I need help with my knitting.....
Ok, I've been trying to knit my first hat for months now. I'm getting really irritated that I can't seem to get the right size down. Can someone help me please.
As I've stated this is my first hat ever! Prior to this I've knitted up two scarves and have started an afghan. On YouTube I've watched the how to knit in the round video with fixed circular needles by KnitPicks (which by the way awesome video, I didn't have trouble casting on, or any difficulty getting the hang of knitting in the round). It states that if your finished piece should fit an 18inch head you should use a 16inch (length) cable. I've measured my husband's head at 24 inches so I should be knitting with a length of 22 inches by their calculations right????
But I can't seem to find that length cable anywhere......by the way I live in an area not meant for knitters or crafters. :-P And haven't been able to find any needles of that length, and have searched online to just order them but with no luck. Seems there is only a length of 16, 24, 29, and 36 in length for fixed circular needles.
I have also tried knitting with the length of 29 as that was the only size our local craft store had at the time and that proved to be disasterous even after doing a swatch to get the number of stitches as once it was long enough to see how it would fit it looked and fitted like a bucket. :-P Do I dare try the 24inch in length fixed circular needle and take that chance that it will still be too big? or do I try the 16inch in length fixed circular needle and have a teeny tiny hat meant for a small child???
Ugh, I'm getting a headache! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
~Ready to toss the circular needles and hat idea out of a car window on the highway!
As I've stated this is my first hat ever! Prior to this I've knitted up two scarves and have started an afghan. On YouTube I've watched the how to knit in the round video with fixed circular needles by KnitPicks (which by the way awesome video, I didn't have trouble casting on, or any difficulty getting the hang of knitting in the round). It states that if your finished piece should fit an 18inch head you should use a 16inch (length) cable. I've measured my husband's head at 24 inches so I should be knitting with a length of 22 inches by their calculations right????
But I can't seem to find that length cable anywhere......by the way I live in an area not meant for knitters or crafters. :-P And haven't been able to find any needles of that length, and have searched online to just order them but with no luck. Seems there is only a length of 16, 24, 29, and 36 in length for fixed circular needles.
I have also tried knitting with the length of 29 as that was the only size our local craft store had at the time and that proved to be disasterous even after doing a swatch to get the number of stitches as once it was long enough to see how it would fit it looked and fitted like a bucket. :-P Do I dare try the 24inch in length fixed circular needle and take that chance that it will still be too big? or do I try the 16inch in length fixed circular needle and have a teeny tiny hat meant for a small child???
Ugh, I'm getting a headache! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
~Ready to toss the circular needles and hat idea out of a car window on the highway!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melissa Burnett on -
The length of your needle isn't what is causing your size issues. The NUMBER of stitches around the circular is determining the size of your finished project. I knit ALL hats on a 16 inch circular needle. As long as the stitches move comfortably, your needle is the "right" size. For instance, I knit baby sweaters on the same needle without problems because the stitches fit comfortably. The pattern might give a "suggested" needle size but this is one of those things you can change easily as long as you are comfortable and using the right number of stitches around.
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Permalink Reply by catskillgal on -
Don't worry so much about the length of the needle. The gauge is wht is imprtant. 16in sounds also very short to me. I think you should be fine with 26in of 24 in . Just check the measurment. I knit mostly with circular needles
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Permalink Reply by Lynn Venghaus on -
I prefer using longer circular needles when knitting in the round especially with the Magic Loop method. Most of my circular needles are between 29 and 40" in length. I find the 16" needles have shorter shafts and are likely to give me cramps in my hands.
Melissa was right in everything she said about the number of stitches being your problem. Make a gauge swatch with your yarn and the needles you want to use and measure how many stitches and rows it takes to make two inches each way. Divide in half to determine how many stitches per inch is your gauge. If a size five needle gives you eight stitches per inch and you want 24", then multiply the 24" by the 8 stitches per inch to find how many you need to cast on for the part that goes around his forehead and above his ears. You can rip out your gauge piece when you're done measuring and use the yarn in his hat if you wish.
There are also videos that show how to measure for your gauge if you need more help.
I'm glad you felt you could ask for assistance. We all started by learning the basics. Don't give up!was
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Permalink Reply by Eileen Gery on -
I never did like circular needles. I was taught knitting on the round using 4 double-pointed needles. Just seems easier to me.
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Permalink Reply by Melissa Burnett on
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I use both. I like to start a project on the circulars and then switch for decreasing. If I don't have the size or can't find the circular easily, I just opt for the double points. I found that once you are really comfortable with them, they are JUST as easy as anything else :)
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Permalink Reply by Diana Knight on
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Actually, I always use a 40 inch cable needle for all my knitting in the round projects. I use the magic loop method so that when the number of stitches are decreased to the point that the pattern instructs me to double point needles, I can continue to use my cable needle. The magic loop method is certainly worth learning.
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Permalink Reply by Jody Moody on -
Before you throw out the needles and hat (which by the way I am sure that they are highways littered with half knitted projects), try out the magic loop. I did a video on it awhile ago, but it is not close enough (the camera needed to be on zoom!)..I need to redo it. SO I would go on YOU TUBE and look for magic loop see what you get!
jody
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Permalink Reply by Jemma Bailey-Kunte on
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I knit everything on circular needles either using magic loop or some version of it...it has considerably lessened my confusion
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Permalink Reply by kate moorman on -
Are you pulling too tight as you go? i do constantly that is why i must knit on needles a size bigger than suggested for any given project. Same with my crochet i know i must use the larger hook up because i pull way to tight. The tightness of your stiches can create massive problems later on, you can also try wet blocking, you mist the project and pin it to the larger size it than dries in the larger size thanks to the pins. you can also try the wet blocking by pulling it over a ball that is bigger than his head so it dries to the balls size and ends up fitting his head. I had to do the later method on my daughters hat so it fit.
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Permalink Reply by Marsha Fuller on
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Why don't you just use double point needles (5) for in the round and you won't need to worry about the cable? I think they are much easier to manipulate than a cable and don't need to worry about the length...AND you don't have to change to a smaller cable near the end...OR make the bucket one again with good wool and FELT it.!!!!! That will be a wonderfully warm hat for many many years!
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Created by alpacajim Sep 20, 2009 at 9:30am. Last updated by alpacajim Sep 20, 2009.
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