How do you knit horizontally?

How do you knit a scarf horizontally? I’ve read in a knitting book that you would need a circular needle with enough length to hold 180-200 stitches or depending on the number of stitches you would like to use.

h_brida November 24th, 2009 at 7:57 am

Yep, that’s how. You cast on LOTS or stitches. It’s normally called “knitting sideways”. Some sweaters are also constructed in that fashion.

If you have an interchangeable needle set, you can join several “cords” together for extraordinary length.

lindadoyle666 November 24th, 2009 at 8:19 am

this is a fun way to knit a scarf. You do have to use a circular needle usually so that you have enough space for the number of stitches you need. Make sure you cast on loosely and that when you bind off you are binding off very, very loosely. I even will use a needle 1 to 2 sizes bigger in my right hand. If you don’t do this one side may be so tight that it will distort the shape of your scarf and it won’t have as nice of a drape. This is also great for using up left over yarns. Just knit rows and you will get horzontal stripes.

hot_hermione November 24th, 2009 at 8:26 am

here is the pattern that you have been looking for.
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_3520116,00.html

its a scarf that is super easy for beginners. all you need is 108 yards of 3 colors and needles that will get you 5 stitches to the inch. when the pattern says to slip a stitch its automatically purlwise unless it says differently.

the scar will be 6 and a half feet long. you only have 20 rows to work.
when you cast on the stitches place a stitch marker every 10 or 20 stitches, that will help you keep track of how many stitchs you have.

mickiinpodunk November 24th, 2009 at 8:50 am

You are casting on the length of the scarf rather than the width. At most, unless you are using a bulky yarn, you need a 29 to 32″ needle for this, although you won’t be able to lay out the full width of your stitches without putting them on a holding yarn to measure. Interchangeable needles are nice, but pricey for a novice knitter. Heck, I don’t even own them, but then, they came out when I was much younger and didn’t hold onto the cables well which discouraged me from owning them.

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