- 1). Using a circular needle, cast on 20 stitches. Knit the first row. Flip the needles over so that each needle is now held in the opposite hand. Take the yarn to the back of the piece between the needle tips and knit the 20 stitches for the second row. Flip the needles over again and move the yarn between the needles to the back and continue knitting until you have knit about 20 rows. Now use the ruler to check your gauge and see how that compares to the gauge suggested in your pattern. If your stitches are too small, unravel your stitches and begin again using a circular needle that has larger size needle ends on a cable the same length as the one you were using previously. If your stitches are too large, use a circular needle with smaller needles on the ends of the cable. Check the gauge again until it's correct.
- 2). Unravel your gauge test pattern and take the stitches off the needle. Read the pattern and cast on the correct number of stitches. (For a simple baby blanket in the moss stitch, cast on 90 stitches of Red Heart Plush yarn or a yarn of similar weight.)
- 3). Flip the needles over so you are now holding the needles in the opposite hands as when you cast on the stitches. Work the first row according to the pattern. (For the baby blanket, knit Rows 1 to 21.)
- 4). Flip the needles into the opposite hands when you get to the end of each row and follow the pattern. (For the baby blanket, on Row 22, which is the wrong side of the piece, knit 15, purl 60, and knit 15. On Row 23, which is the right side of the piece, knit all stitches. Continue Rows 22 and 23 until you have a total of 20 rows. Repeat Rows 1 to 21, then Row 22 and Row 23, and continue until you have the desired length of the baby blanket, usually about 35 inches. Remember to end with Rows 1 to 21.)
- 5). Bind off your work in the same way you would do it on straight needles, and weave in the "tails" of yarn to complete the piece.
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