Circular Knitting - Four Ways to Knit in the Round

Circular Knitting    Updated by Janice Jones     |Updated November 2025

If you’ve been knitting flat pieces for a while and feel ready to try something new, circular knitting is a lovely next step. It’s gentle, rhythmic, and surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it, even though the first look at all those needles can feel a little… porcupine-like.

The good news? You absolutely can knit in the round. And by the end of this tutorial, knitting a hat, cowl, or pair of cozy wrist warmers won’t feel intimidating at all. In fact, you may even start preferring circular knitting because it eliminates seams and helps your hands find a smooth, calming flow.

Let’s ease into it together.

A pair of mittens that can be made using circular knitting.

What Is Circular Knitting?

Circular knitting involves knitting in a continuous loop. Instead of working back and forth in rows, you work in rounds, which gives you a seamless tube.

You can knit in the round using:

  • Circular needles
  • Double-pointed needles (DPNs)
  • The Magic Loop method
  • Short circular needles (sometimes called “shorties”)

The technique you choose depends on the size of your project and the length of your needle cord. Don’t worry — I’ll walk you through it all.

Tools You Can Use for Knitting in the Round

1. Circular Needles

a set of circular needles is used to create a patch of fabric using blue yarnCircular Needles

These are two needle tips connected by a flexible cord. They come in different lengths (16", 24", 32", etc.).  You’ll use these for:

  • Cowls
  • Sweaters
  • Hats (the brim!)
  • Most medium to large tubes

They feel comfortable in the hands and are usually the easiest option for beginners.

A circular needle has a flexible plastic link between two pointed needles (usually metal). After casting on stitches in the usual way and joining them into a circle, a seamless tube will be created as you knit in the round.

The outside of this tube always faces you. The side facing you is the "right" side of your knitting. You work in a spiral and don't turn your work at the end of each row.

To produce stockinette fabric, for example, you don't need to work one row of knit stitch and then one row of purl stitch. Knit stitches have to be worked all the way.

There are two different ways to do  knitting in the round:

Double-Pointed Needles (DPNs)

Double-Pointed-Needles.jpgDouble Pointed Needles

This is the classic method, especially for small circles like:

  • Hat crowns
  • Baby sleeves
  • Mittens
  • Socks

They may look like something out of a hedgehog convention, but after a round or two, the rhythm starts to feel natural.

If you would like to try double-pointed needles, I recommend Knit Picks as a good choice for beginners.

3. Magic Loop

The next step of Magic loop is to slide the stitches onto the two needle tips.

Magic Loop is a technique using a long cord (32" or longer) to knit small circles or tubes.  The magic loop method replaces double-pointed needles for many projects, so it is a favorite for anyone who has difficulty maneuvering with five knitting needles at once (me included).

It is perfect if you don’t want to buy lots of cord lengths or if DPNs make you nervous. Learn more about circular knitting using the Magic Loop technique.

4. Short Circulars (Optional)

Tiny 9" circular needles let you knit small tubes like sleeves without DPNs or Magic Loop.

They take some getting used to, but many knitters adore them.  I will admit that I have never been able to master these tiny needles.

If you think you'd like to try these, ChiaoGoo is a popular brand.

How to Knit in the Round Using Circular Needles

Step 1: Cast On

The easiest beginner method for learning how to knit in the round.

Cast on the number of stitches your project requires, using any cast-on method you prefer.

Spread them evenly along the cord and make sure they’re not twisted — your stitches should form a neat, straight line along the needle tips.

Quick Tip:
Lay your needle flat on a table to check for twists. If even one loop crosses, flip it back into place.

Step 2: Place Your Stitch Marker

Place a marker on your right needle to show where the round begins and ends.

Step 3: Join the Round

Bring the two needle tips together and knit the first stitch from the left needle to the right.

Congratulations — you’re officially knitting in the round!

Step 4: Keep Knitting

Knit all the way around until you reach the stitch marker again.

Move the marker from the left needle to the right, and keep going.

You’re now knitting continuous spirals, no turning your work, no purling unless your pattern calls for it.

How to Knit Using Double-Pointed Needles (DPNs)

An example of double pointed knitting needles; set of four needles with yarn and a half finished projectDouble pointed needles

There are usually 4 or 5 of these short, double-pointed needles in a set. After casting on, all stitches are evenly distributed among the working needles (two, three, or four needles). One needle is used to knit off.

If you’re working on a small project, like the top of a hat, a mitten, or a sock, circular needles may become too tight. DPNs save the day.

Step 1: Cast On

Cast on all stitches onto one needle.

