Okay I have been knitting off and on since 7 or 8 yrs of age and I am still a very basic knitter and I am just a little embarrased to ask this very basic question. The pattern for the “Woven Scarf” calls for you to start knitting a garter stitch band with double pointed needles. After casting on you are supposed to place a marker and join for round. How do I do this. I imagine I am using 4 double pointed needles but it does not talk about distributing the stitches. Is that a given when they say join in the round. Also, I think I am supposed to divide the stitches evenly by 3 and distribute them on to the different needles and knit with the 4th needle. Is this correct. I am quite confused by this pattern but I really want to make this.
It sounds to me like you have the right idea. I don’t have the pattern in front of me, but I have read it. There are no rules about how many needles you have to use when you are knitting in the round. If it tells you to use four needles, then you would just divide them onto the three and use the fourth to knit with. You place your stitch marker on the needle right before you join the round. Makes sure your stitches are not twisted and then instead of turning your work at the end of the cast on, like you would on straight needles, you just knit into the first stitch that you cast on, making sure the keep the yarn tight. But be careful. It is a garter stitch pattern, which on straight needles would be knitting every row. But in the round to achieve garter, you have to knit a round, then purl a round, and so on.
Actually, while I was waiting for a response I decided just to give it a shot and try and figure it out. I think I did okay but getting the tension right is a motha. I find that the stitch is loose where I joined, but I read somewhere the answer to that is by adding an extra stitch to my cast on and knitting the first two stitches together for extra strength. Does this make since?
I will be honest, I avoid knitting in the round on dpns as much as possible. There is a thread that I posted here that is a Knit A Long for this scarf. Some of the others have already started theirs if you want to post any more questions about it. It’s probably easier for knitters who are knitting it up already to answer you! Come on, join us, you know you want to!