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Why is this so HARD!!! GRR!! I’ve only knitted one row of 55 stitches in 2x2 ribbing and I’m :hair: ! Am I doing something wrong? Does it just take practice? Or will I just always be knitting at one 1/3 the usual pace when I use these?
Knitting on DPNs!
Oh yeah, DPNs require practice to learn to hold them, not get ladders and not throw them across the room. :doh:
Yeah, it takes some practice. Ten years ago when I first learned to knit on dpn’s, almost gave up -[B] but I’m so glad I didn’t[/B]. Now, I’d rather knit in the round on dpn’s than anything else - really!
That being said, the first few rows [I]are[/I] the hardest, especially when you’re first learning. But, as you continue to knit and get some work on the needles [I](3 rounds or so)[/I], it’s much easier to hold onto and to work with.
Also, as far as speed, now that I do it all the time I can knit faster on dpn’s, than any other way. For instance, I made 3 mittens yesterday in between doing housework, etc. It really does fly along when you get in practice. Of course when I first started, my first sock took me 2 weeks, lol!!
The lady that taught me to knit on dpn’s… wow, I remember thinking that I’d never be able to knit like she did, it all seemed so fast. I think she’d be hard pressed to beat me in a speed knitting competition now.
[B]Hang in there - it DOES get easier - I promise![/B] 
[I](now if someone could come up with a smilie with dpn’s, we’d be all set, lol)[/I]
A couple of hints for DPNs. . .
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Cast onto a straight needle, being sure to leave a tail about a foot long, and then knit the first 6 rows flat. THEN transfer them to the DPNs and join. You’ll have enough fabric started to manage what you’re doing better. You will get a little split at the join, but when you’re through, go back and sew up that little seam.
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To keep track of where the beginning of the rounds are, put a safety pin in the fabric between those 2 needles.
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Think of DPNs as a circular, broken into pieces.
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The “porcupine” thing with the needles does get much, much easier with practise. Just do it for a few minutes every day, and you’ll get really good at it!
Yup, just take time and practice… keep at it… it’s worth it!
The first couple of rows are always the hardest. Once you are past that stage, it will get easier for you. Good Luck.
When you knit the first row, you don’t have them joined yet, so all your needles are trying to move around on you like a wet noodle and poke out in all places. Once you join though, they stay together and it is much easier. You just have to have patience through those first couple of rounds and then you’ll be fine, and once you get more knitted, it’s even easier.
Just be sure to pull your sts tight when you get to the end of those dpn’s so that you don’t have gaps. For that first st from one to the other, I hold those two dpns close to eachother to prevent a loose st and gap, then after I stitch it, I pull nice and snug.
Hang in there- once you get going you will be fine.
Yep, everyone is right. Practice does make it easier - sooner or later. Like playing a musical instrument.
Perhaps it’ll help to think of it like this: You are creating new pathways in your brain. At first the going is rough, full of grass and weeds. But the more you travel that pathway, the fewer grasses and weeds become. Finally, that brain-pathway will be worn clear of obstacles and you will be able to zone out onto automatic when you travel along that k2-p2 pathway.
The path between two friends never grows green. K2-p2 [sounds like something out of Star Wars!] is a very helpful friend - makes terrific scarves!
Keep at it. Your brain will accept that new pathway. Just don’t quit.
Dot
Yep, it goes slower on the first row or three even after you know how to work with them, but after you get used to them it won’t be so bad.
Hang in there it will get easier. 
DPNs still drive me crazy and trying to manage them is rough in the first few rows. but practice does make perfect in this case
Knit a few more rows and then it will feel less like you are “fighting” it! I love my DPNs and use them often, but if you watch me do those first few rows…
Probably would doubt I know what I’m doing! The bigger it gets, the easier to hold!
Here is a hint that helps me with dp’s. Make sure the needle in your left hand is above the next needle after it. If you are knitting from needle #1 make sure that it is above needle #2. that way the next needle is below your work. Maybe someone else can explain it better.
Once mastered they are easy. I still am slow with the first few rows, but I don’t want to mess up.
Soon you have the swing of things and everyone will be impressed.:mrgreen:
I’m so glad you said this - it’s exactly what I do and it makes a big difference! I guess it’s just something I do without even thinking now that I knit with dpn’s all the time, but IMO that is a great thing to tell anyone who is new to knitting with dpn’s.
I don’t think there is any other way to explain it, just to make sure that the needle on your left is sitting on top of the needle to it’s left.
Thanks again, I’m glad I’m not the only one who does that! 
I agree that dpn’s just take some time to get used to.
- make sure the work on the needles not in use in in the middle of the needle (so it doesn’t fall off)
- make sure you knit the very first st on each needle extra tight (so you don’t get a loose gap [ladder])
- take your time - knitting is not a race and there’s no reason to try to speed through your projects
- practice makes perfect!
Good luck, and pretty soon you’ll be loving those dpn as much as we do! 
LOL, Thanks everyone! I’m getting better but I just don’t see the progression I usually see and time is of the essence! Have you seen my christmas project list?!?! LOL Anyway, Your advice has been very helpful! It’s a little discouraging to think you have to learn how to knit all over again! lol
The trouble I always had was that the needles would fall out of the stitches as I worked on the other needles. I finally succeeded when I bought a set of bamboo DPN’s. They’re not so slippery, and so I don’t lose them. I also use one of my bamboo DPN’s for cables now, just feels good to me.
You’ll get the hang of them quickly. They really aren’t hard once you get into the swing of it. I like DPNs but I really prefer magic loop for round knitting. It’s faster for me. I actually just did gauge swatches using 2 circs for the first time and that may be my favorite.
Aaaaaaarrrrrrgggg someone tell me how to get rid of ladders please! I have tried knitting the last and first stitch tight and it has made no difference. I don’t know what to do. This is so frustrating!!!
I detest double points. I might have a few pair gathering dust in a storage locker. For me, it’s circulars and magic loop every time. I don’t have needles falling out onto the floor and don’t have to be an octopus to handle all those needles.
One way to reduce the ladders is when you first join in the round. Knit the first stitch with both the yarn coming from the skein and the tail of the cast on. Drop the tail after the first stitch and continue the first round as usual. On the second round, knit the skein and tail strands on that first stitch together and pull the tail end tight. This will pull it together and eliminate that first jog. It will also help to make less of a ladder for that first join.
Another thing I do is to slide the first stitch on the next needle as close to the tip as I can without it falling off. I knit that first stitch and pull the yarn as tightly as I can. Keep the yarn stretched tightly as you knit your first and second stitches, then you can relax for the rest of the row on that needle. Repeat for each needle. This helps make that ladder either disappear or be less noticeable.