[Suzanne52]

Hi
I want to make these shagged mittens from knitting traditions mag. From the get go I am confused.
4 or 5 dpn (I plan to use magic loop but all the same)
Says:
CO 57 (63 72 84 93) Sts onto smaller dpn using the twisted loop method. Devide sts so there are the same number on each needle and each needle starts with the first k st of a rib.

Soooooo-I plan to make the size that calls for 63 co. 63 is not divisible by 4. ???
( the rib is k2 p1)


Thanks,
Suzanne

 

[debidoodle]

You would put 15,16,16,16.

 

[TammyK]

You don't need the number to be divisible by 4. You just need it to be divisible by 3 for the ribbing to work out. You obviously can't divide the stitches exactly in half for magic loop, but that is not critical, either. Just put 31 stitches on one side and 32 on the other (or if you want to keep your k2, p1 groups together, do 30 and 33) and work k2, p1 ribbing for as many rounds as it tells you. You may find that you need to adjust how you have the stitches divided later, depending on what the pattern requires, but everything is do-able.

 

[RookieRetiree]

You'll have 3 needles with 15 stitches and one needle with 18 stitches so that you can start each needle with the k stitch of the rib. It should work out after you get going.

 

[Suzanne52]

Ok, thanks. Since they said put the same number of stitches on each needle, I thought I must be missing something.
Thank you!

 

[jinx]

If you were using double points, you would only be putting stitches on 3 needles and using the 4 to knit. Soooo, 63 divided by 3 = 21 on each needle. jinx

 

[Suzanne52]

If you were using double points, you would only be putting stitches on 3 needles and using the 4 to knit. Soooo, 63 divided by 3 = 21 on each needle. jinx

Ok, that makes sense, so why do they say 4 or 5 dpns?

 

[courier770]

Today's double pointed needles are sold in sets of 5, years ago they were sold in sets of 4.

 

[Cindy M]

And they don't have to be on the needles evenly. For example, I have some mitten patterns that have a cast on of 36 stitches. When I'm using my circulars with magic loop, that's 18 stitches per needle. The rib called for is a k2,p2 rib. That's a rib that's a multiple of four. So I'd have 16 stitches of the rib with two knit stitches left over on each needle. The next needle I would start with p2 stitches and continue the pattern. It's awkward. So what I do is put 16 on one circular and 20 on the other. This is perfectly acceptable. I just have to remember to even them out with the 18 on each needle after the rib when I begin the main body of the mitten. When you've been knitting for a while you pick up these little tricks. In your case, as the other posters said, you'd put the stitches on each needle in sets of 3.

 

[marciniak]

Hmmm,,,,if you use 4 dp needles you would use one to knit with so would divide the 63 by 3 or 21 stitches per needle and k2p1 would allow you to begin all on the beginning of the k2. I have found that usually the reason for the stitch divide has to do with the pattern later on. You should be fine through the ribbing then may have to adjust the # of stitches per needle later on. I have actually used a marker to let me know when I have a stitch on the "wrong" needle per the instructions.