How to Knit With Circular and Double-Pointed Needles

People often see a knitter with five needles poking out of a project, or one long string with needles on each end, and find themselves intimidated by these seemingly advanced knitting techniques. In actuality, knitting with circular or double-pointed needles is very similar to using straight needles, and if you know how to knit already, you can quickly expand your options with these new tools.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knitting needles
• Knitting pattern
• Yarn

Understanding Your Options

1. Visit your local knitting store, and spend some time exploring the selection of needles. Circulars and double-points are both available in a variety of sizes, lengths and materials. Circular needles are also sometimes available in interchangeable sets. Double-pointed needles are frequently labeled "DPNs." If possible, pick up and play with the needles to get a feel for them.

2. Select a project to learn these needle techniques. Both circular and double-pointed needles are used when knitting "in the round," which creates a seamless tube of knitting. This is the preferred method for most hats, sweaters, tops and skirts, and it is important for knitting socks.

3. Determine which methods are required for your project. Some patterns work fine on a long circular needle (such as a sweater or skirt), while others require double-pointed needles to work with smaller circumferences or to close off one end (such as hats or socks). Patterns generally provide this information in the "required materials" section.

4. Purchase the necessary needles and the yarn you plan to use for this project.

Putting Your Options to Use

5. Follow a regular cast on procedures with circular needles. Simply cast on the required number of stitches using one end of the needle and allowing the stitches to slide to the connector as needed. Your circular needles should be long enough to hold all the stitches the pattern calls for.

6. Divide your starting stitches by four if using double-pointed needles; this determines how many stitches to put on each needle. For example, if a sock calls for 60 stitches cast on, each of the four needles requires 15 stitches, while the fifth needle is used for the active knitting.

7. Join the beginning and end of the cast-on stitches (being careful not to twist) by knitting into the first cast on stitch.

Tips & Warnings

• Though five needles are used to knit in the round on double-points, only two are actively knitting at a given time. The others merely hold the stitches. Remembering this removes the intimidation factor.
• Select a fairly simple pattern for your first time knitting in the round, especially if using double-points instead of circulars. This gives you a chance to get used to switching from needle to needle.
• Wooden needles tend to knit slower and keep the yarn from slipping as much, which is very useful when knitting in the round using double-pointed needles for the first time.
• Be very careful when joining the first row of stitches. If the stitches are twisted at all before joining, it results in a knitted Mobius strip, which cannot function as a sweater or sock.