Stitches

How do I switch needles while knitting?

I'm new to knitting. The guide I'm using to try and knit my first hat says to cast on stitches using 8mm circular needles. The next step says to switch to a smaller size needle. I've never run across this before and don't really understand what it wants me to do. Help!

Public Comments

1. What you are accomplishing by starting on larger needles, is that your cast on edge won't be so tight so that you can't comfortably wear your hat. Switching needles is easy. When you reach the end of your row or round, just start knitting onto the smaller needle. Don't worry about one needle being larger or smaller as you knit. All your stitches in your row will be similar to the size of the needle they are knitted onto.
2. That indeed is a rather strange way to do it. If the purpose is to have a more elastic cast-on edge, there are far better ways to do it. However, now that you have that, just continue. Do it exactly as it is written. When you have the cast-on row done, switch to the smaller needle. That is it. Drop the large empty needle, and pick up the smaller needle and work with that. Simple. There are some designs where you use one HUGE needle and one tiny needle. It creates one row of large stitches and one row of small stitches. Interesting, but not something you would do always. Patterns usually have been tested and are correct (though not always). So it is best that you simply do exactly as it is written, don't try to think and analyze your way through it, don't anticipate... just do it.
3. what you do is simply put the size needles that you are using down, and start using the smaller size.
4. Usually you see this change of needle sizes going the other way, from smaller to larger, especially in things that have a ribbed hem and a stockinette body. This is to allow a bit more snugness in the ribbing so it doesn't get baggy in the wearing. As has been said, at the appropriate point use the other size needle in your right hand (even if you are knitting on circs) and knit the stitches with that until you are at the end of the other needle. BTW, if you forget and knit with both needles for a few rows, it won't matter much. Done it myself.
5. All you have to do is start knitting with the smaller needles. Seriously, when you are done with the last row with the larger needles, PUT THE NEEDLE DOWN!!! :) Pick up one of the smaller needles and knit the row. Now, PUT THE OTHER BIG NEEDLE DOWN!!! Pick up the other smaller needle and continue knitting. Really, don't over think this, it is only knitting.
6. CO and join the round with the bigger needles. I like to complete two or three stitches into the next round before I switch to the smaller needle. Now, treat the circular needle like a straight needle and pick up one end of the smaller circular needle. Knit the stitches from the large needle to the smaller one just like you would use a straight needle. This is a good way to prevent your CO edge from being too tight, especially if you're using an easier cast on method with little stretch. Another good option would be to go to knittinghelp.com and find a video that teaches you a stretchy cast on.