Knitting with double-pointed knitting needles: 10 Easy tricks for neater results

[@NimbleNeedles]

☕ Support my work and become a patron: www.patreon.com/nimbleneedlez 🧑‍🎓Free knitting school: nimble-needles.com/learn-to-knit-for-beginners/ 🧶 My knitting tools: nimble-needles.com/wool-and-tools/my-knitting-toolkit-essential-items-i-need-for-every-project/ 👕 My patterns: nimble-needles.com/free-knitting-patterns/ 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/nimbleneedlez/ And feel free to comment any time if you have a question. No need to be shy! :)

[@carlatrujillo9776]

As a former Geometry teacher, I love the discussion about using 3 bs 4 vs 5 needles and the angles. Norman, your knitting knowledge is deep and your explanations are clear. Thank you.

[@nicoles1257]

I've been knitting with DPNs for many years, but I still learned some great tips. Thank you, Norman!

[@NimbleNeedles]

I am exceedingly happy to hear that. It's not easy to find a good balance!

[@fionagill2171]

I always used 4 dpns because that's what came in a set and my knitting patterns gave instructions for 4. I'd always had little ladders that I disguised by shuffling the join a few stitches every few rows. I was intrigued by your comments about using 5 dpns instead so decided to give it a go straight away, 3/4 of the way through the 2nd sock. What a difference!!! No ladders!!! Thank you Norman!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Happy to be of help 😊😎🧶

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

This was very comprehensive. I have never seen a stitch garage before and now I want one. lol Thank you, Norman. ❤

[@NimbleNeedles]

Heh...they sure do come in handy. I'm currently on vacations and took one along!

[@4loveoffish]

Where can I find one of the needle garages ? I looked all over Amazon I couldn’t find it.

[@NimbleNeedles]

@@4loveoffish they are all over etsy. Here is one example www.etsy.com/listing/1413345096/needle-garage-for-storing-15-cm-double

[@clarefriend1376]

Love the tip of joining the new yarn

[@carolweymouth1556]

I’ll be re-watching this multiple times, Norman! I love knitting socks with dpns and want mine to look as tidy as yours!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Most of it is practice and good blocking 😅

[@christinevalentine3373]

This is such a good explanation of the technical aspects of knitting. I’m still learning so much from you and other experienced knitters but I find your explanations really logical. Start at the beginning, address each little aberration one at a time, present corrections and alternatives. If you understand why something happens it is easier to catch yourself and make adjustments. For some people it is intuitive, I’m not able to do that. Learning is a lifelong adventure, thank you so much for helping to smooth the path. I’m extremely grateful for your willingness to share your knowledge and experience.

[@NimbleNeedles]

I can only agree..understanding is vital if you ever want to make long-term progress and that's why I try to incorporate it into almost all my Videos 😊😊

[@cassandrabrown6440]

Excellent tutorial! As an experienced knitter I usually knit with circular needles, but when I switch to dpns my technique takes a while to adjust. Thank you for these valuable tips.

[@NimbleNeedles]

My pleasure 🥰🧶

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

I always appreciate your knitting tricks, thanks.

[@kellilambert7570]

I learned the hard way. Now there is Norman!

[@Ravencall]

So many excellent, practical tips in one clear video!

[@lindapayne9474]

So many wonderful tips! Thank you for explaining the "why."

[@NimbleNeedles]

Always explanation before repetition! 😎

[@shelleyblondeau2205]

Excellent tips!! It's validating to see some things here that I've developed naturally over the years and thought I was being a weirdo ;-)

[@KW-qb9jo]

Yipee!!! I had watched your other tutorial on knitting with DPN,s ;which was fantastic by the way. I have practiced on and off but certainly was not at all comfortable or at all good at it. I got pretty busy with some projects that using DPN’s would’ve been great with. In the back of my mind I kept thinking when I am done with these projects it’s time to dedicate daily time to this. Yesterday I watched this video and after 1 attempt that went awry it was like everything clicked, muscle memory etc.. Now I really understand why you love DPN’s so much! Obviously I will be referring to this video over and over, Thank you

[@NimbleNeedles]

i really do love them for their versatility. Tho, I can totally understand why some might prefer circulars. But yeah, I always do say that dpns have a steeper and longer learning curve. And you have to fight through that!

[@wt3869]

Thank you for sharing these tips! Your explanations are clear and really helpful.

[@maryanncasale87]

This video is so jammed packed with great information, Norman! I am going to watch this several more times. I have so much trouble using dpns and it is such an important skill to have! Thank you for doing this!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Feel free. It's there to be watched, after all 🥰

[@barbheggen7434]

Thank you Normen. I lernt a lot on this video .

[@evaeldenas1708]

Thank you Norman for yet another first-class tutorial!

[@NimbleNeedles]

You are very welcome 😎

[@theastewart6721]

Great tutorial Norman! Thank you for all of the great tips! 🤗😊

[@maryholbrook4919]

As always you are so generous with your knowledge, thankyou

[@NimbleNeedles]

My pleasure!

