[sandj]

How did you learn how to do double pointed needles and circular needles? Saw a bag using both techniques but I haven’t really used both techniques. I thought if I started with a few small projects I may be able to do a bag. Any type of projects that are small that use double pointed or circular needles? Thanks!

 

[elcue]

I learned on YouTube, starting with hats knit in the round and tapering to double points at the crown. Hats are pretty quick, so you get quick gratification. It may feel a bit cumbersome at first, but as with all skills, you will develop your own rhythm and become more comfortable. Go for it!

 

[elcue]

PS: If you search circular knitting right here on KP you’re sure to find numerous helpful links shared by our always helpful community.

 

[Vickie P]

If you want to start small, knit a baby or child’s hat.
And review Videos on the “How to” knit with DPNs and with circular one.
You might want to watch videos by a number of people to find the ones that “click” for you.

 

[deenashoemaker]

Lol, great grandmother taught me 60+ years ago....

 

[liz morris]

I learned on four needles in primary school a very long time ago. I learned circular in the 1970's

 

[RoxyCatlady]

My mother taught me - I'd seen her knitting with dpns once, and asked her how come they had points on both ends. She popped a small yarn ball on one end of one of the needles, to show me what happened when she knit around (I can't recall for sure, but likely was a sleeve). Then, I wanted to know how to do it. I don't recall the exact details, but I did make a small round "thing". Learned a few things - appears as stocking stitch when you knit all the stitches in the round, and that stocking stitch curls. So, I may not recall all the details, but I recall the main lessons!!

 

[LovesK2P2]

I learned way before there was You Tube, basically by watching my Grandmother knit. It wasn't until many years after she had passed away did I even pick up knitting and then it was for necessity. I needed mittens while I waited for my bus ride to work. I don't remember it being very difficult and used four DPN's I inherited from her.

 

[Fidrocki]

I’m an impulsive sort and just kind of started using them-there aren’t a whole lot of choices. When you do things this way, you learn from your many mistakes. I got a lot of help here-it is really amazing how well people could explain things. And it was almost uncanny how quickly they could identify the problem. I like the nervous knitter on you tube-I think she’s adorable; some other you tubers annoyed me.

 

[NimueVaniva]

I avoid DPNs because there are too many sticks to keep track of. My only issues have been the gap between needles (tug a little on the first two stitches of a new needle) and joining after cast on (knit a few rows flat and sew it up later). Otherwise, knitting in the round is a joy.

 

[riversong200]

DPNs are not my favorite needles so I avoid them whenever I can. Like others I learned to use them long ago. They're kind of like wrestling a porcupine so I use circulars most of the time - either small enough for my project or magic loop.

 

[GrumpyGramma]

I learned from You Tube videos. Your bag could be done magic loop or another in-the-round method using one or two circulars and use the same needle(s) start to finish I expect. If you share a link to the pattern we could tell you for sure if that's possible.

When I decided to learn to knit in the round I tried dpn and got frustrated; if I'd had bamboo dpn it might have worked out better but mine were aluminum. I learned magic loop instead. I use the same set of needles start to finish on hats and socks - socks I knit toe up, two at a time. I have, since those first attempts, used dpn and will again but my preferred method for small circumference knitting is magic loop. There is also traveling loop which can use a shorter needle than required for magic loop and some people absolutely love using two circs. I like one long circ because when I use dpn I am always and forever dropping and retrieving the empty needle which finds all kinds of ways to hide but circs are leashed and much easier to retrieve. When I use two circs I do fine until I get distracted a bit and use one needle for all the stitches and end up with one empty needle.

Dpn for me has too many moving parts and pointy ends. YMMV as it does for many other knitters. Just find what works for you.

 

[sandj]

Need to look up Magic loop ☺

 

[Jessica-Jean]

That booklet was my teacher for using double-pointed needles. Also a tip I had read in some other knitting book, to slip the last three stitches back onto the just emptied needle, in order to avoid ‘ladders’. I knit the gloves in that booklet, but added a cabled design to the backs of the hands. That was pre-babies.

 

[Fidrocki]

I learned from You Tube videos. Your bag could be done magic loop or another in-the-round method using one or two circulars and use the same needle(s) start to finish I expect. If you share a link to the pattern we could tell you for sure if that's possible.