Step 2: Divide the Stitches

Slide one-third of your stitches onto Needle 2, and another third onto Needle 3.
You’ll now have three needles holding stitches and one empty needle for knitting.  Some people prefer to work on four double pointed needles and if that is the case, you will divide your stitches onto four stitches, saving the last one as your working needle.9

Step 3: Position the Needles

Arrange the needles into a triangle shape, or into a square if you are using four needles.
It feels awkward for the first minute, but trust me, your hands adjust quickly.

Step 4: Join in the Round

Using your empty needle, knit into the first stitch on Needle 1.
Then knit all the stitches on Needle 1 with that empty needle.

Now that the needle becomes the working needle, you continue to rotate.

Step 5: Keep Going

Move the needle from one to the next as you knit around, creating a continuous tube.

Tip to Prevent “Laddering”:  What They Are and How to Fix Them

If you’ve ever noticed a little vertical gap running up your circular knitting, like a faint “ladder” between columns of stitches, you’ve met one of the most common issues in knitting in the round.

The good news? It’s fixable, and usually not your fault. It’s just your knitting adjusting to new tools and techniques.

What Is “Laddering”?

A ladder is a loose column of stitches that appears where:

  • One double-pointed needle ends, and the next begins, or
  • The stitches split in half for Magic Loop, or
  • You’re using two circular needles or a very long circular needle for a small tube.

Instead of a smooth, even fabric, you see a faint line or gap that looks like the stitches are pulling apart.

Why Does Laddering Happen?

Laddering is almost always a tension issue at the needle change, that tiny moment when:

  • You drop one needle and pick up the next, or
  • Your stitches “jump” across the cable gap in Magic Loop.

At that transition point, the yarn isn’t being snugged up to the rest of the fabric, so those column stitches relax and become a bit looser.

Common Causes:

  • Letting the first 1–2 stitches after a needle change get too loose
  • Holding the work away from you instead of close to the needle tips
  • Using very slick needles (like metal) while you’re still finding your tension
  • A long cable that allows stitches to stretch

Easy Fixes for Ladders

You don’t need to change your whole style of knitting. A few small habits usually fix laddering completely.

1. Give the First Stitch a Gentle Tug

After you knit the first stitch on a new needle, give the working yarn a slight, firm tug to snug that stitch up against the last one on the previous needle.

2. Knit the First 2–3 Stitches a Bit Tighter

Not a yank, more like a “sit here nicely, please.”

Instead of only tightening the first stitch, try knitting the first two or three stitches on each needle a little tighter than usual.  This spreads the tension over a few stitches, so one doesn’t have to work so hard.

3. Shift the Gap Occasionally

If a ladder does form, you can keep it from becoming a permanent feature by moving the gap:  Every few rounds:

Knit 1–2 extra stitches from the next needle before you start the new one.
The “join” line crawls along the tube rather than sitting in one place, which makes any looseness much less noticeable.

4. Keep Your Hands Close to the Needle Tips

Try not to let your needles and stitches dangle while you’re switching needles or sliding the cable.

5. Try Different Needle Materials

  • Hold the work near the tips, not halfway down the cord.
  • The closer the stitches stay to the tips, the less chance they have to stretch.

If your yarn is very slippery and your needles are too (metal on silk, for example), everything wants to loosen up.

You might find:

  • Wood or bamboo needles give you more control and natural friction.
  • Slightly grippy needles can make a big difference in laddering.

How to Knit in the Round Using Magic Loop

Magic Loop is ideal when:

  • Your project is too small for standard circulars
  • You’re not quite ready for DPNs
  • You love using one long needle for everything

How to Do It

  • Cast on your stitches to a long circular needle (32" or longer).
  • Divide your stitches in half and pull the cord through the center.
  • Position one needle tip near you and the other away from you.
  • Join in the round and begin knitting.
  • As you finish one side, slide the needle and adjust the loop to keep knitting.

This method looks like yarn spaghetti the first time, but once your brain recognizes the pattern, it becomes a favorite.  For a more in-depth article, I have written a tutorial on the Magic Loop Knitting Technique.

Benefits of Circular Knitting Needles

You do not need to knit everything in the round to benefit from circular needles.  You may decide that you prefer to knit flat objects with circular needles.  While I am absolutely not suggesting you get rid of all your straight needles, there is evidence that circular needles might be beneficial.  

  • You can use circular needles for both circular and flat knitting.
  • The long cable that connects circular needles is great for knitting very large projects that may not fit on a standard 14" needle.
  • Most good quality circular needles are made with sharper pointed tips that are easier to use for intricate lace stitches.
  • Can be very economical to purchase even a premium brand set because they will probably the only set of needles you will ever need.
Circular knitting is shown using light blue yarn and circular needles, pin image

Final Thoughts

Circular knitting opens up a whole new world of projects, and once you try it, you may wonder why you didn’t start sooner. Give yourself time, breathe through the learning curve, and remember that all knitters — even the experts — once looked at a set of DPNs and thought, “What on earth is that?”

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