[@sandracroley9784]

As a young woman, lol, many years ago, even though I could knit I would as my mom to knit socks for me. When she could no longer knit, I finally had to buckle down and learn DPNs. Now it is my preferred way to knit socks. I always knit at the hockey arena when my children were in hockey...so much so, that someone asked if it was me who was ejected from the arena for throwing my needles at the referee...it was not! 😄

[@EvieO1950]

I’m still trying to learn to use DPNs and get comfortable with them so these are great tips!! Thanks!!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Happy to hear that. And feel to comment again if you need any further help 😊

[@bethliebman8169]

Nice, informative video--as usual! You might not be old enough to remember when double point needles were sold in sets of four needles only. I learned to make mittens on double points back in the 80's, so at least in the US, the option of knitting with 5 needles did not exist. Good point about securing your needles. I once sat on a carbon fiber sock needle that snapped in two.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Here in Germany, 4 never was a thing. So, it's not really about age. It's the same with yarn weights, needle sizes etc...early in the 20th century, merchants in the US tried everything to be unique and special...sadly, one might add.

[@Rockinandwatchin]

You are an awesome instructor.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Thank you 🥰

[@gailaltschwager7377]

Thank you, Norman! Just showing your video some love.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Aww..thank you gail ❤️

[@gailaltschwager7377]

@@NimbleNeedles I hope you're loving Vienna!

[@bernerandgoldenmom7143]

I never fail to pick up some great tip from you! I never thought about adding an extra stitch at the start to be decreased with the first actual stitch. That's a great idea! Thank you! I would love to see a video of your little toy patterns. I love making miniatures. But there aren't many videos that I've found on detailing them. I'd love a tips video on adding faces (especially creating curved lines for a smile), aligning and attaching heads, arms and legs when knit separately (or how to pick up stitches to knit the appendages directly out from the body), and of course, managing and increasing small numbers of stitches on dpns at the start of a sphere (e.g., a Christmas bauble). Just a thought! 😃

[@NimbleNeedles]

I have some few videos here where i show some of it. Problem is, they weren't that successful and that small gauge is a pain to to record 🙈🙈🙈

[@InGo-fy8zz]

Wunderbar Norman!!!!! I learnt something new again. Thank you for the fantastic tutorial!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Freut mich 🥰

[@Cups_of_Tea_System]

So many wonderful ideas in one video - you give me information about stitch and row construction I was craving as I learned to knit! And your textured blue wall is simply my ASMR!

[@NimbleNeedles]

I am also so satisfied how it turned out. Wasn't sure at first 😅

[@anitakahl6170]

I appreciate your detailed explanations👍🏻❣️

[@NimbleNeedles]

My pleasure 😊

[@pasztorevi2713]

I love love loooove knitting with dpns, I will always prefer them over magic loop ❤ And you and your videos like this helped me perfect my knits with them 🥰

[@NimbleNeedles]

I'm so glad!

[@juliamesnikoff7964]

Brilliantly helpful!

[@Frostedminifirecracker]

Excellent tips 🎉 also feeling somewhat chuffed because, through decades of trial and error, I was doing quite a few. Especially the ribbing and purling ones. But, silly me, I didn’t really understand why I was doing it! 😮😂 it just looked prettier. 🤷‍♀️

[@NimbleNeedles]

Well, glad I could fill that part in 🥰

[@amandah4834]

Thank you for these excellent tips Norman I know they are going to be game changers for me 👏amanda xx👌💕

[@NimbleNeedles]

I do hope they make a difference 😅

[@TheArualex]

Thank you, Norman!

[@chrisd487]

Norman, you're the best! Thank you.

[@amethystskeels3788]

I love that you have blue given that's the "learning color" and personally I believe it. I've had good personal results with blue pens or blue highlighters than yellow (blech I hate yellow in reading though, so maybe thats why haha

[@NimbleNeedles]

How great. Tho, I picked those colors because they r most clear for colorblind ppl.

[@Amethyst1919]

I always connect in the round with the extra stitch thing you showed first... I find the with proper management as you weave in that end you can make the connection invisible and show no jog...

[@susanhaag2857]

Amazing, informative and a total reference!! Thank you so much 🙏🏻😊

[@NimbleNeedles]

You are so welcome!

[@wj2495]

I like knitting hats in the round, because I do not like having a seam up the side of the hat (especially when knitting hats for babies). I thought that I learned all the methods for knitting in the round, but low-and-behold, I learned some fantastic tricks to make my knitting in the round neater. The information about purling in the round such as slipping the first stitch, or flipping the knitting to purl was new to me. This video is saved in my video library of knitting tips that I will definitely revisit until the procedure becomes second-nature when knitting in the round. Do you use needle tips and cable (for example Addi Clicks) to knit in the round, or do you prefer DPNs? Your demonstrations are always clearly presented. 🙂Thank you, Norman.

[@NimbleNeedles]

I prefer dpns

[@darlenefarmer5921]

Great information, Norman! Thank you.

[@francesdarcy6592]

Great tips and explainations

[@NimbleNeedles]

Glad you think so!

[@avrilrhind389]

Very informative and heipful

[@NimbleNeedles]

Glad you think so!

