DPN HELP??

[thenshesaidno]

hey! last night i was trying to use double pointed needles for the second time (i used them once to finish a hat like 5 years ago..) and i could not really get it. i have a million questions, so bear with me :)

first of all, i was wondering if the way i was casting on matters? i was following a random video and the purl bee's dpn tutorial and

Comments

[__voidofpassion]

You can cast on normally, but you do need to join the stitches in the round. The amount of needles you use will depend on the pattern. For example, the pattern will tell you to cast on 30 stitches and divide evenly onto three needles (which would be 10 stitches on each needle). Coloring the tips of your DPNs isn't necessary.

Also! Are you using stitch markers? It's a good idea to place a stitch marker between your first and second stitch so you know when you've completed a round.

This Sweet Little Bird can be made in one day. No DPNs required. :)

[2eclipse]

so here is a tutorial for the long tail cast on - which will put your ends both on one side.
as to joining, what i do is i take both ends and treat them as one string. i use them as my knitting yarn to knit the first yarn on the opposite side - the first stitch you cast on (only do make sure there aren't any twists in your yarn before you join or you will get a moebius. using both strings as one is handy even though you have to remember when you come around the next time that they are not two separate stitches. it is handy because it weaves the end in without you having to do it later. :)

[poke_fu]

The 5 vs. 4 needles is largely just a personal preference. When I was first learning DPNs, 4 needles was intimidating enough; 5 just seemed out of the question! So I started doing it with 4 and have never tried 5. Some people find 5 needles easier. It makes no difference. Some patterns will have their directions written for 4 or 5 needles specifically, but you can definitely do it the other way as long as you're paying attention.

I haven't watched that particular tutorial, but I imagine the colored tips are probably just to make it easier to see which needle is which while learning. If you think it would help you to color your own tips to keep the needles straight, then feel free, but not necessary.

Good luck! Learning DPNs can be tricky.

[lovepink0099]

When I was taught to join, my teacher pulled the first stitch over the last stitch and put the first stitch on the 4th needle and the last stitch on the first needle. Basically just trading the places of the 1st and last cast-on stitches so that the project becomes round vs. straight.

[shoelaceswitch]

This might not be the best way to do it, but when I join here's how I do it:

You have all your stitches on say, 3 DPN's. You take your fourth (empty) DPN and insert it into the first stitch you cast on to the first needle like you would to knit. Then (making sure your stitches aren't twisted) you bring your working yarn (from the last stitch on the third needle) behind the fourth needle you inserted and knit with it. That should join it. Then you just keep knitting.