Knitting with DPNs

[@wintersfire1182]

I love knitting on DPNs! Usually, when I join to knit in the round, I cast on an extra stitch. Then I move the first stitch to the last needle, pass the last stitch I cast on over the stitch I just moved over so it falls off the needle, and pop that first stitch back onto the needle it came from. After giving the tails a tug, it cinches everything up. This makes the correct stitch count, and helps me avoid a ladder between my DPNs at the beginning of the round.

[@buttermilkbaysoap9416]

You explain everything beautifully. Dpns for socks is for sure my go to. I’ve tried the 9” circulars, magic loop but dpns are the way to go for socks. Fun fun fun

[@louisej1905]

You are a terrific teacher. Always providing different options with clear explanations. Thank you.

[@StarfireReborn]

I Absolutely Love The Fact That Your Double Pointed Needles Are Different Colors, It's Just Soo Pleasing. I Would Be Crazy If Those Were My Needles, But My Goodness They Fit Your Personality & Colorful Knitlife. Love To You Stephen! 💜

[@pipsasaarteinen6565]

To avoid the little gap between the 1st and the 4th dpn in the first round, try this: move the first stich to the 4th dpn and lift the last stich over it to the 1st dpn. It closes the round and makes it easier in the beginning👍

[@anitaswart.]

When teaching myself to knit socks at a ripe age and quite a experienced knitter, I found this tip in one of the Butt books, bit fiddly but with practice it is so satisfying because it works every time and you know you will never have a gap. Thank you

[@MartinaWhite68]

I use a long cord circ needle for two at a time socks. I started with DPN’s bc circulars weren’t available when my Nan learned to knit and she was the one who taught me!

[@loveknitting100]

Thank you for all you do for us knitters!! I started as a Dpn sock knitter and right now I am doing the Painting Bricks socks Toe up with Magic loop. Yesterday I ordered Flexi Flips to give them a try❤ Happy Knitting

[@nefraial]

Nice! I've so far made all my socks cuff down. I do think all of them can be reverse engineered quite easily by experienced sock knitters. Perhaps someone needs to write it out for those who are not so sure on how?

[@anneabbott5415]

I’m an absolute dpn knitter for socks, but I only use three needles and knit with the fourth. It was how I was taught and it feels right to me. I also prefer shorter dpn’s which fit nicely into my hands. I’ve tried ML and short circulars but always go back to my dpn’s 🥰

[@anitaswart.]

I taught myself to knit socks at a ripe old age, but was experienced. Being South African we were taught to knit the English way. Coming to England and with wonderful KZbin, I saw the continental way of knitting and was disappointed that we were knitting the English way because it is so much slower. But after 60 years of knitting the English way, I just couldn't change, and I tried. Double points are for me and 5 needles, because you always have your stitches in 4 equal places and easy to form a picture. I always have two sets of needles and cast on both sets, work the rib of the first sock and then the second sock and so on. This way I have got control and know that the two socks are a match and don't have the second sock syndrome. Thank you for your tips

[@resourcedragon]

I also learnt a variety of English knitting (mine is closer to flicking than throwing). Recently, however, I've been working at learning continental. I'm now reasonably comfortable with doing knit stitches in the continental style - although the tension is still a bit stop and start. I haven't yet mastered purl - at best I can manage 2 or 3 purls before I lose the plot and have to enlist the right hand to get the job finished. Based on what I have seen on KZbin videos, some things look a lot easier if you are a competent continental knitter but others are better suited to the English style. Even Norman of Nimble Needles needs to introduce right hand fingers into the process of doing a knit cast off, Peter Pointer is repurposed as Peter Holder.

[@PatValenzano]

Thanks you for this video…you are such an encouraging teacher! Calm voice that makes me feel confident that I can do it…I’m all “ thumbs” with DPNs but I will try it again…😄🧶💗

[@lydiadaugherty5171]

I love DPN's Thank you!!

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

What a great teacher you are ! You always make everthing seem so easy. I prefer knitting my socks toe up two at a time using magic loop, but before I had good cable needles, I used to cast on on one long needle, then transfer to my double pointed needles, it was easier for me. This is a tip, just in case someone else likes double pointed and has difficulties with the cast on. You can also choose to cast on in pattern for a stretchier cast on.

[@cherylgleason8876]

I love double pointed needles. They are the way I knit socks.

[@denisewessman1079]

You are an amazing educator. ❤ thank you for sharing your talents

[@silatra]

Thanks for your video. I‘ve learned to knit socks on DPNs from my gran but was never able to fully avoid laddering at the sides. I‘ve found that magic loop is the technique for me. A little trick to make the cast on row easier to knit with DPNs: cast on using two needles held together, then pull out one to knit.

