Knitting question: knitting in the round on circular needles?

Question

I have been stockinette-ing (nothing but knit on the circular needles) but I think i have the wrong-side of the piece out - the stockinette flares out and up from the 'top' of the needles - some reason this seems backwards - does it even matter? and i want to taper soon - what knit will taper "in" toward the center of the needles - I'm knitting a cap and I'm trying to just "wing it" as I go along - but the cap I've adapted some design ideas from goes from stockinette to knits to reduce

Answer 1

Is the smooth (knit) side of the fabric on the outside of the round and the bumpy (purl) side of the fabric on the inside? It doesn't matter all that much for what you're doing, but I prefer to knit with the smooth side of the fabric on the outside and the knitting falling down from the needles.

You should be able to situate the knitting that way if you like.

To taper the top of the hat, work decreases into your knitting. k2tog will create a decrease that leans to the right, and a ssk will create a decrease that leans to the left.

I just finished a hat with a star decrease. I had 80sts on the needles and wanted to have 8 decreases per round. For the first round, *k8, k2tog* all the way round. The next round was *k7, k2tog*, followed by a round of *k6, k2tog* and so on until I was left with just 8 sts total. Then I cut the yarn and threaded the free end through the live sts and pulled tight.

--JK
http://knitflix.blogspot.com

Answer 2

From what I remember about knitting...the stockinette stich is supposed to flare out, even on the circular needles, even though it does seem like it's backwards...I think you need to add a batting, like knit on a border on the edge to keep it from curling, and as for making the rest of the hat, I would start reducing stiches when you feel the hat fits around the forehead reasonably, but unfortunately, I don't know what the sequence of it all would be. I've only made scarves that way, and when I make hats, I crochet them. When I crochet hats, I start at the crown of the head and work out by increasing stitches, as in a spriral. Sorry, wish I could be of more help.

Answer 3

I agree with bogiebogie ;) b/c the purl side should be on the inside unless that is what you consider to be the "right side" or outside of the hat.

If you really want a challenge, I would recommend the circular needle version of the moebius loop scarf where you end up starting in the center of the loop and in crazy eight fashion, doubling the size of your scarf in two directions.

I'm also winging a hat pattern- the klein bottle, and the problem I'm coming up with is that I need to find the proper tension for the rim of the hat. This is the only problem I think I would see for you and your tapering issue. It should retain enough stretch around the brim to stay on the head or keep its shape.

Good luck with your hat!
High 5 dpn!