Joining in the round weird

#1

Hi!
I started knitting this year and I’ve been having some trouble when joining two pieces in the round.
Ex I’m knitting a top with top down method, making back part then front part to join in the round for knitting the body.
When I come to joining in the round part, I knit a few rounds and I can see a distinct difference between the previously knitted parts (back&front) and the round (body) part. Like the two previous parts have larger more “flat” stitches and the round part has smaller more “neat” parts.
I do not know a name for this and have therefore not been able to research this.
I do not have a pic for I include, but I am joining a piece in the round just now and can include a picture when I notice a difference.
So my question is; have any one of you experienced this? Do you know a name for it so I can research it?
Do you know how I can fix this? Can you link/name a video?

I feel I’ve progressed so much since I started knitting this year, but this is truly a huge block for me, to the point where I am considering not joining in the round but knitting separate pieces to stitch together later which is so frustrating bc it feels like a failure.

#2

Welcome to KH!
This is actually quite a common problem. Your gauge is different between knits and purls. In the round, you’re always knitting but working flat you have a combination of 50:50 knits and purls.

It may help to try to become more conscious of even tension between knit rows and purl rows. I’ve seen a recommendation to use different size needles but I think working on even tension is a better way to go.

It’s touched on a bit in this video

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#3

I just want to say, it really isn’t a failure to knit pieces flat and seam them. There are many positive aspects of knitting in pieces including the additional structure of having seams which can help a sweater support the weight of the yarn and retain shape. It seems the current trend is to avoid every seam possible with some designs having no seams whatsoever, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best way, it’s just one way.

Don’t feel like a failure if you do switch to knitting flat. Flat knitting and seaming is just as valid as knitting in the round.

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#4

It just feels so frustrating to put down so much time on following a pattern and after getting a few rows of round knitting down I see a visible difference and I can’t figure out what I do wrong.
I really dont mind kvittning separate pieces to stitch together later, I just feel like I should be able to accomplish knitting in the round somehow…
Thank you for your kind words!
If the round knit doesn’t work out, I’ll focus on knitting flat and stitching the pieces together for this one :slight_smile:

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#5

Thank you, I’m gonna definitely work on this!
I did some more research after making my post here, and I found a pic similar to how my work turns out, and apparently this person somehow has twisted stitches when switching from flat to round knitting… do you know how to fix that? I think that might be my issue.
I can’t seem to upload the pic so I’ll link it here:

Thank you for your help :slight_smile:

#6

There’s something else going on at least part of the time in the photo you posted. There are some twisted sts on the right side in the photo. They can be made as part of a pattern or inadvertently by knitting into the back of a stitch or wrapping the yarn clockwise around the needle.
Evening out the tension is something that comes with paying attention to sts at the start and practice. You’ve made a good start in recognizing the problem which many of us are working on.
Have fun finishing your sweater! (A good wash and block may help out too.)

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#7

Thank you, I’m gonna try to finish in the round and see how it works out! I feel a bit more confident now so thank you for the help :slight_smile:

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#8

Twisted stitches are where the back or trailing leg has been knit into or purled into. It can be resolved by not working into the left or trailing leg in the first place or by slipping the stitch onto the other needle to help in turning it back the correct way, slip it back to the left needle again before working it if you find one accidentally twisted.
A stitch “usually” sits with the right leg on the front of the needle, this leg runs to the stitch to the right or to the working yarn. The left leg is at the back of the needle and trails behind, joined to the stitch to the left.
If any of your stitches are mounted the other way (and you knit in a “standard” style) then re mount them.

I want to caveat my description to say I am aware some styles of knitting are not like this and of course for the country/knitter their knitting is totally normal for them. I do not mean to be rude about saying “normal” like it’s the only way.

With regards to changing tension when switching from flat to round or round to flat - some people may resolve it, some people may not care about it. We all have aspects of our knitting that we want a certain way and other aspects we are not so bothered by. The things we are bothered by we either work to resolve or avoid and that’s a personal decision too. .

#9

I agree about knitting in pieces, particularly when one is just beginning. To me, the biggest advantage is that you can customize the fit. I think we’ve all seen large-busted women whose sweaters are three to four inches shorter in the front because the material is not long enough. If you knit in pieces, you can add extra,stitches at the bust or just make the front longer. When making for a man, you can have more stitches at the shoulders and then taper through the body. No right or wrong but another thing to consider.

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#10

I knit top down sweaters for myself and don’t work in pieces for seaming. I find it much easier to check the fit of neck, shoulders, etc. when everything is already connected. I’m working on a top down top for myself now and try it on frequently to be sure I’m happy with how it’s progressing. I use short row shaping extensively, and that includes lengthening armholes while I don’t make the center front longer to avoid an ugly, gaping neckline that will never lie right on my body. I did one seamed sweater when I first started knitting and then learned to work top down, seamless, adjusting fit as needed. The best way - seamed or seamless - is IMHO a matter of personal preferences. If trying something on for fit is important I highly suggest considering seamless sweaters. YMMV and that’s fine. No two knitters approach things the same way.

The full busted woman whose top is too short in front is I think mostly a matter of not understanding why and bothering to learn how to adjust for it. I first did such things with sewing patterns and figured out mostly on my own how to adjust to compensate in knitting. Info of this sort isn’t readily available IME and requires a lot of trial and error.