[@lottejoergensen1691]

I usually knit socks as a triangle and not as a square - I find it less stressfull :-)

[@wills2652]

I’m excited! Starting my first ever pair of socks tonite!

[@susanwhite6158]

I enjoy knitting with DPNs but every so often found myself increasing a stitch in error at beginning of a needle. The tip of keeping the needles "on top" has stopped this from happening!! 👏👏👏 💃💃💃 Thanks heapus!

[@phyllisburke4141]

I use dpns all the time. I haven’t tried magic loop. I’ve been knitting a long time so I’m used to the dpns. Thank you for your informative tutorials.

[@StarfireReborn]

I Love Magic Loop, For Certain Things. However, Dpns Are Completely Irreplaceable For Socks, Colorwork Socks, & Colorwork Mittens. Hats I Can Use Either, But Smaller Circumference Items MUST Be On DPNs. Pinhole Cast-ons As Well, Which I've Seen A Few Do On Magic Loop. 😅

[@dawnmontgomery73]

I’m currently knitting my very first pair of socks (about to start the toe on sock #1) and I’m using dpns. I’ve tried in the past and couldn’t understand it but for some reason it just clicked this time. Totally enjoying it! My goal is to eventually learn how to knit “two at a time” socks 😳😂

[@katywuste9054]

Great tips and you always make me feeling that I can achieve the different styles of knitting 😊

[@andreamiller6200]

Very nice DPN demo! For me, I avoid ladders best by knitting the 2nd stitch a bit more snugly rather than the 1st stitch on the needle. That may be helpful to anyone who still tends to get ladders if they haven't tried this stitch to tighten. I also LOVE 9" circs which took a bit to get used to but they fit my hands and I can really zoom along since there is no needle switching nor dangling cord.

[@denisewessman1079]

I adore my don’s. I transfer the last over the first stitch, to ensure a beautiful join. I also feel that casting on each needle assists in maintaining a firmer beginning. I just snug the first stitch that is cast on against the previous needle. The beginning is less dangling. This has always worked for me. I also at times, use a 9 inch, magic loop and two circulars. It always depends on what needles I have available for the next sock.

[@katibere1966]

I love all your tutorials!

[@sheilamccart7553]

Have always used DPN’s for sock knitting 😊

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

For knitting socks I always use DPNs. It's the way I learned it, very long ago. I think it was in the early 1970s. There were sets of 4 DPNs (not 5). They were long, much longer than the ones we use now! I still have a few of those sets of 4 long DPNs, but never use them anymore (for large projects I use circulars now). I don't like 'magic loop'.

[@deborahmead5978]

To determine the beginning of round using dpns I use the tail of yarn from the cast on edge.

[@anneabbott5415]

Me too ✔️

[@domvalentine9137]

i didnt realize that youre meant to have your knitting spread across 4 and then knit around with the 5th ! i just use 3 and knit with the 4th around a funny little triangle ! it works well for me and is generally a bit less floppy

[@anneabbott5415]

I also only use 3 and knit onto the 4rh. It was how I was taught.

[@resourcedragon]

Back in the day DPNs always came in sets of 4 and not 5. I got a bit of a surprise when I saw that some DPNs I'd ordered recently came in sets of 5. I'm going to stick with 3 needles for the work & the 4th as the working needle.

[@lisasmith1565]

My favorite it 9 inch circular needles. I'm trying to learn dpns now, thanks for the help.

[@camsnow2856]

When I first learned to knit socks, I used DPNs. Unfortunately no matter how hard I tried, I always got ladders. I switched over to 9 inch needles for color work and magic loop for all other socks and have never had problems with ladders again. I also find DPNs extremely fiddly, but then again I’m not the most graceful of people. Lol. Nevertheless, I adore your videos and always learn from them.

[@feliciameier4592]

My first time watching one of your videos. It is super clear and (hopefully) easy to follow :) I'll have this right in front of me as I try the technique. Thank you.

[@joannenikkila8819]

I cast all of the stitches on my size 1 9" circular needle. Instead of moving the stitches to the dpn's, I knit in pattern off of the circular needle onto the dpn's ... anyway that has worked for me.

[@sandicarter6370]

I prefer flexible DPNs like Flexi Flips. I have HiyaHiya for socks. But the concept is pretty much the same. Excellent instruction!

[@MikiCrespo]

Thanks so much for sharing 💗

[@nefraial]

I tried those 9" needles people like and found I didn't like them. The needle seemed too short, even for a sock for my small feet, and was uncomfortable to hold. Later I tried a 10" circular needle that had a longer needle to work with on one side and I pretty much prefer to only use this for sock knitting now, but I still require magic loop or DPNs for the toe and use what needles I choose for the toe to do the heel. In a pinch, given the option of doing the whole sock with either magic loop or DPNs I prefer to use DPNs. Not due to the knitting but as I'm a klutz when it comes to not getting a cord loop caught on something that pulls the needle off stitches. Using DPNs is cool when out and about. Someone will ask "How many needles are you using?" and will "WOW" when you say 5, even though the knitting is quite simple.

