Knitting in the round removes the concept of edges entirely
In short: When you move from flat knitting to circular needles, the fundamental geometry of your project changes. Because there is no beginning or end to the row, you lose the traditional 'edges' that dictate how you shape a garment. This shift requires a new approach to structural decreases.
In flat knitting, decreases are often balanced between a left and right edge to ensure a garment maintains its shape. However, when knitting in the round on a circular needle, the project exists as a continuous loop. This means there is no fixed side to anchor your decreases to, allowing for more fluid, geometric possibilities in garment construction. To manage this, knitters must choose between even distribution or directional stacking. For a symmetrical shape like the top of a hat, you might divide the total stitch count by a desired number and space decreases evenly around the circle—for example, every half inch. This creates concentric circles that shrink uniformly. Alternatively, you can create directional shaping, such as on a mitten, by stacking specific types of decreases on one side of the piece and repeating them on the other.
The mechanics of the decreases themselves remain identical to flat knitting, but their placement is what changes. By performing a 'knit two together', the right-leaning reduction causes the right-hand stitches to be consumed by those on the left. Conversely, a 'slip, slip, knit' or a 'knit two together through the back loop' creates a left-leaning decrease. The latter provides a distinct visual difference: the 'slip, slip, knit' method leaves the stitch open at the bottom, while the back-loop method results in a crossed look at the base of the stitch.
The choice of decrease ultimately depends on the desired aesthetic and the specific requirements of the pattern. Whether you are aiming for a seamless, rounded cap or a structured, asymmetrical mitten, the lack of edges on a circular needle provides the freedom to shape your work in three dimensions.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Decrease on Circular Needles | Circular Knitting
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