When I decided to learn to knit in the round I tried dpn and got frustrated; if I'd had bamboo dpn it might have worked out better but mine were aluminum. I learned magic loop instead. I use the same set of needles start to finish on hats and socks - socks I knit toe up, two at a time. I have, since those first attempts, used dpn and will again but my preferred method for small circumference knitting is magic loop. There is also traveling loop which can use a shorter needle than required for magic loop and some people absolutely love using two circs. I like one long circ because when I use dpn I am always and forever dropping and retrieving the empty needle which finds all kinds of ways to hide but circs are leashed and much easier to retrieve. When I use two circs I do fine until I get distracted a bit and use one needle for all the stitches and end up with one empty needle.

Dpn for me has too many moving parts and pointy ends. YMMV as it does for many other knitters. Just find what works for you.

It’s interesting how something works for some but not for others. Magic loop threw me for, well, a loop. And I really like dpn.

 

[Pocahontas]

I joined a knitting group 15+ years ago and saw someone knitting socks on DPNS. I had never seen that process and didn't even know people could knit socks, and had only ever seen people knitting with 2 straight needles. Not sure how I would have learned if not for the group. Of course, that was before KP. I love DPN's and am so grateful for my group.

 

[Jessica-Jean]

It’s interesting how something works for some but not for others. Magic loop threw me for, well, a loop. And I really like dpn.

When I read about Magic Loop, I tried it. Nix! I couldn’t get the hang of it.
A few years later, I found I had forgotten my double-pointed needles at home. I really wanted to finish the 1898 Hat on my HiyaHiya fixed circular, but HOW? So, I tried leaving a loop of (very thin and flexible) cable out, and continued my decrease rounds. Eventually, there were too few stitches for me to continue with a Travelling Loop, so I pulled out a second loop for the last few rounds. Oops! I was doing Magic Loop!!!
Since then, my dpns gather dust. 🫤 It’s not that I prefer having a loop or two of cable hanging out; it’s that I detest having to chase after the empty needle, which my ageing hands seem to drop more frequently than when younger.

 

[beth60201]

My mom taught me 45 years ago. We always bonded over knitting.

 

[seamer45]

How did you learn how to do double pointed needles and circular needles? Saw a bag using both techniques but I haven’t really used both techniques. I thought if I started with a few small projects I may be able to do a bag. Any type of projects that are small that use double pointed or circular needles? Thanks!

First of all, and I haven’t read any other replies, I used a worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles.

How did you learn how to do double pointed needles and circular needles? Saw a bag using both techniques but I haven’t really used both techniques. I thought if I started with a few small projects I may be able to do a bag. Any type of projects that are small that use double pointed or circular needles? Thanks!

I haven’t read any other replies, so here’s my method. Worsted weight yarn, size 8 needles so I can see what I’m doing and read my knitting. When I started Many years ago with double points we used 4 and I did have to practice and tug a lot to keep ladders from doing between the needles. But along with lots and lots of practice I found that as soon as I started using 5 needles instead of four the ladders magically disappeared. But the important word here is PRACTICE. Don’t even think about making a hat, mittens or sweater until you knit smoothly. Just buy some less expensive acrylic and make a really long tube. And if you make a mistake, fo back and fix it, the beauty do inexpensive yarn is that you aren’t going to spoil it. So work through your mistakes before you use the good yarn. I believe JessicaJean showed a Knitting book with a green cover, I have that too, it was very helpful since there was no computer to go to. But now you have YouTube. I haven’t looked for 5 double point knitting yet but Very Pink has great tutorials on You tube. When you finish that long, long tube with two skeins of yarn, frog it and user the yarn for Christmas ornaments or sone such.
Same advice for circulars, same yarn, same size needles, and knit a tube, a long tube. And make sure on both projects to practice knots and purls, increase and decreases, yarn overs, all of it. Just don’t fret over any of it. After I learned double points I made 10 pairs of socks. And that’s another thing. When you make socks read the whole pattern to make sure you know how to do everything needed. Then just knit one row at a time. And you will magically turn the heels, with no anxiety at all.
Happy knitting.

 

[no1girl]

Primary School ..................we knitted sox with four needles when I was in grade six. also taught basic crochet and made a scarf on a loom.