Things You'll Need:
- double pointed knitting needles
- yarn
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Step 1
Choose your needle gauge. Like any knitting needles, double pointed knitting needles come in a variety of materials and sizes, and should generally be selected for the same reasons. For example, if you will be knitting with a very lightweight yarn, you will probably want to select a set of thin double pointed needles.
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Step 2
Figure out the number of needles that you will need. Because of the way that double pointed knitting needles are used, you will need at least four. This is because one needle will be kept free, and the other needles will be tightly joined at the ends by your project -- if you had only three needles, you would not be able to get enough range of motion. While theoretically more needles means more flexibility, it also means more complication and hassles. Most projects that require double pointed needles will use four or five needles.
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Step 3
Figure out the length of needles that you will need. Double pointed knitting needles come in various lengths, as well as gauges. Medium sized needles are probably the easiest to begin with, because long needles can be especially unwieldy, and short ones get crowded and allow stitches to fall off most easily. Ultimately, though, the length of your needles depends on your project. One quarter or your project (or one third, if you're using four needles), should comfortably fit on each needle.
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Step 4
Cast on. Divide the number of stitches you need among three needles (if you have four) or four needles (if you have five), and cast that number of stitches onto each needle using the same continuous piece of yarn.
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Step 5
Use the remaining needle to start knitting the stitches off of the first needle (if you want to make a loop), or to reverse and start knitting off the end of the last needle (if you don't want a loop). When you reach the end of a needle, that needle becomes your free knitting needle, as the last one has become fully incorporated in your project.
