How to Knit With 2 Circular Needles for Decreases
Knitting in the round with two circular needles, as opposed to double-pointed or a single circular, is significantly easier, especially when it comes to decreases. With two circulars, you can decrease down to two stitches without having to switch needles. You do decreases the same as you would with circular projects made with two double-pointed needles or one circular needle. This includes all types of knit decreases possible in the round, including slip stitch knit, purl two together and knit two together.
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Instructions
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Cast on the desired number of stitches.
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Move half of the stitches to a second circular needle.
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Join the round by slipping the last stitch from the side with the yarn ball -- the side you'll be knitting first -- to the unused side of the farthest circular, slipping the first stitch of the other needle to the first needle, then slipping the slipped stitch onto the second circular. By switching these two stitches, you create a joined loop.
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Knit or purl as instructed in your pattern.
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Knit two together by inserting your needle, knitwise, into the next two stitches on your needle. Insert into the second stitch first, that is, the one that is second from the end of the needle and then into the first stitch. Yarn over and pull your needle through both stitches at the same time. Slide the two knitted stitches off the needle.
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Slip stitch knit by slipping the first stitch to the second needle purlwise, that is, in the same way you would if you were going to purl the stitch, without knitting or purling it. Slip your second stitch knitwise. Insert your first needle -- the one with the stitches that still need to be knit -- into both stitches from left to right in front of the second needle. Yarn over the second needle then pull it through both stitches at the same time. Slide the two stitches off the needle.
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Purl two together by inserting your second needle through the next two stitches purlwise, that is, from the right to the left through both stitches. Yarn over and pull your needle back through both stitches as if they were one stitch. Slide the two purled stitches off the needle.
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Knit decrease across two stitches that are on separate needles by either first sliding the remaining stitch from the first needle onto the second needle or, in the case of slip stitch knit, sliding the first stitch as usual, then the second, also as usual. Knit the two together.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use two circular needles to make two identical circular projects at the same time. Doing so ensures that both items will be exactly the same size without having to worry about tension. This works particularly well with things like gloves and socks that are made in pairs and should be the same.
If you've been using a single circular needle for your project, switch half of the stitches to a second circular of the same size for the decrease sections to make it easier. Trying to knit smaller and smaller circles on a single needle can become difficult as the space between the needle points becomes larger than the project.
