Fixing gaps from dpns

#1

No matter how tightly I knit the first stitch on a needle, I always get gaps when using dpns. This sucks since I otherwise love knitting on dpns… I have a few gaps on a sock I’m knitting that are pretty visible when I try on the chunk I’ve knitted. Is there any way to close this gap? I am a little tempted to try and see if some matress stitch would work, as if it were a seam, but I don’t want it to be uncomfortable to wear since my father won’t wear it if its not just right :smiley: (Are men picky or what? :rofling: )

The owner of my LYS showed me a trick to knitting in dpns that helped but didn’t entirely get rid of the problem… Every other round, I knit the first stitch on the next needle onto the previous needle instead of the working needle and on the following row I put it back in place on the needle it belongs to and knit it from there with the working needle. It helps but as I said, doesn’t quite get rid of the problem since I still get a gap every few rows or so…Are there any other tricks I can try?

#2

All of the books I have read say to hold the needles close together, and pull the working yarn tight for the first two and last two stitches. Because we all have that problem with dbl pointed needles, I thought I would try it. It WORKED, I was happy! And I mean I pull it real tight and hold the points very close toghether. It has worked for me and I really don’t have much of a problem with the “Ladders.” However, it will go a little slower, speed wise because I have to stop and think at first, “Pull working yarn tight”, but then it becomes reflex and the speed picks up with pulling it tight. I make jokes about choking the needle! What bugs me is when I stretch or elongnate the last stitch, ugh!! Please share any tips to cure that one.

#3

I wasn’t able to solve the problem either so now I just use magic loop for small diameter projects.

#4

Holding the two needles really close together helps a lot. I squeeze the needles together like a tee-pee at the top AND I rotate the stitches. My last 3 socks have been ladder free.

But on the already made sock - I have had some success by using a needle to push the vertical yarns together from the purl side. The difference is pretty small though. Washing might also help. You could also try just moving the fabric back and forth in different directions. Imagine that like you are going to fold cloth over on itself to scrub a stain out - but you dont fold anything, you just move the fabric back and forth. That can help the yarn travel a bit.