I'm having so much fun doing this knit
along! I decided to knit my project 2-at-a-time on two circulars
for two reasons. The first reason is that knitting with two circulars
is one of my favorite ways to knit small items in the round and the
second is that I'm so busy I just know I would finish the first
gauntlet and with the best of intentions, put off knitting the second
one and never get back to it.
If you've never knit on two circulars or
magic loop before I suggest sticking to one at a time for the first
time as it takes a little practice getting the rhythm and
coordination of moving your project around the needles.
These instructions will give you the
general flow of how to knit two of any small circular project, not
just this pattern. You can work socks, mitts, gauntlets, gloves or
sleeves.
To knit two at a time you will need the
following:
- Two balls of yarn. If you're experienced with doing so and don't mind untwisting you threads, it is possible to knit from each end of the same ball.
- Two circular needles in the same size. I highly recommend using two different lengths. First, the 16” needle tips are shorter than the 24” tips which helps you keep track of which tips you're working on, and secondly, two different lengths will not cause you to have duplicate needles.
- Point protectors
- 3 stitch markers
Do your crochet provisional cast on
onto your 24” needle tip then slip 25 stitches purlwise onto your
16” needle and slid the stitches toward the other tip.
Do your second provisional cast on onto
the same tip of your 24” needles as you did the first one and then
slid 25 of those stitches purlwise onto the same end of your 16”
needle as you did the first time. Slide all the stitches down close to
the first set of stitches.
Your setup will look like this
You'll see that your needles are
parallel, turn them so that the open end of the cast on is to the
right with the 16” needle in front and the 24” needle is in the
back. Slide all the stitches of the first cast on onto the needle
tips. Straighten the stitches so they aren't twisted. Now pick up the
other tip of the 16” needle and with your first ball of yarn begin
to knit across the first 25 stitches (you will find it helpful to
pull the 24” needle to the right so that the stitches rest on the
cable.)
When you've completed the first 25
stitches, slide them down toward the cable and move the second gauntlet
up to the tip of the 16” needle. Join second ball of yarn and knit
across these 25 stitches.
When you reach the end turn you work
just as if you would turn a straight needle, so that the two sets of
25 stitches you've just knit are on the back needle (the 16”
needle) and the yarn you were just working with is on the right.
Slide the second half of the second
gauntlet onto the 24” tip and with the same yarn you were just
working with and the other end of the 24” needle work across the
remaining 27 stitches of the second gauntlet. When you reach the
end, slide it down the tip onto the cable and move the first gauntlet
up onto the needle tip. Switch back to the first ball of yarn and
work across the 27 stitches of the first gauntlet.
You're now ready to join and begin
knitting in the round. Turn your work so the 24” needle is again
in the back and the 16” in front with the working yarn for the
first gauntlet coming from the 24” needle. With the other tip of
the 16” needle, begin to knit across the first 25 stitches again
pulling the 24” needle to the right so the stitches rest on the
cable. Be sure to snug up the first stitch so you don't have a long
ladder and place a stitch marker on the ladder. This mark the
beginning of the round. Whenever you return here you know you've
completed a full round on both gauntlets.
When you reach the end to the first 25
stitches, slide them down the tip onto the cable and move the second
set of 25 up to the other tip. Switch back to your second ball of
yarn and knit across, again being sure to snug up the first couple of
stitches.
When you've completed knitting these
stitches, turn your work, pick up the other end of the 24” needle
and using the same yarn knit across the 27 stitches of the second
side of the second gauntlet.
Switch balls of yarn and knit across
the 27 stitches of the second side of the first gauntlet.
You've now completed a full round of
both gauntlets.
Continue the pattern as directed.
Work the instructions for Needle 2 on both sets of 25 stitches on the 16” needle.
Turn
Working on the 24” needle
Second side of Gauntlet 2:
- Work Needle 1 instruction K2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k8, place marker
- Work Needle 3 instruction
Switch ball of yarn
Second side of Gauntlet 1:
- Work Needle 3 instruction, place marker
- Work Needle 1 instruction
The markers serve as dividers between
the needle instructions.
For magic loop you can use this same
basic rhythm although the technique for casting on 2 at a time is a
bit different.
Happy Knitting!
I'd love to make two at a time, is there any difference between the right and left one?
ReplyDeleteEllie