Step 2 - Knit the row (the 3- 5 stitches). Do not turn the work.

Step 3 - Simply slide the stitches to the other pointy tip of the DPN.

Step 4 - Knit the stitches for the second row or round. Keep the yarn behind the work, basically behind the knitting needles in way similar when you work the knit stitch and start with the first stitch. Tug the yarn after each first stitch. This will help the cord to take shape and to even out the tension.

Step 5 - Keep following the steps 1-4 till you’ve got the desired length..

Method 2 - Single Pointed Needles 

Given the simplicity and ease of knitting, you can easily knit on single-pointed needles.

Step 1 - Cast 3-5 stitches or the number for how wide you want the I-cord to be on one needle of the pair. Use any method to cast the stitches.

Step 2 - Knit the row. Do not turn in your work as you usually do when knitting with STNs.

Step 3 - Slide the stitches from one tip of the needle directly onto the tip of the other needle without dropping any stitches. You will always work with stitches on your left hand needle.

Step 4 - Repeat steps 2 & 3 until the I-cord is of the desired length.

Method 3 - Circular Knitting Needles

The circular needles are versatile tools and for knitting an I-cord you can easily use them. You don’t even need to attach the cable in case of interchangeable needle tips or even use the cable. For I-cord, it is best that you work on a 25 cm fixed circular needles that allows knitting the small circumference freely.

Step 1: Cast on stitches depending on the thickness of the I-cord you want with any method you prefer.

Step 2: Knit the row.

Step 3: Slide the stitches from one needle to the other.

Step 4: Repeat step 2 & 3 until the I-cord is the desired length.

With these 3 mtehods, you can make an I-cord for any of your project. You can follow these steps and if you have a pattern that mentions how to knit an I-cord, you can follow that.

Besides, the above three there are different I-cords.

Spiraling I-Cord can be made with any of the knitting needles. The steps however is to repeat k3, p1. The purl stitch gives a twist to the central axis and makes the project look a little spiral.

Curly I-Cord can be knit of the needle types. The step however is to make slipped stitches for a corkscrew curl. The stitch pattern is - Row 1: Knit and Row 2+3: K1, Sl1, K1. Repeat those three rows over and over again, till you have the desired length.

An I-cord Bind Off too works on all knitting needles. Continue with your project till the last row. Then when you get to the last row. Make an I-cord bind off.

Knitting an I-cord is a beautiful way to have neat edges. Simply add 6-10 stitches to the cast-on. While knitting the rows, K1, slip 1 with yarn in front and then K1. For an I-cord edge on the wrong side of the project - slip 1 with yarn in front, K1, slip 1 with yarn in front, work across row to last three stitches, slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front. This will give your blankets carves and even dishcloth projects a beautiful edge, especially if you’ve worked them in stocking stitch pattern.

For knitting an I-cord or other projects, choose knitting needles from the Mindful Collection.

Source: https://medium.com/@mindfulknitpro/knitting-an-i-cord-3-ways-to-make-them-db9b5aa738