Monica Knits

Swap StsYesterday a reader inquired how to join Kitchener rib in the round. I'll give a short answer today and provide illustrations later. The method of joining in the round depends on the type of cast on you use for the Kitchener rib. The two types discussed in this blog are the provisional cast on and the Kitchener rib (also called Italian and tubular) cast on. If you are making small circles, the provisional cast on is probably the least awkward to execute. The provisional method was used for the toe up sock and the long mohair glove. The Kitchener rib cast on was used for a reversible headband knitted in the round. The two examples below each used 2 circular needles. Read more.....

Joining in the Round for the Provisional (Waste Yarn) Cast On Method
If you are using a provisional cast on method for the Kitchener rib, then you cast on half as many loops with a provisional cast on. Join these loops in the round by swapping the first and last cast on stitches, as described in Step 9 of the Circular Needle Cast-on article. After you have knitted a round or three, then you can pick up the other half of the stitches from the provisional cast on row and knit in the opposite direction, for the same number of rows. When folded in half at the provisional row (purl stitch faces to the inside), you have a Kitchener rib.

The photo "Kitchener Rib Cast On" shows an "unfolded" Kitchener rib that was created with the Kitchener rib cast on. The provisional cast on method starts with an "unfolded" rib and then folds it. The article Kitchener Stitch Bind Off in Reversible Knitting is another example that shows the kitchener rib "opened", in this case to two needles. For illustration purposes, both Kitchener rib samples were knitted with two colors, one color for the purl stitches and another for the knit stitches.

Joining in the Round for the Kitchener Rib Cast On Method
In the article: Kitchener Rib Cast On, the last image shows the creation of a half-hitch (or backwards loop) stitch. One method of joining in the round for the Kitchener cast on is to add one extra set of stitches at the end (a knit and a purl), but make both of these half-hitch stitches. Each of these last stitches is then placed next to his or her buddy stitch at the beginning of the first circular needle (i.e. the knit next to the knit and the purl next to the purl). Knit the 2 knit stitches together and purl the 2 purl stitches together to join the round. illustrations coming....

Related Posts:
Circular Needle Cast-on
Basic Toe Up Sock - Provisional Cast On
Kitchener Stitch Bind Off in Reversible Knitting
Rectangular Toe
Kitchener Rib Cast On
Kitchener Stitch Bind Off in Reversible Knitting.