[@resourcedragon]

There are a couple of points on which I'd disagree with you, or at least suggest a different approach. Until very recently the only DPNs I'd ever met came in sets of 4 - and I still regard the 5th needle as a spare in case one goes missing. (Traditional Shetland knitters often work with just 3 needles - with the first and last few stitches on each needle being decidedly awkward.) If I weren't able to fit all the stitches on the cast on needle I would cast on as many as I could fit safely and then slide the ones at the back onto a fresh needle (e.g. if I were in the process of casting on 150 stitches I might put 70 on the working needle, and then slide 50 (= 1/3 of the final number) onto a fresh needle. Then I would cast on another 50 stitches and slide the back 50 onto a second fresh needle and finally cast on another 30 to bring the total up to 50 on the working needle. This is the stage at which needle number 4 joins the party. That also takes care of the business of distributing the stitches onto the needles.

[@toscatattertail9813]

I use 4" DPNs" for anything under a 64 stitch cast on...if it's closer to 100 stitches i have a set of 5" DPNs and for hats and beyond i have a set of 6" needles. This is for anything up to a size 3. After that i use interchangeable circulars. Anything that is circular is begun this way....for me things are more stable.

[@ninibestiole]

I like the addition crazy trio novel it suits me better than regular DPNs

[@hazeldonner1855]

I loved working in DPN’s but because I hold my needle with like a pen (underneath the needle) it can be awkward. I gave up in the end and use Magic Loop. It’s far comfier for me.

[@beccamakamson6965]

My first and only sock so far was knitted with curved dpn's 🙃

[@fredgorelick4023]

Good Folks, please know that you can effortlessly knit socks with two 24" circular needles. For some odd reason, many designers and teachers ignore this method. I've been using it for years and socks fly off the needleds with this method.

[@JC-vn4lr]

I love DPN's for socks! Can't imagine any other way. Have you ever used Addi Flexi-Flips? Kind of of DPN-Circular hybrid. I have a set but haven't got the hang of them yet.

[@wendyellis6402]

I find that it’s best not to work the first stitch tightly, but to tighten things on the SECOND stitch.

[@MadMimisCrochetandFarming]

I learned to knit with magic loop. I have a pair of mittens on DPN's but I have no clue where I left off and where to pick up.

[@GilraenTook]

I used mine to knit a gnome. Not the best quality, but I'm proud of the little guy anyway!

[@hannahburns4178]

I am the opposite! Lol I like too keep my work under the other 2 needles. I wonder if it is because I knit English style...

[@telpen6613]

I only use three needles i split the stitches on two and then use the third to knit.

[@theneonknitter472]

Same

[@shannonbrown7488]

What kind of needles are you using? What brand?

[@aqua3890]

What to do on every corner of every needle when my knots get looser automatically? I tend to have tighter handwriting, so it bothers me that every end of a needle has 1 loosened knot. How do I fix it?

[@aletheia6012]

Dpns forever! :)

[@googins]

Help!! I dropped a stitch way far away from my working yarn. What do I dooo?

[@StephenWest]

I would grab the stitch with a removable stitch marker so that it doesn't continue to unravel. Then when you get to that spot in your work, you can work it back up to the top using a crochet hook if the pattern isn't too complicated.

[@quietstorm473]

OMG, I 🤬DPNS! Started a sweater last year, and the sleeves took me OUT. Still. In. The. Project. Bag!

[@katywuste9054]

Oh no revisit it I’m sure it will all be fine second time around

[@quietstorm473]

@@katywuste9054 I hope so. I bought a full set…just wasting away🤣

[@darfalina]

give it another go. you might be surprised.

[@frawgsfibers]

DPNs just seem scary. I am a loose knitter so I feel they would just fall out my knitting.

[@caro1591]

I knit with 2 24” (60cm) circular needles (as per Earthtones Girl) - Denise de Santis. Much easier than magic loop and you’re far less likely to drop any stitches. This discovery was an absolute game-changer for me. Also makes it easier to try your socks on while your project is still on the pins.

[@joancrawford1010]

Prefer DPN'S not a fan of magic loop.

[@oscara8454]

Dpns are sorcery to me. I can't get them to work no matter what I do.

[@vicentacastillo363]

🧶❤️🥰😍👏👏👏👍😘🧦

[@mrsANGRYh]

Gosh, that does look awkward.

[@StephenWest]

It starts off a bit awkward, but it gets easier as you go.