Knitting with double pointed needles is fun, only if you have some tricks up your sleeves and the right knitting needles. Double pointed needles work in a set to smoothly knit even the smallest circumference. The set of five needles work together to knit in the round. While three or four needles form the diameter, the extra needle is used to knit with. Whether you are knitting with DPNs for the first time or for the nth time, with these tips you will enjoy knitting and always have neat projects on hand.
1. Cast on stitches on one needle and then divide evenly
Many knitters and videos will tell you to cast on stitches on all the DPNs that you will be knitting with for the seamless project. But, this becomes tough and tricky. It’s best that you cast on stitches on one needle and transfer them to other stitches. For example, if you need to cast 30 stitches, do it on one needle and then divide them evenly- 10 stitches on three needles. If you need to work with four needles for the circumference, divide 8 stitches on two needles and 7 stitches on the other two. Make sure to not drop any stitches while you transfer and tug the yarn tightly.
2. Tighten up the second stitch on every knitting needle to avoid laddering
Ladders are a common knitting problem when you work with double pointed needles. Avoid this gap by tightening up the second stitch. Making tight stitches on the start of the round is not recommended, either the second stitch on every knitting needle or the last stitch of the round.
3. Invisible join by slipping a stitch
When joining the DPNs for a round, do not knit the last stitch but slip the stitch on the next needle. It will make a neat and invisible join. You need to plan this at the very start of the project. You need to cast an extra stitch.
4. Move the stitches on the needle arrangement
When working with DPNs a trick is to move the stitches on the needles after every round. Just make sure the working needle (the one needle you knit with) is on top of the knitting project. While you move the stitches, make sure that you have placed a stitch marker to mark the start of the round.
5. Always knit a gauge swatch
A trick to knit like a pro with not just double pointed needles but any of knitting needle is always knit a gauge swatch. A swatch will help you in multiple ways. You can calculate how much yarn you’ll need for a project, your knitting tension and how the yarn behaves with the needles.
If you follow these 5 knitting tricks, very soon you’ll be reaching out for your double pointed knitting needles for any seamless knitting projects. If you want to invest in your craft, knitting needle sets are your best bet. One kit contains multiple sizes and even lengths that allow you to tackle multiple projects.
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