Cable needles: can't you just use a dp needle instead?

#1

Or would I have to buy one special? I r confused.

#2

You can use a dpn, a skewer, a hairpin, a straightened paper clip, anything you have lying around that’s smaller than your needle in place of a cable needle.

#3

You can use anything but make sure it’s not too slippery. I use bamboo DPNs a lot.

#4

yep.
the only reason for using a special cable needle is because they are a little shorter so don’t get in the way so much, and some are specially shaped or textured to stop the stitches slipping off whilst you are manouvering.

#5

I’m going to try a bamboo dpn next time because the little aluminum cable needle I have is way too slippery.

#6

I used to use a bamboo dpn for all my cable work until I bought the Knitpicks Harmony cable needles. These have grooves and are shorter than my 7" bamboo dpns.

#7

I totally agree on the aluminum cable needle being to slippery. I had it falling out of my work all the time driving me crazy. I just bought a set of 3 bamboo cable ones. I love using bamboo knitting needles so that may be part of it, at least for me. As far as using my dpn’s, they seemed a bit long for my work.

#8

you can use anything , i’ve seen my grandmother using saftey pin too.

#9

I use a dpn. I have a cable needle necklace that I use to knit cables when I’m knitting in public.

#10

I’ve used a wooden cocktail stick in the past when doing cables on bootees as I needed something with a small diameter to avoid stretching the stitches

#11

I use a crochet hook. The hook on the end catches the stitches if it slips while I can knit off the plain end.