How to knit with Double Pointed Needles?

Do you want to take your knitting to the next level? It’s time to expand your expertise and take on the double pointed knitting needles (DPNs). The needles come with tapered points on both ends allowing knitting from either end. The double-pointed needles are a practical choice to knit in the round. When a particular project is too small for circular needles, such as a glove’s fingers, it’s best to switch to double-pointed needles.

The double-pointed needles come in sets of four or five. Although most knitters use four double-pointed needles for a project, there is an option of the fifth needle in the need of extra circumference.  And as it’s better to have an extra needle than without, a set of five is the best option. Also, like all other needles and tools used in knitting, DPNs too are available in materials such as wood, bamboo, plastic, metal, stainless steel, carbon, etc., and can be chosen according to the preferences and convenience of knitters.

Like other knitting needles, the double pointed needles come in a range of sizes (4″ – 8″. The 4-inch needles are ideal for knitting gloves and mittens, while 5 or 6 inches ones are for knitting socks and 8-inch knitting needles are for hats, sweaters, and larger items.

Working with double-pointed knitting needles and the technique of knitting in the round can be intimidating at the first, but with time and trial, you will discover your ease of work.

As the saying goes In the Rhythm of the Needles, There is Music for the Soul…with the practice of knitting with double-pointed needles you will soon find your soul-stirring rhythm.

Step by step guide on how to Knit with Double Pointed Needles?

Knitting with double-pointed needles is the oldest technique for round smaller circumference projects.

Step 1- Cast on stitches as you would normally do in a knitting project on a single needle.

Step 2 – Divide the stitches evenly over three or four needles so that each needle has about the same number of stitches.

Step 3 – Form your needles into a triangle or a square so that your first cast-on stitch is the first one on the needle on the left side of the triangle, taking care not to twist your cast on.

Step 4 –  Using your fourth needle start to knit the stitches from the needle on the left of the triangle. Don’t worry too much about the other two knitting needles with stitches, they are unlikely to fall out.

Step 5 – Once you have worked the stitches on the first needle, rotate your work clockwise. Now your needle 3 (with the yarn tail and working yarn) is on the right, and needle 1 (with the first cast-on stitch) is on the left. This may feel fiddly at first, but you will get used to it.

Step 6 – Position the working yarn so that it runs up from the last cast-on stitch to the outside of this triangle. The working yarn should not pass through the center of the triangle.

Step 7 – Begin to work in the round by inserting the tip of the empty needle (needle 4) into the first cast-on stitch on needle 1. Knit this stitch. Be sure to pull this first stitch tightly, as it will join your work.

Step 8 – Continue knitting across needle 1. When you have knit all of the stitches on this needle, rotate your work and begin knitting the stitches of needle 2 using the newly emptied needle.

Be sure to maintain a firm tension when knitting the first stitch on each needle. If the yarn is too loose between needles, you will get a gap in your knitting known as laddering .

Step 9 – When you reach the end of needle 2, rotate your work again and use the empty needle to knit the stitches on needle 3. When you reach the end of needle 3, you have completed knitting one complete round. The presence of your yarn tail indicates where the new round begins. Because it gets harder to see the tail as you knit more rounds, you can use a stitch marker to indicate the end of your round. You can insert a locking or split-ring marker directly into the last stitch of the round and move it up as needed. You could use a solid-ring marker before the last stitch of the round to keep it from falling off.

Step 10 – Continue to knit in a spiraling path around your work. Make certain that you are knitting around the outside of the tube you are creating. The right (knit) side should be to the outside and the wrong (purl) side to the inside. To correct this, just turn your work right-side out and begin working around the outside of the tube.

Step 11 – When your project has reached the desired length, bind off.

A double-pointed needle set is perfect for crafting smaller circular items such as socks, gloves, sleeves, and the crown of hats. Many knitters prefer them to the magic loop circular needle method. You too can discover your crafting skills on these needles.

So, are you now ready to take up double-pointed knitting needles?