[@barbaramalcolm1621]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Ypu are very welcome 🥰

[@nedramccaig106]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤

[@diamondringirl]

thank you for such great tips. DPNs can be intimidating but once you do it, it is easy. i also say to secure your project and needles, what would be worse than not securing that 5th needle and then you loose it? not fun at all. keep them all together.

[@NimbleNeedles]

So true!

[@catardif4158]

Thank you for the tips! Very helpful indeed!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Glad to hear that!

[@Vivianalovesherfamily]

Please could you advise what stitches I would be better off using? I’ll elaborate, I want words to stand out on each of the 14 panels of a large knitted blanket. The pattern suggests bobbles but I feel they may be too big for some of the letters. I therefore want to use two contrasting stitches in texture and styles so that they ‘pop’. The stitches must be easy to use both horizontally and vertically. I would be so grateful for any advice. Thank you and thanks again for your generosity in sharing your wisdom and experience.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Not sure what this question has to do with this video? 🤔 Typically ppl use purl stitches

[@CraftyVegan]

This tutorial comes just in time for me to attempt a new sock style that uses alternating groups of rows of purl that would look a bit weird if there were jogs 😅 I felt a little called out for using 3 dpns with my current project… my only defense is that it’s a small diameter project and I don’t have the small DPNs yet

[@NimbleNeedles]

Ha! Really, do whatever works best for you! I can only point out alternatives 😎

[@AngelReneeToday]

Hi Norman missed ya lately. Thanks for a new video I just got a set on Amazon of wooden dpns

[@NimbleNeedles]

Heh..tho my last video was just 2 weeks ago, just like always

[@AngelReneeToday]

@@NimbleNeedles I know still I enjoy your nice demeanor :)

[@maryjohnson2062]

Norman, love your tips. What is the metal yarn holder you had on your finger during parts of the video?

[@NimbleNeedles]

That's a knitting thimble

[@maryjohnson2062]

@@NimbleNeedles thank you. I need to get one for color work I'm getting up the nerve to finally try!

[@katherinefischer5747]

Excellent as usual, Norman. I wonder if you will tackle in the future the use of Addi flexiflips or Hiya Hiya Flyers. Thus far I have not seen these featured on any of the ore international tube-casts, but I believe Addi is a German company, yes?

[@NimbleNeedles]

They are but I am not really using them 🙈 Still a good suggestions

[@AngelaWalker]

Inverting my project in mosaic knitting in the round never occurred to me. I will have to try that next time.

[@valeriehowden471]

Thanks Norman. I have been on the hunt for some new dpns. What brand are you using here? My favorite tip is how to join in a new colour.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Those are addi dpns. I don't knit with them normally. But I do have a very comprehensive dpn review here on my channel. Maybe check that out!

[@valeriehowden471]

@@NimbleNeedles many thanks!

[@annesfeltedfriends]

When joining the round, I often knit the first stitch of the next round through the back loop. What do you think of that, Norman?

[@NimbleNeedles]

hm....i haven't tried that yet. So...i wouldn't know. Tho, I would be curious to know what you think you gain by doing so?

[@worldtree-ew8rm]

Thank you for the great video! I try to knit my first pair of socks by a written pattern. But somehow the cuffs are very large... Und my stitches look pretty uneven I would like to try your joining technique. But I am a bit confused. After I joined the two stitches. How do I knit the next two you mentoined? My pattern calls for a 1x1 ribbing. That means also 1 knit and 1 purl for these two? And the end of the round is not at the end of the needle but in the middle of one needle now? So you have to switch stitches around later for the heel?

[@NimbleNeedles]

well, you slipped one stitch over, this moved your BOR to the 4th needle. So you start on the second stitch. but that's only necessary if you started with an in-pattern CO

[@worldtree-ew8rm]

@@NimbleNeedles thank you! Actually I met a really nice woman in a wool shop. And she told me that she knit two stitches more every time. On every needle. That is her technique to prevent the gaps.

[@joanmachado9063]

Great video thank you

[@NimbleNeedles]

Thank you 😎

[@purvisood17]

will some of these tricks work for circular needles as well? I'm a beginner...

[@NimbleNeedles]

Some of them for sure...at the end of the day things are remarkably similar!

[@purvisood17]

@@NimbleNeedles thank you so much!!! I'm really struggling to get the hang of knitting as I'm a crocheter, your videos are extremely helpful 💕

[@simoneshepherd841]

Vielen dank

[@NimbleNeedles]

gern geschehen, Simone!

[@christielamb2894]

Thank you, Norman. You always have wonderfully helpful information and this video is definitely full of info I can put to good use right now. I'm clearing 50g sock yarn skeins from my stash by knitting some fingerless mits. 💜✌️🧶

[@NimbleNeedles]

I probably should knit some scrap socks as well or so 😅

[@christielamb2894]

@@NimbleNeedles Norman, I was checking out my stash for yarn to try my hand at a pair of shorty socks. I was hoping to have at least 100g of one colorway to play with or two colors I like together but, I had no luck. So, socks got put on the back burner for now and fingerless mits are cast on. Lol! Your toe up video is next on my playlist. 👏👏👏 🫶🫶🫶

[@kellilambert7570]

I learned the hard way. Now there is Norman!