Okay, so I FINALLY got the courage to try my hands at DPNs early this morning. The debacle lasted all of five minutes…the whole time I’m thinking “What kind of sicko came up with this idea?!?” :mad:
Sooo, any tips from the experts?
BTW, I have 10 fingers (5 on each hand). Is that enough??? :??
Dpn
:roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard:
I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but laugh! I had the same problem so now I use magic loop (Amy has a video). One of these days maybe I’ll learn it properly. 
I just finished my first pair of socks on dpns…it was awkward at first to say the least but it gets much, much better. Have you seen Silver’s sock tutorial? It might help you get started.
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Beginning.htm
the trick to DPN is remembering which is the next stitch
keep going in the right direction and you will be fine
count from each Needle start as if they were rings/markers
those are my Hints
ecb
A good way to use dpns for the first time is to finish a hat with them. The knitting is already well established and stable. You can get the hang of holding the needles in a way that works for you without worrying about how floppy they are in the beginning.
Yep, finish a hat with them first. I did not do that when I first used them–but I definitely would have been better off if I had.
If that’s not an option, try knitting the first few rounds with the needles resting in your lap or on a table; that also stabilizes the needles and keeps them from flopping everywhere. And remember, you’re only ever working with two needles. That’s easy to forget when the others keep coming at you!
I just went through this! It is very, very awkward at first because the needles refuse to stay in place and it’s easy to lose sight of where you’re supposed to go! I sat down at the table to do it. I laid my knitting on the table in front of me, and I worked that way. Once you get so far and the stitches start holding the needles in place, there really is nothing to it. If you can just persevere and get through the first several rounds, I promise you it gets better!
I think I must be totally weird…I learned to use DPNs to knit a hat (and I’ve still never bothered to knit one on a circular) before I even learned to purl. It was rollbrim, with no pattern, so all I needed was knit and k2tog.
I wish I could remember how I learned to use them so I could be helpful. Just keep at it, I guess!
You’re not weird–you’re brave! Just attack the knitting, Cate: “Beginner? Intermediate? Advanced? I mock you all!”
Thanks everyone!! You guys are always full of good advice!! :XX:
I just figured out how to use dpn’s, after months of avoiding them because the first time I tried, it was a mess!! My tips: use larger sized dpn’s- at least size 8, use thicker yarn, sit at a table so you can rest the needles on that instead of having them dangle in the air and get tangled up. Also, if you can have someone cast on for you and do a couple of rounds for you, you can get the hang of it easier. It wasn’t easy for me at first, but I just kept on going- even though the first few rounds were a mess. Good luck!
Hey Margie!! You know, I thought you already knew how to use dpns!
The larger needles/thick yarn idea is good. 
I started out using worsted weight yarn and, I think, size 4 dpns (the biggest I could find at the time). I’ve since used smaller dpns and fingering weight yarn. NEVER AGAIN! :shock:
Nope- the felted fish that I made was the first time I’ve used dpns. I was afraid of them!! 
Wow!! Well, I still wuvs you! 
The felted fish is adorable! Where’d you get the pattern? I forget…
Wow. I have two projects on DPNs right now, a sock and a teenie preemie hat, on sizes 2 and 1 dpns respectively. I love them. I like knitting circular, too, but I really like my dpns, and I want to get more. I have to knit continental with them, though, or use moleskin, because otherwise my fingertips hurt, but when I knit continental I don’t have any problems at all.
HTH!
Personally, I love dpns! I’d take them over circular needles anyday.
When you first get started though, it’s a bit OMG NEEDLES EVERYWHERE! but then you knit a few rounds and the knitting holds the needles in place and you get used to keeping the other ones out of the way of the ones you’re actively knitting with. My advice is just to stick with it. It’s all about muscle memory so you’ve just got to do it until your fingers know what they’re doing.
OMG I totally agree!!! I them! YAY! I’m not the only dpn lover!! :cheering:
:happydance: :happydance: :happydance:
KNITBIT :XX:
OTN: Socks!
Okay… I won’t go so far as to say I LOVE them, I’m not even sure I like them yet, BUT I did learn how to use them today! Check my blog to see the saga on the last page. :roflhard:
I tried dpns officially for the first time recently–fingering weight yarn and size 3 dpns…I was making a hat for the compassionate knitting project. It came out great and I do like working with them but at first I was a little freaked out…it was like my heart was racing…After you get going, it get’s easier–I find that the first couple of rows are the most difficult. Just stick with it! 
Meeeee too!